Urban Pro Weekly

UPW

DECEMBER 11 - 17, 2014 VOL. 4 NO. 14

URBAN PRO WEEKLY

THEPERFECTSEASON THE UNDEFEATED WEST FRASER RIVERHAWKS — Champs of Midget Tackle Football during their awards banquet.

Photo by Vincent Hobbs

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UrbanProWeekly - DECEMBER 11 - 17, 2014

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FOCUS

UrbanProWeekly • DECEMBER 11 - 17, 2014

COMMUNITY

Football players with the Riverhawks youth football team listen to their coaches present awards during a banquet held at McDuffie Woods Community Center. Photo by Vincent Hobbs

MVP: AJ Hasan

RiverHawks finish undefeated season with championship

By Farrell Brown Special to UrbanProWeekly

AUGUSTA This past Saturday, Dec. 6, The West Fraser Riverhawks midget tackle football league team held a banquet to celebrate their 12-0 championship season. The banquet was held at the McDuffie Woods Community Center and was hosted by assistant coaches Marlon Williams, Chris Mack and Na'im Hasan.

“We have a pretty sophisticated offense,” Williams said. “We have the wristbands. We have a certain number and coloring system that we use and nobody else has that. Hand gestures.

We might even go a little further and do some pictures and things like that.

The thing is you won't find pee wee or midget football doing that. You're

lucky if you see middle school ball doing that.”

The coaches credit the majority of the team's success to the advanced system of plays they have created.

The team runs an up-tempo offense that is a blend of the spread and power offensive styles, Mack said.

On defense, the team “keeps 11 tacklers on the field” and allows the players' natural ability to take over.

The team doesn't have a weak link, Mack said.

The team finished the season with 464 total points scored and only 34 total points allowed over 12 games, Hasan said. The offense is built to “keep scoring”. The goal is to run the score up high enough to completely discourage the other team. The coaches emphasized the fact they don't want or have any “superstars”

on the team.

“We had a core,” Hasan said. “We started with the 9 and 10 age group and once those 9 and 10-year-olds left we moved into the 11 and 12-year-old age group so we were blessed to have some of them for four years.”

The coaches also attribute a lot of its success to the family atmosphere of the team. Three players, Xavier McKenzie, A. J. Hasan and Kael Cham, have been a part of “Riverhawk Nation” since the age of 9. The coaches take a true interest in the lives of every player off the football field. They stress the importance of scholastic success and how it can translate to the game.

“Our kids have a certain accountability,” Williams said. “They know we expect so much of certain things from them. Number one is school. We're stressing school. Without

school you're not going to have this.

We won't have this championship.”

The banquet saw the team receive their division trophies, special awards as well as some coach's awards.

The coach's awards recipients were Kael Cham, Xavier McKenzie, C. J. Hutcherson, Antonio Wilder, and T. J. Perry. The Most Improved Player award went to Malik Smith. The Most Outstanding Player award was given to Cameron Gibbons. A. J. Hasan won the Most Valuable Player award. The team then presented the coaches with tokens of appreciation. Lastly, some of the players' mothers presented the players with “championship rings”.

“I can't wait to see some of these kids get to high school,” Williams said.

“I'll gladly pay the price of admission to see them play. I know what they bring to the table.”

UrbanProWeekly - DECEMBER 11 - 17, 2014

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NEWS

CITY

UPW

URBANPROWEEKLY.COM

Published by

Urban Pro Weekly LLC 3529 Monte Carlo Drive Augusta, GA 30906 Executive Publisher BEN HASAN 706-394-9411 bzhasan54@yahoo.com Executive Managing Editor FREDERICK BENJAMIN SR. 706-306-4647 editor@urbanproweekly.com Sales & Marketing 706-394-9411 Contributors VINCENT HOBBS Photography & New Media

GLENNS HILLLS HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNUS MICHAEL CURRY (center) greets fans during a ceremony to name the new school gym, the “Michael Curry Gymnasium.” Curry, a former NBA player, is now the head baskeball coach at Florida Atlantic University. Photo by Vincent Hobbs

Recreation chief submits resignation AUGUSTA The last quarter of 2014 has witnessed the landscape of city government changed drastically. Last week, the city’s Housing and Community Development chief, Chester Wheeler, handed in his resignation.

On Tuesday, Bob Levine, Director of Augusta’s Parks, Recreation and Facilities Director, submitted his resignation. The Recreation Department had long been in the discussion when budget cuts were considered.

Levine had been rumored to be on a short list of department heads who were slated for firing.

One of his final appearances before the Augusta commissioners recently found him on the wrong side of a personnel dispute. Commissioner Marion Williams had made a public show of support for one of Mr. Levine’s subordinates who had been disciplined for having a dispute with a recreation center patron.

Levine’s resignation letter outlined his achievements since he had assumed the post, but failed

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to pinpoint the reason that he was leaving. Levine would only say that he was taking his leave to spend more time with his wife and children.

Levine’s resignation will be effective on Dec. 19.

By that time, his interim successor will be named.

The recreation department does have deputy directors, but it is unclear whether one of them would succeed Levine.

Levine’s department operated more than 175 parks and facilities and had a budget of $9.5 million.

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COMMENTARY

Now that Russell and his co-conspirators are gone,

Why is developed property still in the Augusta land bank?

By Frederick Benjamin Sr. UPW Political Analyst AUGUSTA It has been over two years since the city of Augusta presided over a most unusual real estate transaction. As part of a management agreement with Augusta Riverfront LLC, the operators of the TEE Center (then under construction), it transferred the land beneath the $12 million brand new parking deck on Reynolds Street to the city’s land bank ­— the Augusta Georgia Land Bank Authority (AGLBA).

Why they chose to use the land bank had more to do with perception than any tangible benefit either to the community or the land bank itself. In fact, it defied common sense.

From the beginning, there was skepticism. Wouldn’t such a transfer violate both the letter and the spirit of the land bank’s mission? More importantly, would the transfer comply with state statutes that govern the creation and operation of land banks?

There is no less skepticism today.

The only question is, how long will the city of Augusta put up with this charade?

How did we get here?

It’s a little convoluted but here goes.

In early 2012, Augusta commissioners were led to believe that the land upon which they built a multi-million parking deck belonged to them. It didn’t. Everyone in the city with the exception of city administrator Fred Russell, his legal team and possibly, Mayor Deke Copenhaver, thought that the city owned the land.

When it was discovered that the city really didn’t own the land, but instead owned the “air rights,” they were understandably upset.

So upset that they started to drag

The land under the Reynolds Street Parking deck was placed in the Augusta Land Bank in 2012 for no other reason than to make Augusta commissioners feel better about a botched real estate deal. Photo by Vincent Hobbs their feet on signing a management contract with the operators of the TEE Center and the parking deck.

They were mad about being tricked It was Commissioner Jerry Brigham who reportedly came up with the idea to use the land bank.

It was thought that all they had to do was to have the owners of the land (933 Broad Investment Co. LLC), donate the land to the land bank — not the city.

Everyone thought they had found a solution that everyone could live with until it was revealed that the land had a $6 million lien on it. So then

they decided that in order for the deal to go through, the lien had to be removed clearing the way for the land transfer.

After all, one can’t sleep well at night knowing that there is a lien on one’s “air rights.”

No one ever stated definitively that the lien ever “went away,” but the land was eventually transferred into the land bank.

The transfer happened on September 19, 2012. It happened quietly and without fanfare. And for all parties involved, that’s just the way they wanted it.

To this day, no one in city government could point to a single clause or paragraph in the state law governing the creation and operation of land banks that would permit the land bank to warehouse a multi-million dollar development that had nothing to do with the land bank’s mission of providing affordable housing or reclaiming blighted areas.

Despite the fact that there will be no development plan as regards this property (how can you plan development for something that is already developed and in use) and despite the fact that there is no community benefit to be derived from the transfer, a majority of the commission, the mayor, the city administrator, the city attorneys, and the attorneys working on behalf of the city all felt that there was nothing wrong with the deal.

Why? Someone told them that there was nothing that prevented them from doing it.

City attorney Andrew Mackenzie said that state law permitted the transfer. Others in city government including Land Bank board member Maurice Henley and Commissioner Joe Bowles said that changes in state law gave the land bank more flexibil-

ity in handling commercial property.

Both assertions could be challenged. Mackenzie’s interpretation of state statute comes out of the same play book that had Fred Russell declaring most of downtown a “slum.”

Whether or not it made any sense was not important. If an attorney says it’s OK, that’s all the cover that politicians and bureaucrats need.

The real “crime” in all of this is that by transferring the property to the land bank, the deal brokers wanted to create the impression that, now, somehow, the city has control of that land.

That couldn’t be further from the truth. The city has no more control of that land that they did two years ago when it was discovered that all the city really had was the “air rights.”

All the transfer of the parking deck land to the land bank really did was to remove the property from the tax rolls.

If the city wants to do so much as dig a hole in the ground on that property, they have to get expressed written permission from Billy Morris.

In 2012 we had a mayor, a city administrator and six commissioners who thought it was a good idea to make a mockery of the Augusta Land Bank by placing the parking deck there. Those who vehemently opposed the scam at the time included Bill Lockett, Alvin Mason, and J.R. Hatney. The Augusta commission as it is currently constructed would never have gone along with that charade.

The question now is, will the new administrator and the new mayor and the newly elected commissioners address this issue?

The only entity that benefits from the transfer of the land to the land bank is the one that still controls the use of that property — 933 Broad LLC.

UrbanProWeekly • DECEMBER 11 - 17, 2014

POLITICS

VP and CFO for Coca-Cola Greater China and Korea to speak at GRU Commencement, Saturday, Dec. 13 AUGUSTA More than 600 students will become the newest graduates of Georgia Regents University after fall commencement, planned for 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, at the James Brown Arena.

Thierry Roques, Vice President and Chief Finance Officer for Coca-Cola Greater China and Korea, a business unit of The Coca-Cola Company, will be the guest speaker.

Since 2008, Roques has managed finance, marketing procurement, and supplier guiding principles activities for China – Coca-Cola’s third largest market – Korea Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macau, and Mongolia. He joined The Coca-Cola Company in 1995 as an internal auditor and spent Thierry Roques

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UrbanProWeekly - DECEMBER 11 - 17, 2014

6

three years travelling around the world auditing Coca-Cola operations in every continent.

Roques moved to Asia in 1998 and held various finance positions in Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand before relocating to Shanghai, China, in 2005 as deputy CFO for the China business unit. He also served on the board of the Supply Chain Management Company and China Bottler Procurement Company, two joint ventures between Coca-Cola and its main bottling partners in China.

He earned two master’s degrees – in economics and political science – from Paris II Assas University in France and a master of business administration from Pace University in New York.

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SPORTS PAINE vs GRU

Paine College head women’s basketball coach Willie Adams advises the team during a game against GRU Augusta at the HEAL Complex.

The Lady Jaguars defeated the Lady Lions 68-50 in the final score of the non-conference game.

Photo by Vincent Hobbs

GRU Augusta head women’s basketball coach Nate Teymer (L) instructs the team during a game against Paine College at the HEAL Complex. The Lady Jaguars defeated the Lady Lions 68-50 in the final score of the non-conference game.

Photo by Vincent Hobbs

MONTANA JOHNSON

9

Augustan seeks to “give back”

by Michéle A. Douglass Special to Urban Pro Weekly When Montana Johnson was 19, he came across a mobile home that was in flames. A woman was screaming frantically that her disabled mother was trapped inside. Without hesitation, Montana ran into the blazing trailer and rescued the paraplegic senior citizen.

For Montana, it never occurred to him not to act. His mother had taught him to always help those who were in trouble or in need.

This selfless act earned Montana the city’s Good Samaritan Award, which was presented to him by former Mayor Larry Sconyers and former Fire Chief Ronnie Few. “That day I discovered that my purpose in life is to help people,” said Montana. “Nothing else in life makes me feel better than to help someone who needs it.”

Montana grew up in the streets of the area of East Augusta known as “The Bottom.” The Bottom, located near the downtown area, is arguably one of the most crime-ridden neighborhoods in this city — ­ poverty and violence were prevalent.

Growing up there was a challenge as there weren’t very many positive things for youths to do. There were not many good job opportunities or role models to look up to.

“Even though I had great parents, there were a lot of bad examples in the hood,” Montana remembered. “I made bad choices and I got into trouble.”

Now, years later, his mother’s admonition and his new found purpose foremost in his mind, he has moved to help those who find themselves in difficult situations. He realized that the streets are filled with people who need help and hope.

He founded United Streets of America, an organization that aims to mentor the youth, provide activities for kids, reduce violence and help senior citizens.

“I look in these neighborhoods and I see that these people are suffering,” Montana said. “If you look around, we are constantly surrounded by people who are in need and need a way out.”

Another one of his mother’s

Montana Johnson turned his mother’s influence into a passion for helping others. actions served him well when he was younger and prone to making bad choices. He had started messing up in school and heading down the wrong path.

“My mom put me in an afterschool program,” he said. “A guy would come out and show us how to take pictures. I enjoyed it because I had something to look forward to instead of wandering around the streets and getting into trouble.”

That early interest in photography led him to become a graphic artist and eventually start a business.

Montana is the sole owner of Tint Guys Super Shop, located on Jones Street and 13th Street in downtown Augusta. He has been in business for more than 10 years and uses his talent as a graphic artist to create designs for vehicles and wrap cars in colorful, custom coatings.

“God gave me an artistic eye. I have a gift for being able to see the potential of something that needs a little help or could use some improvement,” Montana said.

United Streets of America was

birthed from Montana’s compassion to help others, his gift to identify hidden potential and make positive improvements and his experience in the streets.

“I can relate to the people in the streets because that’s where I came from,” he said. “In the same way that God turned my life around and saved me by showing me an alternative to making bad choices, I believe that the people of this city can come together and help others have the same life-changing experience. God has given me a mission to unite people who are willing to do whatever they can to provide help for others.”

Montana explained that some people can help the United Streets mission by volunteering to share their talents like the photographer who had inspired him in the afterschool program.

Others might be able to teach a skill or trade by offering an apprenticeship or a pre-trade training opportunity at his or her business.

Some might be able to facilitate

workshops on helpful topics to educate groups or bring awareness to resources that might be available to them. Johnson has invited everyone to become involved in whatever way that would be helpful.

“The streets of our city have become as dangerous as that mobile home that was on fire because there are people who are trapped in them and dying,” Montana said. “God has put it in my heart to help them get out,” Montana said. “I am willing to make a sacrifice to help others get out of the streets. I am willing to give my time, energy, resources, funds and effort to save as many lives as possible from destruction.

Because God saved me from the streets, I want to save others. I love saving people. If I could save lives, I would save a life every day. I am looking for people who are willing to make a sacrifice and do the same.

Let’s unite and save our streets.”

If you would like to support United Streets of America, please contact Montana Johnson at 1-800641-3261.

UrbanProWeekly • DECEMBER 11 - 17, 2014

PEOPLE

UrbanProWeekly - DECEMBER 11 - 17, 2014

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COMMUNITY

FOCUS

Laney Museum Brings Santa to Augusta

By Farrell Brown For the last decade, The Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History has held its annual “Brunch with Santa” event. The event started as a cooperative effort between the museum and Jack and Jill of America, Incorporated and is currently held in partnership with the Dr. Betty Shabazz Delta Academy.

“It’s just fellowship and having the opportunities to have local children to come and just celebrate and fellowship,” said Alysha Griffin, the Project Manager for the Laney Museum.

Brunch with Santa annually gives young children the chance to interact with Santa and Mrs. Claus. There is a table of brunch food and tables for crafts led by teenaged members of the partnering organization. This year the event had health screenings provided by the nursing sorority Chi Eta Phi. The event is always free and open to the public.

“We partner and collaborate

“It’s just fellowship and having the opportunities to have local children to come and just celebrate and fellowship.” — Alysha Griffin, the Project Manager for the Laney Museum. together,” said committee member Allison Campbell. “Delta House, Inc. and the museum work together with Delta Sigma Theta sorority.

So, we have a very strong bond in trying to build the community and revitalize the neighborhoods and provide education, services and resources to the community.”

The Dr. Betty Shabazz Delta Academy is a middle school mentoring program of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated for girls ages 11 to 14, Campbell said. The group tries to provide mentorship, education and opportunities to explore things the girls wouldn’t usually have a chance to see. They focus on science, technology, engineering and math. They also aim to teach life skills.

Augusta Mini Theatre, Inc. Community Arts & Life Skills School PRESENTS “BE MORE THAN HIPS” A Salute To The Work Of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Written and Directed by Tyrone J. Butler Friday, January 16, 2015 - Feb. 22, 2015 Judith Simon Drama Studio (on the Campus of Augusta Mini Theatre) ADMISSION: Adults - $13.00 Students/Children (ages 2-18) - $10.00

This was the first year Delta Academy has partnered with the Laney Museum on the Brunch with Santa event. Delta Academy hopes to continue helping with the event for years to come Campbell said.

“We do a lot of community events, a lot of community service as far as education goes,” Griffin said.

“We also do a lot of fund raising.

In addition to being a museum, I think we really serve as a cultural center. We are a resource for people who want to know more about Black Culture in the Augusta area.

We have great networking because so many people pass through here.”

Throughout the year the Laney Museum also puts on an Annual Heritage Gala. This is a black-tie

fund raising event every February.

It has a Historian’s Award event to celebrate a “local trailblazer dead or alive”. It also sponsors trips for seniors. The museum also has several senior luncheons throughout the year. Every March the museum puts on a quiz bowl with middle school and high school students called the Black History Bowl.

The Laney Museum’s collection includes a focus on the life of Lucy Craft Laney. It also has a focus on black business that formed the Golden Block of Augusta. It also has information on black entertainers with ties to Augusta along with work from local visual artist, Griffin said.

“This is one of the most exciting (Brunch with Santa) events we’ve had,” said Christine Miller Betts, the Executive Director of the Laney Museum. “We have the partnerships with Delta Sigma Theta and Chi Eta Phi. We were also sponsored

by Georgia Regents University and Greensboro Bank.”

Mr. Ajamu Baraka is scheduled to present “Peoples in Resistance from Ferguson to Palestine: A Report Back” on Thursday, December 11, 2014 at 3pm at Paine College in the Gandy Richardson Lecture Hall located in the Haygood Holsey Building, Second Floor, Room 210. The event is free and open to the public.

Mr. Baraka just returned from Palestine as a member of the “African Heritage” delegation which spent two weeks in Palestine between October 27 and early November. Ajamu Baraka will share his observations and experiences, including the attack on the delegation by the Israeli army in the village of Bil`in.

Sponsors include the Interfaith Peace Builders, Atlanta Public Sector Alliance, Moving the Center, Black Agenda Report, Malcolm X Grassroots Movement, the Georgia Green Party and the CSRA Peace Alliance in conjunction with The John Henrik Clarke Society.

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Ajamu Baraka reports on African Heritage Delegation to Israel/Palestine

UrbanProWeekly - DECEMBER 11 - 17, 2014

12

T

UPW FORUM COMMENTARY

The CIA, torture and the real American Exceptionalism Why the Founding Fathers thought banning torture foundational to the US Constitution

by Juan Cole I have argued on many occasions that the language of patriotism and appeal to the Founding Fathers and the constitution must not be allowed to be appropriated by the political right wing in contemporary America, since for the most part right wing principles (privileging religion, exaltation of ‘whiteness’ over universal humanity, and preference for property rights over human rights) are diametrically opposed to the Enlightenment and Deist values of most of the framers of the Unites States.

We will likely hear these false appeals to an imaginary history a great deal with the release of the Senate report on CIA torture. It seems to me self-evident that most of the members of the Constitutional Convention would have voted to release the report and also would have been completely appalled at its contents.

The Bill of Rights of the US Constitution is full of prohibitions on torture, as part of a general 18th century Enlightenment turn against the practice. The French Encyclopedia and its authors had agitated in this direction.

Two types of torture were common during the lifetimes of the Founding Fathers. In France, the judiciary typically had arrestees tortured to make them confess their crime. This way of proceeding rather tilted the scales in the direction of conviction, but against justice. Pre-trial torture was abolished in France in 1780. But torture was still used after the conviction of the accused to make him identify his accomplices.

Thomas Jefferson excitedly wrote back to John Jay from Paris in 1788: “On the 8th, a bed of justice was held at Versailles, wherein were enregistered the six ordinances which had

been passed in Council, on the 1st of May, and which I now send you. . . . By these ordinances, 1, the criminal law is reformed . . . by substitution of an oath, instead of torture on the question préalable , which is used after condemnation, to make the prisoner discover his accomplices; (the torture abolished in 1780, was on the question préparatoire, previous to judgment, in order to make the prisoner accuse himself;) by allowing counsel to the prisoner for this defence; obligating the judges to specify in their judgments the offence for which he is condemned; and respiting execution a month, except in the case of sedition.

This reformation is unquestionably good and within the ordinary legislative powers of the crown. That it should remain to be made at this day, proves that the monarch is the last person in his kingdom, who yields to the progress of philanthropy and civilization.”

Jefferson did not approve of torture of either sort.

The torture deployed by the US government in the Bush-Cheney era resembles that used in what the French called the “question préalable.” They were being asked to reveal accomplices and any further plots possibly being planned by those accomplices.

The French crown would have argued before 1788 that for reasons of public security it was desirable to make the convicted criminal reveal his associates in crime, just as Bush-Cheney argued that the al-Qaeda murderers must be tortured into giving up confederates. But Jefferson was unpersuaded by such an argument. In fact, he felt that the king had gone on making it long past the time when rational persons were persuaded by it.

Bush-Cheney, in fact, look much more like pre-Enlightentment absolute monarchs in their theory of gov-

ernment. Louis XIV may not have said “I am the state,” but his prerogatives were vast, including arbitrary imprisonment and torture. Bush-Cheney, our very own sun kings, connived at creating a class of human beings to whom they could do as they pleased.

When the 5th amendment says of the accused person “nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself” the word “compelled” is referring to the previous practice of judicial torture of the accused. Accused persons who “take the fifth” are thus exercising a right not to be tortured by the government into confessing to something they may or may not have done.

Likewise, the 8th Amendment, “Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.” is intended to forbid post-sentencing torture.

The 8th Amendment was pushed for

by Patrick Henry and George Mason precisely because they were afraid that the English move away from torture might be reversed by a Federal government that ruled in the manner of continental governments.

Patrick Henry wrote, “What has distinguished our ancestors?–That they would not admit of tortures, or cruel and barbarous punishment. But Congress may introduce the practice of the civil law, in preference to that of the common law. They may introduce the practice of France, Spain, and Germany.”

It was objected in the debate over the Bill of Rights that it could be ignored. George Mason thought that was a stupid reason not to enact it: “Mr. Nicholas: . . . But the gentleman says that, by this Constitution, they have power to make laws to define crimes and prescribe punishments; and that, consequently, we are

not free from torture. . . . If we had no security against torture but our declaration of rights, we might be tortured to-morrow; for it has been repeatedly infringed and disregarded.

Mr. George Mason replied that the worthy gentleman was mistaken in his assertion that the bill of rights did not prohibit torture; for that one clause expressly provided that no man can give evidence against himself; and that the worthy gentleman must know that, in those countries where torture is used, evidence was extorted from the criminal himself. Another clause of the bill of rights provided that no cruel and unusual punishments shall be inflicted; therefore, torture was included in the prohibition.”

It was the insistence of Founding Fathers such as George Mason and Patrick Henry that resulted in the Bill of Rights being passed to constrain the otherwise absolute power of the Federal government. And one of their primary concerns was to abolish torture.

The 5th and the 8th amendments thus together forbid torture on the “question préparatoire” pre-trial confession under duress) and the question préalable (post-conviction torture).

That the Founding Fathers were against torture is not in question.

Fascists (that is what they are) who support torture will cavil. Is waterboarding torture? Is threatening to sodomize a man with a broomstick torture? Is menacing a prisoner with a pistol torture?

Patrick Henry’s discourse makes all this clear. He was concerned about the government doing anything to detract from the dignity of the English commoner, who had defied the Norman yoke and gained the right not to be Continued on page 13

Torture from page 12

ry of persons who may be treated by the government with impunity are behaving as fascists like Franco did in the 1930s, who also typically created classes of persons to whom legal guarantees did not apply.

But if our discussion focuses on the Founding Fathers, it isn’t even necessary to look so closely at the Geneva Conventions.

Thomas Jefferson wrote in the Declaration of Independence, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

The phrase “all men” means all persons of any nationality.

We know what the Founding Fathers believed. They believed in universal rights. And they believed in basic prin-

ciples of human dignity. Above all, they did not think the government had the prerogative of behaving as it pleased. It doesn’t have the prerogative to torture. © 2014 Juan Cole Juan Cole teaches Middle Eastern and South Asian history at the University of Michigan. His new book, The New Arabs: How the Millennial Generation Is Changing the Middle East (Simon and Schuster), will officially be published July 1st. He is also the author of Engaging the Muslim World and Napoleon’s Egypt: Invading the Middle East (both Palgrave Macmillan). He has appeared widely on television, radio and on op-ed pages as a commentator on Middle East affairs, and has a regular column at Salon.com. He has written, edited, or translated 14 books and has authored 60 journal articles.

Obama: America “Exceptional” so we don’t prosecute torturers

by Jon Queally, staff writer In his first official remarks following Tuesday’s release of the Senate Intelligence Committee’s report on the torture program conducted by the CIA during the presidency of George W. Bush, President Barack Obama on Tuesday night indicated that the abuses detailed in the report conducted in the name of the American people— described as “horrific,” “ruthless” and “much more brutal than previously thought”—should not be followed by further inquiries or prosecutions as many have long urged.

In his remarks, Obama acknowledged that “no nation is perfect,” but argued that “one of the strengths that makes America exceptional is our willingness to openly confront our past, face our imperfections, make changes and do better.”

Backed by his interpretation of “American Exceptionalism,” Obama suggested that the release of the report— which his administration fought tirelessly to restrict—was all that was necessary in order for the nation to move forward.

“Rather than another reason to refight old arguments,” Obama continued, “I hope that today’s report can help us leave these techniques where they belong—in the past.”

Legal experts and human rights advocates, however, have taken a decidedly different approach to the report as many renewed a simple message in the wake of Tuesday’s release, saying: If gross crimes were committed, prosecutors should be assigned and the

criminals should be tried and punished.

The executive summary of the committee’s investigative report (pdf) spans 525 pages and chronicles many of the internal machinations and communications relating to how the CIA conducted its abuse of suspected terrorism suspects—including tactics and abuses much more brutal than previously been acknowledged by any government agency. Though many of the lawmakers who have endorsed the report, as well as current and former U.S. officials, have mirrored Obama’s position by saying or suggesting its release should “close this disgraceful chapter” of American history, organizations like the ACLU, the Center for Constitutional Rights, Amnesty International, and a host of other groups and individuals argue that if justice and the rule of law mean anything, the report should be the beginning—not the end—of accountability for those who designed, approved, and executed this program.

“The long-delayed Senate report proves what we have been saying since 2006: that the CIA engaged in a sophisticated program of state-sanctioned torture, notable for its elaborate planning and ruthless application,” said Baher Azmy, the legal director of the Center for Constitutional Rights. “We renew our demand for accountability for those individuals responsible for the CIA torture program. They should be prosecuted in U.S. courts; and if our government continues to refuse to hold them accountable, they must be pursued internationally under the principles of

universal jurisdiction.”

The ACLU has put forth a blueprint for accountability which includes appointing a special prosecutor; deeply reforming the CIA; apologies and compensa-

tion to the victims of torture; honoring those officials who resisted or refused to participate in the program; and pushing for transparency beyond what is contained in the Senate report.

COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION OF RICHMOND COUNTY The Richmond County School System will accept bids and request for proposals until 3:00 p.m., Wednesday, January 14, 2015, for the following:

1.

2.

3.

4.

Charter Bus Service RFQ #14-682 Check Recovery Solutions RFP #15-882 2015 Summer Food Service Program RFQ #15-689 Greenhouse Equipment and Restoration for Cross Creek High School RFQ #15-690 5. Band Uniforms for Lucy C. Laney High School RFQ #15-691

Bid specifications may be obtained by contacting Amy Bauman in the Business Office at 706-826-1298, on our web site at www.rcboe.org, or at the Richmond County School System, Central Office, 864 Broad Street, 4th Floor, Augusta, Georgia 30901.

The Richmond County School System reserves the right to reject any and all bids and to waive technicalities and informalities.

COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION OF RICHMOND COUNTY By: Dr. Angela D. Pringle, Secretary

13 UrbanProWeekly • DECEMBER 11 - 17, 2014

coerced through pain into relinquishing liberties.

Fascists will argue that the Constitution does not apply to captured foreign prisoners of war, or that the prisoners were not even P.O.W.s, having been captured out of uniform.

But focusing on the category of the prisoner is contrary to the spirit of the founding fathers. Their question was, ‘what are the prerogatives of the state?’

And their answer was that the state does not have the prerogative to torture. It may not torture anyone, even a convicted murderer.

The framers of the Geneva Convention (to which the US is signatory) were, moreover, determined that all prisoners fall under some provision of international law. René Värk argues: “the commentary to Article 45 (3)

asserts that ‘a person of enemy nationality who is not entitled to prisoner-of-war status is, in principle, a civilian protected by the Fourth Convention, so that there are no gaps in protection’.*32 But, at the same time, it also observes that things are not always so straightforward in armed conflicts; for example, adversaries can have the same nationality, which renders the application of the Fourth Convention impossible, and there can arise numerous difficulties regarding the application of that convention. Thus, as the Fourth Convention is a safety net to persons who do not qualify for protection under the other three Geneva Conventions, Article 45 (3) serves yet again as a safety net for those who do not benefit from more favourable treatment in accordance with the Fourth Convention.”

Those who wish to create a catego-

UrbanProWeekly - DECEMBER 11 - 17, 2014

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CHURCH

WORSHIP

Tabernacle Baptist Church

Glorious Praise Worship Center

MISSIONARY MINISTRY cordially invites Mothers of the Church, Senior Saints and Retirees to their ANNUAL HOLIDAY LUNCHEON on Saturday, December 13th at 12:00 Noon in the Fellowship Hall in the Church. Please sign up downstairs after each service at the Information Table.

FELLOWSHIP SUNDAY DEC 9TH: 10am – Celebration Sunday @ Glorious Praise. One of our many favorite times throughout the month is being able to come together to worship and yes . . . eat!

Macedonia East

Macedonia East will hold a COAT AND BLANKET GIVEAWAY on Saturday, Dec. 13 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Hot soup will be served. The Rev. Marion Davis is the pastor. For information, call 706.231.4937.

SUNDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY Join us Sunday Morning @ 11am for Bible Study.

Don’t forget the 2nd Sunday of every month is fellowship Sunday. Worship will start at 10am and food and fellowship will follow.

Sunday School 8:30 am Morning Worship Services: 9:45 am Evening Worship Services 6 pm (4th Sunday) Bible Study: 6pm (Mondays) Midday Bible Study: 12pm (Tuesdays) Prayer Services: 6pm (Wednesdays) Celebrate Recovery: 6pm (Fridays) and 12pm (Mondays) 2323 Barton Chapel Road • Augusta,GA 30906 706.790.8185 / 706.922.8186 (fax) Visit Us @ www.broadwaybaptistaug.org • Join us on facebook Dr. C. William Joyner, Jr. Senior Pastor

Start your calling today! Mount Olivet Certified Academic Institution 706.793.0091 • 706.793.0335 • www.mocai-aug.org

Good Shepherd Baptist Church

Rev. Clarence Moore, Pastor 1714 Olive Road / P. O. Box 141 (mailing address) Augusta, GA 30903 706/733-0341- Telephone/706/667-0205 – Fax E-mail address: admin@goodshepherdaugusta.org Web address: goodshepherdaugusta.org Rev. Clarence Moore Church Service: 7:45 & 11:00 a.m.

Church School: 9:45 a.m. / Prayer Service: 11:00 a.m. – Wednesday Bible Study: 9:00 a.m. - Saturday / 7:00 p.m. - Wednesday

Everfaithful Missionary Baptist Church

314 Sand Bar Ferry Road Augusta, Georgia 30901 (706) 722- 0553 Church School Sunday 9:25am Morning Worship Sunday 11am Evening Worship 6pm (1st & 3rd Sunday) Midday Prayer 12pm Wednesday Intercessory Prayer/Bible Study 6pm Wednesday

Bishop Rosa L. Williams, Pastor

Radio Broadcast: Sundays • WKZK 103.7 FM at 7:30 a.m.

Stress Physical Inactivity Family History of Cardiovascular disease Obesity Diabetes High Blood Pressure High Cholesterol Cigarette Smoking HEART ATTACK • BRAIN ATTACK • PREVENT ATTACK East Central Health District Hypertension Management Outreach Program

Richmond County 706.721.5800

UrbanProWeekly • DECEMBER 11 - 17, 2014

ARE YOU AT RISK?

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UrbanProWeekly - DECEMBER 11 - 17, 2014

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