ACLU backs black author in
lawsuit over ticket for racial slur
NEW ORLEANS (APi - The American Civil Liberties
Unioti is backing a lawsuit that accuse* police in a Louisiana
city of violating the civil rights of a black author who was cited
for a sign with a racial slur on his car
Lawyers for the ACLU's Louisiana chapter signed up this
week to. represent Johnny Duncan in his case in federal court
against the city of Amite, police and city officials
Duncan was parked outside a restaurant in Amite in August
2(M)7 when police officers conlrjLited him about a sign on his
car advertising his book, which chains a racial slur in its title
Officers said he violated the slate's obscenity law. hut the tick
el was later dismissed.
The ACLU says the book's title may be offensive but isn't
obsVene. Arlawyer for the city says the lawsuit is frivolous.
Democrats make staff picks
for Organizing for America
WASHINGTON, DC - In a video announcement sent to
supporters and Democratic National Committee (DNC)
activists last week, Obaimi lor America Campaign Manager
David Plouffe introduced Mitch Stewart as the director of
Kaine
organizing u>r mnenca.
The new initiative will work in part
nership with the DNC to continue to
build, engage and strengthen the
unprecedented organization that was
built during the campaign and the grass
roots network built over the past four
years at the DNC The joint partnership
signifies the ongoing commitment to
both building1 and strengthening the
grassroots, movement, ahd reaching out
to people in all 50 states to engage
Americans in this movement for
change, according to officials.
"I'm extremely pleased that Organizing for America will
be housed here at the DNC. Working in partnership, we will
seek to engage people in new ways, and to broaden what
President Obama calls the "Coalition for Change' in America."
said Virginia Governor Tim Kaine, the new DNC leader. "I
know first-hand how important it is to reach out and engage the
grassroots all across a state and all across our country ."
In addition to Stewart, the DNC also announced that
Jeremy Bird will serve as deputy director. Stew art served as
Iowa Caucus director. Indiana state director and Virginia state
director for the Obama campaign. Bird served as Obama cam
paign field director in South Carolina during the primaries and
general election director in Ohio.
President Obama's suit-maker
files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy
CHICAGO (AP) - The Chicago-based company that
makes suits preferred by President Barack Obama has filed for
bankruptcy. ?' . ..
Hartmarx Corp. and its US. subsidiaries filed for Chapter
1 1, protection Friday. The company says its Canadian and other
non-U. S. affiliates have not sought bankruptcy protection.
Hartmarx makes business, casual and golf apparel under its
own brands, including Hart Schaffner Marx. The clothier's
products can be found in department stores and mail-order cat
alogs.
The company has arranged up to S 1 60 million of debtor-in
possession financing and is seeking court approval to continue
operating its business and paying employees.
Hartmarx made a tuxedo, a topcoat and a suit tor Obama's
inauguration The company also made the dark-navy custom
made suit Obama wore Election Night in Chicago.
Franklin gives gifts to First Family
At last week's inauguration. Aretha Franklin presented
President Obama with 17 sermons from her father, the late
Rev. Dr. C.I.. Franklin.
The sermons were recorded at the New Bethel Baptist
Lhurch in Detroit,
where Rev. Franklin
was the pastor for 38
years. They included
"The Eagle Stirreth
Her Nest." one of Rev.
Franklin's famous ser
mons that elevated
him to national and
international fame.
The legendary
singer also gave the
president an auto- j
graphed copy of her '
father's biography, .
"Singing In A Strange ;
Land." by Nick j
Salvatore. an author,
historian and profes
sor at Cornell
University. A small
Bible engraved with a
PR Photo
Aretha Franklin
personal message was
also among the gifts presented to President Obama. The Queen
of Soul gave First Lady Michelle Obama a solid gold brooch
with white diamonds. Franklin s 15-year-old grandson . Jordan
Franklin, gave the first daughters - Malia and Sasha - a collec
tion of Gospel/Christian Hip-Hop music.
Franklin participated in President Obama 's Inauguration by
singing a rousing renditton of the anthem. "My Country 'Tis of
Thee " She is recording and releasing a commemorative ver
sion of "My Country 'Tis of Thee ."
The Chronicle (USPS 067-910) was established by Ernest H.
Pitt and Ndubisi Egemonye in 1974 and is published every
Thursday by Winston-Salem Chronicle Publishing Co. Inc., 61 7
N. Liberty Street. Winston-Salem. N.C. 27101. Periodicals
postage paid at Winston-Salem. N.C. Annual subscription price
is $30.72.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to:
The Chronicle. r.O; Box 1636
Winston-Salem, NC 27102-1636
Nazi Highway
Racist group adopts a roadway
BY MARGARET STAFFORD
THfc ASSOCIATED PRtSS
KANSAS CITY. Mo. -
A neo-Na/i group has joined
the slate's "Adopt-A
Highway" volunteer litter
pickup program. taking
advantage of a free speech
court fight won four years
ago by the "Ku Klux Klan.
The Springfield unit of
the National Socialist
Movement has committed to
cleaning up trash along a
half-mile section of
Highway 16(1 near the
Springfield city limits
Two signs noting the
group's membership in the
Adopt-A-Highway program
went up in October but drew
attention only recently when
the group picked up litter as
part of a gathering in
Springfield.
. The state says it had no
way to reject the group's
application. A 2005 U.S.
Supreme Court ruling aris
ing from a similar effort by
the1 Ku Klux Klan says mem
bership in the Adopt-A
Highway program can't be
denied because of a group's
political beliefs. At the time,
the state could reject appli
cations for the program from
groups that denied member
ship based on race or had a
history of violence.. t
"It's a First Amendment
thing, and we can't discrimi
nate as long as they pick up
the trash." said Bob
Edwards, a spokesman for
the transportation depart
,4 photo from the group's Web site shows members on the highway giving the \azi salute.
ment's office in Springfield.
The state can deny an
organization's application
only if it has members who
have been convicted of vio
lent criminal activity within
the past 10 years.
The NSM Springfield
unit decided to take part in
the highway project because
it wants to clean up the com
munity. said Ariana Glass, a
16-year-old member of the
youth division of the group.
"We wanted to prove that
we're not out here just to
have fun. we want to make
the community look good."'
Glass said.
The group heard both
honks of support and jeers
when about 30 members and
supporters picked up trash
Saturday. Greene County
sheriff's deputies ticketed
one man who group mem
bers said became threatening
but there were no other inci
dents. Glass said.
Members of the highway
cleanup program are
required to clean up trash at
least four times a year.
Edwards said about 600
groups pick up trash in the
12 counties' surrounding
Springfield.
Edwards said his depart
ment had received only one
phone call asking why the
National Socialist group was
allowed to adopt the high
way. Louise Whall, spokes
woman Tor the city of
Springfield, was not aware
of the group's action until
contacted by the AP. but said
the city had no jurisdiction
because it's a stale program.
Most other states have
programs similar to
Missouri's. Ten states -
Alabama. Arkansas, Hawaii,
Illinois. Kansas. Maryland.
Oklahoma. Pennsylvania,
Texas and -Vermont - had
joined in filing a brief back
ing Missouri's side in the
court fight.
Exhibit highlights late Justice
Thurgood Marshall 's early career
BY DANNY JACOBS
THH (BALTIMORE) DAILY
RECORD
BALTIMORE (AP)
Thurgood Marshall
divorce lawyer?
It's difficult to imagine
the first black Supreme
Court justice and Baltimore
native as anything but a civil
rights attorney. But Larry S.
Gibson discovered 10
instances where Marshall
handled divorce cases, as
well as several fender-ben
ders. after he was admitted
to the Maryland bar in 1933.
"He did major civil
rights cases, but he also tried
to keep his. private prac
tice." said Gibson, a profes
sor at the University of
Maryland School of Law
and of counsel at Shapiro,
Sher Guino't & Sandler.
Marshall's balancing act
is apparent in "Thurgood
Marshall's Early Career in
Maryland: 1933-1937," an
exhibit created by Gibson
and permanently installed in'
the Thurgood Marshall' Law
Library at Maryland.
2008 marked the 100th
anniversary of Marshall's
birth, the 70th anniversary
of the graduation of Donald
Gaines Murray. Maryland
law, school's first black stu
dent (whose entrance was
secured by a Court of
Appeals decision argued by
Marshall), and the 30th
anniversary of the effort to
rename the law library after
Thurgood Marshall
Marshall.
It was about that time, in
1978. that Gibson began
talking to Marshall's friends,
family and legal contempo
raries about Marshall's early
years as a lawyer in
Baltimore.
"No one has done a
decent job of covering the
four years that he practiced
here." said Gibson, who also
talked with Marshall hinv
self. "ft was a very active
period, but it was difficult to
get at."
So Gibson pored through
more than 2,000 documents,
including court files, news
paper accounts and
Marshall's personal letters
to create the nine, three
foot-long panels that are dis
played in the library next to
a collection of 18 photo
graphs of Marshall from ' a
boy to shortly before his
death in 1993.
Gibson's research
showed Marshall developing
habits as a young lawyer he
would use the rest of his
career. i
"His attitude .about work
and his priorities were
shaped here in Maryland,"
said Gibson, who is also
writing a book based on his
research.
Gibson purposely says
"Maryland," not
"Baltimore," because
Marshall was the first black
lawyer to practice in multi
ple jurisdictions in the state,
including Baltimore,
Montgomery and Prince
George's counties.
"He always had several
irons on the fire." Gibson
said. i
Almost immediately
after Marshall was admitted
to the bar in 1933. he joined
a group of lawyers in deliv
ering a petition, included in
the exhibit, to Gov. Albert C.
/Ritchie demanding anti
lynching legislation after a
hanging in Princess Anne,
Gibson said.
Marshall's penchant for
civil rights led to some
financial strain as well as a
letter, included in the exhib
it. from Charles Hamilton
Houston. Marshall's friend. T
mentor and law school dean |
at Howard University,
reminding Marshall not to
lose sight of his private
practice. Still, Marshall
See Marshall on A 10
Twfl by fivo
I* wor feed for Koafi, hom about yoa?
Reach millions of pairs of eyes
with one low-cost advertising buy
Call this newspaper to find out how
Statewide and regional buyi"avajliblt
Gift for Golfers I
2019 Golf Prlvlloio Carl |
Discounted Fees at more than
600 Golf Courses in
9 Southeast States!
? ; www.lungnc.org
800 892 5650
bJ * r;v : _ 1
- 4 AMEWCAN
,'( t ji' f LUNG
ASSOCIATION.
</Uer+C %
| $40 MCh or luf 3 G(t 1 Frw!
N&rth Carolina
Alabama
Aitanaat
Honda
Gaorfia
Loutaiana
Miaaiaaippi
Marylind
South Carolina
Virginia
DISTRICT 1
DISTRICT 3
WINSTON-SALEM
2009 PATROL PLAN
Get< with
The Winston-Salem Police Department has implemented a new
patrol plan intended to: reduce crime, improve response time and
make it easier to know the officers who patrol your neighborhood.
Come meet Police Chief Scott Cunningham and learn more about the
plan. All meetings will be held 6:00 ? 7:30 p.m.
DISTRICT 1:
Jan. 27 (Zone 1 ), Deacon Room at Coliseum, 2825 University Pkwy.
Jan. 29 (Zone 2), Deacon Room at Coliseum, 2825 University Pkwy.
DISTRICT 2:
Feb. 3 (Zone 1), Sedge Garden Recreation Center, 401 Robbins Rd.
Feb. 5 (Zone 2), Sprague Street Recreation Ctr., 1350 E. Sprague St.
DISTRICT 3:
Feb. 10 (Zone 1), First Alliance Church, 1601 Pope Rd.
Feb. 12 (Zone 2), South Fork Recreation Ctr., 4403 Country Club Rd.
Not sure what district and zone you live in?
Visit WSPD.org for a detailed map, or call City Link
at 727-8000. Missed your district meeting? Come
to any other meeting.