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Blacks Must Control Their Own Community
To The Unconquerable Host of Africans Who Are Laying Their Sacrifices Upon The Editorial Altar For Their Race Audited by
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VOLUME LXXIII NUMBER 47—SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 2014
PUBLISHED SINCE 1940
25 Cents and worth more
Violence creates cause for preachers By Glenn Reedus Chicago police officials will tell community members those violent crimes, especially murders, are on the decline, but the news hasn’t stopped a group of Chicago ministers from banning together to drive down violence further. On March 10, dozens of pastors from the city and suburbs, along with approximately 500 community members, assembled at Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, 1257 West 111th Street, for the first rally of the Mobilizing Preachers and Communities (MPAC) organization. MPAC is an affiliate of a New York entity by the same name. The local group was formed about two months ago according to the local affiliate president, the Rev. Booker Person. Person is pastor of Holy Baptist Bible Assembly Church, in Dolton. Person noted that MPAC is starting with the linear focus of raising awareness to reduce violence in and around Chicago and compared the initiative to the early days of the Civil Rights Movement. He explained the organizers understood there was a need to be unanimous and dealing with a single issue at a time, “We are convinced the time is now for us to act as a unified front.” He added that voting was the issue that brought the clergy and community together in the 1950s and 60s, but presently, the
ATTENDEES AT THE first Mobilizing Preachers and Communities rally stand to welcome news that the organization already has 50 pastors looking to partner with community organizations to combat violence. The meeting was at Mt. Calvary Missionary Baptist Hayes. corresponding issue is gun violence. Over in for Sharpton, who attended the rally in dees to pick up the mantle and promote the last three years, about 450 people were Tallahassee, FL commemorating the shoot- non-violence across the city. Still in its infancy, the local MPAC affilishot to death in Chicago, with 2012 hav- ing death of Trayvon Martin, but was ing the largest total with 503. grounded in Charlotte, NC on his way to ate has about 50 members as compared to Promoted as an event featuring Rev. Al Chicago. The ministers’ conversation was the 350 clergy members of the New York Sharpton as the keynote speaker, Mt. Cal- played over the church’s speaker system, chapter, Person shared. The Rev. J. Melvin vary’s pastor, Rev. Tyrone Crider, had to fill and Sharpton repeatedly encouraged atten(Continued on page 2)
County Commissioner owns Judy’s Grill at Walmart By Wendell Hutson The only restaurant located inside a South Side Wal-Mart store just happens to be owned by a Black, elected official whose district includes the retail store. Since 2013, Cook County Commissioner Stanley Moore (D-4th Dist.) said he has owned Judy’s Grill, a fast-food eatery located inside Wal-Mart, 8331 S. Stewart Ave., and named it after his mother. “Before I started this restaurant, I owned a hot dog concession stand at Soldier Field for 10 years,” Moore said. “I opened this store because I wanted to help employ more youth and people from the community.” Cana Chalmers, 36, is a cashier at WalMart and said she and her fellow co-workers eat at Judy’s Grill all the time. “The food and service is good. I eat lunch here almost everyday. It’s convenient and the prices are reasonable,” Chalmers said. “My favorite thing here is the grilled chick-
COOK COUNTY COMMISSIONER Stanley Moore owns Judy’s Grill, which is located inside a Walmart store at 8331 S. Stewart Ave.
en pita.” As part of a community benefit agreement, Wal-Mart agreed to do business with local vendors and Moore’s business was chosen as a result, said Erica Jones, a spokeswoman for Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. “Typically, we have one restaurant tenant in our stores so that’s why Judy’s Grill is the only restaurant at the Chatham store,” Jones said. She added that an internal review process selected Judy’s Grill and not the elected official. Alderman Howard Brookins (D-21st), whose ward includes the Chatham store, said Wal-Mart made the right choice by picking Judy’s Grill. “I was happy to see his business chosen. And I certainly see nothing wrong with an (Continued on page 13)
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