Glendale’s Community Newspaper
www.glendalestar.com
Vol. 77 No. 18
April 29, 2021
UTI grad overcomes challenges to land job
INSIDE
This Week
BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI
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Glendale Star Executive Editor
Brandon Zimmermann has beaten the odds most of his life. At 6 months, he suffered a right posterior cerebral stroke that had long-lasting impacts on his physical and intellectual development. “They couldn’t determine a cause, other than it’s a weak blood vessel in his brain,” said his mother, Nadine. After intense physical and occupational therapy — along with healthy doses of Guitar Hero when he was older — Brandon proved he could function well. Recently, Brandon graduated from
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Universal Technical Institute with a 3.87 GPA. He studied diesel and FACT, Ford Accelerated Credential Training, and was accepted into the Cummins Power Generation Program. His goal is to be a diesel technician. “UTI has been great for Brandon,” Nadine said. “As a senior in high school, we found out he learns best with his hands. Learning was difficult for him in the traditional sense. “Reading a book or story was not something he was good at. This has made all the difference in the world.” The story doesn’t end there. At the UTI graduation ceremony, Sunstate SEE GRAD PAGE 4
Brandon Zimmermann receives his associate degree from Universal Technical Institute’s Ford FACT program. (Photo courtesy of UTI)
WV NAACP: The real work is just beginning BY SARA EDWARDS
Glendale Star Contributing Writer
The world was watching with bated breath as Judge Peter Cahill read the verdict during the trial of Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer who killed George Floyd last May by kneeling on his neck for 9 minutes. Chauvin was found guilty of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter on April 20. He will be sentenced June 16. Around the country, activists and protesters collectively sighed and celebrated accountability, while knowing the real work toward justice has just begun. Former police officer Larnell Farmer,
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a West Valley NAACP member, said the verdict was astounding because it took the jury only 11 hours to reach a decision. “I was shocked that the verdict came back as quickly as it did and that he was found guilty,” Farmer said. “But, I don’t think it’s going to really change anything.” Farmer said this isn’t a new narrative, referring to the cases of Mohamed Noor, a Black police officer who fatally shot 33-year-old Justine Damond in 2017. Noor was convicted of third-degree manslaughter and murder but was acquitted on the charge of intentional second-degree murder. Farmer said Chauvin had the backing and support of the police and Noor did not.
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It was the same narrative, though, that “a large Black man was out of control.” “I think the problem is in the system and the police system when it comes to qualified immunity,” Farmer said. “Until we start addressing that until police officers see Black and brown people as human beings, that’s when I think things will actually change.” Farmer said it’s troubling to wake up every morning to see another police shooting incident occurred. He added the view on police shootings would be different if white people were killed by Black and brown officers. “I think people’s happiness around this
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