PAGE AS Winston Salem ChronicU JUNE 29, 1989 Judge Hastings: Justice on trial NEW YORK -- Can an outspo ken Afro-American federal judge receive justice in the United States of America? . Can the United States Senate provide a venue for a fair trial for Judge Alcee Hastings? Will the Afro-American com munity as well as millions of others who believe in the pursuit of justice sit idly while another travesty and racial injustice occurs against Hast ings? These questions need honest answers. The truth is that it will be very difficult for Judge Alcee Hast ings to receive justice because of his race and because of his activism on behalf of the poor and downtrod den from his judicial bench. Ironi cally, the House of Representatives has accused Judge Hastings of judi cial impropriety arising out of the same circumstances of which Hast ings was found not guilty "by a Florida jury. On July 10 or shortly there after, the United States Senate has scheduled the Hastings trial. Inter estingly and in contradiction to established procedure, Hastings will, not be tried before the full Senate but by a group of 12 Senators who will ultimately make a recommen dation to the full Senate concerning Judge Hastings' impeachment. Although Judge Hastings has not been found guilty of any crime or wrongdoing, the Congress of the United States is proceeding to pros - ecute and persecute him. Are there racial overtones in this case? Yes, we believe that racism and political vengeance are the giajor determining factors in these proceedings. Judge Hastings was the first Afro-American to be a United States District Judge in the state of Honda. He alone prevented the Reagan administration from forced to defend himself in the con text of a tremendous financial inequity. The vast resources of the government are now being stacked against a judge who still believes in the cause of justice for everyone CIVIL RIGHTS JOURNAL By BENJAMIN CHAVIS JR. deporting thousands of Haitian refugees, and Judge Hastings, as a federal judge, openly criticized U.S. domestic and foreign policies. There is a vendetta against Judge Hastings. The civil rights community and the cliurch? commumty cannot afford to remain silent. Wheirthe Hastings trial begins in Washington, the Senate chambers should be filled beyond capacity and every effort should be made to communi cate to the Senate that justice should be done in this matter. In fact, a fair trial for Judge Hastings would be no trial at all because he has already been tried once and founii not guilty. It is reported that the govern ment has spent between $12 and $15 million in attempts to impeach Judge Hastings. Although the gov ernment has provided no resources to JuBge Hastings to defend himself against these renewed allegations, he is being pressured to abide by an almost impossible schedule of trial dates. Thus, Judge Hastings is being. without racial discrimination. Yet the economics of these proceedings also point to institutionalized racism. Please write the following 12 United States Senators and let them know your support for Judge Hast ings: Sens. Jeff Bingaman, Patrick Leahy, Davis Pryor, Richard Bryan; Jay Robert Kerrey, Joseph Lieber man, Arlen S pecker, Dave Duren berger, Warren Rudman, Christo pher S. Bond, Flade Gorton and Conrad Burns. Judge Hastings is a fighter and even though the cards appear to be stacked against him, he has refused to surrender. The Hastings trial is a situation where the judicial system itself will be on trial. Justice demands fairness and an end to the persecution of Judge Alcee Hast ings. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. is exec utive director of the Commis-' sion for Racial Justice of the United Church of Christ. Doing the right thing, Spike! There is a short, skinny, relative ly unattractive young man who wears glasses and dresses like a bum, and I've come to admire him immensely. His name is Spike Lee, and his latest film "Do the Right Thing" is a must see. Many Afro-Americans have tried and failed to break down the racial barriers that are ever prevalent in the movie industry. Afro-American actors and actresses have complained often about the lack of serious roles for blacks. Hollywood lends to stick with stereotypical portrayals of black life, that is during those rare occasions when it is willing to employ Afro Americans. If we're not doing comedy, we re either cops, pushers, addicts, prosti tutes or domestics. Things arenot likely to change until more Afro Americans are doing the writing, directing and producing. . - Thank heavens for Spike Lee. He has persevered despite tremendous odds. His movie "School Daze," released early last year, grossed $14.5 million and was Columbia Pictures biggest money maker. Before "School Daze," Spike Lee's first major film "She's Gotta Have It" won the best new director award at the Cannes Film Festival and the Los Angeles Film Critics' new generation award. The film grossed $8 million. Spike Lee isn't just making films; he's making waves. His films have dealt with very difficult and sensitive ? subjects. In "School Daze" he tackles the blacks vs. dark-skinned blacks. He and Ossie Davis play memorable roles in the production, but several talented new actors make their debut. Through his films, Spike Lee not > only presents the reality of black cul ture, but he also provides much need ed work for black talent that is going untapped by Hollywood. It's fascinating to be able to By ANGELA D. WRIGHT challenges Afro-Aftierican involve ment in Greek organizations and explores the subject of politically apa thetic college students. He also makes a statement about black male/female relationships. His most recent endeavor, "Do the Right Thing," is a cause and effect examination of racism is a Brooklyn, N.Y. neighborhood. Despite the ten sion that is evident throughout the plot, there is an underlying theme of love and the importance of communi ties. Spike Lee's characters are real and vulnerable. His message is unmistakable and the plot is full of surprises. Long-time favorites Ruby Dee watch history in the maKing -- and Spike Lee is making history as no one ever thought it could be made. More importantly, he has not compromised his cultural upbringing in order to do so. He makes Hollywood accept him on his terms. The name of his compa ny, Forty Acres and a Mule Film works, speaks volumes about his commitment and motivation. In my opinion, he is the best thing to happen to the movie industry in a long time. At the young age of 32, Spike Lee has a lot left to give, and maybe one day he will be able to give young Afro-American children their own "Lucy" to love. Issue is fairness From Page A4 - petitive. None of those arguments are persuasive. No one disputes the fact that increasing employer payroll expenses would mean some lost jobs at the margin, but few economists think the toll would be more than 100,000 and many believe it would be less. The teen worker argument is also flawed. Teen-agers make up only about a fourth of minimum wage workers. Two-thirds are women and almost four million are heads of households. About 4.5 million men, women and children live in families in poverty where the head works at the minimum wage. The minimum is so low that a full-time worker can work all year round and still be below the poverty line. As for the competitive argument, if the minimum applies to all employ ers they'd still be competing on level ground, so that one won't wash either. Balanced against the marginal negative effects of a higher minimum are major positives. Poor families with workers would have higher incomes. Teen-agers from low income families would be better able to help their families out of poverty. And the biggest plus of all would be that the drift to greater inequality in incomes would be slowed. Our system would be more fair, and fair ness is the bedrock of any system. Anyone who dodbts that need only look at the way the communist coun tries' leaders are being challenged because of the unfairness of their sys tem. Yet another flaw in the opposi tion to the higher minimum is the belief that it would ratchet wages up throughout the economy and fuel inflation. In fact, the minimum wage -? even the higher one passed by Congress - is too low to have a per ceptible effect on inflation. And so many employers are exempted from the bill's requirements that most small businesses and non-profit organiza tions would not have to pay it. The market dictates higher wages anyway. The slowdown in the growth of the labor force has led many low wage employers to boost their wages beyond even the new higher mini mum. So opponents of the higher minimum are driven by ideology, not reality. It is unconscionable to tell low wage workers in poverty that their work shouldn't pay enough to let them climb above the poverty lincj while at the same time pushing a measure that would let affluent tax payers cash in on lower rates for capi tal gains. 1 John E. Jacob is president of the National Urban League. PRICE BUSTER ? IN NORTH CAROLINA WE CANNOT BE BEAT ON PRICE! 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