WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 22, 2018
AN AMERICAN PRINT MEDIA PUBLICATION
QUEEN OF SOUL ARETHA FRANKLIN DIES AT 76
By Stacy M. Brown
A 76.
“Every time she sang, we were all graced with a glimpse of the divine.” Former President Barack Obama
Annan’s Legacy of Fighting for Equality and Rights Lives On By Edith M. Lederer
UNITED NATIONS (AP)—Kofi Annan left the United Nations far more committed than it had been to combating poverty, promoting equality and fighting for human rights—and until his death Saturday he was speaking out strongly for nations working together to solve problems and worried about the rise of nationalism.
A
s secretary-general of the United Nations from 1997 to 2006, Annan saw as his greatest achievements the programs and policies he put in place to reduce inequality within and between fordable and clean energy, and promoting peace countries, to combat infectious diseases and to promote human rights and pro- and justice. The updated list is a major focus of tect civilians from war crimes including geno- the U.N.’s current agenda. As U.N. peacekeeping chief just before cide. becoming He launched secretarythe U.N. Millen“When leaders fail to lead, the general, Annium Development Goals at a summit people lead and make them follow. nan shared blame for of world leaders in But you don’t know where they’re the failure of 2000 to cut extreme U.N. troops poverty by half, going to lead you to.” he deployed promote equality to prevent for women, ensure —Kofi Anann the genocides every child has a in Rwanda in primary school 1994 and in education, reduce maternal and child mortality, the Bosnian town of Srebrenica in July 1995. and halt the spread of AIDS—all by 2015. When he became U.N. chief, Annan Those goals—only a few of which were fully achieved—were succeeded by an expanded list launched a doctrine of “humanitarian intervenof U.N. Sustainable Development Goals for tion” to prevent governments and leaders from 2030 that adds issues such as climate action, afn Annan, see page 2
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retha Franklin, arguably the greatest voice in music history, has died. The Queen of Soul was
“She will be so missed as a mother, sister, friend, cousin,” said longtime friend Roger Friedman, who also covered the Queen of Soul for decades and originally broke the story about her cancer fight on showbiz411.com. “Her legacy is larger than life,” Friedman said. “It’s not just that ‘Rolling Stone’ called her the No. 1 singer of all time, or that she’s the Queen of Soul. Long live the Queen.” Franklin passed away at her home on Thursday, August 16. “The NNPA profoundly mourns the passing of our beloved ‘Sister Leader’ and Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin,” said NNPA President and CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. “Her creative genius was matched by her steadfast courage as a freedom-fighting singer and leader for civil rights. Black America and all people of goodwill throughout the world will miss her, but her legacy will never be forgotten.” Dr. Chavis continued: “Long live the spirit and legacy of Queen Aretha Franklin.” Dorothy Leavell, the chairman of the NNPA and publisher of the Crusader newspapers in Chicago and Gary, Ind., said that she was saddened by the loss of the music icon. “I send a message of sadness and respect for our beloved Queen whose musical genius [shined brightly] and resounded around the world,” Leavell said. The fourth of five children, Aretha Louise Franklin was born on March n ARETHA, see page 7
Condemned California Man Seeks Special DNA Investigation SACRAMENTO (AP)—A California death row inmate with some high-profile supporters asked Gov. Jerry Brown last week to appoint an independent special master to reinvestigate the case and oversee new DNA testing. Kevin Cooper’s lawyer says the extraordinary steps would show Cooper is innocent and that law enforcement officials planted false evidence. Cooper is awaiting execution for the 1983 Chino Hills hatchet and knife killings of four people. He escaped from a nearby minimum-security prison east of Los Angeles two days before the slayings of Doug and Peggy Ryen, their 10-year-old daughter Jessica and 11-yearold neighbor Christopher Hughes. California’s former attorney general and now U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris and New York
Times’ columnist Nicholas Kristof are among those calling for new DNA testing. “Nothing could be more important to the integrity of our justice system than ensuring that an innocent person is not executed,” Cooper’s attorney, Norman Hile, wrote. The 45-page letter he sent to Brown on Friday asks for “a broader innocence investigation to be overseen by a special master appointed by the governor.” The filing came in response
“Real News: "
First Credentialed African American Female White House Correspondent to Be Honored. See page 3
to the governor’s request last month for more details in Cooper’s clemency petition. The governor’s office said Friday the response was being reviewed. San Bernardino County District Attorney Mike Ramos did not immediately respond Friday. Ramos has opposed additional testing and says Cooper, now 60, is indisputably guilty. Brown was asked to order new DNA testing that Hile says would be five to six times more sensitive than the tests on evidence that implicated Cooper in 2002 and 2004. It also claims that two witnesses recently came forward with details of separate confessions by the real killers. Hile wouldn’t provide their names or declarations “due to considerations for their personal safety.”