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New AG Meets with Baltimore
Leaders, Police and Activists
By Freddie Allen
NNPA Senior Washington Correspondent
[Compiled from Pool Reports]
WASHINGTON (NNPA) - Keeping her promise to ensure, “both strength and fairness, for the protecti on of both the needs of victim s
lithe rights of all” in the criminal justice system, Attorney General Loretta Lynch traveled to Baltimore Tuesday to meet with city offi-
1s, law enforcement and community stakeholders to encourage closer ties between police and the residents that they are sworn to protect.
The same day Lynch was sworn-in and just a few hours after Freddie Gray’s funeral, dozens of people, most described as teenagers and
dents, looted shoe stores and burned local businesses and police vehicles. On April 12, Gray, a 25 year-old Black man, was chased and
ested by police officers. While in police custody, Gray suffered a severed spinal cord and a crushed voice box and died a week later,
jy’s death and viral cell phone footage of his encounter with police, sparked nationwide protests.
Last week, the Justice Department dispatched Vanita Gupta, the head of the Civil Rights Division, and Ronald Davis, the director of
mmunity Oriented Policing Services, to Baltimore for a series of meetings with faith and civic leaders and community stakeholders to
cuss the best path forward to mend the fractured relationship between Baltimore’s police force and the majority Black communities that
y serve in city’s poorest neighborhoods.
On Friday, Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby filed charges against six Baltimore police officers that ranged from second-degree
ault to “depraved heart murder.”
During a meeting with Maryland United States Senators Barbara Mikulski (D) and Ben Cardin (D) and Congressmen Elijah Cummings,
in Sarbanes and Dutch Ruppersberger, Lynch said it was inspiring to see people come together to reclaim the city.
“We’re here to hold your hands and provide support,” said Lynch to the group that also included William H. “Billy” Murphy Jr., the
ay family’s attorney, and Rev. Donte L. Hickman, Sr., the pastor of Southern Baptist Church, whose community resource center and
nor housing complex were destroyed by fire while still under construction during the riots on April 27. She also vowed that the Justice
partment was there to help the city move forward and work to improve the Baltimore Police Department (B.P.D.).
Lynch then met with Police Commissioner Anthony Batts privately and then with a small group of police officers who she called the
e hardest-working police officers in America.”
Lynch added: “To all of you on the front lines, I want to thank you. You really have become the face of law enforcement.”
Last fall, the Justice Department partnered with Baltimore officials to address concerns about abuse in the city’s police department.
“I have worked on this issue for years,” said Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, the mayor of Baltimore. “We can’t afford to fail. The relation-
p between police and the community is like a marriage.”
Lynch also met with Baltimore United, a community group that advocates for police reform, and others who had lost loved ones to
lice violence.
New Congressional Caucus
Champions HBCUs
By Jazelle Hunt
WASHINGTON (NNPA) - A little help may be on the way for
torically Black colleges and universities struggling against falling
racial support and an increasingly skeptical public.
The Bipartisan Congressional HBCU Caucus was launched last
ek, with Congressional members Representatives Alma Adams
N.C.) and Bradley Byrne (R-Ala.) at the helm. Its 45 members
I counting are charged with safeguarding the interests of histori-
ly Black colleges and universities, supporting students and gradu-
s; creating a national dialogue; and educating other members of
ngress on the value of these institutions.
“This bipartisan HBCU Caucus is bringing together champions
HBCUs, so that we can make an even bigger impact to ensure
ir needs are heard in every aspect of policy making and across
ty lines,” said Rep. Adams, creator and co-chair of the caucus,
mna of North Carolina A&T State University, and former admin-
ator at her alma mater and Bennett College, both in Greensboro,
“[HBCUs] do what no other schools do for students like me, a
ar Black girl from Newark, New Jersey who came to North Caro-
a- wasn’t fully prepared - but yet North Carolina took me in, got
: prepared, and I was able to do what I’m doing right now.”
The caucus comes at a time when HBCUs are facing a barrage of
illenges. In 2011, Congress put more funding toward need-based
Il grants, but lowered the cap to 12 semesters (or six school years)
lead of the previous 18. Non-traditional students, such as parents,
terans, and people beyond their early 20s, as well as low-income
dents who work part-time, often have complicated circumstances
it make it difficult to go straight through four years of school full
le. For such students, it can take several years to earn a degree.
“Many of our young people really do have to work to pay for
ucation. So a large majority of students we serve at our HBCUs in
nicular are on financial aid - several types of financial aid,” said
p. Adams at a launch event for the Caucus. “We talk about access
1 affordability. You don’t have access if you don’t have the check
go with it.”
The same year, federal parent PLUS loan requirements were
anged in an effort to keep financially burdened families from tak-
ton more debt. The changes went into effect almost immediately,
d thousands of previously approved parents were abruptly denied
' a renewal. As a result thousands of students - largely Black, low-
:ome, and first-generation - were forced to pause or delay their
Ilege educations. According to data from the National Association
Student Financial Aid Administrators, enrollment at HBCUs fell
Ipercent for fall 2012. The number of students with PLUS loans
146 percent, and HBCUs saw a 36 percent decrease in the awarded
liar amounts. That meant fewer students able to continue college.
Id less revenue for the schools.
The Obama administration has corrected this oversight, but the
mage has been done.
“Our parents spend much more money on educating their children
an White families do. That’s just a fact, if you look at percentage
income,” said caucus member Rep. James E. Clyburn (D-SC) at
: same event. “We’re talking about good students who need an op-
rtunity, who need to go into an environment that’s nurturing. So we
5 going to have to fight for these HBCUs.”
There is also less aid available for institutions. According to a
14 report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, state
tools now rely on students fees and tuition for 48 percent of their
venues, compared to 24 percent in 1988. Of the nation’s 105 HB-
1s, nearly half are state schools. Meanwhile, Texas, North Caro-
A South Carolina, West Virginia, Virginia, Arkansas, Kentucky,
issouri, Florida, and Delaware were all caught withholding state
nds specifically from their HBCUs.
The Department of Education shells out roughly $300 million for
tck schools each year. But this funding, like all federal money,
n change without warning from year to year. Howard University,
'example, is a private school, but has historically had its own line
the budget that serves as a critical source of funding. In 2012, this
nding was cut by more than $12 million, and has remained at that
tount each year since.
Representative Alma Adams (D-N.C.), shown here, partnered
with Bradley Byrne (R-Ala.) to launch the Bipartisan Congres
sional HBCU Caucus. (Courtesy Photo)
Judge: Officer’s trial in shooting
death won’t be moved
By Mitch Weiss
CHARLOTTE (AP) - The trial of a white Charlotte police officer accused of fatally shooting an
unarmed black man won’t be moved to another county despite extensive publicity about the case, a
judge ruled May 8.
Attorneys for Randall Kerrick had said it’s unlikely he can get a fair trial in Mecklenburg County
because of heavy news coverage that they said would prejudice jurors.
Prosecutors say the 28-year-old Kerrick fatally shot 24-year-old Jonathan Ferrell, a former Florida
A&M football player, on Sept. 14, 2013. Kerrick was arrested the day of the shooting. He was later
indicted for voluntary manslaughter, which carries a prison sentence of up to 11 years.
Kerrick’s attorneys say interest in the case has increased because of the national debate about race
and aggressive police tactics that begin in August with the shooting death of Michael Brown in Fergu
son, Missouri. In the last month alone, several high-profile cases have fueled the issue. A white North
Charleston, South Carolina, police officer was charged with shooting an unarmed black man in the back
after a witness captured the encounter on his cellphone. And there was rioting in Baltimore after the
death of a black man who was severely injured while in police custody.
“You have to take all of these things into account,” Michael Greene told Judge Robert Ervin, who
was hearing the motion for a change of venue.
Greene said prosecutors have described Ferrell as an “unarmed black man” looking for help. While
Greene said the defense would prove that wasn’t the case, he said they’d be hard pressed to find jurors
in Mecklenburg County who hadn’t heard that account.
But Steve Arbogast, a prosecutor with the state Attorney General’s Office, said he believes Kerrick
could get a fair trial.
Ervin said he faced a quandary. “Where would you move the case?” he asked. Since it has garnered
national attention, even people in surrounding counties have heard of it.
“I don’t see where I can go to get away from the publicity,” the judge said.
He said they would try to seat a jury in Mecklenburg County. If they couldn’t, he would revisit the
issue. The trial is expected to begin in July.
The prosecution and defense also discussed other motions, offering a window into how they intend
to approach the case.
Prosecutors say the shooting was a case of excessive force, while defense attorneys say Kerrick
acted in self-defense.
The judge said he would rule later on a motion filed by Kerrick’s attorney to let the jury see the
shooting site.
After Ferrell crashed his car, he went to a nearby home and banged on the door for help. But the
resident called police, saying someone was trying to break into her house.
Three officers responded to the scene, thinking they were dealing with a home invasion. Investiga
tors say Kerrick fired 12 shots, 10 of which hit Ferrell. One of the officers used a Taser on Ferrell, but
Kerrick was the only officer who fired his gun.
George Laughrun, one of Kerrick’s attorneys, told the judge it will be important for the jury to go to
the scene at night to see what the officers saw.
Attorney General Loretta Lynch speaks during her swearing-
in ceremony at the Justice Department. Lynch traveled to Balti
more on May 5 to discuss improving ties between the police and
Black residents. (Freddie Allen/NNPA News Wire)
Police recover gun from
Zimmerman, 2 guns from
other man
By Mike Schneider
ORLANDO, Florida. (AP) - Police say they have re
covered a handgun from George Zimmerman and took
two guns from a man accused of shooting at Zimmerman.
He is a former neighborhood watch volunteer security
guard acquitted two years ago in the death of a young
unarmed African American.
The case sparked protests and a national debate about
race relations. The U.S. Justice department later an
nounced it was not bringing a civil rights case against
Zimmerman.
The shooting is the latest in a series of run-ins Zim
merman has had with the law, random strangers and his
ex-wife.
In Lake Mary, an Orlando suburb, Police Officer Bi
anca Gillett said May 5 that detectives are still investigat
ing and no charges have been filed against Zimmerman or
Matthew Apperson.
Zimmerman and Apperson were involved in a road-rage
episode earlier this year, but no charges were filed in that case.
Two guns were taken from Apperson’s car, including a re
volver that had a spent shell casing. Police say they will also
execute a search warrant on Zimmerman’s pickup truck.
1 Both men had the guns legally.
Police say the shooting occurred Monday on a busy road.
Zimmerman suffered minor injuries.
NC chapter of
NAACP to
question state
on voter
registration
RALEIGH (AP) - The
North Carolina chapter of
the NAACP wants the state
to answer to what it says
is a low number of voter
registration applications
the state has received from
public assistance agencies
in the last three years.
Chapter leaders and the
Forward Together Moral
Movement say they plan
to visit the Department of
Administration on May 11
to submit a public records
request regarding the re
cords.
According to the
NAACP, in 2012, 41,162
registration applications
were submitted from pub
lic assistance agencies.
The next year, it says the
number dropped to 18,758,
and down again in 2014 to
13,340.
The groups will then hold a
news conference at 10 a.m. to
discuss the findings and how
they expect Gov. Pat McCrory
and his office to address them.