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VOLUME 93 - NUMBER 40
DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA - SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2014
TELEPHONE (919) 682-2913
Some questioning latest
round of Ferguson arrests
FERGUSON, Mo. (AP) - A civil rights group and several clergy said Oct. 3 that po
lice overreached when arresting 13 protesters outside the Ferguson station.
All 13 remained in jail Friday afternoon, more than 15 hours after they were arrested.
The protesters face charges of failing to comply with police, violating a noise ordinance
and resisting arrest, Ferguson city spokesman Devin James said.
Protesters have been a constant presence in the St. Louis suburb in the nearly two
months since Michael Brown was shot and killed by police officer Darren Wilson. Pro
testers want Wilson, who is white, to be charged in the killing of the unarmed, black
18-year-old. A grand jury considering the case isn’t expected to rule for at least another
month.
Some who witnessed Oct. 2nd protest that led to the arrests said it was small but
peaceful. They questioned why arrests were necessary.
Just before midnight, officers began moving toward the chanting protesters, used
plastic restraints on their wrists and put them in a van, according to Gabrielle Han
son, who was at the scene while her mother, freelance videographer Mary Moore, shot
video. Moore was among those arrested, Hanson was not.
Hanson said Moore was shooting video of the arrests when one of the protesters
handed her a cellphone. When Moore took it, she was arrested, Hanson said, and of
ficers confiscated her camera.
Asked what the protesters were saying or whether they were being noisy, Hanson
said, “They were chanting, ’Show me what democracy looks like.’”
The protesters were jailed in St. Ann, a neighboring community. Several clergy gath
ered Oct. 3 at the St. Ann police station to meet with those arrested and show support.
“These are students, scholars, living out democracy who are now being treated like
prisoners,” the Rev. Starsky Wilson said. “We see this as an attempt to break down
peaceful protests.” .
The clergy also urged a municipal judge in Ferguson to order the protesters’ release
or at least lower their bonds. Some were as high as $2,700 for the misdemeanor charges.
Tony Rothert, an attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union office in St. Louis,
said several complaints have been lodged about Thursday’s arrests and the ACLU is
investigating.
“There do appear to be, if not bogus, at least unnecessary arrests,” Rothert said.
“Holding people unnecessarily long, arresting them when it’s not necessary - that’s an
indication of overreach. It certainly appears that the purpose is to discourage people
from coming to Ferguson to protest.”
Hundreds have been arrested in the unrest since Brown’s death, including journalists
and clergy. The Rev. Osagyefo Sekou was arrested Monday and charged with failure to
disperse after sitting on a sidewalk with other protesters.
Meanwhile, St. Louis County police announced Oct. 3 that they will take charge of
security detail related to protests in Ferguson, effective immediately. It’s not clear if
what happened Oct. 2 played a role in that decision. County police said Ferguson Police
Chief Tom Jackson asked the county to assume command, citing a “lack of resources
and manpower.”
Court blocks part of new
North Carolina voting law
By Emery P. Dalesio and Michael Biesecker
RALEIGH (AP) - Parts of North Carolina’s new voting law, considered one of the toughest in
the nation, were set aside for next month’s elections because they were likely to disenfranchise
black voters, a federal appeals court panel ruled Oct. 1.
In a 2-1 ruling, the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals suspended provisions of the Republican-
backed law that would have eliminated same-day registration during early voting and voided
ballots cast on Nov. 4 outside of a person’s assigned precinct.
“Whether the number is 30 or 30,000, surely some North Carolina minority voters will be
disproportionately adversely affected in the upcoming election,” wrote Judge James Wynn, a
former North Carolina Supreme Court justice. “Once the election occurs, there can be no do-
over and no redress. The injury to these voters is real and completely irreparable if nothing is
done to enjoin this law.”
A coalition of civil rights groups and the U.S. Justice Department challenged the law in North
Carolina, which has one of the nation’s most closely watched U.S. Senate races that could deter
mine whether Democrats retain control of the chamber.
State House Speaker Thom Tillis, the Republican challenging incumbent Democratic U.S.
Sen. Kay Hagan, said he and state Senate leader Phil Berger, also a Republican, would appeal
the ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court.
The GOP has long listed North Carolina as a top target to help win back control of the Senate.
Noelle Talley, spokeswoman for Attorney General Roy Cooper, confirmed his office will
also appeal Wednesday’s ruling. She declined to comment further. Cooper is a Democrat, and
Republican leaders have openly questioned the veracity with which his office has defended the
GOP-authored voting changes.
The American Civil Liberties Union, one of the groups challenging the law, said about
250,000 voters took advantage of rules allowing people to register and vote in one trip to an
early voting site during each of the last two non-presidential election years.
“The court took an important step to ensure that this election will remain free, fair, and acces
sible to all North Carolina voters,” said Rev. William Barber II, president of the North Carolina
branch ofthe NAACP.
Judge Diana Gribbon Motz dissented, saying it’s too close to Election Day to force North
Carolina to change its planned procedures.
Absentee ballots were mailed Sept. 5, attorneys defending the law said during arguments at a
special hearing in Charlotte on Sept. 25.
“We are concerned that changes so close to the election may contribute to voter confusion,”
state elections board executive director Kim Westbrook Strach said. “More than 4 million voter
guides have gone to the public with information contrary to today’s decision.”
Motz was appointed by a former President Bill Clinton appointee. Judge Henry F. Floyd
agreed with Wynn. Both were appointed by President Barack Obama.
“Our decision today acts as a safety net for voters confused about the effect of (the state law)
on their right to vote while this litigation proceeds,” Wynn said.
A hearing is scheduled for next year on whether key parts of the law, including requiring voters
to show identification starting in 2016, violates provisions of the U.S. Voting Rights Act and the U.S.
Constitution.
A teacher uses a thermometer to test the temperature of students, checking for
possible Ebola fever at Adekunle primary school in Lagos, Nigeria, Wednesday,
Oct. 8, 2014. Spotting any symptoms early is a key factor in treating any victims
and in arresting the spread of this extremely contagious disease, according to
health experts. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
THREE EAGLES EARN MEAC FOOTBALL
PLAYER OF THE WEEK AWARDS
Quarterback Malcolm Bell, Safety C.J. Moore, Offensive Lineman Clevonne Davis
Garner Weekly Honors
NORFOLK, Va. - Three North Carolina Central University Eagles - quarterback Malcolm Bell, safety
C.J. Moore and offensive lineman Clevonne Davis - have received weekly awards from the Mid-Eastern
Athletic Conference (MEAC) for their play during a 27-22 win over Howard University on Saturday
(Oct. 4).
Bell (Richmond, Va.) has been selected as the MEAC Offensive Player of the Week, C.J. Moore (Ra
leigh, N.C.) has been named MEAC Defensive Player of the Week, and Davis (Miramar, Fla.) has beer
chosen as the MEAC Offensive Lineman ofthe Week.
Bell accounted for 311 yards of total offense against the Bison. He completed 20-of-30 passes for 245
yards and three touchdowns through the air, and ran for a team-best 66 ground yards. Bell is tied atop the
MEAC with six passing touchdowns, ranks second in the conference in pass efficiency (145.4) and third
in the league with 170.8 passing yards per game.
Moore collected nine tackles (seven solo), including 2.0 hits for a loss, with a forced fumble and an in
terception. He tops the Eagles with 43 tackles, ranks fourth in the MEAC with 8.6 takedowns per contest,
and is tied for second in the league with two fumble recoveries.
Davis graded out at 98 percent of his blocking assignments against Howard, anchoring an offensive
line that paved the way for 392 yards of total offense by the Eagles. He tallied five pancake blocks anc
did not allow a sack or record a penalty in NCCU’s first conference victory.
With a 1-0 MEAC record, NCCU returns to league play on Oct. 11 at South Carolina State Univer
sity (4-2 overall, 2-0 MEAC) in Orangeburg, South Carolina. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. The game will be
broadcasted via NCCUEaglePride.com and on the NCCU Sports Network mobile app starting at 1:3C
p.m.
Ten inducted into Ohio Civil Rights Hall of Fame
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - A diverse group of 10 people were inducted into the Ohio Civil Rights
Commission’s Hall of Fame.
Members ofthe commission on Oct. 2 recognized lifetime achievements of honorees, including Jessie
0. Gooding, a former president of Day ton’s NAACP, and John B. Williams, who was a “Buffalo Soldier”
and fought in Europe during World War II.
Other inductees, according to The Columbus Dispatch, included 84-year-old Joan Evelyn Southgate,
who traced the Underground Railroad from Cleveland to Canada on a 519-mile walk in 2003.
Cincinnati native Emily Spicer was recognized for her work as a teacher and principal trying to end
segregation in the city’s schools. Three Freedom Riders from Ohio - Betty Daniels Rosemond, David
Fankhauser and Frances L. Wilson Canty - also were honored.
Springfield donates $10,000 to save temple
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) - The city of Springfield has donated $10,000 to prevent
the demolition of a temple that has historic significance to the city’s black community.
The city made the pledge this week to a group trying to save Timmons Temple. The
funds are from the Minor Neighborhood Improvement Program. .
Paula Ringer, a member of a committee trying to save the temple, said about $120,000
ofthe $200,000 needed to relocate the temple has been raised. A developer who bought
the church wants it moved to erect an apartment complex on the site.
The Springfield News-Leader reports (http://sgfnow.co/luB0mll) Timmons Temple
was built in 1932 and was a place of worship for four generations of the city’s black
residents.