FORUM
Groups Reject Governor's Signing of HB 318
Officials from the city
of Greensboro, immigrant
rights organizations from
across the state, and groups
representing low-income
residents gathered at the
International Civil Rights
Center and Museum on
Wednesday, Oct. 28 to
oppose House Bill 318.
The groups have heard that
the governor plans to sign
the bill on the same day in
Greensboro.
HB 318 limits a munic
ipality's flexibility in iden
tifying residents as it
chooses. This could have a
significant impact on North
Carolina's immigrant resi
dents, many of whom do
not have access to state
issued identification, as
well as other individuals
who have difficulty obtain
ing ID, including senior
citizens and people dealing
with homelessness.
Collaborating with the
police department and
many other city agencies in
Greensboro and
Burlington, the
FaithAction ID program
has successfully addressed
concerns associated with
not having a state ID over
the last two years.
However, advocates
fear that restricting govern
ment officials from accept
ing certain forms of ID
could lead to discrimina
tion and profiling and
could limit access to serv
ices for our community's
most vulnerable residents.
In addition, this bill
also limits federal food
assistance for childless
adults working less than 20
hours per week, despite the
fact that in North Carolina,
83 counties have more job
less workers than job open
ings.
"Even while our NC
General Assembly and our
Governor demonstrate a
callous regard for margin
alized populations, we
pledge to stand alongside
immigrants and SNAP
recipients to ensure that
everyone is able to fully
participate in our commu
nity," said Lori Fernald
Khamala of the American
Friends Service
Committee.
The City of Greensboro
has staunchly opposed this
bill. The City Council
voted 8-1 to oppose it, the
Human Relations
Commission voted unani
mously to oppose it, the
News & Record came out
in opposition, and the
Greensboro Police
Department has spoken out
against it.
Yet on Wednesday, Oct.
28, Gov. Pat McCrory is
expected to travel to
Greensboro to sign HB 318
into law. Advocates consid
er this is an insult to the
city, and to immigrants and
poor people across North
Carolina.
"We embrace and cele
brate the contributions that
immigrants have made to
our state and urge our poli
cymakers to expand ? not
restrict - ways for immi
grants to participate in
mainstream society. Rather
than passing harmful legis
lation, we urge our legisla
tors to adopt inclusive
measures like tuition
equality and drivers'
licenses for all NC resi
dents in order to uplift and
strengthen our state as a
whole," Khamala said.
For more information.
contact Lori Fernald
Khamala, American
Friends Service
Committee, 919-491-0039
cell, LKhamala@afsc.org;
or Addv Jeffrey,
336-473-1100, addyjef
frey@gmail.com.
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IT"**" >ioith Carolina Justice Center
College athlete shows
character by giving to
South Carolina
College
football sea
son is in full
swing.
Touchdowns
and first
downs are
being made
all across tne
country by both favorites and underdogs.
First-time freshmen have stars in their
eyes as they are seeing the big difference
between high school football and college
football.
Football
teams at all
divisional lev
els are frying to
win champi
onships and
reach bowl
games. By now
some teams
have an idea
about how their
season is going
to turn out.
Fans are
tailgating and
season tick
etholders are
enjoying every
game. The
weather is per
fect for foot
ball, and we
want more of it.
Each year
college football
writers and
pundits put out a list of players and teams
that we should watch. Of course, if you
watch a lot of Division I football, you will
hear the names Ohio State, TCU, Alabama
and LSU.
One player that has garnered a lot of
national attention is Leonard Foumette, a
running back for LSU. He is in his soph
omore season there after having a terrific
first year.
Some say that St. Augustine High
School has long been a football power
house in the state and has sent its share of
players to both college and to the NFL.
They have also had some of their games
televised by ESPN. So Leonard Fournette
has followed a number of great student
athletes from this venerable high school.
Leonard Fournette has not disappoint
ed the Tiger faithful this year. LSU is
undefeated and Foumette is running over,
around and through would-be tacklers.
For example, during a three game stretch,
he was averaging over 200 yards per
game. Usually averaging 100 yards per
game gets you noticed but Foumette has
taken it to a whole new level.
Recently, LSU played the University
of South Carolina in Baton Rouge,
Louisiana, because of flooding and hurri
cane conditions in Columbia, South
Carolina, home of USC.
Leonard Fournette rushed for 158
yards in LSU's victory over South
Carolina. All of the monetary proceeds
went to the hurricane relief fund set up in
South Carolina, which was under a state of
emergency.
What happened immediately after the
LSU-USC game was one of the most
poignant and heart-warming moments you
will ever see at a college football game.
Just as
the televi
s i o n
reporter
was get
ting ready
to inter
v i e w
Fournette
about the
victory,
he pulls
out a pre
pared
statement
and
begins to
read it.
In the
state
ment, he
expresses
his empa
thy and
deep con
cern for
the citi
zens ot trie state 01 soutn earoima uccausc
of the hurricane and the mass destruction
that it has brought. Fournette goes on to
state that he fully understands what they
are going through because of what he, his
family and the city of New Orleans went
through with Hurricane Katrina.
The NCAA has approved Leonard
Fournette's plan to auction off his No. 7
jersey that he wore in the game.
I was surprised. For him to think of the
plight and perils of others when cheers and
accolades are coming his way was an act
of unquestionable maturity and sensitivity.
As a nation, we are our brother's and sis
ter's keeper. Leonard Fournette used the
aforementioned statement in a meaningful
and purposeful way.
Sometimes college student-athletes
only think about the final score. After all,
in sports competition, you only win or you
lose. There is no gray area. So our hearts
become full when we see a young man like
Leonard Fournette who sees life's big pic
ture.
In order for Fournette to show that
kind of love to people that he has never
met, you can tell that his family and
friends love him.
I have never met Leonard Fournette,
yet I believe he has exemplary character.
This attitude of caring demonstrated by
him after the game was molded and
shaped by his family at home. The teach
ers and coaches at St. Augustine High
School further crafted it. Let us not forget
the spiritual influence in his life that obvi
ously has become one of his guiding prin
ciples.
College athletics is big business and is
composed of young men and women who
are combining rigorous academics and
their chosen sport. There are a lot of us
who went through the process years ago.
It requites self-discipline and an uncom
promising commitment to excellence both
on and off the playing field. It is not easy
so that is why the term "student-athlete"
has such a strong meaning.
Leonard Fournette has a bright future
at LSU and at the professional football
level as well. However, his future as a car
ing and productive person is even brighter.
Let us cheer for Leonard Fournette on
Saturdays, not just because he is a talented
football player, but because he is also a
solid citizen with great character.
James B. Ewers Jr., EdD. is a former
tennis champion at Atkins High School
and played college tennis at Johnson C
Smith University where he was all-confer
ence for four years.
He is the President Emeritus of The
Teen Mentoring Committee of Ohio and a
retired college administrator. He can be
reached at ewers.jr56@yahoo.com
James B.
Ewers Jr.
Guest
Columnist
"Fournette's star
began to rise when he
was a stellar running
back for St. Augustine
High School in New
Orleans, Louisiana."
" < - . n ri . 1 l ?
Leonard Fournette