Newspapers / The Carolina Times (Durham, … / Aug. 14, 1993, edition 1 / Page 1
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USPS 091-380 3LUME 71 - NUMBER 32 DURHAM, NORTHCAROLINA ^-SATURDAY, AUGUST IN, 1993 TELEPHONE (919) 682-2913 PRICE: :30 CENTS By Ray Trent . Almost 200 people gathered at the Temporary Quarters ’Inn on Chapel Hill St, Saturday morning, August 7, to show support — in spite of the rato — for Ron Sturdivant, the African American businessman who is trying to purchase the hotel from NationsBank. Sturdivant has met with resistance from political figures in Durham. He has been fiving on the roof of the hotel for a week through storms, hot sun and whatever, to emphasize the unfairness of the drive against him. Attorney Larry Hall, who hosts "Talk Back" on radio, a program' covering many controversial issues, was master of ceremony for the^ Saturday morning community gathering. He told the audience that "we arc here to move Durham forward with the community’s help and to make this hotel a viable part of Durham." Ms. Odessa Gatewood, chair of Establishment for Economic Equality (EEE), one of the sponsors of the rally, told the racially mixed audience that their presence there made a difference and served as a rallying point on all issues. "It’s time to stop sitting back," she said. She declared that progressive development is for all of the people of Durham and everyone has a right to participate. • . Curtis Gatewood, president of EEE, then told the crowd that "it is time to go back to the community. We hang in our own groups, our own churches and our own cults and forget about the problems that plague us all." Gatewood sfrongly attacked the local media for tactics that racially divide Durham. "We will not tolerate it any longer," he said. He declared that racial division "runs through Durham in the school board, the courthouse, ci^. council, and other places our tax dollars support." Many times during his speech, the crowd rose to its feet. ASAP, the gospel group from Southside Christian Church, sang in the misty rain, "The Sun Will Shine After While." Ronnie Jennings, founder of the Triangle Chapter of the Association for Minority Contractors — the other ^nsor of the tally — warned that elected officials would be held accountable in November for their actions or lack of action. He questioned where they were Saturday morning because none were present at the rally. Jennings talked about how blac contractors had "lost out on S million in the last two years." H said black contractors were froze out of the arts center and ball pari while a new jail is being built 1 Hayti. "Your picnic is over! Jennings declared. Referring ti drug sales, Jennings said, "Whet you take something from youth you’ve got to offer them something ■ in its place. We need an economic base to offer them jobs." Mrs. Diane Sturdivant described her husband as a Christian, a NCCU graduate, a loving father and husband who is business and goal oriented, a role model for this three children and the community. David 2X of the Nation of Isto, said that "taxation without representation is tytanily and ... the praalty for tyranny — death." He said that "we’ve got to stop scratching where we don’t itch when dealing with any land of ofiicials. We can’t acc^t scared leadership any more." Responding to the shouts of "Ronnie, Ronnie" from the standing, applauding crowd, Sturdivant, holding a framed copy of the Bill of Rights, read from it "the right to buy property without iriterfeience from government" He also had a framed copy of the Constitution of the Unit^ States and noted the 14th Amendimnt. ‘I DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR’: JUSTICE WILLIS WHICHARD SENATOR LUCAS, WILLIAM LUCAS wmuHARD, Mrs. Jeanne Locas Sworn As First N.C. African American Woman Senator Story and Photos By Ray Trent On Wednesday, August 4, Mrs. Jeanne Lucas, of Durham, became the first African American woman ;enator ip North Carolina. She represents the 13th District. Mrs. Lucas succeeded Ralph Hunt who recently resigned fromfthe Senate to take a seat on the State Utilities Commission. A committee of eight Democrats fr-om the 13th District — which includes Durham, Granville,’ parts of Person and Wake counties — elected her unanimously. She was sworn in by N.C. Supreme Court justice Willis Whichard, as her husband, William Lucas stood by her side in the old Legislative Chambers in Raleigh. In her first speech. Senator Lucas pledged not to be a problem, but to be a solution to those issues and concerns brought before the Legislature. She' said her appointment is evidence that the door is open for people who are comniitlcd to serving all of the people. N.C. Association of County Commissioners Meets Here Durham County is host this week to the 86th annual conference of the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners. The conference begins August 12 and runs through August 15 at the Sheraton in Research Triangle Park. More than 600 officials and their families are expected at the conference which will feature informative workshops related to issues of importance to county cdficials. Gov. James B.Hunt will address county officials Friday, August 13, 9 p.m., at the opening session. He is expected to give an overview of his initiatives on behalf of the children, including early childhood education, rnd statewide economic development. The governor^ "Childhood Initiatives Program" has received stsigwide and national attention. Hunt will outline his plans, explain how fliay wit) affect counties and field questions from county of^ials, The conference will also feature nine workshops on such *abjggfJ as solid waste, jail privatization, community oejrecUnHA sfglPtvide jconomic development effort and health care refopn. Orange County Commissioner Mosel Cargy will he tigpored at ^ special reception Thursday, 7 p.m,, at Rayti ^eritggl Center pi Fayetteville St. On Saturday night, Carey will ^ ins{gl/ed ai the African American elected as preildent el (1)1 N,C. Cpwaty Commissioners Association. ’The Honofghle g»mel t Bine, fr., f^aker of the House of Representatives, will be (he feiured ipealter at (he Annual Pres^ents Banquet Conferees will have the t^potfijni^ to visit ffliny of Durham’s landmarks. The conference conclude* SlritSymonii#^. (Continued On Page 3) SHARING A LIGHT MOMENT: SENATOR JS*NNE LUCAS AND DR. JOHN «. LUCAS
The Carolina Times (Durham, N.C.)
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Aug. 14, 1993, edition 1
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