August 13 2015

Oath Keepers, the police and us

A message to Chief Belmar about the danger of letting white men attend Ferguson protests carrying assault rifles.

St. Louis American Page A4

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Clergy arrested ‘anointing’ courts

Action organizers targeted for arrest a second time, lawyer says

By Rebecca Rivas Of The St. Louis American

Photo by Wiley Price

Rev. Sekou: ‘What we are doing is militant, non-violent civil disobedience’

By Kenya Vaughn Of The St. Louis American “We are here to bear witness to the truth and set the scales of justice in their righteous place for those who don’t have a voice,” Rev. Osagyefo Sekou said from the pulpit of a nearly full sanctuary Monday, August 10 at Christ Church Cathedral.

The faith leader who made a national name for himself as a frontline presence during the Ferguson

unrest wasn’t invited by host pastor The Very Rev. Mike Kinman to deliver a guest sermon. He was facilitating a direct action training session for a protest that was about to unfold.

“We are targeting what Dr. King called ‘structures of evil,’” Sekou said.

They gathered to conduct one of several Moral Monday demonstrations as a grand finale for the

n “How many are willing to risk arrest today?” “Jesus!”

Sekou exclaimed, shocked – and thrilled – by the number of hands that were raised.

See CLERGY, A6

Balloon action targets racism in St. Louis

Ferguson protest groups The Artivists and Tribe X collaborated with Ruckus from Oakland to fly a banner with helium balloons over the Gateway Arch in downtown St. Louis that read “Racism still lives here” as part of Moral Monday on August 10.

Artivists, Tribe X collaborate with Ruckus to launch 40-foot banner at Arch With the Gateway Arch as their designated backdrop, activists used balloons to fly a banner in downtown St. Louis that read “Racism still lives here” as part of the Ferguson Commemoration Weekend’s August 10 day of civil disobedience, or Moral Monday.

“In this country, racism kills,” said Elizabeth Vega, leader of the activists group The Artivists that helped plan the action. “Because a year after Mike Brown, people are

n “Now we are taking on more complicated kinds of actions because we want people to pay attention.”

– Elizabeth Vega

still dying.”

Donned in rock-climbing harnesses, two women – an African

SPORTS

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Page B3

COMPLIMENTARY

Millennial activists close down I-70

The Rev. Starsky Wilson and Dr. Cornel West participated in a direct action at the Thomas Eagleton Federal Court Building in downtown St. Louis on August 10, or Moral Monday.

They presented a proclamation and list of demands, including the disbanding of the Ferguson Police Department, then “reclaimed the building for sacred justice.”

By Rebecca Rivas Of The St. Louis American

Vol. 86 No. 19

See BALLOON, A7

Not long after nearly 60 Ferguson activists were arrested outside of the Thomas Eagleton Federal Courthouse in downtown St. Louis on August 10, another group shut down Interstate-70, near 270 and the Blanchette Bridge.

The actions were n “Several part of Moral Monday, protestors a day dedicated to made the civil disobedience choice to in remembrance of Michael Brown Jr.’s participate in death and of all those an act of civil who have died at the disobedience hands of police. in the name About 80 of black lives.” demonstrators and legal observers were on site as human barricades – Rachel Bean were created to block I-70 in both directions.

The protest began at 5 p.m., peak rush hour time, and lasted for about 30 minutes.

Police made 64 arrests, according to St. Louis County Police. All individuals involved in the highway shutdown were charged with the misdemeanor “interfering with an officer.”

See I-70, A7

Cries for justice in memoriam

Life of Michael Brown Jr. celebrated through public silence, protest march

By Kenya Vaughn and Mariah Stewart Of The St. Louis American “I just want to give love to my family and my friends – my new friends and my world,” Michael Brown Sr. told the crowd.

He spoke in honor of his son Michael Brown Jr. on Sunday, August 9, the first anniversary of his death.

At 18 years old, Brown was killed before he could truly live. Yet the unrest that his death incited spurred a national movement for black lives that assured he will never be forgotten.

They gathered at the very spot on Canfield Drive where Brown Jr.’s life ended at the hands of then Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson.

“This year has been so hard. No accountability, no justice. And police are still See BROWN, A6

Photo by Lawrence Bryant

BUSINESS

NEWS

Ferguson still pumping out arrest warrants

Ferguson ‘think tank’

Page B1

Page A8

The city has issued more than 2,300 new arrest warrants so far this year and thousands of older warrants continue to haunt people.

Harris-Stowe forum looks at Ferguson from varying black perspectives

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • AUGUST 13 - 19, 2015

A2

Did Wendy Williams shut down NeNe’s daytime talk show dreams?

Several outlets are reporting than daytime diva Wendy Williams pumped the brakes on a deal for NeNe Leakes to have a television talk THE STUFF THAT HAS PEOPLE TALKING show.

According to LoveBScott.com, the former Lawsuit accuses Nick Gordon of giving “Real Housewives of Atlanta” star was developing the show to air after “The Wendy ‘toxic cocktail’ to Bobbi Kristina Williams Show.”

With both shows being produced by The estate of Bobbi Kristina Debmar-Mercury, the company talked Brown has filed a multimillion-dollar with Williams before moving forward wrongful death lawsuit against her with Leakes’ show. boyfriend, alleging he is responsible Although there were rumors they for the injuries that led to her death didn’t get along, Williams ended up last month. greenlighting Leakes and her The lawsuit filed Friday alleges people to move forward with the Nick Gordon, who shared a show. townhome with Brown in the Atlanta Popular entertainment suburb of Roswell, beat her after an blogger B Scott reported that argument on the morning of January things ultimately fell apart Nick 31, then gave her a “toxic cocktail.” when Williams criticized Leakes It also accuses him of placing her Gordon on her show for defacing face-down in a bathtub of cold water, her Hermes Birkin bag, causing her to suffer brain damage.

LoveBScott.com noted.

The suit seeks at least $10 million.

Leakes responded by Brown, the only child of the late Whitney Houston and singer Bobby Brown, was rushed putting Williams on blast in to the hospital after the incident in January and an open letter in which she called the talk show personality placed in a medically induced coma. She died “Wendell.” in hospice care late last month at age 22.

The two have been bitterly Gordon has never been charged in relation to Brown’s death, and his legal team says the suit feuding ever since.

Williams was said to have is “slanderous and meritless.”

backtracked on her approval given DebmarMercury a choice – her or Leakes – compelling them to scrap Leakes’ show.

Terrence Howard takes claims of ex-wife’s sex tape extortion to court Terrence Howard fired the first shot in his legal battle with ex-wife Michelle Ghent Tuesday morning (Aug. 11) by bringing his sister-in-law into court to testify about a threesome sex tape that was allegedly used to extort the “Empire” star out of money.

According to TMZ, Yvonne Howard testified that Ghent said she “had him [Terrence] by the [expletive],” and then claimed to have a tape of Howard having sex with a woman while another woman was present.

The site goes on to note how “odd” it was that the encounter was labeled a threesome in light of testimony referring to only one female being Terrance intimate with Howard while Howard the other female was filming.

The legal action stems from Howard’s efforts to get Ghent’s divorce settlement thrown out of court on the grounds that he signed the settlement under duress.

The entertainer claims Ghent held sex tapes and photos over his head to get a lot more spousal support than she was entitled to

receive.

Despite being married for only a year, Ghent got $5,800 a month for 3 years.

Union urges actor boycott for new Tyler Perry play Deadline.com is reporting that Tyler Perry’s new stage play “Madea on the Run” has been put on the Actor’s Equity “do not work” list.

The union is taking it a step further with telling its members that those who work on the show will face disciplinary action.

Actors Equity isn’t the only union with Perry on its bad side. Despite the fact that it doesn’t represent stage actors, SAG-AFTRA is taking a page out of Actors Equity’s book with telling its members not to work “Madea on the Run.” SAG-AFTRA’s reason for the boycott involves a reciprocal agreement with Actor’s Equity known as Rule 9. Under the agreement, SAG-AFTRA members will not work on productions that are on Equity’s “do not work” list.

If the members violate Rule 9, SAG-AFTRA stated that it would be considered “conduct unbecoming a member.”

“Madea on the Run” is currently on a national tour around the county as producers for the play have yet to comment on the situation with the unions.

Sources: TMZ.com, Deadline.com, Variety. com, Eurweb.com, LoveBScott.com

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ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • AUGUST 13 - 19, 2015

A3

Slay picks seven people to investigate police misconduct Activist group praises ‘diverse set of nominees’

By Rebecca Rivas Of The St. Louis American As the world turns its attention back to the St. Louis region this week, Mayor Francis G. Slay has selected the seven members of the Civilian Oversight Board, that will review and investigate complaints of police misconduct in St. Louis city.

Last year, the Ferguson movement pushed the issue of police accountability to the forefront, aiding the advocates who have been fighting for decades to get legislation passed regarding civilian oversight of police.

The mayor has the final say regarding who sits on the board, according to the law passed by the city’s Board of Aldermen on April 20. However, Slay’s administration met with advocates, aldermen and police union representatives to select members who represented various backgrounds.

The board – which is majority female and people of color – includes three current or former lawyers, two community activists, an Equal Employment Opportunity investigator and a small business owner.

Slay said the slate is impressive and reflects the diversity of the city.

“They must be fair to citizens and to police and must protect their rights, ensuring that civilians have a role in our police department, and increasing transparency,” Slay said at a press conference held at his office on August 6.

The members:

Photo by Wiley Price

Front row: Heather Highland, District Six nominee (Wards 14, 15, 20, 25); Ciera Simril, District One nominee (Wards 2, 3, 21, 27); Jane Abbott-Morris, District Two nominee (Wards 5, 6, 18, 19). Back row: DeBorah Ahmed, District Three nominee (Wards 1, 4, 22, 26); Stephen Rovak, District Seven nominee (Wards 10, 23, 24, 28); Mayor Francis Slay; Lawrence C. Johnson, District Four nominee (Wards 7, 8, 9, 17); and Bradley T. Arteaga, District Five nominee (Wards 11, 12, 13, 16).

Ciera Simril, 27, is a U.S. Bank teller and community activist in the 27th Ward.

Her alderman, Chris Carter, recommended her for the position. Simril, who is African-American, said she facilitated the neighborhood ownership model since 2011 in the North Pointe Walnut Park East and Walnut Park West neighborhoods. She also received the Neighborhood Star, an award from police and the Circuit Attorney’s Office, for acting as an intermediary between police and neighborhood residents who were afraid to speak to officers. A University of Missouri St. Louis graduate, Simril interned with The St. Louis American and has written several columns on community issues.

Jane Abbott-Morris, 64,

who is African-American, has been an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) specialist and investigator for 36 years, running her own business, Human Resources Select Services. A St. Louis native, she lives in the 6th Ward.

Abbott-Morris helped to write the first EEO statute for the police department. Being from the civil rights generation, she said she would probably be out marching with the Ferguson movement if she were younger.

“I have always been into civil rights and human rights,” she told The St. Louis American. “This is my time to contribute in this way, in this time of my life. It suits my skillset, and I thought I could be an asset.”

DeBorah Ahmed, 59, is co-founder of Better Family Life, Inc. (BFL) and a

longtime leader of community development and the arts.

She currently is serving as an executive director of the BFL Cultural, Educational and Business Center. BFL has been a bedrock for job development in the black community, along with housing development.

Lawrence Johnson, 68, is a former lawyer and a 8th Ward resident. Johnson, who is African-American but has said he rejects identification of people by race, earned his law degree from Boston College Law School in 1975. Now retired, Johnson last worked for the Illinois Department of Human Services as a contracted “impartial hearing officer.” He is past president and current board member of the Shaw Neighborhood Improvement Association and was instrumental in leading

and communicating with his how people in the city should neighborhood during civil live.” unrest.

Stephen Rovak, 67, is a Bradley T. Arteaga, 49, is white corporate lawyer and the owner of Arteaga Photos. a Harvard Law grad. He is Arteaga, who is white, is a a former Judge Advocate board member on the Second General officer, with 30 years District Police Business commissioned service in Association, which provides the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Christmas toys and scholarships Army, retiring from active to the police officers’ children. reserves in 2000 with the rank He is also past president of colonel. He’s the co-chair of the Southtown Business of the Mediation Committee Association and of the St. of the International Institute Louis Hill Neighborhood for Conflict Prevention and Association. He also started Resolution (CPR). CPR’s Eddie’s Southtown Donuts website says it’s a nonprofit on Kingshighway “that helps global Boulevard. n “We are so businesses prevent Arteaga told The and resolve divisive. It’s American that he commercial grew up in North disputes.” not how St. Louis in the Alderwoman Baden neighborhood people in the Lyda Krewson and still stays recommended him city should connected to that for the position. area. Alderwoman By law, the live.”

Donna Baringer, of mayor had until the South Side 16th – Heather August 5 to select Ward, endorsed him.

Highland the seven civilian Heather Highland, oversight board 39, is a criminal members. Now the defense attorney Board of Aldermen for Fredman & will review them Fredman P.C. since and hold a series 2000 and lives in Dutchtown. of public meetings to get the Highland, who is Latina, community’s input on the was recommended by three candidates. The aldermen will aldermen – Megan Ellyia approve seven members on Green, Shane Cohn and Cara November 3.

Spencer, as well as state Rep. Leaders of the Coalition Michael Colona and Associate Against Police Crimes and Circuit Judge Michael W. Repression (CAPCR), who Noble. As a lawyer, she said helped to write the civilian she has deposed and crossoversight legislation, released examined police officers, as a statement upon hearing the well as represented them in mayor’s announcement. cases.

“The pool of over 50 Highland, who is part of Big candidates were of the highest Brothers/Big Sisters of Eastern quality and gave the mayor the Missouri, said she lost her ability to choose a diverse set “little sister” to gun violence of nominees who can represent three years ago in Gravois Park. all the stakeholders of this The gunman is still at large city,” CAPCR leaders stated. because people are afraid to CAPCR posted all come forward with information, the applicants on their she said. Improving the website, http://capcr-stl. relationship between police org. You can click on the and the community is “deeply candidates’ names and view personal,” she said. their applications.

“We are so divisive,” she Follow this reporter on told the American. “It’s not Twitter @rebeccarivas.

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Editorial / Commentary A4

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • AUGUST 13 - 19, 2015

Oath Keepers, the police and us On Monday, August 10, a group of white men identified with the Oath Keepers group strutted through a Ferguson protest carrying assault rifles.

They were not assessed as a threat by police or even checked for gun permits.

Photo by Lawrence Bryant

Our main Ferguson protest reporter called our managing editor on Tuesday, August 11 and said, “You need to call Chief Belmar and you need to tell him that he is going to ruin any progress he made with the community if he lets these Oath Keepers come out to protests in Ferguson carrying assault rifles.”

Our reporter was at the Ferguson protest on Monday, August 10 when a group of white men identified with the Oath Keepers group strutted through the throng of protestors. Belmar was on the scene, but neither he nor any of his officers stopped these heavily armed men to see if they had permits. In effect, their mere presence terrorized many protestors – our reporter said they made her fear for her life – but they were not dealt with as a threat by the chief or his officers. No one would argue that a black man carrying an assault weapon in the same tense situation would have been treated the same way.

“If those had been black men walking the streets of Ferguson with assault rifles, they would have been thrown to the ground and taken into custody,” our reporter said. “But these guys? Nothing. And at this same protest, people were brutally thrown to the ground and placed under arrest for slinging a little water. You need to tell Belmar he is going to lose all the ground he has made in this community if this keeps up.”

We did as she directed. We asked Belmar why he decided not to stop the Oath Keepers group, check their permits, and interview them for a threat assessment. His media coordinator responded with a statement: “The St. Louis County Police Department is going to consult with the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office about the legalities of the issue. Chief Jon Belmar stated, ‘Their presence was both unnecessary and inflammatory.’”

After Belmar checked with his attorneys, he approached the Oath Keepers in Ferguson the following night, August 11, as captured in a video posted on Alex Jones’ YouTube channel.

The Oath Keepers – who had heard, by then, Belmar calling their presence “unnecessary and inflammatory” – said their armed presence was intended to protect a sympathetic reporter, in light of the assaults on several media members at Ferguson protests.

“I get where you guys are coming from, and I get what you stand for. I agree probably with most of it,” Belmar told them. “What I don’t want to have to see is slung exterior weapons.

I don’t want anything provocative to churn this up any more than it is.” He declined to discuss the legality of their presence at protests, insisting instead that it was dangerous and counterproductive to his efforts to keep the peace.

It was an impressive piece of diplomatic tap dancing. However much we might be appalled to hear the chief say he agrees with most of what a militia group stands for, he has a major, volatile dilemma on his hands. If he moves too aggressively in an attempt to restrict their 2nd Amendment rights, he risks the truly disastrous – yet all-too-real – possibility of sparking a second protest movement in Ferguson. Can you imagine both Black Lives Matter protestors and the militia movement protesting the same police at the same time in Ferguson? You had better be sure that Belmar has imagined just that scenario.

Our message to the chief is this. We shared it with him directly, first, via his spokesman: “This is a huge deal. It touches on implicit bias in threat assessment. Belmar should really dive deep into this. If he can figure out and then show the country how to train white cops to objectively assess the threats of young black people – as well as they do grown white people – we will get somewhere.” For if police officers can make a prudent judgment that a white man with an assault rifle at a Black Lives Matter protest does not need to be confronted aggressively, then surely they can be trained to judge prudently when a black person carrying no weapon at all is not a deadly threat. For if there is one thing – other than outright racism – at the heart of this movement, it is the often fatal consequences of implicit bias in police who assess the degree of threat posed by African Americans. This double standard of police conduct represents continued denial of equal treatment under the law for African Americans and other people of color. It is this denial of justice that is at the heart of the fundamental demands of the Black Lives Matter protest movement.

As I See It - A Forum for Community Issues

Why we still protest

By Tiffany Shawn For The St. Louis American Are you wondering (or even being asked), “Why are people still protesting?“ One person said to another (within earshot of a fellow activist Soror), “Oh, it’s all because of the riots from last year,” as if that made even a lick of sense.

Others are saying, “Black people are angry for no reason but they don’t seem Guest Columnist angry over black on black crime,” Tiffany as if only blacks Shawn are in this fight.

And that really does not even deserve a reply at this point in the movement.

But I do think you should keep reading if you really believe that statement.

I’m here to share my reason for continuing to stand up against police brutality and make others aware. These are not back-alley, late at night, in areas unknown situations – they’re happening right under our noses and at times to those we know.

August 10 was Moral Monday (or, as some called it, Resistance Monday). A few actions were put together by local organizers, and a few by clergy who were willing to put themselves on the line to prove to others the church still cares about the downtrodden.

My Jesus wasn’t rich and fancy, looking down on the less fortunate. He was very much

like the people who are treated so wrong now. I’m sure you’ve heard Matthew 25:45, where Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.” Sit still if you want saints.

People of color are continuously being mistreated, rights withheld due to color of skin, and justice not given over and over again. If you won’t stand for them, who do you expect to stand for you?

Police could shoot an unarmed man for a missing headlight, then put a mug shot and all his past irrelevant information across America’s media. And people say, “Oh, well, he did have a prior

n It’s not about one isolated tragedy.

conviction. He must need to be killed.”

Or they could arrest a woman as she asks 10 times why she’s being arrested and the answer withheld. Then, through a course of nasty journalism and horrifying reporting, police and media will turn the victim into the villain by any means necessary.

“She was angry. She should’ve been quiet. You know you aren’t supposed to ask police questions.”

Some are still struggling to see injustice. They don’t see suffering. They don’t see inequality. They don’t

understand what any of this is about. It’s not about one isolated tragedy. That one tragedy may have hoisted me out of comfort and into the streets, but it’s not the one that keeps me here.

Ella Baker said, “We who believe in freedom will not rest until it comes.” And so people are standing in solidarity today, yesterday and tomorrow with those who are constantly treated as second-class citizens in our country.

How about: “But Tiffany, why are people shutting down highways? That’s why folks don’t like the protesters.

They’re always causing traffic.”

I’ve done it before Moral Monday, on November 25, and I would do it again.

I understand it inconveniences people for a moment, but look at the bigger picture to see others are inconvenienced for life, often for no reason at all except an officer felt like it.

Step out of your comfort zone with how people are treated. It wasn’t you today, but could be you one day.

Even Darren Wilson said he is not sorry for what happened.

He feels completely justified in his actions because white supremacy cuddles him at night. He is one of several reasons we do this for Mike Brown.

On a weekly basis men, women, and children are being killed – more times than not – without probable cause. I only want police to do their job but within reason and within the law.

Commentary

Youth put our lives on the line

By Clifton Kinnie For The St. Louis American Thinking about this day brings about a range of different emotions, from frustration and anger to pain and anxiety. All of our lives changed after August 9, whether you’re involved in the movement or not.

Let us remember that Mike Brown’s life was stolen from him a year ago.

Let us remember that we can never understand the pain that his entire family is going through, for they are hurting more Guest Columnist than any. Let us remember that Clifton this movement Kinnie was started by the lives that were lost and we have to continue saying their names and fighting for them.

If you can’t take part in #UnitedWeFight, set aside some time to remember Mike Brown. Take some time to remind yourself that we still have to fight because we do not live in a post-racial world. Take some time to do some self-care by surrounding yourself with revolutionary love.

Revolutionary love looks like understanding that you have to amplify young voices in the movement. Educators, activists and organizations such as Brittany Packnett, WetheProtestors.org, Millennial Activists United, Hands Up United, Operation Help or Hush, Organization for Black Struggle, Lost Voices, Tribe X and Our Destiny STL have

worked tirelessly to center their work around young people; many of the organizations are led by young people.

When historians look back on Ferguson, they should note that young people stepped out of their homes and daily routines and put their lives on the front line, dominating both the internet and the streets.

We have different roles in this movement. We are each skilled in something. If you don’t know your role in the movement, don’t talk down on those who are doing the work.

For those who critique unjustly: Don’t be on the wrong side of history.

When talking about race, those who don’t experience racism have to get past the

n This movement can have a huge impact on the 2016 presidential and congressional races.

uncomfortable stage and listen.

Segregation and isolation allow for the failure of dominant groups to recognize and understand the violence that communities of color experience.

If you continue to say “all lives matter” in response to someone stating that “black lives matter,” you still don’t get the issue at hand. You still don’t understand that black people are suffering from the trauma of state violence and oppression. You still don’t

understand that police are murdering black women and men at alarming rates. You still don’t understand that black communities are full of human beings with real human emotions.

You can’t tell an oppressed peoples how to behave under an oppressive system. Pay attention to the reasons for why communities like Ferguson and West Baltimore rebel.

People equate a movement with numbers. Just because you don’t see protests every day, doesn’t mean the movement isn’t still happening. The Montgomery Bus Boycott lasted 381 days. The Ferguson Movement has been progressing for 369 days.

Being in tune with electoral politics, the movement for black lives is very locally based. This means that the movement can have a huge impact on the 2016 presidential and congressional races. Any candidate running for president failing to offer up a sweeping program on dismantling structural racism, ending police violence, and overhauling the criminal justice system might as well kiss Oval Office aspirations goodbye.

If racism built America, How do we go about uprooting something that is deeply engraved into its institutions, cultures and values? How do we ensure that kids are learning, instead of being killed by those who are supposed to serve and protect them?

Rest in power, Mike Brown.

Clifton Kinnie (Twitter: @ CliftonKinnie) is a Ferguson organizer and founder of Our Destiny STL and will attend Howard University in the fall.

As I See It - A Forum for Community Issues

We need everyday people to help

By John Gaskin III For The St. Louis American As we mark the one-year anniversary of the tragic death of Michael Brown Jr. and the weeks of civil unrest that followed, many are wondering what’s next on the agenda for progress and reform. This past weekend was an opportunity for everyday people to speak up and speak out about the injustices they face daily.

The Ferguson Commission has released its calls to action, and a number of other groups have highlighted what is desperately needed to move the region forward. But is this enough?

We know what the problems are, and we know how the problems came into fruition.

What we don’t know is how to solve them. We need everyday people to share ideas, even the

The largest weekly newspaper in Missouri 70,000 copies - CAC Audited 100% Independently owned & operated Continuously published, without interruption since 1928

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most far-fetched, because we as a region are truly in a state of an emergency.

Whether you plan to protest, register people to vote, or give back to your community by helping people in need, let us pay it forward and make a difference in each of our communities.

Many have asked about the occasional violence and Guest Columnist looting. As a John leader in this Gaskin III community, I expect that people will focus on one cause: demanding a higher level of accountability and transparency from our elected officials and law enforcement.

A great deal has changed

since Ferguson, yet much still remains the same. The Missouri Legislature has yet to fix Missouri’s cancerous student transfer bill, many municipal leaders still don’t understand that poor people shouldn’t have to fall prey to policing for profit, and the homicide rate in St. Louis continues to rise.

As we mark the one-year anniversary, we must not be bamboozled by additional promises and excuses for the limited progress that has taken place. We as a community must all help to solve the problems of the region and commit ourselves to ensuring a brighter future for our neighborhoods.

John Gaskin III is one of the youngest members of the NAACP National Board of Directors. He is a Ferguson native and an active member of the St. Louis County Branch of the NAACP.

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ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • AUGUST 13 – 19, 2015

We are past time

By state Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal For The St. Louis American

Photo by Wiley Price

All black lives matter

The march in memory of Michael Brown Jr. in Ferguson on Sunday, August 9, the one-year anniversary of his death at the hands of a Ferguson police officer, was attended by a large, diverse group.

Free counseling from Ferguson

Free counseling services are available to individuals in the St. Louis region who continue to feel stressed or traumatized by the unrest in Ferguson.

Interested residents should contact United Way 2-1-1 by dialing 2-1-1 or 1-800-427-4626 to be connected to resources.

In executing its contract with St. Louis County of up to $1 million to help residents impacted by events in Ferguson, United Way of Greater St. Louis awarded $123,750 to six local organizations to provide crisis support

and mental health counseling by trained counselors.

The agencies, which include Betty Jean Kerr People’s Health Center, Catholic Family Services, Crider Health Center, Lutheran Family and Children Services, Provident and Queen of Peace, will provide counseling services with this funding until September 22.

Eligible clients will receive up to seven counseling sessions and are able to select their providers based on their personal preferences. Saundra Barker,

chief program officer at Catholic Family Services suggests individuals experiencing symptoms such as memory problems, anxiousness, aches and pains, moodiness, feeling overwhelmed, eating less and general unhappiness should contact United Way 2-1-1 for help.

Eligibility is based on criteria developed

by St. Louis County.

For more information on United Way’s efforts to help people in Ferguson, visit HelpingPeople.org/ HelpingFerguson.

On July 29, the Post-Dispatch reported, “African Americans in the St. Louis region are more than three times as likely to be in poverty as whites here,” according to a study by the East-West Gateway Council of Governments.

The county executive has said he will have his staff request the data, which they already have because it would be the same data his director of innovation used to compile the 2013 Strategic Plan.

The county executive adopted the strategic plan with other council members on October 29, 2013 in a unanimous vote. The Strategic Plan warned of concentrations of poverty in North County.

Last week, the 2015 State of St. Louis Workforce Report was released focusing on STEM industries. It says, on page 49 at the end of the report, that employers value diversity in the workplace. I am glad they bothered to ask. That question must make somebody feel good, because STEM industries have seen stagnant participation from African Americans and women as a percentage of the industry workers.

Maria We are past the time of people saying they Chappellewant diversity.

Nadal On July 31 the Post reported, “The St. Louis County Family Court deprives juveniles of constitutional rights, treats black youths more harshly than whites and is rife with conflicts of interest,” according to the Department of Justice.

The county executive tweeted that he does not control the courts. Technically true, but their budget does come from St. Louis County, which is currently a share of $26 million – a budget he must submit to the County Council. So, in truth, he must submit a plan to address operations in the court system.

Why he tries to escape from his responsibility to lead is beyond me. After all, money is both the carrot and the stick in government.

We are past the time of corporate Democrats escaping their duties to stand up and resolve problems.

This all follows the July 17 St. Louis Federal Reserve report that of the 150,000 jobs created in their district, 75 percent were low-paying jobs in low-paying industries. Now, St. Louis County is the economic engine for both the state and the Federal Reserve District.

So here we have a problem, which is systemic institutional racism. It’s the modern equivalent of redlining neighborhoods. The black community in St. Louis has limited options for education and employment. And then they have to deal with an injustice system that preys on them.

How many studies do you need before action is taken? Doesn’t any of this suggest that there should be a conversation about the minimum wage? We should start first with raising the minimum wage.

We are past the time to stay silent and not have the conversations that shackle our every decision.

Maria Chappelle-Nadal (D-University City) represents District 14 in the Missouri Senate.

A6

CLERGY Continued from A1

#UnitedWeFight activities collectively organized by several groups to commemorate the one-year anniversary of Michael Brown Jr.’s death.

The demonstration took an even more sobering tone in the wake of another officerinvolved shooting one year to the day from the unarmed teen being gunned down by a Ferguson police officer.

“This action has expanded.

A lot of young people are joining us,” Sekou said.

“They’re gonna be angry, and we’re gonna love them – because, dammit, we’re angry too.”

Clergy and students of faith from various denominations worked together with activists and protest leaders to organize and execute the action, including Rev. Traci Blackmon and Ferguson Commission co-chair Rev. Starsky Wilson.

They planned to march to the Thomas Eagleton Federal Court Building several blocks away in downtown St. Louis and conduct an “anointing” of the building.

After requesting to speak with U.S. Attorney Richard Callahan, members of the clergy planned to present a proclamation and list of demands. Included among them was the disbanding of the Ferguson Police Department.

BROWN

Continued from A1 killing us,” said Erica Garner, daughter of Eric Garner.

She was in attendance, as was the family of Oscar Grant – who was killed by an Oakland transit cop on New Year’s Day 2009.

Erica has become an activist in the wake of her father’s death on Staten Island, which

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • AUGUST 13 – 19, 2015 After reading the proclamation and demands, they would “reclaim the building for sacred justice” and refuse to be moved.

“If you step on the street you could be arrested. That’s just the nature of this work,” Sekou said. “I don’t even wear shoe strings no more, because they’re gonna take them from you when you go to jail. Every time I go outside, I go prepared to go to jail. How many are willing to risk arrest today?”

“Jesus!” Sekou exclaimed, shocked – and thrilled – by the number of hands that were raised.

The crowd came from all over the country – including Baltimore, Cleveland and other areas where unrest had ensued in response to deaths of African Americans at the hands of law enforcement.

“How many of y’all are not from here?” Sekou said, playfully giving a nod to his North City roots with the annunciation of a hard “r” in “here.” “I want everybody who is not from here to raise their right hands and say, ‘I hereby do solemnly swear, when I go back home, we’re gonna turn up.’”

Turn up for the movement, that is. Ferguson is credited with sparking a national movement for black lives.

With the aid of Lisa Fithian, whom Sekou referred to as the “Jedi” of their movement, he was about to teach them how.

“What we are doing is militant, non-violent civil

disobedience,” Sekou said. “It’s about direct action against the state to prick the conscience of the nation and policy makers.”

After briefly being encouraged by Dr. Cornel West and Bree Newsome, who took down the Confederate flag at the South Carolina capitol, they marched to the beat of a few drums through the streets of downtown St. Louis. The reported number of marchers ranged from 100400. Considering that nearly 60 arrests took place, the count was likely on the larger end of the spectrum.

They chanted, “Black lives matter!” and “no justice, no peace.”

Anticipating their arrival, barricades held together by thick chains blocked off the building’s entrance at the top of the steps. Federal officers stood on the other side of the barricade. Their presence ignited fervor within the protesters.

“We who believe in justice will not rest until it comes,” the group harmonized as Blackmon led them in song. Then Kinman prayed over the building and rubbed oil across the stones near the dedication plate.

“Healing in society can only happen when there is equity,” Kinman said. “We are here to ask the Department of Justice to do its job to bring equity in how people are treated – and black lives are treated as if they matter much, much less.”

Several containers filled with oil were passed around as

protesters were encouraged to anoint each other.

“We’ve come to say, ‘Enough is enough,’” said Rev. Karen Anderson, “We won’t quit until the city looks like this gathering.”

The proclamation and demands were jointly read by Anderson, Wilson and other clergy.

“Dear Mr. Callahan, we are all created in God’s image, all equally sacred,” Anderson read. “This belief that has long been betrayed by this nation – beginning with the stealing of black persons into lives of torture and forced labor to build this nation’s economy, and enduring even until today – are systems that continue to

use black bodies for economic gains that place them in greater danger of injury, imprisonment and death.”

After the reading, they hopped the barricades in a motion so swift it seemed choreographed. Then they sat, locked arms and slowly inched towards the door of the building. When they were given a two-minute warning, they stood and walked towards the front door, before sitting and locking arms again.

The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department arrived on the scene and wasted no time placing zip ties on demonstrators and those who were documenting the action without media credentials.

One row at a time, they were lined up and marched off. West, Sekou, Wilson, Rev. Renita Lamkin and well-known Ferguson protestors Johnetta Elzie, DeRay Mckesson, Kayla Reed and Damon Davis were among those arrested. The 56 detainees were cheered on and individually shouted out by demonstrators who remained on the other side of the barricades.

“We do this work out of deep, abiding love,” Sekou said during the training session.

“The kind of love that you are willing to go to jail for what you believe in – the willingness to put your body on the line for what you believe in.”

took place a mere three weeks before Michael Brown Jr. was fatally shot.

Eric Garner’s death was captured on video, though the New York police officer who administered the chokehold that ended his life did not face criminal charges.

“It’s a crisis that’s going on. People like Sandra Bland, Sam DuBose – that shouldn’t happen,” Erica said. “We’re being killed on camera.

Females are dying in jail cells

with no explanation.”

Dr. Cornel West and activist Bree Newsome, who took down the Confederate battle flag at the South Carolina capitol, paid their respects, along with many supporters from Palestine and Yonasda Lonewolf, granddaughter of Minister Louis Farrakhan.

Newsome said she found her courage to take down the Confederate flag by watching protests in Ferguson.

Renowned spoken word

artist Jessica Care Moore moved the crowd – and the Brown family – to tears with poetic tribute. “I see Michael Brown’s face in my son’s eyes every morning when he leaves the house,” Moore said.

As hundreds piled into Canfield Green Apartments, Ferguson protestors were credited with starting a national movement.

“This is sacred ground,” said Rev. Larry Rice. “This was the epicenter of the Black Lives

Matter movement.”

Brother Anthony Shahid, who works closely with the Brown family, was an early protest organizer in Ferguson.

“I’m not speaking to nobody but the street brothers,” Shahid said. “I want to give acknowledgement to them for starting this up. If it wasn’t for these youth in these streets, none of us would be out here.”

They observed four-anda-half minutes of silence to symbolize the hours that Michael Brown Jr.’s body lie dead in the street.

Before he lapsed into silence, Brother Shahid said some choice words for those who speak against the protest movement.

“We’re not anti-police, so don’t try to get that off – I’ve got brothers in my family that are police,” Shahid said.

“We’re talking about people like Darren Wilson – who are shooting us down in the streets and stripping us of our human rights.”

Shahid promised to commence silence at 12:02

– the moment that Michael Brown Jr. was killed – but continued to make his feelings known until the very last second.

“What’s the lion’s name – Cecil? Cecil got treated better than us,” Shahid said. “Y’all wanna tell us about being peaceful, you be peaceful. You the ones shooting us down.”

Following the silence, they marched to Greater St. Mark Family Church, which has provided sanctuary to the Ferguson movement since August of last year.

Michael Brown Sr. led the second march in memory of his son in as many days. Through his pain and tears, he showed pride that his community and indeed the world refused to allow his son’s death to be in vain.

“Y’all made this happen,” Michael Brown Sr. said. “Y’all are my new world.”

Mariah Stewart’s work appears as part of a partnership between The American and The Huffington Post.

#UnitedWeFight

Photo by Lawrence Bryant

Protestors carried a banner with #UnitedWeFight, the hashtag for the Ferguson Commemoration weekend, during a march in honor of VonDerrit Myers Jr. and Cary Ball Jr. on Saturday, August 8.

A7

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • AUGUST 13 – 19, 2015

Photo by Lawrence Bryant

Motorists looked down Interstate 70, near 270 and the Blanchette Bridge, on Monday, August 10, when Millennial Activists United organized a highway shutdown that lasted for about 30 minutes. Police made 64 arrests. The actions was part of Moral Monday, a day dedicated to civil disobedience in remembrance of Michael Brown Jr.’s death and of all those who have died at the hands of police. The bridge to St. Charles was chosen as a symbol of white flight.

I–70

Continued from A1 At Monday’s action, about 10 individuals were arrested on the highway. However, the others were arrested when they were in a church parking lot on the way to their cars – including legal observers, livestreamers and medics who did not participate in the action. Some were pulled out of their vehicles.

When asked why, a County Police spokesman said, “The individuals were arrested for their actions prior to our arrival. Protestors were still blocking highway traffic, along with obstacles in the roadway, when law enforcement showed up to the scene.”

Rachel Bean, 28, who runs a homeless shelter in Minneapolis, said she was among 10 people who consciously decided to get arrested. But the others were trying to comply with the police, who told demonstrators that if they left the highway they would not be arrested, she said.

BALLOON Continued from A1

American and a Latina – acted as anchors as they raised the 40-foot banner up with two helium-filled weather balloons.

Two young black men served as their supports.

“We are not attaching the banner to anything,” Vega said.

“We are not trespassing or vandalizing. People fly kites in federal parks all the time. Ours just happens to be 10-foot by 10-foot weather balloons and a huge banner.”

With the banner flying during lunch hour, many people took cellphone shots and some stopped to ask questions. National Park rangers stood by calmly and did not interfere.

Jessie Sandoval, who acted as one of the banner’s anchors,

“Several protestors made the choice to participate in an act of civil disobedience in the name of black lives,” she said, “but a lot of people didn’t get to make that choice.”

It took until 6 p.m. on Tuesday to finish processing and releasing the entire arrested group, said Lieutenant Pervis Jones, a supervisor at the St. Louis County Justice Services, which processed all arrests.

Action leaders arrested again Alexis Templeton and Brittany Ferrell – who lead the Ferguson protest group Millennial Activists United and organized the highway action – arrived in Clayton around 5 p.m. Tuesday to support those who were being released. And they were arrested again.

Friends who were nearby when the married couple was arrested said three officers identified Templeton when she was standing on the plaza.

When Ferrell went to talk to the officers, she was also taken into custody.

Templeton and Ferrell were

said they planned the action for months.

“The banner is not only a visual spectacle,” she said, “but it’s also an invitation for people to get involved in this movement and to bring together their own families and communities to have discussions.”

A group of about 12 activists purchased a “balloon banner drop” kit from the Ruckus Society, a network of non-violent action coordinators and workers based in Oakland, California. A direct-action coordinator with Ruckus also traveled to St. Louis to train them for the action. Some group members acted as legal liaisons, who would talk with police or authorities to explain their action.

“Ruckus had a huge role,” said Alisha Sonnier, president of the activist group Tribe X that also helped plan the action.

both arrested at the Monday action. Templeton was released without being charged because her arresting officer could not be identified, sources close to her said. Ferrell received the same charge as the others arrested and was released at 2 a.m. on Tuesday.

Their arrest in Clayton on Tuesday was the result of new charges. Templeton was charged with three misdemeanors – assault, trespassing and peace disturbance, St. Louis County Prosecutor Bob McCulloch announced on August 12, following the police investigation. Ferrell was charged with a felony – property damage in the first degree – as well as trespassing and peace disturbance.

McCulloch said all charges are related to the highway shutdown. During the protest, one car drove through about 10 individuals. (See The American’s video of the incident on stlamerican.com.)

“Templeton is accused of punching the victim as our victim attempted to drive past the defendant,” the charges read. The victim suffered an

eye injury as result. Ferrell kicked the victim’s car as she passed causing nearly $5,000 in damage.”

Ferrell’s bond was set at $10,000.

The couple’s attorney, Aaron Banks, said his attempts to speak with his clients have been denied, along with attempts from lawyers Denise Lieberman and Jerryl Christmas. The police told Banks that the women did not invoke their right for their attorney.

However, Banks has spoken with Templeton and Ferrell, who said they were questioned for hours and repeatedly asked for legal counsel.

Banks said police wanted his clients to tell them the names of the people who organized the action.

“We all know they are being targeted,” Banks said. “They are high-profile activists. They are being targeted because they don’t want us to be there. They want us to go away.”

On Tuesday afternoon on Twitter, Ferguson activist Johnetta Elzie asked people to call St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar to demand

n “The banner is not only a visual spectacle, it’s also an invitation for people to get involved in this movement.”

– Jessie Sandoval “As an organizer, I need to make sure that everyone who is participating in this action is completely comfortable.

Ruckus’ role is to help people feel that security in knowing that I’ve been trained by someone who does big actions like this for a living.”

Charles Long, the Ruckus trainer, said the society works to enhance what communities and activists are already doing.

“We are a magnifying glass around helping communities focus their energies and directed at their targets,” Long said.

In terms of the required skill sets, the balloon banner drop is

on the low end of what Ruckus pulls off, he said.

that they release the I-70 protestors.

The police department responded to her on Twitter, saying, “I-70 protesters with misdemeanor charges are not in jail. They were not held. Thx.” That started an uproar among those who were arrested. One AfricanAmerican woman, Autumn Griffin (@msAutumnMarie), tweeted that police held about 40 of the protestors from 5:30 p.m. on August 10 to late afternoon on August 11. She told The American that she was in handcuffs for more than 13 hours, until 4 a.m.

Bean (@colocha_rachel) said she was in handcuffs for 15 hours and held for 22 hours total. She was given a “Dixie cup of water” after being there for five or six hours and a bologna sandwich after 12 hours.

She tweeted, “We weren’t in jail because it took 22 hours to be loaded, processed and released.”

Rachel Bean told the American that she was the last one in the group to be processed and was in handcuffs until 8:30 a.m.

“From the jump, there were abusive conditions we were expected to tolerate,” she said, from being held in the extreme heat of the police buses to being denied basic needs at justice services.

Lt. Jones said the group started arriving at the justice services building at 10 p.m., and it is standard procedure for individuals to remain in their handcuffs until after they have seen the nurse and gone through property inventory.

They were released after they signed their paperwork, he said.

Their nurses did not see any injuries that warranted hospitalization in their assessments, he said. There is no time limit that individuals can remain in handcuffs while waiting to be processed, Lt. Jones said.

Herbert L. Bernsen, director of St. Louis County Justice Services, told The American that his team processed the group “correctly and smoothly, as far as we are concerned.”

“Ruckus does a lot of climb trainings and blockade trainings, which is literally how to block something from happening,” Long said. “That involves some welding and some other tactics and skillsets that involve a little more training time.”

For The Artivists, it was a

more complex action.

“A year ago we didn’t know what an art build was or how to organize it,” Vega said. “But now we are taking on more complicated kinds of actions because we want people to pay attention. We think that art is a conduit to doing that.”

Follow this reporter on Twitter @rebeccarivas.

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • AUGUST 13 - 19, 2015

A8

Ferguson ‘think tank’

Harris-Stowe forum looks at Ferguson from varying black perspectives

By Chris King Of The St. Louis American

www.stlamerican.com www.stlamerican.com www.stlamerican.com

www.stlamerican.com www.stlamerican.com www.stlamerican.com

Reynaldo Anderson, a professor of communications at Harris-Stowe State University, said the university wants to be the St. Louis region’s “think tank for issues of concern to the African-American community” while introducing its Ferguson forum on August 9, one year to the day after the death of Michael Brown Jr. In this event, ambitiously divided into a series of four panels, Harris-Stowe delivered as a think tank.

The forum’s 17 panelists, all of them African-American (and Anderson himself, in the role of moderator), looked at Ferguson and the resulting Black Lives Matter movement from a wide range of perspectives.

The forum at the region’s only HBCU was one of those “black spaces” the movement consistently claims for itself, and within it there was plenty of space for disagreement and challenge.

Johnetta Elzie, a wellknown Ferguson protestor and organizer, called out the NAACP (and other unnamed middle-class black organizations) for not coming to the protestors’ aid “until it was sexy.”

“Where were you last year when it was late at night?”

Elzie asked, knowing full well she was speaking in a black middle-class space.

Elzie challenged Miranda Jones, a vice president at Better Family Life, when Jones said their agency also works on “black-on-black” crime as an issue. “’Black-on-black crime’ is the language of white supremacy,” Elzie told Jones.

Jazminique Holley, a recent graduate of Harris-Stowe, gave that knife another twist when she defined “respectability politics” as “trying to fit in with

Photo by Wiley Price

Attorney Shira Truitt, Black Lives Matter organizer Johnetta Elzie, Treasurer Tishaura Jones and Better Family Life VP Miranda Jones participated in the Civic Panel at Harris-Stowe State University’s “Ferguson: The World One Year Later” forum on August 9. white supremacy.”

Elzie’s colleague, the nowiconic DeRay Mckesson, attended the forum without speaking on a panel. Elzie and Mckesson had stepped out of the university’s Emerson

still unraveling all of that.”

Yah Ammi, an activist and poet, said, “Media-hungry people were paid under, over and across the table,” claiming outside money was responsible for “dismantling the

n “Some people were elevated and their voices were amplified for competing agendas, not necessarily for our agenda.”

– Nyrota Uhuru

Performance Center to use their phones when the following Activists Panel got edgy. These activists criticized unnamed people in the movement by accusing them of selling out for money and media fame.

“Outside money came in and was very disruptive,” said Nyrota Uhuru, a St. Louisarea blogger. “Some people were elevated and their voices were amplified for competing agendas, not necessarily for our agenda,” Uhuru said. “We are

movement.”

The indicted groups and individuals were not named, but Hands Up United was formed in Ferguson by organizers who came from New York, and George Soros has been identified as the largest single source of outside funds for the movement. Ferguson activist Larry Fellows, speaking on the same panel, made a point to a correct a media report that Soros had funded him and to justify how he spent what funds

he did raise from social media.

“It was to sustain other people,” Fellows said.

Fellows said there is a role in funding social justice movements, in order to get young activists like Clifton Kinnie “tools and resources,” which were sorely lacking in the early days of Ferguson unrest.

“We did it ourselves,” Fellows said. “It was guerilla activism.”

The forum also included Political and Faith-based panels with more seasoned members of the community. Mike Jones, who has held senior positions in St. Louis city and county government and now serves on The American’s editorial board, spoke the language of the youth movement, while also pointing out an area where he thinks it needs to grow.

“Every problem that Black America faces is systematic and structural – it’s about the relationship between us and white supremacy – and to address those problems takes long-term struggle,” Jones said.

“I have not seen that level of structure in this movement.”

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • AUGUST 13 - 19, 2015

Ferguson Commission promised final draft report by August 28

Photo by Wiley Price

Ferguson Commissioners Daniel Isom, Brittany Packnett and Rose Windmiller enjoyed a light moment at its August 7 working meeting.

Members of the Ferguson Commission will have a final draft of the commission’s report to review by August 28, they were told at a working meeting on Friday, August 7 by Nicole Hudson, communications consultant. Hudson said the report will be published digitally first, with a print edition to follow.

She said writers preparing the report would follow a few guidelines. The report will be “story-based and humancentered, to help people understand how policy impacts their day-to-day life.” There will be a “visual narrative” to help readers follow the policy issues. And the report will “reflect the interconnectedness, breadth and diversity of our community.”

Hudson spoke following the commissioner’s ratification of a set of “signature priorities” for calls to action. She both raised her arms as if cheering and sang the word “calls” to express her satisfaction at the clearing of that hurdle. “Now,” she said, “we can start narrative building.”

Commission co-chair the Rev. Starsky Wilson pointedly reminded his fellow commissioners and Hudson of another core priority, saying the commission “voted unanimously for the lens of racial equity” to inform the report, including its data base.

“For example, if we are illustrating a call to action about in-school suspensions, we need data on in-school suspensions broken out by race,” Wilson said.

The signature calls to action were broken into sections: Citizen-Law Enforcement Relations (the most extensive section), Municipal Courts & Governance, Child Well-Being and Educational Equity, and Racial Equity.

Racial Equity has only one call to action which, in effect, embraces the commission’s mission: “Intentionally apply a racial equity framework to existing and new regional policies, initiatives, programs and projects in order to address and eliminate existing disparities for racial and ethnic populations.”

Gov. Jay Nixon appointed the 16-member commission on November 18, on the eve of the grand jury decision in the Darren Wilson case. Of course Wilson, at the time a Ferguson police officer, shot and killed unarmed teen Michael Brown Jr. on August 9, sparking months of unrest that provoked Nixon to form the Ferguson Commission.

“The charge was to address the underlying root causes that led to the unrest in the wake of Michael Brown’s death,” the commission notes on its site, “and to publish an unflinching report with transformative policy recommendations for making the region stronger and a better place for everyone to live and to guide the

community in charting a new path toward healing and positive change.”

This working meeting, held at St. Louis Community College’s Center for Workforce Innovation in Ferguson, came just two days before the oneyear anniversary of Wilson’s fatal shooting of Brown, as Ferguson was beginning to fill up with activists and national media. Unlike early commission meetings, which were disrupted by protestors suspicious of or impatient with the official proceedings, the August 7 working meeting was all business. This was the minutia of democracy in action.

“We are trying to hear the voice of the community,” said Commissioner Daniel Isom, former St. Louis police chief and director of Public Safety for the State of Missouri. “We have heard a lot about the accountability and oversight of police.”

And they will hear more yet.

Brittany Packnett, executive director of Teach For American and an active Ferguson protestor, said the work they were commissioned to do will not stop with the publication of their report. “Our young people are telling me,” she said, “that our work is not done.”

Ferguson Commission site: stlpositivechange,org.

Radical and pragmatic Ferguson The Black Lives Matter movement sparked by Ferguson protests one year ago received a close look from the expert eyes of an organizer, a law professor and a political scientist in a panel at the University of Missouri St. Louis on Friday, August 7 organized by anthropology professor Sarah Lacy.

The event, attended by an attentive and engaged crowd of about 75, looked at the movement from radical perspectives, while also asking very basic, pragmatic questions.

Eljeer Hawkins, an activist and union organizer in New York City, spoke to the panel’s title, “Beyond Reform,” by situating the movement in the context of what he described as “a profound crisis in neoliberal finance capitalism.” The ultimate target of his critique was not killer cops, but “the 0.1 percent” – not the 1 percent – that wields political and economic power.

Yet he gave a very direct address on pragmatic matters to what he rightly sized up to be a room full of fellow organizers.

The idea of revolution, he acknowledged, is “more sexy, deeper, more romantic,” but a movement needs to wage local campaigns it can win. “When you fight and win, say, a $15 minimum wage, people get energized,” Hawkins said.

He challenged Black Lives Matters organizers to widen

their base.

“We have to go back into the projects and reach people,” Hawkins said. “How do the grassroots feed the movement, and how does the movement feed the grassroots? We don’t know how to do that yet.”

Dean Spade, an associate professor of law at Seattle University and founder of the Sylvia Rivera Law Project, spoke to the panel’s subtitle, “Beyond Reform: The Limits of Legislating Equality for Black & Brown and LGBTQ+ Liberation.” He warned against bargaining and settling for “purely symbolic laws,” the creation of “false procedures with no teeth,” and “reforms that only affect a small elite.”

“When a change in law is offered as a compromise, we need to ask, ‘Will it help?’”

Spade said. “Or are we being offered a proposed solution that leaves out the most vulnerable?”

Spade’s convictions run, indeed, far “beyond reform,” as the activist attorney selfidentified as a “police, prison and border abolitionist.” But seeking solutions as extreme as abolishing police, prisons and political borders does not mean the movement is wrong to seek individual reforms. “To be an abolitionist,” Spade said, “doesn’t mean we stop seeking incremental change.”

Barbara L. Graham, an associate professor of political science at UMSL, was invited to lend the perspective of the Civil Rights Movement to the new movement sparked by Ferguson. She described the “coordinated strategies” of protest, litigation and economic boycott that succeeded for civil rights activists and urged young organizers to consider whether they can be revised to suit present needs.

Remarkably, she also advised Ferguson organizers to study their contemporary activists from the far right for clues.

“The Tea Party captured the Republican Party through protest, social media and – most importantly – by voting,” Graham said, “especially voting in primaries where the party’s candidate for the general election is chosen.”

Graham quoted from local activist and rapper Tef Poe, at one point, though this same Tef Poe wrote in TIME magazine that he no longer believed in the power of the ballot because he voted for President Barack Obama, yet Ferguson happened on Obama’s watch.

During the voting discussion that Graham inspired, Hawkins noted, “Young people are cynical of the system the way it’s constructed today.”

But Graham was insistent about using the vote in the movement.

“Republicans would not work so hard to suppress the vote,” Graham said, “if it didn’t matter.”

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BACK TO SCHOOL

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • AUGUST 13 - 19, 2015

Where did summer go?

Summer is gone but your money doesn’t have to be

By ConTina May, Alashia Trotter, Kevin Le, and Quinton Le For The St. Louis American

We know around this time of the year, parents are panicking to figure out how they’re going to get school supplies for their children. That’s why we decided to save you a headache this school year. We have info of several organizations that are helping many prepare for this school year.

HSD Back to School FairAugust 14th http://www. flovalleynews. com/hsd-back-toschool-fair-to-beheld-at-st-louismills-on-august-14 Saint Louis County Library Another back-to-school giveaway will be on August 24th at 3:00 p.m. Natural Bridge Branch. http://www.slcl.org/ content/county-library-offers-back-schoolprogram 10 ‘Must Have’ Supplies For High School FlashDrive, 3-ring binder, pocket folders, pocket dictionary, spiral notebooks, locker organizers, colored pens, pencils, graph paper, highlighting markers

10 ‘Must Have’ Supplies For College (Freshman)

school books, one notebook for each class, one or two highlighters, stapler pencils, graphing calculator, Scissors, 3 hole puncher, small package of post-its, one box of pens Need to Purchase Books?

Visit these sites! www.amazon.com Amazon get customers the option to buy, sell, or rent their textbooks while usually being cheaper than textbooks from school.

Amazon features new, used, and rental books. It’s also a great way to save money if you’re planning on selling the books you no longer use. http://www.slugbooks.com Slugbooks is a resourceful website to compare prices of your textbook so you can find the cheapest option. They find your textbook on different websites that sell way cheaper than what your school may be offering. You can sell your textbook from this website as well. www.amazon.com/ prime Amazon Student is a resource Amazon provides for students to get free two-day shipping for six months. The first six months are a free trial and after that trial is over, you are charged an annual membership fee of $49. Not only does

free two-day shipping come with this free trial/membership but a lot of other benefits such as prime instant video titles, prime music, and access to the kindle owner’s music library.

We hope this info about backto-school events has enlightened you to the ways of back-to school savings. May you use these events, websites, lists, and map to your benefit. Everything is better when it’s free or cheaper than usual. The first day of school is approaching faster than you think! Now, get out there and save!

http://www.textbooks.com/ Textbooks helps you buy books for a cheaper price. You can save money from buying books anywhere from 21% to 61% off the original price. http://www.campusbooks.com/ Campus Books comes with a smartphone app that features in-store pickup of books.

Campus Books has 8 million offers for the best deals available. http://www.studentbooktrades.com/ Student Book Trades is a very easy way to get new books. All you have to do is give them the books you already have and a wishlist of the ones you want. http://www.chegg.com Chegg is another website that gives you the option to buy, sell, or rent books. The books you find here are also fairly cheap compared to your average school prices.

Find your place at St. Louis Community College Classes start August 24 Hurry, there’s still time to enroll for the fall semester at St. Louis Community College! Classes start on August 24, so enroll today to get started. We even offer late-start classes in September and October if you need a little more time.

With 15 college-transfer options that are accepted at universities nationwide and more than 100 career programs, St. Louis Community College offers you the opportunity to explore your interests, examine your options, and expand your mind.

The college also offers an ever-evolving array of courses and programs for personal development.

St. Louis Community College employs top professors who work in the classroom to ensure the success of each of their students. The college features career programs in art and design, business, civil and community service, engineering and technology, health and office professions – plus continuing education, and business/industrial training programs.

The value of St. Louis Community College is one of its most unique attributes. All that the college offers come to students at less than one-third the cost of other public universities. This gives students of all ages and backgrounds the ability to obtain a quality education at a price they can afford.

The college’s four campuses – Forest Park, Meramec, Wildwood and Florissant Valley – and multiple learning centers give you the opportunity to pursue an education right in your own backyard. Each campus focuses on the needs and success of its students, ensuring that you leave St. Louis Community College with the skills you will need to succeed.

So what are you waiting for? Visit stlcc.edu/startnow to find your place at St. Louis Community College today.

BACK TO SCHOOL

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • AUGUST 13 - 19, 2015

Riverview Gardens shows progress

Bridge to college

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Photo by August Jennewein

Photo by Wiley Price

A Riverview Gardens School District student picked up a book bag at its recent back to school fair.

58 percent reduction in discipline events in past two years American staff In a recent report to Governor Jay Nixon on the progress of the new St. Louis Regional Collaborative for Education Excellence, Riverview Gardens School District showed an increased enrollment and decreased student transfer participation in the past two years.

Improvements in several areas were also reported showing continued progress for the district, receiving accolades by local superintendents, state and DESE officials.

Riverview Gardens, Normandy Schools Collaborative and a host of districts receiving transfer students, met Tuesday, August 4, to give an update to the governor on cross district partnerships and collaborations meant to ensure continued success and progress for Riverview and Normandy.

Also in attendance were several DESE officials.

Included in the update were enrollment and student transfer numbers, past, current and projected partnerships between districts as well as overall district progress and goals.

Riverview Gardens Superintendent Scott Spurgeon reported on the many successes the district has accomplished noting improvements in the district’s APR up 23.5 points in one year, 58 percent reduction in discipline events in the past two years, $1 million increase in scholarships to over $3

million earned by graduating seniors and increased Advanced Placement offerings to students. Also noted was the district’s receipt of an Apple grant which will provide all students and teachers at the secondary level with iPads.

Enrollment for Riverview Gardens was provided to the governor which showed that students registered in the district for the 20142015 school year rose to 5143 from 4870 the year before. A subsequent August 5th enrollment report for the district shows 5250 students are enrolled for the 20152016 school year with over 50 students currently enrolling each day. The number of families taking part in Central

n Students registered in the Riverview Gardens District for the 20142015 school year rose to 5143 from 4870 the year before.

Registration is projected to continue at that rate until midAugust.

While the focus of the update remained centered on collaborations between districts to benefit students who remained at Riverview Gardens and Normandy, information regarding student transfer was also provided.

Students taking part in the transfer program for Riverview Gardens decreased from 1122 in 2013-2014 to 726 last year.

The number has decreased again by more than 100 to 616 for the upcoming school year.

“Generally speaking, parents have indicated to us that they want their

children to be educated in the communities where they reside,” notes Melanie PowellRobinson, executive director for communications at Riverview Gardens. “Some have heard about the many recent successes in the district and the general positive climate felt on our campuses. We work extremely hard to meet the diverse needs of our community and parents are aware of that. We have great energy and know the word is getting out.”

The governor applauded the progress of the superintendents and indicated the regional collaborative was “on the right track. “During the presentation, the governor repeatedly showed approval for both the progress made and projected, asking several questions for clarification and following with enthusiasm and agreement. “The ultimate goal is to not only get to some number on a state test,” he concluded, “but to save these communities.”

During four intense weeks in June and July, local high school students focused on their futures by taking part in the UMSL Bridge Program’s Summer Academy.

Participants and their parents gathered July 11 for a closing celebration.

UMSL program provides instruction in math, science, writing, career development American staff For more than 30 years, the University of Missouri–St. Louis Bridge Program has served St. Louis-area students by bulldozing barriers to college entry and paving the way for the leaders of tomorrow. The program was founded in 1986 and remains the university’s flagship precollegiate program. It provides comprehensive, yearround, college-access services to local high school students who represent more than 100 public and private schools.

“Bridge works relentlessly in its efforts to ensure that all students are equipped with the skills necessary to attend college,” says Natissia Small, director of precollegiate and multicultural student services at UMSL. The main program components are two academies

for ninth through 12th-grade students. The Saturday Academy will select 600 students to participate this year and runs for four hours the first two Saturdays of the month from October to March. It provides intensive instruction in math, science, writing and career development.

The Summer Academy nurtures students’ skills in the same areas as the Saturday Academy and runs four hours a day, Monday through Friday for four consecutive weeks. More than 250 students participated in the Summer Academy this year. Students in both academies receive professional development opportunities through on-campus career fairs, professional speaker series, panel discussions and leadership development. The Summer Academy program

is for ninth and tenth grade students only.

The program also emphasizes engaged parents.

The Saturday Academy, for example, incorporates workshops for parents on many topics, including effective communication, understanding financial aid and navigating the college admissions process.

“We believe in removing barriers and stumbling blocks for students and parents who are seeking access to higher education,” says Small. “We remain committed to providing college access for every student who desires a college education.”

Applications are now available for the 20152016 Saturday Academy.

Please visit www.umsl.edu/ precollegiate.

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ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • AUGUST 13 - 19, 2015

Marching for VonDerrit and Cary 500 chant ‘No justice, no peace’ in streets of South St. Louis

Actor Omari Hardwick visited with the family of VonDerrit Myers Jr. on Saturday, August 8 when a memorial march in honor of their son and Cary Ball Jr. was organized in the Shaw neighborhood of St. Louis.

By Rebecca Rivas Of The St. Louis American With their arms locked together, the parents of VonDerrit Myers Jr. and Cary Ball Jr. – both young black men who were killed by police – led about 500 people in a march through South St. Louis on Saturday, August 8.

The march was held to remember Myers, who was 18 when he was shot to death in the 4100 block of Shaw by St. Louis policeman Jason Flanery on October 8. Myers’ parents, Syreeta and VonDerrit Myers Sr., were surrounded by other families who lost loved ones in police shootings.

Throughout the march – which went from VonDerrit’s memorial site to the South Grand business district – the families leaned on each other and chanted in unison, “No justice, no peace.”

“I always told him that I wanted to see him become a family man and see what it would be like watching myself all over again,” VonDerrit Sr. told St. Louis American soon after his son’s death. “But unfortunately I feel like I was stripped from that. He was stripped from that.”

He said Saturday’s march was a “movement,” sending a message to the world that their children are being taken by police brutality.

Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce announced in May that Flanery would not be charged, based on physical evidence and witness testimony that VonDerrit Jr. had a gun and fired at the officer first, she said.

From her Shaw home, Javondra Harris, 28, watched

Photo by Lawrence Bryant

as hundreds marched through her neighborhood, led by a marching band, flag girls and cheerleaders.

Harris gathered five children in her family and joined the march at 39th Street and Shaw Boulevard. She said it’s important for the children’s upbringing to see how you build community.

“It brings us back together and gives us a sense of hope again,” she said.

It also inspired her regarding how she and her family can cope with loss and grief, she said.

“We don’t have to remember the loved ones we’ve lost through the tragedy,” she said.

“We could remember them through ways like this and fight for them even though they aren’t here to fight anymore.”

She said the march sends a message to the whole community that “no one is left behind and forgotten about.”

As they neared the end of the march, the crowd chanted, “We’re going to be all right.”

They arrived at a “block party,” organized by the activist group Tribe X. Alisha Sonnier, president of Tribe X, said they held the block party because building community is an important part of the Ferguson movement. In addition to the DJs and free food, Tribe X had organizers ready to inform people about their rights. As part of Tribe

X’s mission, they strive to inform and empower people, she said.

“This weekend there are moments where I felt happy,” like seeing everyone enjoying the block party, she said. “But when I think about why I’m there, sadness hits me, because I wish it didn’t take a death to bring us to those places.”

Before the party started, the crowd extended their fingers to the families on stage and prayed to give them strength. The sight brought many – both on and off the stage – to tears.

The Saturday march was part of the Ferguson Commemoration Weekend, which includes the August 9 anniversary of the Ferguson police killing of Michael Brown Jr. “This weekend means we got a lot of work ahead of us,” said Derek Laney, of the Missourians Organizing for Reform and Empowerment (MORE) which organized the march.

Laney said they have to broaden what they are working for beyond police brutality.

They also must include addressing failing schools and the “prison-industrial complex” among other issues, he said.

“I take this milestone as a challenge,” he said. “We’ve got to keep pushing.”

Follow this reporter on Twitter @rebeccarivas.

Business

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AUGUST 13 – 19, 2015

People On The Move David B. Cade was named the new vice president of Procurement Contracting and Risk Management for Boeing Defense, Space & Security (BDS) Supplier Management. In his David B. new role, he works Cade with Boeing programs to oversee BDS procurement strategies and pricing policy for proper risk management on all U.S. government, international and commercial subcontracts and agreements. He also serves as deputy vice president of Supplier Management.

Fittingly, the protests of the Ferguson Police Department – like this one, with a protestor carrying the American flag symbol for citizen in distress, on August 7 – have also protested at the Ferguson Municipal Court, because it’s in the same building.

Patricia Brown was selected as 2015 PBS LearningMedia Digital Innovator.

She was chosen for her passion and commitment Patricia to innovative Brown teaching practices that integrate digital media and technology in the classroom. She is a teacher at Old Bonhomme Elementary in the Ladue School District. She received a tablet computer and year-long professional development opportunities.

Photo by Lawrence Bryant

Ferguson still pumping out arrest warrants

For many low-income people, it’s a vicious cycle

By Blake Ellis and Melanie Hicken Of CNNMoney A year after the fatal shooting of Michael Brown Jr. sparked a firestorm in Ferguson, the city is still pumping out thousands of new arrest warrants and jailing people over minor offenses, according to an exclusive CNNMoney analysis.

This practice continues despite a scathing report from the Department of Justice in March that found that Ferguson’s police department and municipal court were unconstitutionally targeting low-income and minority residents with tickets and fines for minor offenses – often in pursuit of revenue. The report noted that there were more than 16,000 people (residents and non-residents alike) with outstanding arrest warrants as of the

“I’m tired of Ferguson,” resident Leon Hale said. “It’s the same system.”

end of last year, equivalent to around 75% of the town’s population.

While the police were the ones giving out

the tickets, the DOJ slammed the city’s court for using arrest warrants to squeeze money out of the people least able to afford the fines. Even though there need to be repercussions for people who break the law and ignore their tickets, the DOJ says jail time is far too harsh a punishment for infractions that rarely pose a major threat to public safety.

But in the wake of the DOJ report, CNNMoney found that Ferguson is still at it.

The city has issued more than 2,300 new arrest warrants so far this year and thousands of older warrants continue to haunt people – even as neighboring municipalities are wiping out old tickets or warrants entirely.

See FERGUSON, B2

Urban League national conference coming to STL

By Chris King Of The St. Louis American

Photograph by Margarita Corporan

Michael McMillan, president of the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis; Ambassador Andrew Young; Marc Morial, president of the National Urban League; Mayor Francis Slay, City of St. Louis; Kathleen “Kitty” Ratcliffe, president of the St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission and Michael Neidorff, chairman, Board of Directors of the National Urban League and CEO of Centene Corporation.

League, and Michael McMillan, president of the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis. She credited Mayor Francis Slay and Washington University for their support of the Youth Leadership Summit.

McMillan said that organizers locally had

Annie Magny received an award of $4,000 to continue to grow her business, One Dish Wonders, from The Balsa Foundation. One Dish Wonders is a casserole baking business that provides Annie families and working Magny parents’ nutritious home-cooked meals.

Magny is a graduate of Grace Hill Women’s Business Center. The mission of the Balsa Foundation is to make entrepreneurship accessible – and success attainable – to everyone.

U.S. Rep. Wm. Lacy Clay (D-Missouri) has been appointed to the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources. “This new assignment will provide me with a stronger platform to combat U.S. Rep. climate change, Wm. Lacy protect Missouri’s Clay magnificent natural wonders, and advance the cause of environmental justice, especially in urban areas,” Clay said.

Civil rights group will convene in Baltimore in 2016 and St. Louis in 2017

During its 2015 Gala in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida on Aug. 1, the National Urban League announced it has selected St. Louis as the host city for its 2017 Annual Conference.

Kathleen “Kitty” Ratcliffe, president of the St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission, said the event will bring more than 3,800 attendees to St. Louis. Its Youth Leadership Summit, which will take place concurrently at Washington University, will include approximately 350 young people.

She said the conference and summit are projected to use more than 6,000 hotel room nights, generating an economic impact of $3.2 million in direct spending for the St. Louis region.

She said that a handful of local people had been central to bringing the convention here, particularly, Michael Neidorff, CEO of Centene Corporation and chairman of the National Urban

The Rev. Emanuel Cleaver III was appointed to Missouri’s Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission by Gov. Jay Nixon.

The commission establishes standards The Rev. for peace officer Emanuel basic training, officer Cleaver III continuing education, law enforcement instructors and law enforcement training academies. Rev. Cleaver is the pastor at St. James United Methodist Church in Kansas City.

been working with the National Urban League on a convention bid for the past six months.

“At our national convention, the National Urban League announced that in 2016 the See URBAN, B6

Lydia Huston has completed the requirements for the Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) designation.

As a CFRE, she joins the ranks of fundraisers upholding best practices in nonLydia profit management.

Huston Huston is assistant development director at YWCA Metro St. Louis and an associate minister and co-founder of Open Door Christian Center.

On the move? Congratulations! Send your good professional news and a color headshot to cking@stlamerican.com

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ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • AUGUST 13 – 19, 2015

FERGUSON Continued from B1

But that number, provided to CNNMoney by the state, only tells part of the story. So CNNMoney decided to zero in on the underlying offenses that are leading to these warrants.

Getting this information wasn’t easy. At first, CNNMoney filed a public records request for data showing all offenses that have led to outstanding warrants, which was denied. CNNMoney then turned to a state committee of judges, which ultimately ordered Ferguson to release the city’s court records.

But then the city said it doesn’t store these records digitally and could only make paper copies available.

So CNNMoney analyzed more than 700 pages of paper court dockets from the two most recent months available at the time, April and May. For one Ferguson woman, an old ticket for an expired car registration resulted in a warrant that she didn’t learn about until she tried to renew her license several months ago.

Meanwhile, her neighbor could be arrested at any time because of a ticket she couldn’t afford to pay for having an old, beatup car parked in her driveway.

A St. Louis mail carrier went to court in Ferguson five times to fight a ticket for driving through a stop sign, but he still ended up with an arrest warrant when he was late to pay the fine. And CNNMoney spoke to multiple people who had recently been arrested and taken to Ferguson’s jail after police had discovered their warrants during traffic stops.

“They’re still engaging in racial profiling, still overenforcing and still issuing too many warrants,” said Brendan Roediger, a professor at Saint Louis University School of Law who is representing plaintiffs in two lawsuits against Ferguson over its municipal court operations.

Arrest warrants on the rise Some things have changed amid the scrutiny: Thanks to a new judge, the court is increasingly offering more flexible payment plans and community service options.

Fines for failing to show up to court have been eliminated and others have been reduced, dealing a big blow to the city’s coffers. Police officers are issuing fewer tickets, and a new interim police chief says he wants to help the city turn a corner.

One sign of improvement: New arrest warrants issued this year are down from the same time last year, though five court dates – where hundreds of individual cases would typically be heard – were

canceled during this time.

But the city is ramping up again. In May and June alone, more than 1,000 people were hit with new arrest warrants – making up almost half of all new warrants this year (as of June 30), according to figures provided by Ferguson.

That represents a 20 percent decrease from the same period in 2014 – before the city’s court had come under national scrutiny.

Warrants are issued in Ferguson when someone misses two court hearings or fails to pay their fines in time – which court officials say are used to get people to show up to court.

In CNNMoney’s analysis, minor offenses dominated the dockets, representing nearly 80 percent of the nearly 2,000 tickets that led to arrest warrants in April and May. For example, 37 seat belt citations and 104 speeding tickets turned into arrest warrants in these two months. Meanwhile, nearly 100 tickets were for the most minor of violations: having an overgrown yard or rundown house, playing loud music, parking incorrectly, being out past curfew, displaying a license plate in the wrong way, or walking in the road inappropriately.

This last charge, officially listed as “manner of walking along roadway,” was highlighted by the DOJ in its report, which cited an example of one man who received a ticket after dancing in the street. The report said 95 percent of the people cited for this offense in recent years were African-American.

In contrast, around 14 percent of these citations were for more serious violations like possession of marijuana, stealing less than $500 or driving under the influence.

(Because municipal courts don’t handle felony offenses like murder or rape, this is about as serious as it gets.)

Another 6 percent of the tickets that became warrants were related to disrespecting the police. The DOJ report found that charges like these had been repeatedly given unlawfully and were often triggered when people complained about police conduct. Others are likely linked to last year’s protests.

Vicious cycles Among the most common offenses: lack of car insurance, driving on an expired or suspended license, and outof-date car registration. And while driving without these necessities is obviously a problem, legal advocates say tickets like these should not result in jail time and are often a symptom of poverty.

For many low-income people, it’s a vicious cycle: Out-of-date license plates make them an easy target for a

holding people for days when traffic stop. If someone lacks they can’t afford bail, instead car insurance, which can be limiting jail time to 12 hours. prohibitively expensive for But even a single day behind low-income drivers who often bars is enough to cost some get charged higher rates – that people their jobs – not to can easily lead to another mention serious emotional ticket. trauma.

And that’s just the Vincent Sadler, for example, beginning. was locked up in Ferguson’s During a single traffic stop, jail for 12 hours in June it’s not uncommon for multiple after being pulled over for other charges to be tacked improperly passing another on for offenses like a broken vehicle. He says the arrest headlight, failure to pass stemmed from tickets he emission standards, or objects received in 2011 for expired hanging near the windshield. car registration and a defective CNNMoney’s analysis found windshield. He says he tried dozens of people with warrants to pay the fine the same year, out for their arrest who had but the city said it was late and received tickets like these. sent back his payment, telling Failure to address any of him that an arrest warrant had these tickets right away can already been issued. cost a person driving privileges A Ferguson until the fines are spokesman said that settled. Or too n The DOJ Sadler has received many tickets can slammed the a number of other result in a license Ferguson tickets as well – suspension even if the fines are paid. court for using many of which have Either way, driving arrest warrants been dismissed.

He also noted that to work can spark to squeeze Sadler’s payment a whole new ticket money out of was returned for driving on a because it wasn’t suspended license. the people correctly filled out “You are just least able and was for the punishing someone to afford the wrong amount. for being poor,” fines.

At a recent Roediger said.

Ferguson court The court says hearing, where the that it’s simply judge sentenced following the law, him to 20 hours of community and that the warrants it issues service for the old ticket, could be avoided if people Sadler told CNNMoney he showed up to court. If a ticket isn’t paid, a court appearance is was just glad to finally put the ordeal behind him. required to contest the charge Leon Hale says he spent or to ask for payment options a day behind bars earlier -- and some tickets require a this summer over two traffic trip to court no matter what. tickets he received more than Of course, some people flout four years ago for driving the law and skip their hearings on a suspended license and with little thought. But many not having insurance. At the who don’t have the money most recent court date, he to pay their tickets say they told CNNMoney he had been are terrified that they will be hoping to get the charges immediately locked up if they dismissed but was put on a $50 appear in court. a month payment plan instead.

Ferguson said it applied the $200 Hale spent on bond How tickets turn toward his total fines of $304 into jail time – leaving him with a balance of $104.

On their own, these tickets “I’m tired of Ferguson,” he typically wouldn’t be punished by jail time. But once a warrant said. “It’s the same system.”

Residents, is issued, arrest is city officials and a real possibility. n Ferguson law enforcement And the threat of has issued alike desperately arrest can last for more than want to move on. years.

2,300 new But critics say In June alone, more than 50 arrest warrants this can’t truly happen until the people were taken so far this city reckons with to Ferguson’s jail its past by wiping after arrest warrants year and thousands of out all outstanding were issued for warrants and old missing court or older warrants tickets entirely failing to pay fines, continue to like some of its according to jail haunt people. neighbors. records requested “A payment plan

by CNNMoney. In is not the answer,” these cases, it was said local attorney unclear what the Sheila Stuart. “The answer is to original offenses were. wipe the slate clean.”

Some people are arrested Ferguson is currently solely because a police officer allowing anyone with a warrant ran their license plate and to come forward without being found an active warrant. arrested and letting them pay Others end up in jail after their fines or plead their case to some other minor traffic stop. the judge But critics like Stuart Ferguson says it’s no longer say that because of the distrust in the court system that has brewed for years, convincing people to show up is not an easy task. Meanwhile, many are unaware that this amnesty option even exists. And those who don’t show up are still facing arrest.

Other towns have gone much farther to start anew.

Immediately after the release of the DOJ report, the town of Dellwood announced

it would eliminate a big chunk of old warrants and fines.

Meanwhile at the end of May, nearby Beverly Hills stopped issuing any warrants for people who missed court. In July, the City of St Louis wiped out tens of thousands of old warrants.

But for now, Ferguson’s mayor doesn’t think a mass cancellation of warrants makes sense. But he notes that the decision is up to the judge.

Haunted by warrants In Ferguson, resident Veronica Ortega is one of the many people who would be helped by a clean slate. Ortega currently lives in constant fear of arrest, all because of an old car that used to be parked in her driveway. Three years ago, after moving to Ferguson from Brooklyn, New York, Ortega bought a used car for $500 so she could learn to drive.

But shortly after bringing it home, she got a warning notice and then a ticket for having a “derelict vehicle.”

She couldn’t afford the $102 fine, and she says an arrest warrant was issued when she missed the payment deadline.

Hoping to get rid of the ticket once and for all, Ortega went to the court on an amnesty day last year when people with warrants could come forward without being arrested. Because she couldn’t afford the fine, she asked to make a small payment toward what she owed but says the judge refused.

“Anyone else would see that [arrest warrant] and think I’m a felon,” she said. “But I’m not a felon -- it’s all over a car.”

Ferguson said that Ortega has a warrant because she has repeatedly failed to come to court. The city said her warrant was withdrawn when she came forward on the amnesty day, but a new one was issued when she missed another hearing.

Her neighbor Sabrina Miller-Floyd has a similar tale.

Back in 2012, Miller-Floyd’s family stopped driving their car because they couldn’t afford to pay for the registration. But she still got a ticket when it was parked outside her house.

Beyond Ferguson Even if Ferguson truly reforms its police department and court system, it is just one of dozens of municipalities clustered together in St. Louis County where critics say policing for profit remains rampant.

Many of these small towns rely heavily on revenue generated by traffic fines, with low-income and minority residents saying they are ticketed unfairly by the police and fined excessively by the municipal courts as a way to boost the cities’ budgets.

As a result, many area residents have multiple tickets and warrants from any number of the roughly 80 towns with municipal courts, making it very difficult for people to clear their names.

Take the case of 27-yearold single mom Marilyn Todd.

She has spent more than a decade and thousands of dollars trying to resolve dozens of traffic tickets in Ferguson and its neighboring towns. The fines started at age 15, when

she drove to work without a driver’s license. With no real family to support her, she says she needed to drive to work to pay the bills.

The tickets started snowballing from there, as she racked up citations for things like lack of car insurance or registration. And when she missed court and didn’t pay her fines, the towns added even more penalties and her debts got even bigger. “I was really young and didn’t have any money,” she said.

At one point, she had too many outstanding warrants to count, from all over St. Louis, and she has been arrested multiple times. Today she is on a number of payment plans and working with a lawyer to settle her debts, but she is still haunted by the few warrants that remain.

“I do my best at trying to stay out [of jail], stay free, and make payments,” said Todd.

‘Hope for the future’ A national research group called the Police Executive Research Forum noted in a May report that it has never before seen the level of policing for profit – facilitated by both the police departments that give out the tickets and the courts that enforce them – that is pervasive in large swaths of St. Louis County.

“The role of police is to protect the public and to work with local communities to solve problems of crime and disorder – not to harass residents with absurd systems of fines and penalties, mostly for extremely minor offenses,” the research group stated.

In the hope of keeping traffic stops from being used as revenue generators going forward, a new state law signed by the governor last month and being enacted in stages will slash the amount of money that towns like Ferguson can rake in from traffic fines. It also has provisions aimed at keeping people from ending up behind bars or losing driving privileges if they can’t afford fines.

But some say this doesn’t go far enough, pointing out that many towns may focus on housing violations like a rundown home or overgrown yard in order to make up some of the lost revenue – since nontraffic offenses aren’t covered by the law’s revenue cap.

Another concern is that the law will be nearly impossible to enforce across so many tiny jurisdictions. The Ferguson Commission, a group of local leaders tasked by the state with crafting a plan for court reform, is among the loudest voices calling for the elimination of these small courts altogether, suggesting instead that they be folded into the county’s court system. The group is also calling for a mass cancellation of problematic warrants.

“In order to move forward, there is an urgent and compelling need ... to acknowledge and confess that past practices were clearly wrong,” the Ferguson Commission has urged. “It is a very necessary step for healing and reconciliation, and for providing hope for the future of law and justice in our state.”

Edited slightly for length.

The St. Louis American is a CNN Wire affiliate.

“I would have called him (Enemkpali) upstairs to give him a contract extension.”

– Willie McGinest, after hearing IK Enemkpali broke Geno Smith’s jaw

Sports

INSIDE

Two former Mizzou Tigers spiraling out of control ~ See ‘SportsEye’ page B4 ~

B3

AUGUST 13 – 19, 2015

Rams Roundup With Palmer L. Alexander III

Politics frolics with sports on new stadium

junior commissioners or helping out at the concession stand,” Nixon said.

“This project represents another example of how public and private partners are working together to build a brighter future for kids, families and communities in the region.”

It’s been quite a week for the St. Louis Rams and their fan base. The turnout for open practices have been good. Fans are feeling good about the Rams and the potential of them staying for good.

On August 4, Judge Crawley ruled in favor of the St. Louis Stadium Task Force. It was another step forward in order to secure the financing for new stadium on the riverfront.

The team of Dave Peacock and Bob Blitz was pleased with the outcome, as well as Governor Jay Nixon.

“My task force partner Bob Blitz deserves a great deal of credit for today’s result,” Peacock Palmer L. said in a statement.

Alexander “Bob’s commitment to the stadium project is impressive and his work on this matter, along with other members of our legal team, was extraordinary. The court’s opinion is a victory for a bold and promising future for the NFL in St. Louis and the continued rebirth of our downtown.”

Not everyone was happy about this decision. St. Louis University law professor John Ammann, who filed a suit seeking a public vote before public investment, commented: “A terrible day for local democracy.” Amman pledged to appeal the ruling.

Mayor Francis Slay said he was also disappointed in the ruling, which was puzzling to me. When I interviewed his former chief of staff Jeff Rainford earlier this year, he said: “It’s part of being a big city and it’s also a part of our identity.

We embarked on this to make sure St.

See FIELD, B5

See RAMS, B5

The Mathews-Dickey Bob Russell Park will undergo a multiple-phase transformation with plans to add several fields, one MajorLeague style field, one multi-purpose style field, and a new facility for the concession stand and restroom.

Play ball!

In North County

$250K in tax credits will upgrade crumbling Mathews-Dickey ballfield American staff Addressing the 2015 ‘Say Amen’ fundraiser for the Mathews-Dickey Boys’ & Girls’ Club, Gov. Jay Nixon announced that $250,000 in tax credits will be available to help the club raise $500,000 in donations to fund the transformation of the MatthewsDickey Bob Russell Park in North

n An estimated 50 youth will have the opportunity each year to participate in the park’s Earn & Learn program, to help youth understand the workforce.

County St. Louis. The project that is expected to benefit 3,500 children and adults once complete.

“This new park will give

young people in North County the opportunity to compete in afterschool athletics and also earn a paycheck working as umpires,

In The Clutch With Ishmael H. Sistrunk

Show-Me another I-70 Series

Cardinals, Royals on pace to meet in World Series for the first time in 30 years

It’s been thirty years since on the awful, disgusting and the small-market St. Louis terrible call by Denkinger that Cardinals and Kansas City cost the Cardinals Game 6 and Royals were simultaneously another world championship. the center of the baseball St. Louisians have always universe. In 1985, the two suffered from an immense Missouri teams met up in the inferiority complex. So it was infamous I-70 series, only natural that (still named for the highway to this day) we refuse that divides the two to anoint those Royals Show-Me State cities as the better team. The by approximately only way the Royals four hours. The short would beat us is by travel time and easy cheating. Period. access helped to build In recent years, incredible levels of I have let go of my excitement in both resentment of the towns. Despite winning Ishmael H. Royals and the ’85 101 games and the series (and all things Sistrunk infectious buzz of the Kansas City). Maybe Cardinals’ “The Heat is On” my forgivingness was fueled campaign, Ozzie Smith, Willie by compassion. After all, since McGee and the Redbirds were 1985, the Cardinals have been cheated defeated in seven to the World Series five times, games by the Royals and winning two. The Redbirds umpire Don Denkinger. have been to the playoffs 13 Losing to the Royals, an times, including 11 times immensely talented team, over the past 15 years. On the but historically subpar other side, the Royals have franchise, was difficult for been mired in mediocrity. Last many STL fans to get over. season was not only the first We immediately wiped our time the Royals advanced to memories of the 11-0 Game 7 the World Series since 1985, it drubbing like Will Smith in was the first time the franchise “Men in Black” and fixated made it back to the playoffs!

n Since 1985, the Cardinals have been to the World Series five times, winning two. The Redbirds have been to the playoffs 13 times, including 11 times over the past 15 years.

The St. Louis Cardinals and Kansas City Royals are running on full cylinders as the top teams in the NL and AL try to jockey into position for a rematch of the 1985 World Series.

Maybe my compassion is really more selfish and sinister.

A competitive Royals team

means the Cardinals could finally extract revenge. Sure, the titles, sustained excellence,

“Best Fans is Baseball” designation and the Cardinal Way are fulfilling, but there’s

still nothing more American than good old-fashioned get back.

Right now, both the Cardinals and the Royals are poised to get back to the World Series. Each team leads its respective league in the standings. The Cardinals have had the best record in the major leagues for nearly the entire season. The team currently sits at 72-40 and will almost certainly finish the season with at least 100 wins for the first time since 2005. The Royals have ruled the American See CLUTCH, B5

B4

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • AUGUST 13 – 19, 2015

SportsEye With Alvin Reid

Two former Mizzou Tigers spiraling out of control

It has been a tough two said they could not prove that weeks for former Missouri the New York Jets lineman Tigers football stars Sheldon knew his behavior was putting Richardson and Aldon Smith. the kid in danger.

Let’s start with Richardson, In other words, he former Gateway Tech football didn’t realize speeding and standout and graduate. It was overpowering marijuana odor disclosed that on July 14 and loaded gun could be a Richardson was flying down danger to his young relative.

I-64 near St. Charles at If this isn’t ridiculous speeds up to 143 mph enough, Richardson met in his 2014 Bentley the New York media Silver Spur. His three on July 29. It was the passengers, who are first time he spoke to related to him, included reporters since the NFL a 12-year-old boy. suspended him for the Oblivious to the first four games of the fact that driving twice 2015 season for failing a the speed limit on a substance abuse test. If Alvin highway is dangerous you guessed marijuana Reid and foolhardy, was the culprit you Richardson led police would be correct. on a brief chase that, once In order to be suspended, he left the highway, included you have to fail multiple tests him allegedly driving around during your career so this is not stopped vehicles.

Richardson’s first F on a drug Once he was stopped, test. police said the car After saying the smelled heavily obligatory “I take n By the way, of marijuana. A full accountability Car and Driver loaded handgun for my actions, I lists the price was also found. apologize to my No weed of Richardson’s teammates and was located, so the organization,” car at about Richardson is not Richardson laid it $204,000. facing a charge on thick.

It leases for on that alleged “I’m not a dope foible. The gun fiend. I can say $3,032 a was properly no. I just chose month. registered, and not to. I was in a Richardson holds a depressing time conceal-and-carry in my offseason. permit. In Wild West mentality That’s just that. It’s that simple.

Missouri, it is apparently But there’s money on the line. perfectly acceptable to be in My money is worth more than possession of loaded handgun some weed. It is what it is,” he while speeding in a car reeking said. of pot.

You want depressing?

As for the 12-year-old, Richardson was making this Richardson dodged a child statement with full knowledge endangerment charge because of his arrest on July 14. The St. Charles County prosecutors New York Jets found out an

It was disclosed that on July 14 former Missouri Tiger Sheldon Richardson was flying down I-64 near St. Charles at speeds up to 143 mph in his 2014 Bentley Silver Spur. His three passengers, who are related to him, included a 12-year-old boy. hour or so after Richardson’s “dope fiend” speech.

Richardson now faces

a lengthier suspension for violation of NFL conduct policies and – if nothing else – being in close proximity to marijuana while facing suspension for marijuana use.

By the way, Car and Driver lists the price of Richardson’s car at about $204,000. It leases for $3,032 a month.

Aldon Smith’s story is far less comical.

The San Francisco 49ers released the former Mizzou Tiger after he was charged with DWI (yet again) and property damage. If convicted of the DWI allegation, it would be his

n The San Francisco 49ers released the former Mizzou Tiger after he was charged with DWI (yet again) and property damage.

If convicted of the DWI allegation, it would be his third.

third.

According to Santa Clara, California, police, Smith

allegedly damaged another car while parking his own vehicle.

He then caused additional damage with his door while exiting his car.

“Smith “later returned to the parking area where he was contacted by officers. Smith displayed objective symptoms of being under the influence of an alcoholic beverage.

Officers administered a field sobriety test to Smith.”

San Francisco’s ABC 7 greeted Smith as he left jail on bail and he said, “Justice will be served. The truth will come out. There’s no DUI. I’m sorry to anybody I let down.”

Smith has let his family and teammates down many times over the last few years.

In April 2014, he was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport for making a false bomb threat.

In October 2013, he was charged with three felonies related to the illegal possession of an assault weapon.

In September 2013 and January 2012, he was arrested on suspicion of DUI. Smith served a nine-game suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse and personal conduct policies last season.

In 2013, he missed five games while in a substance abuse treatment program.

When Smith entered rehab, Mizzou coach Gary Pinkel said Smith “never had any problems with that, zero,” at school.

If Pinkel didn’t know Smith was an alcoholic train wreck waiting to happen, he certainly should have. Who believes that, anyway?

To think that Smith did not have a drinking problem in college and that all his anti-social behavior began the day he was drafted into the NFL is farcical. His deepseeded problems have roots that include his time under Pinkel’s guidance.

Richardson will certainly resume his NFL career sometime this season. With all his baggage, an anonymous NFL executive told the Washington Post that it won’t be too long before we see Smith back in action.

“He’s obviously a talented player who could have an impact on your defense. He’ll be back in the league. It’s not if. It’s when and where,” the executive said.

B5

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • AUGUST 13 – 19, 2015

FIELD

Continued from B3 The Mathews-Dickey Bob Russell Park is located in the City of Bellefontaine Neighbors and surrounded by several other communities, including Dellwood, Ferguson, Florissant, Hazelwood, Moline Acres, Riverview and unincorporated St. Louis County.

After years of deterioration, the crumbling concession stand and unstable foundations have left the park unusable and an eyesore in the community. The baseball park, the only one in the area, will undergo a multiple-phase transformation with plans to add several fields, one Major-League style field, one multi-purpose style field, and a new facility for the concession stand and restroom.

Additionally, an estimated 50 youth will have the opportunity each year to participate in the park’s Earn & Learn program, a program designed to help youth understand the workforce and earn wages as park employees.

To secure the financial support to make this project possible, the Governor’s Office of Community Engagement (OCE) spearheaded the transformation project and collaborated with various partners, including MathewsDickey, St. Louis Cardinals, Red Birds Rookies program, the City of Bellefontaine Neighbors, American Water, Metropolitan Sewer District, and several St. Louis area building trade groups, including, the sheet metal workers, heavy machine operators and IBEW Local 1.

The St. Louis County Parks Department, Black Fire Chiefs Association, Senator Gina Walsh, and former Senator Tim Green were also key collaborators in the project.

“The completion of the Bob Russell Fields is the first phase of a multi-phased

CLUTCH Continued from B3

League and currently have a record of 68-44. The 68 wins are seven more than anybody else on the junior circuit. How are the teams winning?

The Royals boast one of the most well-balanced teams in the league. The offense has the second-best team batting average in the American league at .270 and third-lowest ERA from its pitching staff at 3.54.

Kansas City’s players are chummy, energetic and feisty.

The team loves Fetty Wap and bench-clearing brawls.

Well, brawls is probably an overstatement, the players usually just all run out onto the field and do that thing where they fake like the guy in front of them is holding them back from doing some serious

RAMS

Continued from B3 Louis remains an NFL city.”

He also talked about the potential economic impact of new stadium on riverfront.

“We’re taking a part of the riverfront which should be prime real estate but it’s not, and there’s not any hope in the short term of it becoming prime real estate and getting redeveloped,” Rainford said.

“We may get a soccer team, we’re going to get the jobs related to it, whatever economic activity there is, we’re going to get that and free up the Convention Center for more fall conventions. It’s hard to book a convention because you have to book two to three years in advance and the NFL schedule comes out a year in advance.”

I don’t think the mayor was really disappointed at all. How would it look if the Rams left on his watch? He’s quite aware why building this stadium and keeping the Rams are important to the city of St. Louis.

Naysayers about the stadium always bring up we need more police, and the teachers need more pay. I agree a million percent. However, the extension of the bonds for the

Mathews-Dickey Interim President & CEO Debra Denham, CFO Randy Sanderson, City of Bellefontaine Neighbors Mayor Robert Doerr, Coach Marlon Vinson, Cardinals Broadcaster Rick Horton and State Sen. Maida Coleman with Redbird Rookies players in the Club’s North County Baseball League.

Back Row (L-R): PR Representative for the City of Bellefontaine Neighbors Clarence Jackson, Mathews-Dickey Coach Bernice Tart, Mathews-Dickey CFO Randy Sanderson, Bellefontaine Neighbors Mayor Robert Doerr, Interim President & CEO Debra Denham, Former Cardinal Bernard Gilkey and Mathews-Dickey Associate VP of Sports Joyce Jones with Redbird Rookies players in the Club’s North County Baseball League.

Back Row (L-R): Former Cardinal Bernard Gilkey with Redbird Rookies players in the Club’s North County Baseball League. project which will create a viable multipurpose facility in North County,” said Marvin Teer, Office of Community Engagement director.

“Our hard work, commitment and due-diligence will allow 130 North County youth to feel the support from their community in a safe, comfortable space. The support doesn’t stop when the baseball season stops. Baseball is just the first conduit; these kids will continue to receive mentoring,

tutoring and library services through their participation in the Mathews-Dickey Boys & Girls Club.”

With the support from Rawlings, a Missouri manufacturer of sporting

damage and destruction to an opposing player. Only, there’s really nobody actually holding them back, but at least it looks good on TV. Apparently though, all the brushbacks and bench-clearing is having an effect because the Royals continue to bully the AL. For the Cardinals, it’s all about ridiculous pitching and a team-wide next-man-up philosophy. The Cardinals pitching staff has been lights out. The team ERA is 2.61.

That’s not a typo. That number is the third-lowest since the pitching mound was lowered in 1969. The bullpen’s ERA, 2.26, is the second-lowest since ’69. Keep in mind that all this is happening without Adam Wainwright, the team’s ace, who is out for the season. However, the starting rotation of Lance Lynn, John Lackey, Michael Wacha, Carlos Martinez and Jaime

Garcia has performed beyond anybody’s wildest imagination.

Offensively, the Cardinals have not been spectacular.

The team currently sits sixth in team batting average (.254), ninth in runs (444) and on base percentage (.389) in the NL. However, despite injuries to numerous starters such as Matt Holliday, John Jay and Matt Adams, the Redbirds have pulled talent from its deep minor-league system and have plugged in youngsters like Randal Grichuck and Steven Piscotty without missing a beat. The Cardinals may not have the swagger of the KC crew, but they have the perfect blend of experienced veterans, seasoned with sustained playoff success, and talented, hungry youngsters.

Of course, having the best records in mid-August doesn’t mean much in baseball. The Royals will have to stave off

stadium and stadium only, and the money generated by hotel sales taxes, are lumped together as they should be.

Then you have those that gloss over all the work going to minority contractors. At least 10 percent of the work is going to minority contractors. Ten percent out of $989 million is not bad. And that’s just a soft number I’m using.

I will be glad when this is over. I dislike politics mixed with sports. It’s a very nasty cocktail.

For more Rams Roundup please subscribe to youtube. com/stlamericanvideo, you can also hear me on the Charlie Tuna Show on Talk1380 AM M-F 6-8 PM and on my weekly podcast with Arlington Lane II @NTheZone.

equipment, 130 area youth will be able to play fall baseball and softball on the three new recently completed fields in new uniforms and with new equipment and other athletic gear. With additional support,

the OCE and partners hope to turn the park into a multi-sport complex and include soccer and football fields over the next three years.

The state approved for the Matthews-Dickey’s Boys and Girls Club to receive $76,885 Youth Opportunities Program tax credits and $173,115 in Neighborhood Assistance Program tax credits, which will together help the organization raise $500,000 in donations.

Administered by the Missouri

Department of Economic Development (DED), these programs offer tax credits to organizations that provide positive youth development or crime prevention projects.

“Providing a safe space for families and friends to come together will have lasting benefits off the field as well,” said Nixon.

For more information on DED’s community development programs, visit https://ded. mo.gov/Programs.aspx.

the New York Yankees and possibly the red-hot Toronto Blue Jays to make a repeat trip to the World Series in the AL. The Cardinals will need to keep up its ungodly pitching performances to hush the haters

and return to the big show after a long one-year hiatus.

Hopefully the stars will align and the Show-Me state squads can keep the ships steady and advance to the World Series.

What a wonderful way it

would be to celebrate avenge the 30-year anniversary of the original I-70 series. Let’s make it happen Missouri.

Follow Ishmael and In the Clutch on Twitter @ IshmaelSistrunk

n “The completion of the Bob Russell Fields is the first phase of a multi-phased project which will create a viable multipurpose facility in North County,” said Marvin Teer.

B6

URBAN

continued from page B1 convention would go to Baltimore and in 2017 it would go to St. Louis,” McMillan said, knowing that Baltimore and the St. Louis suburb of Ferguson had major urban unrest in 2014.

“We’re not running away from any problems, we are running at our problems and, as an agency and a national movement, trying to make a difference and trying to make things better.”

Neidorff, chairman of the national board, said he was delighted to host their convention in St. Louis in 2017.

“The National Urban League remains strategically positioned to play a major role in building bridges for stronger, more economically viable and healthier communities across this nation,” Neidorff said.

“No organization is better positioned to bridge the gap from where we are today to where we want to be or should be. American communities and cities

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • AUGUST 13 – 19, 2015

n “We’re not running away from any problems, we are running at our problems and, as an agency and a national movement, trying to make a difference.”

– Michael McMillan, president of the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis

continue to need bi-partisan solutions to persistent and emerging problems, especially in the areas of jobs, economic empowerment, and social justice.”

Ratcliffe agreed.

“We appreciate the Urban League’s commitment to address the challenges faced by African-American communities across the country, including here in St. Louis,” Ratcliffe said. “This is a unique opportunity for our region to further participate in these important discussions, and we appreciate the confidence

they’ve shown by selecting us as their convention home in 2017.”

McMillan said that “confidence” implies a confidence that St. Louis as a region will begin to address its now infamous disparities.

“For everything that has been exposed of our region – such as the racial inequities, problems in police-community relations, lack of job opportunities, racial profiling, bad housing conditions for poor and low-income people, educational inequity – we hope to have made some significant, demonstrable evidence of change to show the National Urban League movement comes here in 2017.”

Neidorff is on that same page.

“These are our shared challenges, and our shared opportunities,” Neidorff said.

“We must continue to be diligent and resourceful in creating economic opportunities in our communities and lifting individuals and families out of poverty, making our nation stronger and creating a brighter future for generations to come.”

Ferguson Commemoration

Weekend in photos • See Page C6 C1 • ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • AUGUST 13 - 19, 2015

STL poet laureate opens Ferguson Commission meeting

Art as ‘healing space’

Ferguson organizers get children involved in art projects

n “Everywhere, it’s just workingclass people with so much violence around them. Tries to drag you down.”

– Tony Wingo

By Rebecca Rivas Of The St. Louis American North St. Louis resident Tony Wingo just happened to be bringing his two grandchildren to play at O’Fallon Park playground when they saw four tables full of art supplies and a dozen adults ready to get kids crafting.

The “Youth Art Build” event was part of the Ferguson Commemoration Weekend August 7-10, which included the August 9 anniversary of the Ferguson police killing of Michael Brown Jr. Wingo’s three-year-old granddaughter,

Kylie, stopped at every art station – from making signs and buttons to prayer flags and earrings.

“They live in Ferguson, and they’ve been in many marches there,” Wingo said, “so it’s ironic that you guys were over here so they could participate.”

Wingo said that outside of his doorstep he’s See ART, C4

Photo by Lawrence Bryant

St. Louis poet laureate Michael Castro

Michael Castro reads poems on Michael Brown and police violence American staff St. Louis poet laureate Michael Castro opened the August 7 working meeting of the Ferguson Commission by reciting two poems on Michael Brown Jr. and police militarization.

“We open every meeting with a devotion for centering purposes,” commission co-chair the Rev. Starsky Wilson told The American.

“It is our belief that faith and the arts help to center us on the deeper issues of this work of healing and reconciliation.”

Castro first performed “Double Kwansaba After Michael Brown,” a poetic tribute to the late Ferguson teen written as a kwansaba, a poetic form invented by Eugene B. Redmond that has seven lines, seven words per line, no more than seven letters per word. Then he read the poem “We Need to Talk.”

‘Ferguson is Everywhere’ show goes on despite officer-involved shooting

By Kenya Vaughn Of The St. Louis American “That’s why we walk through Ferguson with our hands up.” The crowd exploded as rap star Common recited the lyric that referenced their struggle in his most recent hit “Glory.”

Fists had pumped and heads had nodded for five hours by the time the headliner closed the “Ferguson is Everywhere” rap concert with the Academy Award-winning song from the soundtrack for “Selma.”

Few, if any, of those among capacity crowd that sweltered among the body heat within the Fubar Sunday night knew at the time that they would See HIP HOP, C4

* DOUBLE KWANSABA AFTER MICHAEL BROWN

By Michael Castro When police are the threat, who’s there to protect? When walking in the street can get you busted, shot, or beat just for being black, talking back, looking wrong, or looking strong—how can we really be: a viable city, where people can live in harmony? a free country?

With tanks in the street, who or what do they defeat? No good results, Photos by Lawrence Bryant

See CASTRO, C4

• Only Online •

N.W.A. 101

With the biopic “Straight Outta Compton” F. Gary Gray delivers a solid, detailed depiction of the rise and fall of the super group that would forever change the face of rap music.

www.stlamerican.com

‘3 1/2 Minutes, 10 Bullets’

Film connects Jordan Davis family with Ferguson for commemoration festivities

Lucy McBath addressed protesters who were demonstrating in response to the death of her son Jordan Davis.

The unarmed teen was killed in 2013 when Michael Dunn fired into a car containing four black youth following a verbal altercation when he demanded that Jordan and his friends lower the volume of their “thug music.”

By Kenya Vaughn Of The St. Louis American “I am so proud of Ferguson, Missouri and St. Louis for what you guys have done.

You’ve shown how to do this thing,” said Ron Davis.

As Ferguson came undone in response

to the death of Michael Brown Jr. last year, Davis was suffering through the second trial for Michael Dunn – the man who would ultimately be convicted of first-degree murder for killing

his 17-year-old son Jordan Davis, in the so-called “loud music murder case.”

See FILM, C4

Calendar

C2

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • AUGUST 13 – 19, 2015 more information, call (314) 994-3300 or visit www.slcl. org.

How to place a calendar listing 1. Email your listing to calendar@stlamerican. com OR 2. Visit the calendar section on stlamerican.com and place your listing Calendar listings are free of charge, are edited for space and run on a space-available basis.

concerts Aug. 14, 7 p.m. & 9:30 p.m., Kenny DeShields Live, Ferring Jazz Bistro, 3536 Washington Blvd.

Sat., Aug. 15, 7 p.m., Florissant Fine Art Council and the City of Florissant present 2015 Music Under the Stars Summer Concert Series feat. Butch Wax & The Hollywoods with Theo Peoples from The Four Tops.

One of the hottest shows in town, this band performs songs of the 50s, 60s & 70s, Motown, R&B and Rock ‘N’ Roll. Saint Ferdinand Park, 25 St. Ferdinand Park Dr., 63031.

For more information, call (314) 921-5678 or visit www. florissantmo.com/theatre.

Sat., Aug. 15, 7:30 p.m., Jazz at the Bistro presents Marvin F. Cockrell & Focus. 3536 Washington Ave., 63103. For more information, call (314) 571-6000 or visit www.jazzstl. org.

special events Sat., August 15, 2015, 12 p.m. - 7 p.m., Crown Square Plaza, 14th & Saint Louis Avenue, SAINT LAAA FAB Inc. present the 2nd Annual Saint Louis African American Artifacts Festival and Bazaar(SAINT-LAAAFAB). A one day family oriented event celebrating the rich heritage of people of African descent. The festival will cultivate awareness and appreciation of the significant contributions made by people of African descent. The mission will be accomplished by showcasing and sharing African American artifacts, art, music, food, dance and literature with diverse people throughout the Saint Louis region.

Aug. 16 – 27, Unity Hospice

of Greater St. Louis is inviting veterans in the St. Louis and Metro East community to share their stories of wartime to be submitted to the Library of Congress through a nationallyrecognized program called the Veterans History Project.

The Library of Congress will preserve these stories for future generations so they can better understand American history and the realities of war.

Interested veterans are invited to contact Unity Hospice to schedule an appointment to share their personal stories in the form of unedited video recorded interviews.

Interviews will be conducted during the week of Aug. 1627, 2015. Read more about the Veterans History Project on their website at http:// www.loc.gov/vets/. For more information about the Veterans History Project in your community or to schedule a time to share your story, please contact Unity Hospice Director of Program Development Brenda McGarvey at (618) 954-6114 or volunteers@ unityhospice.com.

Fri., Aug. 21, 4 p.m., The 3rd Annual Rise Up Festival, Fine arts and crafts show produced by the St. Louis Art Fair with professionally juried artist presentations / booths, as well as: live local musicians, circus acts from Circus Kaput and a kid-friendly section, microbrewery contributions, a St. Louis-based businesses showcase prominently hailing from the Washington Ave. garment district, and exceptional local eatery offerings from surrounding cafes and restaurateurs. 1627 Washington Ave. For more information, visit http://www. risestl.org/rise-up-festival/ Fri., Aug. 21, 8 p.m., What Now Tour starring Kevin Hart, Scottrade Center. For more information, visit www. livenation.com or www. ticketmaster.com.

Live Nation welcomes the What Now Tour starring Kevin Hart. See SPECIAL EVENTS for details.

Featured Event Wed., Aug. 26, 11:30 a.m., The Salvation Army presents Doing the Most Good Awards 2015. Help us honor those in St. Louis who make up the backbone of positive community change, development and volunteerism: Grand Center, Inc., Emerson, St. Louis Equity Fund, Inc., Congregation Shaare Emeth, Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, Mackenzie Scott of Firetruck O’ Toys and Cultural Leadership of St. Louis.

Chase Park Plaza, 232 N. Kingshighway Blvd., 63108.

For more information, call (314) 646-3017 or visit www. stlsalvationarmy.org.

(In SPECIAL EVENTS)

Aug. 22, The Open Space Council’s 48th Annual Operation Clean Stream event will take place in various locations throughout the St. Louis region. This is our premier event in which annually, along with the help of our volunteers, we’ve removed thousands of scrap tires, yards of debris, and other litter out of Missouri streams in order to improve the overall quality of Missouri’s waterways. Join us this year as we anticipate another successful year of impacting Missouri’s open spaces! Do you want to help clean up the Meramec Watershed?

You’re in the right place!

Sign up for Operation Clean Stream today. https:// operationcleanstream2015. eventbrite.com Wed., Aug. 26, 11:30 a.m., The Salvation Army presents Doing the Most Good Awards 2015. Help

us honor those in St. Louis who make up the backbone of positive community change, development and volunteerism: Grand Center, Inc., Emerson, St. Louis Equity Fund, Inc., Congregation Shaare Emeth, Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, Mackenzie Scott of Firetruck O’ Toys and Cultural Leadership of St. Louis.

Chase Park Plaza, 232 N. Kingshighway Blvd., 63108.

For more information, call (314) 646-3017 or visit www. stlsalvationarmy.org.

Thur., Aug. 27, 11:30 a.m., Kwame Foundation presents The 2015 Tee Off ‘Fore’ Education Golf Tournament and Gala Auction Fundraiser. Norman K. Probstein Golf Course, 6141 Lagoon Dr., 63112. For more information, visit www. kwamefoundation.org.

Aug. 27, 7 p.m., ALIVE Wedding: Best Day Ever,

a carefully curated wedding event for nontraditional, fashion-forward brides and grooms-to-be. This is no normal wedding show. Best Day Ever encourages couples of all kinds to celebrate our community. Come prepared to party and take in the best vendors, food and fashion our city has to offer. More information and tickets are available at BestDayEverSTL. eventbrite.com!

Aug. 28, 7 p.m., 4th Annual - The Chocolate Affair, Indulge in a diverse selection of decadent chocolate delicacies from local bakeries & chocolatiers, complimentary wine pairings, appetizers and gourmet coffee bar. Enjoy live music and upscale silent auction. Guests receive a reusable tote and wine glass.

Tickets can be purchased through Brown Paper Ticket: annieshopechocolateaffair. brownpaperticket.com All proceeds benefit Annie’s Hope - The Bereavement Center for Kids.

literary Sat., Aug. 15, 7 p.m., St. Louis County Library hosts Senator Claire McCaskill, author of Plenty Ladylike: A Memoir. Senator McCaskill shares her inspiring story of embracing her ambition, surviving sexist slings, losing a husband and making a family, outsmarting her enemies—and finding joy along the way.

Library Headquarters, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd., 63131. For

Mon., Aug. 24, 7 p.m., St. Louis County Library Foundation hosts author Vanessa Hiffenbaugh, author of We Never Asked for Wings.

For fourteen years, Letty Espinosa has worked three jobs around San Francisco to make ends meet while her mother raised her children, but now her parents are returning to Mexico, and she must step up and become a mother for the first time in her life.

Diffenbaugh blends gorgeous prose with compelling themes of motherhood, undocumented immigration, and the American Dream in a powerful and prescient story about family.

Library Headquarters, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd., 63131. For more information, call (314) 994-3300 or visit www.slcl. org.

theatre Through Aug. 16, 8:15 p.m. The Muny presents Oklahoma. In its first Muny production since 2007, this beautiful and dramatic show features an unforgettable story and a score filled with landmark songs such as “Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’,” “The Surrey With the Fringe on Top,” “People Will Say We’re in Love,” and of course, “Oklahoma!” 1 Theatre Dr., 63112. For more information, call (314) 361-1900 or visit www.muny.org.

Sat., Aug. 22, 6 p.m., Miracles Entertainment presents How Can I Find A Good Woman.

A romantic comedy, drama for the whole family. A lovecraved husband goes over and beyond to win the affection of his spoiled, selfish wife only to be rejected by her repeatedly. He eventually finds love where he never thought he would. Written, directed and produced by Donald Gill.

Florissant Civic Center, 1 James J. Eagan Dr., 63033.

For more information, call (314) 921-5678 or visit www. florissantmo.com/theatre.

Sun., Aug. 30, 4 p.m., Gordon’s Entertainment presents 6th Jazz Heaven Series “St. Louis Legends”.

We will pay tribute to those who have graced and entertained us on St. Louis stages with songs, musical compositions, dance and poetry. Our wonderful cast includes the Legendary Jeanne

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • AUGUST 13 – 19, 2015 Trevor, Linda Kennedy, Joe Mancuso, Deborah Sharn, Uvee Hayes, Tish Haynes Keys, J. Samuel Davis, Wendy L. Gordon, Mary Dyson and special guests. Come out and take a stroll down memory lane. Let us take you back in time when the words of the songs had meaning, rhythm and rhyme. Florissant Civic Center, 1 James J. Eagan Dr., 63033. For more information, call (314) 838-9198 or visit www.florissantmo.com/theatre.

McDonald’s presents The 2015 Inspiration Celebration Gospel Tour feat. Dorinda Clark-Cole, Ricky Dillard, Tasha PageLockhart, and Dewayne Woods.

For more information, see SPIRITUAL.

arts August 20 at 11 a.m. and August 21 at 6 pm. Nichole Bridges, The St. Louis Art Museum’s associate curator of the Arts of Africa, Oceania and the Americas, will talk about related works on view in a gallery talk entitled Senufo and Beyond in the Permanent Collection.

Saint Louis Art Museum, One Fine Arts Drive in Forest Park. For more information about the exhibit or related programming, call 314.721.0072 or visit slam.org.

Through Aug. 23, The Botanical Gardens hosts Lantern festival: Magic Reimagined. The Garden plays host to an international exhibition of 22-lighted works of art from Zigong, China.

The Garden has commissioned sets crafted from silk and steel to offer visitors from around the world the opportunity to see an event rarely staged outside of Asia. Each set will include interpretation detailing the design’s tradition, symbolism and meaning.

4344 Shaw Blvd., 63110. For more information visit www. missouribotanicalgarden.org.

lectures/ workshops Sat., Aug. 15, 9:30 a.m., Woman’s Place will offer a free workshop on SELFCOMPASSION, at 8300 Morganford Road in Affton.

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All women are welcome.

Learn to ways to love and be gentle with yourself in this creative, interactive workshop, finding more energy and stability in the process! Preregistration is required. Call 314-645-4848 to reserve your place. Visit www. womansplacestl.org for more information.

Wed., Aug. 19, 4 p.m. & 5 p.m. The American Board, also known as The American Board for the Certification of Teacher Excellence (ABCTE) will hold information sessions for those interested in a career in education, St. Louis County Library – Headquarters Branch – Upstairs Meeting Area, 1640 S Lindbergh Blvd St. Louis, MO 63131. For more information, visit www.abcte. org.

Aug. 25, 6:45 p.m., Make a Bigger Difference: Environmental Action for Your Life, Your Community

and Your House of Worship, Hear keynote speaker, Don Corrigan, Professor of Environmental Journalis and Global Communication at Webster University and author of “Environmental Missouri” speak on why climate change affects us all. Then attend a break out session: sessions include “Greening Your House of Worship” and “Greening Your Life and Community.” Free and open to all, but RSVPs required at http://bit.ly/082515

health Wed., Aug. 12, 6 p.m., The Cosmic Grove and La Leche League will be hosting a Natural Childbirth Education Circle at the Ferguson Municipal Library.

Sun, Aug. 16, 6:30 p.m. doors, Hatz 4 Hearts will host its annual charity fundraiser-supporting

cancer patients with special performance from CoCo Soul, Voce, 212 South Tucker, St. Louis, MO 63103.

For more information, contact Amara Anderson: (314) 9220983 / hatz4hearts@gmail. com.

Wed., Aug. 26, 10 a.m., Something for Everyone Resource Fair. Meet the experts at this free event.

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Department experts will be available for immediate services and referrals for additional services.

Representatives from CLAIM, the Missouri State Health Insurance Assistance Program, will be available for Medicare and related health insurance needs. Also come out for blood pressure screenings and much more. Monsanto Family YMCA, 5555 Page Blvd., 63112. For more information, call (314) 367-4646 x 231.

Sept. 2, 10:30 a.m., Oasis presents a Dance Party, Get your groove on at a dance party where you’ll learn some simple dance moves.

We’ll Zumba, Wobble, Cupid Shuffle and more! St. Louis Oasis. For more information or to register, call 314.862.4859, ext 24.

spiritual Aug. 13 – 16, San Francisco Temple hosts Joint Holy Convocation 2015. Thursday: 7 p.m. worship service led

by Dr. Bill Winston. Friday: 10 a.m. praise and worship symposium “Leadership: A Creative Blend of Substance and Style for the Contemporary Leader” (B.I.B.L.E. College, 10212 Halls Ferry Rd., 63136); 7 p.m. worship service led

by Dr. Luther Blackwell.

Saturday: 11 a.m. Luncheon with Pastor Lois Blackwell (ticket required); 7 p.m. worship service led by Elder

Lucien Blackwell. Sunday: 10:30 a.m. worship service “All White Day” led by Dr. Luther Blackwell. 10191 Halls Ferry Rd., 63136. For more information, call (314) 3883300.

Aug. 19 – 21, 7 p.m., Mt. Beulah M.B. Church hosts Back to School Revival. 7823 Racine Dr., 63133. For more information, call (314) 7253136 or (314) 327-9966.

Sat., Aug. 22, 11 a.m., Mt. Beulah M.B. Church hosts Back To School Community Fair and Mt. Beulah Christian Academy Open House. Come out and fellowship as we have a good time before our young go back to school. 7823 Racine Dr., 63133. For more information, call (314) 727-1202 or visit www.mbchurchstl.com.

Sun., Aug. 23, 10 a.m. & 4 p.m., Ward Chapel A.M.E. Church 105th Church Anniversary “Remembering and Celebrating Our Past While Embracing Our Future.” Guest preacher Rev. Dr. William Watley. 11410 Old Halls Ferry Rd., 63033. For more information, call (314) 494-0279.

Aug. 23- Sept. 6, 7 p.m., Solomon’s Temple Community Tent Revival, Solomon’s Temple Church, Bishop James E. Holloway Sr. - Founder and Pastor First Lady Sister Linda D. Holloway - Co-Pastor 5569 Page Blvd.

St. Louis, MO 63112. For more information, call (314) 361- 4466, (314) 3614460 or email: solomons@ i1.net Web Site: www. solomonstemplechurch.org Fri., Aug. 28, 7 p.m., McDonald’s presents The 2015 Inspiration Celebration Gospel Tour feat. Dorinda Clark-Cole, Ricky Dillard, Tasha Page-Lockhart, and Dewayne Woods with host Lonnie Hunter and comedian Small Fire. This event is free.

Greater Grace Church, 3690 Pershall Rd., 63135. For tickets, visit www.365black.com.

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • AUGUST 13 - 19, 2015

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FILM

insight into the painstaking process of the trial from the comprehensive documentary.

Though it was proven in court Continued from C1 that neither Jordan nor the young men in the vehicle with Jordan and his three friends him were armed, Dunn blamed them – and the absence of had their car blasted with a fathers in the black community barrage of bullets after an – for what happened. He even argument ensued when Dunn went so far as to commend demanded that the teens himself for potentially saving turn off that “thug music” in a life by killing Jordan.

Jacksonville, Florida in 2013.

“God has touched me His friends survived, but throughout this whole situation Jordan – who was hit three for me not to choke the devil times in the chest – died out of this man,” Ron said. instantly.

At trial, Ron and Jordan’s “Sitting in Jacksonville, it mother were told not to cry was a spiritual experience for too much or gesture in ways me to see you all out there that could be taken as eliciting because no one had ever seen sympathy from the jury and anything like it,” Ron told the crowd. “You kept at it. Weeks lead to mistrial. While Dunn’s parents sat in the front row, would go by and months he and McBath weren’t able would go by, and you guys to do so because it might have were still out there pounding created bias. the pavement.” shockingly, He was also n “You kept he Most shared how visibly overwhelmed by the size of the at it. Weeks Jordan was not allowed to be audience that nearly referred to as a filled the auditorium would go by of Washington and months victim over the course of the trial.

University’s Science “Three bullets to Laboratory building would go by, the chest, but you’re on Thursday, August and you guys not a victim?” Ron 6 to see the his son’s story unfold were still out said.

In the postthrough the film there.” discussion, a panel “3 1/2 Minutes, facilitated by the 10 Bullets.” The PICO National screening was part of – Ron Davis Network discussed the commemoration the national pattern activities for the oneof aggressively year anniversary of policing people the death of Michael of color in public Brown Jr. spaces for any given reason.

“Just for you to make the “I have welcomed three or decision to come out here four more fathers into the tonight means that you are all circle since this tragedy,” soldiers in here,” Ron said.

Ron said. “I welcomed Mike The film by Marc Silver Brown Sr. into the circle. I shares a first person look at was in Ferguson last August. the family’s heart-wrenching I actually took this to the journey as they attempt Geneva, Switzerland to the to navigate through the United Nations and spoke unimaginable tragedy. about you all in Ferguson to Also woven in are home the United Nations, and they videos, photos and footage applauded everything that you from the family archives that all are doing.” offer a glimpse into the heart The feeling was mutual and spirit of their son. as guests and program “We had been watching participants expressed their what had happened with reaction to the film.

Trayvon and we felt so “There is power in this film, disheartened about what because we have faced so we were seeing before our many losses and defeats that very eyes with how he was we need a victory to keep demonized,” Jordan’s mother us going,” a woman said.

Lucy McBath said.

“Every non-indictment and “We had discussions with every murder is taking a Jordan about that very thing psychological and spiritual and we decided very early on toll on us individually and as after the same thing happened a people. But when I watched to our child that we would tell this film, I got a sense of our story.” hope.”

The audience also got

HIP HOP Continued from C1 be returning to Ferguson in response to another officerinvolved shooting.

Just outside the doors of the venue it was a different story. Protesters and organizers paced the sidewalk along Locust in Midtown on the verge of becoming undone as they learned another officerinvolved shooting had taken place one year to the day that Michael Brown Jr. was killed.

They scrolled their respective social media timelines sharing the sketchy information about the shooting while trying desperately to touch base with those on the ground in Ferguson. People coming out for fresh air either got wind of the energy and asked questions, or checked their phones and all but fell apart.

“No, no, no!” a woman screamed.

She would have to be carried off by other protesters who came to comfort her.

“I’m trying to decide if I should cancel the show altogether,” said Kayla Reed, protest leader and field organizer for the Organization for Black Struggle. “That’s where my head is at right now.”

Reed served as co-host and one of the coordinators of the concert. The was a culminating celebratory activity for the “United We Fight” weekend of commemorative experiences offered by a collective of groups and individuals from the frontlines of the Ferguson protests on the one-year anniversary of Brown’s death.

The music was to speak to the spirits of those gearing up for a full day of direct action the following day in honor of Michael Brown.

ART Continued from C1 seen murders and all kinds of crime.

“It’s more than just marching for Mike Brown,” he said. “All the violence in the city, it’s depressing sometimes.

Everywhere, it’s just workingclass people with so much violence around them. Tries to drag you down, but as you can see I keep myself uplifted with my grandbabies, doing positive things.”

Rodney Hickman, 10, made a button that he pinned to his shirt that read, “Fight 4 Me.” “I want people to fight for me because Michael Brown died,” he told The American.

CASTRO Continued from C1

Photo by Lawrence Bryant

Tef Poe hopped into the audience and bounced around the stage nearly to the point of heat exhaustion, only to get his second wind through a crowd surf session.

As she stood she was conflicted. Those inside were aware that protests were underway in Ferguson – because Reed told them earlier in the night – but blissfully ignorant of the tragic turn that had taken place on West Florissant.

They were vibing to rapper Talib Kweli, a constant supporter of the Ferguson unrest who had organized the show and used his hip-hop heavyweight status to secure some big names for the free show – which also featured Bun B, Immortal Technique, Pharaoh Monch and Dead Prez.

Tef Poe, who made a name for himself on the frontlines of Ferguson, was on the bill as well along with fellow STL rapper This’l.

Poe was the most engaging of the opening entertainment by far of the impressive line-up. He hopped into the audience and bounced around

the stage nearly to the point of heat exhaustion, only to get his second wind through a crowd surf session. And his stage show illustrated his natural ability to galvanize and energize – gifts he constantly applied in Ferguson.

Ultimately Reed and the others decided that the show must go on.

The decision to do so was for the best.

Even though the audience got their fill of encouragement and entertainment over the course of the evening up to that point They had waited for hours to see Common. If they would’ve learned that he wouldn’t be performing – and why – emotions would’ve probably got the better of more than a few in the crowd who stood through blistering heat.

After seeing Kweli and the others blazed the stage, Common blessed the free show

with a performance that was at least on par with those people pay for with songs like “Get ‘Em High,” “Testify,” “The Corner” and “Go” before his “Glory” finale.

After he was finished, Reed called all of the artists to the stage and made the announcement about the latest tragic turn of events in Ferguson.

Some sighed and shook their heads. Others stood stunned as if they didn’t believe what they were hearing as she fought back tears while breaking the news.

She gave the number to jail support and ushered them out with the Assata Shakur declaration that has been a staple closer at the Ferguson protests and direct actions for the entire year.

“Be safe out there,” Reed said. “Because if we lost one tonight, I don’t want to lose another one.”

“And it could have been you?” asked his sister, Shermale Humphrey, who brought him to the event.

“Yes,” he said.

Nabeehah Azeez, organizer with Missourians Organizing for Reform and Empowerment, was also sitting at the buttonmaking table in a bright yellow “United We Fight” T-shirt.

Azeez sits on the Ferguson Action Council that planned the commemoration weekend.

“The whole purpose of today’s event and of the whole weekend is to promote family and community activities,” she said. “Because after you experience a tragedy or a loss, like we have been losing people all year, it’s really good to have a healing space with the people you love.”

She said many times

children have a difficult time dealing with loss or communicating feelings.

“So having a healing space for children is always a good idea,” she said.

Jasmine Bell brought her son, Kai Mason, 6, because she said she wanted him to be around other children who are participating this weekend.

“I thought it was important to be around other like-minded people who are trying to make a difference,” she said.

Bell made a prayer flag alongside her son.

“I love that the adults are also creating,” said Elizabeth Vega, a leader of the Artivists activist group that orchestrated the Youth Art Build. “We think that art is just for the kids, but I think the entire community gets something out of it.”

The weekend’s organizers have described themselves as a broad coalition of St. Louis organizations that came together following the killing of Michael Brown Jr., including Don’t Shoot Coalition, Hands Up United, Fellowship of Reconciliation, Ferguson Action, Missourians Organizing for Reform and Empowerment (MORE), Organization for Black Struggle (OBS), Operation Help or Hush, Socialist Alternative and Tribe X. “It’s really been a collaborative effort,” Azeez said. “Everyone took different tasks so that we could create a weekend that was really beautiful and that everyone contributed to.”

I am tangible, touchable, a human being like you.

We breathe the same air, want the same things.

We need to talk.

meet.

Get out of your car, come onto the street.

Let’s discover each other on common ground.

We need to talk.

aftermath is that references to the militarization of police central to the Kwansaba and the phrase ‘We need to talk’ kept recurring in comments from the audience and the commissioners.”

only bad; fear is what drives us mad. And fear, the root of hate, becomes the Police State.

Instead of tear gas, hear us! Let’s relate, for a start, human to human, heart to heart.

I am more than my skin tone, more than the weight I bear, more than the clothes I wear, more, even, than my hair, more than who I sexually prefer. more than my accented speech, hear me—we need to talk.

WE NEED TO TALK

By Michael Castro

So get out of your closed mind, It’s claustrophobic in there— thoughts fester if they can’t expand. Let’s

I am more than your idea,

I say, take off your armor, put away your gun, don’t just stare into your smart phone.

Hel-lo. Or as they say in the East, Namaste, & Savati—the god in you honors the god in me.

We need to talk.

Castro told The American, “What was interesting in the

See videos of his performances: https://www.dropbox.com/s/ j2ruvzjw6bx393h/video%20 aug%2007%2C%2012%20 43%2009%20pm.mov?dl=0. https://www.dropbox.com/s/ s3poe9adji7kkwe/video%20 aug%2007%2C%2012%20 44%2047%20pm.mov?dl=0.

It takes a pair to find the pair.

STAND OUT FROM HEAD TO TOE IN ANY CROWDED HALLWAY WITH THE ONE-OF-A-KIND BACK TO SCHOOL FASHIONS FROM SCHOLARSHOP.

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7/20/15 11:08 AM

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ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • AUGUST 13 – 19, 2015

Celebrations Anniversaries

Birthdays

Happy 45th Anniversary to Donna and James Knight, M.D. (August 8, 2015). God bless your union and our family with many more precious memories in the years ahead.

We love you Mom and Dad, Paula and Pamela Photo: Gazelle Magazine

Happy 63rd Birthday to Bernd Marion, who celebrated on August 7. Continue to let God order your steps. You are a blessing to our family!

Jerome and Molly Redding celebrated 10 years of marriage on August 6. Jerome is employed by the State of Missouri as a probation/parole officer. Molly is a faculty member at ITT Tech and Harris-Stowe State University. They are licensed ministers at their church, Lively Stone Church of God.

FREE OF CHARGE Do you have a celebration you’re proud of? If so we would like to share your good news with our readers.

Whether it’s a birth, graduation, wedding, engagement announcement, anniversary, retirement or birthday, send your photos and a brief announcement (50 words or less) to us and we may include it in our paper and website – AT NO COST – as space is available. Photos will not be returned.

Send your announcements to: kdaniel@stlamerican. com or mail to:

Donna and James Knight

Happy Birthday to my big sister, Jean “Flo” Harris (August 6).

Love you always!

Mary Easter

Congratulations to Calvin and Tondra Fletcher, celebrating 15 years of love on August 12.

Reunions All reunion announcements can be viewed online!

Beaumont High School Class of 1965 will celebrate their 50th Class Reunion on September 26, 2015 at the Royale Orleans, 2801 Telegraph. Dinner dance with open bar is $65/person. For additional information contact Geraldine Carter-Reid at 314868-8284 or bluejackets65@ gmail.com.

Beaumont Alumni Class 1968 are having 48th Class Reunion Kickoff Luncheon & Meeting on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2015, 1-4 p.m. at Granite City Food & Brewery, 11411 Olive Blvd, Creve Coeur, MO 63141.

Beaumont Class of 1970 will be celebrating their 45th Class Reunion Saturday, October 24,2015, at Catering to You.12775 New Halls Ferry Rd,63033. For more info please contact: Oneita (Meeks)

St. Louis American Celebrations c/o Kate Daniel 2315 Pine St. St. Louis, MO 63103

Jerome and Molly Redding

Murphy: (314) 322-4205, Chuck Campbell: (314) 5204581, Toni (Brady) Hopson: beaumontclassof1970@gmail. com, or see our Facebook page.

Beaumont High School class of 1975 is in the planning process for its 40th year reunion! Reunion dates: August 14-16, 2015, contact: Gale (314) 838-8493 or Cynthia (314) 869-4049.

Beaumont High Class of 1984 can stay updated via our Facebook page “Beaumont Class of 1984”. We meet the last Friday of every month.

Contact Rochelle Williams at rochellewilliams001@yahoo. com.

Northwest High School Class of 1973 has planned a 60th Birthday Bash for September 5, 2015 at the Renaissance St. Louis Airport Hotel. The deadline for payment has been extended to 8/21/2015. If you have not received an email with the details, please email northwesths1973@gmail. com or contact Cornelia Clark Stephens 314-580-1114.

Northwest High Class of 1975 is planning a reunion for August 21-23, 1975.

August 21: Meet And Greet

at Deju Vu 11 Café, 2805 Target Drive. August 22: Dinner/Dance at Sheraton Westport Chalet Hotel. Send all payments to Northwest High Class Of 1975, P.O. Box 38234, St. Louis, MO 63138. Email: Lford366@ Hornets.Hssu.Edu. Facebook: Northwest High School; Class of 1975.

Old Neighborhood Reunion Incorporated 14th Annual Street Festival (Representing Cass-Garrison-GlasgowHoward-Leffingwell-MadisonSheridan-Jefferson-Elliott, The Huts, North Market and Graduates of Curtis and Columbia Grade Schools).

Saturday September 19, 2015, 12 pm—6 pm, 2700 Block of Howard Street (Between Leffingwell and Elliott Streets.

Soldan High School Class of 1975 40th Reunion Celebration, September 11-13, 2015. Contact: Terese ColeMarshall, (314) 640-9611, Roslyn “Cookie” Williams (314) 616-4892, or AnnieSue Preston (314) 606-5618, email: Soldanclass75@gmail.com.

Soldan Class of 1961 is inviting all Soldan Alumni to join them the weekend of September 10-13, 2015 at the New York New York Hotel in Las Vegas, NV. For additional in-

formation please contact Willie Mullins at wjmull@yahoo.com or 1-510-530-8337 by March 15 for additional information.

Sumner Class of 1995 20th Year Reunion, August 22 at SkyBox at BallPark Village, 7:30pm - 10:30 pm. Enter through the South entrance for Skybox at Ball Park Village.

More details on Facebook under the event: Sumner Class of 1995 20th Year Reunion.

University City High School Class of ‘75 will be celebrating its 40th reunion the weekend of September 18. For more information register at: www.uchs75.myevent.com or email UCclassof75@outlook. com.

Vashon Alumni Association Block Party on Saturday August 22, 2015 at Vashon High School, 3035 Cass Ave., St. Louis Mo 63106, 11am-7pm, We are asking all proud alumni to bring school supplies for our current Vashon students. Join us for a day of music, memories, fun and supporting our students.

Vashon Class of 1965 will be celebrating their 50 Year Class Reunion September 18-20, 2015 at The St. Louis Marriott Airport. Planning meeting to be held at the Walnut Park Library at 3:30-5:30 P.M. on August 29. For information Vashon65Alumni@Yahoo. com; Cleo 383-1934 or Bernice 534-8282.

Reunion notices are free of charge and based on space availability.

We prefer that notices be emailed to us!

However, notices may also be sent by mail to: Kate Daniel, 2315 Pine St., St. Louis, MO 63103 Deadline is 10 a.m. on Friday. If you’d like your class to be featured in a reunion profile, email or mail photos to us.

Our email address is:

reunions@ stlamerican.com

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ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • AUGUST 13 - 19, 2015

Ferguson Commemoration Weekend

#unitedwefight

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN THE

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN

Career Center

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN

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THE

AUGUST 13 - 19, 2015

D1

$29

$22.50/week

$19.50/week

PROBATION OFFICER U.S. Probation Officer vacancy/ies, Eastern District of Missouri. Generous retirement/ benefits package. For additional information including how to apply, see our website at www.moep.uscourts.gov.

Vacancy Announcement 2015-10.

Equal Opportunity Employer.

“JANITORIAL”

Full, Part-Time positions, background check.Steady work history for 3-5 years, forklift or equipment operating experience preferred. MUST apply in person at 314 N. Jefferson at Olive. Monday - Friday 9A to 5P. Two forms of I.D.

LICENSED HAIR STYLIST AND BARBER WANTED. Great location and atmosphere.

Call Glenn for an interview

314-669-9174

PROBATION CLERK

U.S. Probation Clerk vacancy/ies, Eastern District of Missouri. Generous retirement/ benefits package. For additional information including how to apply, see our website at www.moep.uscourts.gov.

Vacancy Announcement 2015-11.

Equal Opportunity Employer.

PERSONAL BANKER

Seeking outgoing candidate responsible for Cross-selling bank products/services.

Assists clients with account needs.

Assoc. Degree preferred and 2+ yrs. Exp. Benefits, competitive wage, vacation, holiday & sick pay. Apply at www.royalbanksofmo.com

www.stlamerican.com

LPN CHARGE NURSES ALL SHIFTS FULL OR PART TIME HUMAN RESOURCE DIRECTOR CHRISTIAN CARE HOME 800 CHAMBERS RD. FERGUSON, MO. 63135 314-522 8100

Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer

ARMED AND UNARMED SECURITY GUARDS At Least One Year Experience Required Bring Security License & Proper ID Full & Part-Time Apply in Person No Phone Calls 600 W. Florissant Ave., St. Louis, MO 63136

City of Wentzville

MAINTENANCE WORKER I $12.95 per hour

Plus excellent benefits 636-639-2190 or www.wentzvillemo.org E.O.E.

P/T HANDYMAN

FIREFIGHTER/ PARAMEDIC

General Work on Houses 4-6 hours per day 3 days/wk, $10/hr Please call Mr. Hayden

HIRING/ELIGIBILITY LIST CITY OF BRENTWOOD More information and application materials available at: www.brentwoodmo.org EOE/AA

314-323-3429

BOOKSTORE MANAGER

Eden Theological Seminary seeking Bookstore Manager. Full or part time. Marketing, inventory control retail experience preferred.

Send resume to dstauffer@eden.edu.

www.stlamerican.com

PROBATION OFFICER ASSISTANT U.S. Probation Officer Assistant vacancy/ies, Eastern District of Missouri. Generous retirement/benefits package. For additional information including how to apply, see our website at www.moep.uscourts.gov.

Vacancy Announcement 2015-06.

Equal Opportunity Employer.

MAJOR PROJECTS AND ENGINEERING DIRECTOR

St. Louis Development Corporation has an opening for a Major Projects and Engineering Director. Full description can be found on-line at www.stlouis-mo.gov/sldc select "Careers at SLDC" and follow the online application process.

SLDC offers a full range of benefits including deferred comp, 401(a), and medical insurance.

SLDC is an equal opportunity employer.

Successful candidate must be a St. Louis city resident or establish residency within 180 days of completing a probationary period.

SLDC values a diverse workforce, and is an equal opportunity employer.

MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN

Webster University has a position available for a general maintenance technician in the Facilities Operations Department. Please visit our website at www.webster.edu for a complete job description. No phone calls please.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity affirmative action employer. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.

City of Kirkwood

WATER DISTRIBUTION ENG TECH

Oversee water main replacement projects, prepare field drawings & update water distribution mapping using GPS. Previous exp. w/GPS equip. Knowledge of Word, Excel & Access. Assoc deg in Eng. 1- 3 yrs exp in water distr. Start: $17.88 - $22.35/hr doq.

Application on-line: www.kirkwoodmo.org or call 314/984-6975. EOE

BILLING SUPERVISOR

Thompson Coburn LLP currently has an exempt position available in our St. Louis office for a full time Billing Supervisor with two years of supervisory experience. Associates or Bachelor’s degree preferred. The person selected for this position must be able to work in a fast-paced environment.

For more details and to complete our online application, visit

www.thompsoncoburncareers.com Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V

Goherbalife.com/getsexymovement

PERMIT CLERK

The City of Jennings is accepting applications for the position of permit clerk in the Building Department. Duties include serving customers in person and by phone, maintaining files, entering information into the computer and issuing permits. Good computer and customer service skills required, familiarity with building permits and zoning codes preferred.

Hours of work are 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Starting salary of $26,578.50 Applications available at Jennings City Hall, 2120 Hord Ave., or online at www.cityofjennings.org.

NO RESUMES ACCEPTED UNLESS ACCOMPANIED BY CITY OF JENNINGS APPLICATION! Applications accepted through 5:00 p.m., Wednesday, September 2nd.

IMMEDIATE OPENING New City School Extended Day Program

Monday-Friday 3:15pm-6:00pm

Interviewing NOW! School year begins August 31

Start Date: Pending Background Check (full school year commitment) EXPERIENCE: Minimum 2 years recent continuous work with elementary school aged children in a formal group setting required no exceptions; work with other adults to PLAN activities and PLAY with children. Education majors encouraged.

START PAY: $8.50/hr & up based on experience CONTACT: Tobie @ New City School for a 1st round telephone interview 314-361-2267.

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN THE

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METROPOLITAN ST. LOUIS SEWER DISTRICT

Notice is hereby given that the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is accepting proposals in the Purchasing Division, 2350 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63103-2555 until 9:00 a.m. on September 9th, 2015 to contract with a company for: Cisco Network Equipment & Services.

Specifications and bid forms may be obtained from www.stlmsd.com, click on the “MSD AT WORK” link, (bid opportunities). The bid document will be identified as 6056 RFQ. If you do not have access to the internet, call 314.768.2735 to request a copy of this bid.

Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS

Sealed bids for the 2015 ARS Crackseal, Area A project, St. Louis County Project No.AR-1527, will be received at the Office of the Director of Procurement for the County of St. Louis, County Government Center Administration Building, 41 South Central Avenue, 8th Floor, Clayton, Missouri 63105, until 2:00 p.m. on August 26, 2015.

Plans and specifications will be available on August 10, 2015 from the St. Louis County Web Site (www.stlouisco.com), or by contacting County Blue Reprographics, Inc., 1449 Strassner Drive, St. Louis, Missouri 63144, (314) 961-3800.

DIRECTOR OF PROCUREMENT AND ADMINSTRATIVE SERVICES ST. LOUIS, COUNTY

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS

Notice is hereby given that The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (District) will receive sealed bids for Chandellay Dr. Sanitary Sewer Replacement under Letting No. 11009-015.1, at this office, 2350 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63103, until 03:00 PM on Friday, September 18, 2015, at a place designated.

Bids will be received only from companies that are pre-qualified by the District’s Engineering Department for: SEWER CONSTRUCTION – St. Louis County drainlayer’s license required

The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS

Notice is hereby given that The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (District) will receive sealed bids for Meadowridge and Eastwood Storm and Sanitary Relief under Letting No. 11840-015.1, at this office, 2350 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63103, until 02:00 PM on Wednesday, September 09, 2015, at a place designated.

Bids will be received only from companies that are pre-qualified by the District’s Engineering Department for:

DEEP SEWER CONSTRUCTION – St. Louis County drainlayer’s license required

Plans and Specifications are available for free electronic download. Please go to MSD’s website and look for a link to “ELECTRONIC PLANROOM.” Plans and Specifications are also available for viewing or purchase at Cross Rhodes Reprographics located at 1710 Macklind Avenue, St. Louis MO 63110. All bidders must obtain a set of plans and specifications in order to submit a bid in the name of the entity submitting the bid.

The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS

Notice is hereby given that The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (District) will receive sealed bids for Olive St 2109 Sanitary Sewer under Letting No. 12518-015.1, at this office, 2350 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63103, until 02:00 PM on Wednesday, September 16, 2015, at a place designated.

Bids will be received only from companies that are pre-qualified by the District’s Engineering Department for: Tunneling / Trenchless

Plans and Specifications are available for free electronic download. Please go to MSD’s website and look for a link to “ELECTRONIC PLANROOM.” Plans and Specifications are also available for viewing or purchase at Cross Rhodes Reprographics located at 1710 Macklind Avenue, St. Louis MO 63110. All bidders must obtain a set of plans and specifications in order to submit a bid in the name of the entity submitting the bid.

The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS

Notice is hereby given that The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (District) will receive sealed bids for Forestate and Texas Sanitary Relief (SKME-513) under Letting No. 11750-015.1, at this office, 2350 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63103, until 02:00 PM on Tuesday, September 15, 2015, at a place designated.

Bids will be received only from companies that are pre-qualified by the District’s Engineering Department for: SEWER CONSTRUCTION – St. Louis County drainlayer’s license required

Plans and Specifications are available for free electronic download. Please go to MSD’s website and look for a link to “ELECTRONIC PLANROOM.” Plans and Specifications are also available for viewing or purchase at Cross Rhodes Reprographics located at 1710 Macklind Avenue, St. Louis MO 63110. All bidders must obtain a set of plans and specifications in order to submit a bid in the name of the entity submitting the bid.

The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN

METROPOLITAN ST. LOUIS SEWER DISTRICT

Notice is hereby given that the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District will receive sealed bids in the Purchasing Division, 2350 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63103-2555 until 11:00 a.m., September 15, 2015 to contract with a company for: Service, Mason Repair & Building Repointing, Per Specifications.

Specifications and bid forms may be obtained from www.stlmsd.com (MSD at Work, Bidding on Projects). The bid document will be identified as 6084 RFQ. If you do not have access to the internet, call (314) 768-6313 to request a copy of the bid.

Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

NOTICE TO MINORITY, WOMEN & DISADVANTAGED BUSINESSES

TARLTON CORPORATION, 5500 West Park Ave., St. Louis MO 63110, is seeking qualified Minority, Women and Disadvantaged Businesses to bid the Café One Improvements project for the The Muny located at #1 Theater Drive, St. Louis MO 63112. Work includes demolition and remodel of interior space with new slab. Miscellaneous site work. Existing building shell to remain. All interested and qualified Minority, Women and Disadvantaged businesses should contact Cory Paschen at 314-633-3300 to discuss subcontracting opportunities. All negotiations must be completed prior to 1:00 p.m. on August 24, 2015.

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

Construction Management Services

The Board of Trustees of the St. Louis County Library District (the “Library District”) requests the submission of proposals from qualified firms to provide Facilities Master Plan Construction Management Services for Phase 2 to the Board of Trustees as described in this Request for Proposals.

The Proposal must be received no later than 3:00 p.m. C.T., on August 21, 2015, by: Steve Hunter, Manager of Construction & Facilities St. Louis County Library District 1640 South Lindbergh St. Louis, Missouri 63131 For more information please visit: http://www.slcl.org/bid-opportunities

Email your ads today!

vmedina@stlamerican.com

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

Construction Management Services for District-Wide Science Lab Renovation for St. Louis Community College Agreement No. A16-0279 Dated: July 30, 2015 The St. Louis Community College is requesting submittals of experience and qualifications from construction management firms to package, supervise and schedule renovation of nineteen science labs and support spaces to be used for general science, physics, biology and specialized allied health courses. Submittals will be received by St. Louis Community College, in the Engineering & Design Department until 2:00 p.m. August 21, 2015 at the Joseph P. Cosand Community College Center, 300 South Broadway. The scope of construction management services and consulting agreement procedures may be obtained from the Manager's office, at the above address or by calling (314) 539-5012 EOE/ Affirmative Action Employer

LETTING # 8589

BELLERIVE TO SISTER MARIE CHARLES (SMC) TRAIL CONNECTION

Sealed proposals will be received by the Board of Public Service in Room 208 City Hall, 1200 Market Street, St. Louis, Mo. Until 1:45 PM, CST, on _SEPTEMBER 15,2015, then publicly opened an read. Plans and Specifications may be examined on the Board of Public Service website http://www.stl-bps.org/planroom.aspx (BPSOn Line Plan Room) and may be purchased directly through the BPS website from INDOX Services at cost plus shipping. No refunds will be made.

A pre-bid conference for all contractors bidding on this project will be held on AUGUST 31, 2015 at 10:00 A.M. in Room 208 City Hall.

Bidders shall comply with all applicable City, State and Federal laws (including MBE/WBE policies).

All bidders must regard Federal Executive Order 11246, “Notice of Requirement for Affirmative Action to Ensure Equal Employment Opportunity”, the “Equal Opportunity Clause” and the “Standard Federal Equal Employment Specifications” set forth within andreferenced at www.stl-bps.org (Announcements).

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AUGUST 13 - 19, 2015

REQUEST FOR BIDS

The Americas’ Center is soliciting bids for the replacement of an underground grease/oil interceptor at the Edward Jones Dome. A pre-bid & walkthrough meeting is scheduled for August 18, 2015 @ 10:00am. Meeting Location: 901 N. Broadway Street, St. Louis, MO 63101. Contact David Savage at 314-342-5357 with project inquiries. Attendance at the meeting is mandatory. The Americas Center reserves the right to reject any or all proposals. EOE

CITY OF ST. LOUIS BOARD OF PUBLIC SERVICE

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS for DESIGN SERVICES FOR CHILLER 2 REPLACEMENT AT WEST CLIMATE CONTROL, LAMBERT-ST. LOUIS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. Statements of Qualifications due by 5:00 P.M., CT, Tuesday, August 25, 2015 at Board of Public Service, 1200 Market, Room 301 City Hall, St. Louis, MO 63103. RFQ may be obtained from website www.stl-bps.org, under the On Line Plan Room – Plan Room, or call the City of St. Louis, Board of Public Service at 314-622-3535. 25% MBE and 5% WBE participation goals.

www.stlamerican.com

CITY OF ELLISVILLE

2015 ABATEMENT PROGRAM ORDER Donald K Anderson Jr., Judge of the Ellisville Municipal Division of the St. Louis County Circuit Court, and hereby orders as follows: 1. The 2015 Abatement Program will be in effect for the Ellisville Municipal Division from August 5, 2015 to September 30, 2015.

2.All bonds will be $100.00, unsecured.

3.The Program shall not apply to the following offenses: a.Alcohol and Drug related offenses; b.Assault offenses.

During the Abatement Program, defendants with warrants outstanding may go to that particular court office during Warrant Abatement business hours of 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. All of the defendant’s warrants in that court will be recalled and they will be given a new court date to appear before the court. Court contact information: Court Clerk Fiehler 636-227-3729.

LETTING# 8579

Install Twenty (20) Inch Liner in Sublette Main from Arsenal St. to Potomac St., State Revolving Fund Project This project is financed through the Missouri State Revolving Fund, established by the sale of Missouri Water Pollution Control bonds and federal Capitalization Grants to Missouri.

Sealed proposals will be received by the Board of Public Service in Room 208 City Hall, 1200 Market Street, St. Louis, Mo. until 1:45 PM, CT, on September 15, 2015, then publicly opened and read. Plans and Specifications may be examined on the Board of Public Service website http://www.stl-bps.org/planroom.aspx (BPS On Line Plan Room) and may be purchased directly through the BPS website from INDOX Services at cost plus shipping.

No refunds will be made.

Bidders shall comply with all applicable City, State and Federal laws (including MBE/WBE policies).

All bidders must regard Federal Executive Order 11246, “Notice of Requirement for Affirmative Action to Ensure Equal Employment Opportunity”, the “Equal Opportunity Clause” and the “Standard Federal Equal Employment Specifications” set forth within and referenced at www.stl-bps.org (Announcements).

INVITATION FOR BIDS St. Louis Development Corporation

The Land Reutilization Authority of the City of St. Louis, is currently seeking bids for Building Stabilization, Wellston Station, 6111 Dr. Martin Luther King Dr., St. Louis, Missouri. The work requires complete replacement of the roof, structural repairs to the columns and trusses supporting the roof structure and repairs and restoration of exterior building elements, including slate siding, windows, trim, decorative elements, etc., and the painting of those elements. Interior work is limited to the installation of a handrail on a portion of the stairs from the first floor to the second floor.

This requires that the work performed on this building complies with historic standards.

Therefore the contractor shall demonstrate knowledge and experience in the restoration of historic structures. The contractor must provide a list of a minimum of four (4) projects completed within the last four (4) years that complied with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation. Such compliance may be demonstrated by the successful completion of the requirements for the granting of state and/or federal historic tax credits or the demonstration that the project may have qualified for such credits, had they been applied for.

A pre bid conference will be held at 1:00 PM Wednesday, August 26, 2015, in the St. Louis Development Corporation Board Room, 1520 Market Street, (2nd floor), with a site visit immediately following.

Bids will be received until 3:00 PM on September 14, 2015 at St. Louis Development Corporation Attention: Aminah T. Wright, 1520 Market Street Suite 2000, St. Louis, Missouri 63103.

All bids shall be publicly opened at this time.

The complete Bid Package is available at https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/ procurement.cfm

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN

REQUEST FOR BIDS

Wachter, inc. is soliciting subcontractor bids for the North Facility Expansion - Lafayette Industries, due 08/27/15 at 10:00 am. Plans and Specs are available for viewing at our office, 108 Industrial Drive, Arnold, MO 63010, and at the following case sensitive address: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/90mt94gsysklb7 8/AABuYezT8Bx37si2rEls0PBaa?dl=0. This project requires that a good faith effort be made to utilize Minority, Women, and Service- Disabled Veteran Business Enterprises.

All labor to be performed under this contract shall be subject to the Wage Rate Statute of the State of Missouri, and requirements of the Federal Davis-Bacon Act of 1982 as amended.

Fax bid to (636) 464-1960 or call (636) 464-3555 EOE/AA

SEALED BIDS

for Building Renovation and Related Work, Missouri National Guard, Poplar Bluff, Missouri, ProjectNo. T1425-03 will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, 9/3/2015. For specific project information and ordering plans, go to http:// www.oa.mo. gov/fmdc/dc/ list.htm

SEALED BIDS

for AHU Replacement, DOLIR Office Building 3315 W. Truman Boulevard, Jefferson City, MO, Project No. O1504-01 will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, 9/10/2015. For specific project information and ordering plans, go to http:// www.oa.mo. gov/fmdc/dc/ list.htm.

CITY OF ST. LOUIS LAMBERT - ST. LOUIS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT® Solicitation for Bids (SFB) for Phone Maintenance Services Bids Wanted

Bid documents may be obtained at Lambert St. Louis International Airport - Airport Properties Division, Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., or by calling (314) 426-8184. This SFB may also be obtained by visiting our website at www.flystl.com (Click on “Business Opportunities”).

Robert Salarano Airport Properties Division Manager

SEALED BIDS for

New Fulton State Hospital, Building Automation System/Fire Alarm System (BAS/FAS), Project No. M1411-10 will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, 9/3/15.

For specific project information and ordering plans, go to http://www.oa. mo.gov/fmdc/dc/ list.htm.

LETTING #8587

CONSTRUCT STAGE LINDENWOOD PARK

Sealed proposals will be received by the Board of Public Service in Room 208 City Hall, 1200 Market Street, St. Louis, Mo. Until 1:45 PM, CT, on September 1, 2015, then publicly opened and read. Plans and Specifications may be examined on the Board of Public Service website http://www.stl-bps.org/planroom.aspx (BPS On Line Plan Room) and may be purchased directly through the BPS website from INDOX Services at cost plus shipping. No refunds will be made.

A pre-bid conference for all contractors bidding on this project will be held on August 17, 2015 at 10:00 A.M. in Room 208 City Hall.

Bidders shall comply with all applicable City, State and Federal laws (including MBE/WBE policies).

All bidders must regard Federal Executive Order 11246, “Notice of Requirement for Affirmative Action to Ensure Equal Employment Opportunity”, the “Equal Opportunity Clause” and the “Standard Federal Equal Employment Specifications” set forth within and referenced at www.stl-bps.org (Announcements).

REQUEST FOR BIDS

Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority of the County of St. Louis (“LCRA”) is soliciting bids from qualified firms for the demolition of certain residential structures in Wellston, Missouri located at: 6311 Wagner Ave., 1225 Robert L. Powell Pl., 6231 Plymouth Ave., 1604 Vassier Ave., 1609 Vassier Ave., 1658 Vassier Ave., 1659 Vassier Ave. The work generally consists of asbestos surveys of all structures, abatement of asbestos containing material, demolition of the structures, removal of demolition debris, site clearing and grading.

LCRA will accept sealed bids for the work at 7733 Forsyth Blvd., Suite 2300, Clayton, MO 63105, Attn: Segun Babalola until Thursday, August 27, 2015 at 3:00 p.m. at which time and place bids will be publicly opened and read aloud. A pre-bid walkthrough will be held on Thursday, August 20, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. The project will be funded in whole or in part by a Community Development Block Grant under Title 1 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as amended. All applicable federal regulations shall be in full force and effect. MBE, WBE firms, and Section 3 firms are encouraged to bid.

Bid documents may be obtained from the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership’s web site at www.stlpartnership.com. LCRA reserves the right to reject any or all bids and to waive informalities therein. Any questions should be directed to Segun Babalola, St. Louis Economic Development Partnership, at (314) 615-7668 or obabalola@stlpartnership.com.

St. Louis Economic Development Partnership Equal Opportunity Employer

Email your ads to vmedina@stlamerican.com

REQUEST FOR BIDS

Sealed bids for the 2015 Accessible Ramp Improvements will be received by the Department of Public Services, City Hall, 690 Chesterfield Parkway W, Chesterfield, Missouri, 63017-0760, until 10:00 a.m. (prevailing central time) on Wednesday, August 26, 2015 and will thereafter be publicly opened and read aloud.

The project consists of sidewalk removal and replacement, pavement replacement, seeding, property restoration and other incidental work.

This activity is funded in whole or in part with Community Development Block Grant funds pursuant to Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as amended. All applicable federal regulations shall be in full force and effect.

Electronic bid packages will be available on the City’s web site after 12:00 noon, Wednesday, August 12, 2015. The electronic bid packages will also be made available on compact disk (CD) for pick up at Chesterfield City Hall. The bid package may be reviewed at that same location.

Communications between the bidders and the City shall be conducted and documented in writing through the use of email communication to mdooley@chesterfield.mo.us. No oral interpretation will be recognized.

The City reserves the right to reject any or all bids and to waive informalities therein.

For information regarding the project contact Matt Dooley, Project Manager at 636-537-4766 or at mdooley@chesterfield.mo.us

City of Chesterfield _______________________________ Matt Dooley Project Manager

www.stlamerican.com

Plans and Specifications are available for free electronic download. Please go to MSD’s website and look for a link to “ELECTRONIC PLANROOM.” Plans and Specifications are also available for viewing or purchase at Cross Rhodes Reprographics located at 1710 Macklind Avenue, St. Louis MO 63110. All bidders must obtain a set of plans and specifications in order to submit a bid in the name of the entity submitting the bid.

Bids & Notices

THE

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN THE

FURNISHED ROOMS FOR RENT A/C & Heat Shared Bath and Kitchen

314-652-6154

1ST MONTH FREE

New Unit $375/mo

5200 Block of Palm

314-718-0642

Potential Free Rent CLEAN FURNISHED 1220 Warren ROOMS & 1 BR

Senior over age 55 & eligible handicapped individual1 bedroom apt. Income base.

Electric included call

314-436-0733 FURNISHED

ROOMS FOR RENT NORTH CITY

Newly Remodeled c/a&h, utils included

SMOKE & DRUG-FREE

314-225-7676

All Utilities Paid!

Nice apartment, all kitchen appliances, cold a/c, hardwood floors, flexible deposit! ready now! $575

rs-stl.com 314-309-2043 AGTGG

MARK TWAIN HOTEL Winter discounts avail.

314-421-2980 (Downtown)

Centrally Located & Connected to Metro and Buses, Short Term Weekly RentalsNo credit check $110.50 and up per week (utilities and Housekeeping svcs included) Other terms and conditions may apply.

FOR RENT Updated, utilities included $138/wk & up Proof of income

314-585-6638 Downtown!

All Utilities Paid! Cute apartment, a/c, appliances w/dishwasher, pets, fitness center, low deposit! only $600

rs-stl.com 314-309-2043 AGTGH

Sec 8 Welcome North City

1 BR apt 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 + BR single family homes

314-518-5898 South City!!

Mini Mansion! 4 bed, 2 bath house, dry basement, fenced yard, all appliances, pets, walk-in closets! $775

rs-stl.com 314-309-2043 AGTGZ

**SPECIAL**

314-681-3008

Fall is Fun with us!!

Move-In Special

McCormack House Sr. Living Apartments

Heat included - 24 Hour Desk Attendant Fully Equipped Kitchens - Walk-in Showers

Beautiful! A must see for those 62 yrs or older!!

www.mccormackhouseatwestminsterapts.com

866-347-8650

SAN REMO APARTMENTS Move-In Special!

1BR $475 2BR $575

Email your ads to stlamerican.com

NORTH CITY

1 BR apt. stove & fridge, very clean and quiet Minutes from major grocery store plaza, Senior citizens Discount $450/mo + Dep

314-243-2222

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AUGUST 13 - 19, 2015

APTS. & HOUSES ROOMS FOR RENT FOR RENT $110/wk Looking for a few great 2BR on Ashland tenants to live in a $535/mo God fearing environment.

2 BR in Baden Sec. 8 welcome $550/mo with open arms.

314-629-5051

Starting at $100/wk APARTMENTS FURNISHED ROOMS FOR RENT FOR RENT 5203 Northland Ave SOUTH CITY /NORTH CO 3 BR Near bus line & Metrolink Stove & Fridge

Call Mr. Robert

ROOM FOR RENT FURNISHED ROOMS

AGTGY

Stonegate Apartments

Affordable housing located at Big Bend & Hwy 141 One & Two BR garden and loft apartments

Call Community Manager for leasing information

(636)225-7511

314-504-2173

Need a Job?

Check out page D1.

Email your ads to

vmedina@ stlamerican.com

Kingshighway!

FOR RENT Total Rehab 1-3 bedroom homes & apts. C/A, w/d hookups & private yards.

34XX Michigan Ave. 63118 2 BR Apt $575/mo Sec 8 & Shelter Care Accepted

South City House!

314-740-1878

READY NOW!

Centrally located newly remodeled shared house $135/wk + Dep, w/d, cable, internet, all utils. included.

All Utilities & Cable Inc. Clean & Quiet

314-741-1951 leave a message.

Call 314-952-1614

APT FOR RENT

314-496-5808 South City!

Remodeled 3 bedroom, full basement, garage, central air, hardwood floors, custom kitchen, pets allowed! $650

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Advertised herein is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, imitation, or discrimination because of race,color, religion, sex, handicap, familial\status, or national origin, or intention to make any such preference, limitation, or discrimination “We will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis.”

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Religion

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • AUGUST 13 - 19, 2015

D6

Pastor: Christ is in the movement

Rev. Kinman says St. Louis is ‘blessed’ by young Black Lives Matter leaders

The Very Rev. Mike Kinman prayed during an October 13 protest action at the Ferguson Police Department.

Photo by Wiley Price

By Chris King Of The St. Louis American The Very Rev. Mike Kinman threw open Christ Church Cathedral as a sanctuary for the Black Lives Matter movement on the one-year anniversary of the Ferguson Police killing of Michael Brown Jr. On the morning of Monday, August 10, the church hosted direct action training, and then Moral Monday direct actions will departed from the church.

“This space doesn’t belong to us,” Kinman said of the cathedral, located at 1210 Locust St. in downtown St. Louis. “It belongs to the community.” Most specifically, it belongs to that part of the community where Christ is called.

“As a church leader, I go where I see Christ,” Kinman told The American in an August 9 interview, in between leading two worship services on the one-year anniversary of Brown’s death. “And right now, I see Him in the young people non-violently leading this movement.”

As a white church leader, Kinman is well aware that many white people in the St. Louis region were ready for this movement to be over the moment it began. He insisted white St. Louis should, rather, be grateful.

“The people who are tired of the protests don’t realize how blessed we are,” Kinman

thrown open our doors and then said. “These young leaders are go out into the street ourselves.” exhausted and traumatized, yet Those streets lead to a long they keep going in a movement journey ahead. that has been almost entirely “We are just beginning to nonviolent on the part of the wake from a decades-long protestors. We are seeing Kinman extraordinary n “There is no way slumber,” said. “In the last leadership of a year, so many community whose history could have issues have been anger, pain and raised. Police grief are real, and come to St. Louis they are raw.” with this movement violence was the presenting issue, Some of and us not thrown and it must be Kinman’s dealt with, but as now former parishioners have open our doors and we look into the history of these heard enough of then go out into the issues we see they this impassioned street ourselves.” are incredibly advocacy of complex. Our protestors and entire economy left his church.

– Very Rev. Mike was first built on The church door Kinman the backs of black remains open for bodies that were their return, but he stolen.” understands their Relating decision. a problem in “Some people 2015 to American slavery have said, ‘You’re making me causes many white people to feel bad, guilty, ashamed,’” shut down, Kinman knows.

Kinman said. “I get that. Christ “Too much of white St. Louis Church Cathedral is not always pretends this is not about us,” an easy place to go to church.

But we go where God is calling Kinman said. But he insisted we all must, first, listen. us. There is no way history “I am struck repeatedly by could have come to St. Louis how deeply afraid we are to with this movement and us not

give others space to mourn, cry and be angry,” Kinman said. “We saw police turn guns on crying mothers and youth holding up signs. We need to learn to be yielding and give space for people to be human.

Only then will we be able to listen.”

Kinman’s passionate advocacy of the young movement has extended to learning a chant from Assata Shakur, a movement touchstone. The chant is a statement of self-empowerment and liberation which ends, “We have nothing to lose but our chains.” Shakur remains a fugitive after escaping from prison following conviction for murdering a New Jersey state trooper in 1973. Police officers – including friends of Kinman’s – have objected to his quoting Shakur in sacred contexts.

“If we required everyone we quoted to be perfect, there would not be anyone left to quote,” Kinman said. “The community rallied around a piece of her wisdom, and it is not my job to critique their choice. It is my job to point to the presence of God.”

The Message

We stand with Ferguson

By Pastor Michael McBride, Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III, Rev. Tony Lee For The St. Louis American The events of August 9, 2015, that marked exactly one year to the date that Mike Brown was murdered, are deeply upsetting and troubling. There continues to be a lack of police coordination, transparency and measured response to protests and acts of civil disobedience, deteriorating even more at night under the cover of darkness.

One year later, there is still the use of police dogs, armored tanks, chemical agents and flash bang grenades. The continued use of military style tactics to respond to large gatherings of African Americans is deeply problematic, immoral and un-American.

On this anniversary, a man was shot by unidentifiable plain-clothed police officers in Ferguson, leaving the majority of media to describe the one-year anniversary events as “a peaceful protest turned violent.”

This is irresponsible journalism n We continue and reporting, considering all of our yearlong the unanswered questions about what happened last night but most call for the importantly the man shot was not a demilitarization protest participant and the shooting was separate from the protest. of policing of There are many questions still to be answered. Who are these communities supposed unidentifiable plainof color. clothed police officers? If they were in the process of making an arrest, did they identify themselves? Why would a young man supposedly fleeing from police run away from the large crowd, making himself more isolated and vulnerable?

We continue our yearlong call for the demilitarization of policing of communities of color.

We call for measures to deescalate responses to nonviolent civil disobedience and protest. Law enforcement should prioritize public safety while honoring the dignity, humanity and constitutional rights of civilians. We call on the Department of Justice and the federal government to use all mechanisms at their disposal to put an end to militarized policing, over policing and the unnecessary use of lethal force.

We believe these mechanisms include defunding of police agencies, ending the 1033 Program, and removing militaristic weapons from local police departments, and expanding the capacity to provide oversight and patterns and practices investigations.

We continue to stand with the community of Ferguson and the greater St. Louis region to demonstrate non-violence protest and expressions of freedom to assemble in the midst of daily police terror and arbitrary violence.

Statement released by PICO National Network, Urban Cusp and Samuel Dewitt Proctor Conference.