Newspapers / Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / Aug. 27, 1992, edition 1 / Page 2
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Police conduct "I'm fed up and tired of being the dumping ground for America," said James Grace. "No one in this country validates us (African Americans), but us. When is the other side of the tracks (white America) going to give me some validity." The Rev. Carl Major Potter, who was a victim of police brutality earlier this summer when numerous police officers jumped him outside his home allegedly for disorderly conduct and assaulting an officer, said that he was happy to see so many people out to tell the stories of the community. He also gave a fiery speech which described the conditions in Winston-Salem as explosive. "It is time for you to take the handcuffs off for people who pay taxes in Forsyth County," said William Fails. He went on to describe unjust conditions in educa tion, politics and city government He said that it is "bad when they (white officials) don't think that black people can govern them selves" or occupy positions of authority. R.B. Nicholson, who is white and a strong advocate for the police in recent weeks, expressed his sup port for victims of 'injustice', but he said that he believes that others take advantage of victims fen; their own puposes. Other white citizens shared dif ferent sentiments. They called for unity and the white community's involvement in solving the prob Mentally handicapped arrested him and took him to jail. Sample said that there were five officers on the scene. "At first I ran (at the sight of officers) and then I stopped," said he said. "I am scared of police offi cers. After they got close to me they said that 1 was under arrest and they grabbed my arm and pushed me against a wall to put handcuffs on me, then they slammed me into the car." He said that once they got him downtown that he was told that he would remain there because he did not answer their questions. Sample was booked under $500 bond and charged with disor derly conduct He said that a black police offi cer who knew him helped negotiate his release three hours later in the custody of his mother. On Septem ber 28th, a district judge will hear his case. His mother, Phyllis Sample, Assistant Dean of Health Technolo gies at Forsyth Tech, said she can understand why police would think that someone walking in a mall parking lot a 3 a.m. would be suspi cious. However, she said that did not give them the right or authoriza tion to arrest him. "Charles is afraid of the police because of the Rodney King inci dent and the McKellar situation," she said. "It made an impact on him and they frightened him. If you lis ten to him talk you can understand that he is mentally handicapped." Ms. Sample said her son filed an official complaint with the internal affairs division (IAD) of the police department Tuesday afternoon. "This has happened before," she said, and then went on to describe an earlier case of mistaken identity. "In December 1990 police stopped and searched him because he fit the description of a black male trying to break into a Teller II machine, but in that case the offi cers involved came and apologized to us for the mistake." Shhh! Continued from page A1 be dealt with appropriately. You can't have people being killed that are arrested." ^ He also admitted that "There's so much more that can be done that's not being done, because peo ple are afraid of how they'll be per ceived. " Not all whites interviewed were speechless on the subject Gail Cit ron, a Winston-Salem native and real estate developer, was a member Of the first Leadership Winston Salem class, and has stayed active as a member of one if its biracial committees, which she chairs this year. "When there's a negative con frontation (between blacks and whites), it's frightening, but denial doesn't solve anything: it's not pro ductive." The biracial committees are composed of black and white alum ni who meet regularly in each oth er's homes to talk. "Because of that dialogue, 1 know people are hurting (from the effects of racism). We are peers, we are equals in every way, and that makes it more poignant We don't always agree, but we find we can talk and listen to each other. Maybe it's more important that we listen more than talk." Whites are called to listen to and talk with African-Americans, but they bear a heavier burden. It is the white community that holds the power to make a difference, to change the oppressive conditions: they must act Appeal worst light possible." Sumler said John Dusenbury, the attorney who defended him dur ing the trial, will not represent him in the appeal. Greg Davis, who represented the Rev. Lee Faye Mack during the trial, says her appeal is based on the contention that Judge William Osteen did not allow him to fully pursue a line of questioning "to demonstrate the disparity in educa tion, training and experience between Ms. Mack and the assistant U.S. attorney who conducted the examination." Davis says the prose cutor and Mack did not have a mutual understanding of the ques tions and the terms used in the ques tions. He also maintains that the indictment stated her testimony was Continued from page A1 material to the grand jury's investi gation because she could verify whether or not certain non-profit organizations had received contri butions solicited for them by Rod ney Sumler ? "yet the evidence presented at trial did not even deal with that issue." Instead, testimony elicited from Mack from the grand jury dealt with who prepared the list of contribu tions. A spokesperson for James Fer guson, a prominent civil rights attorney who defended Hairston in the trial, said their office assisted Hairston in filing an appeal in his behalf, as well as a request for a court-appointed attorney. All three are scheduled to report to prison on Sept 16th unless the judge grants a stay of execution. Continued from page A1 lcms in Wins ton- Salem. "We have been unable as a community to work together," said Martha Wilson, frequent spokesper son for the National Organization of Women and for gay rights. "We as a people have the responsibility to treat each other as human beings, but when police officers ignore the well-being of someone in their cus tody, that is a sad statement It is not just the folks in east Winston who have a kx to do, it is all the people in Winston." Salem College professor Sid Kelly drew a standing ovation as he made referrence to the Rev. Lee Faye Mack, who was recently sen tenced to a five-month prison term for perjury in connection with an alleged rackeetering scheme that Continued from page A1 Ms. Sample said that she has always supported the police depart ment 100 percent, but decided to come forward in lue of recent developments in Winston-Salem. "I have supported the police department to the point of repri manding my youngest son, whenev er he had negative things to say about officers," said Ms. Sample, "but after this recent incident I have had to eat my words." Captain G.G. Cornatzer, (IAD) said the the matter is under investi gation. He confirmed that Sample was arrested Tuesday and later released. also involved three other black leaden. Kelly described Mack as a mother to the Winston-Salem com munity and said that anyone who knew her would tell you that her sentencing was "wrong.'' "I've been homeless for two years," said Chuck Snyder, "and I've seen a skull cracked over two dollars and a pack of cigarettes. I've seen violence that scares the hell out of me... How many times does someone have to die before some thing is done." The hearing was organized by the Rev. John Mendez, a leader of the advocacy group Citizens United for Justice, when he wrote to Jim Stowe, executive director of the N.C. Human Relations Com mission. "The Rodney King situation is not an exception to the rule," said Mendez, "in the African-American community it is the rule." Mendez said that a need exist for more black police officers, so that children and the community can recognize and relate to individuals "who look like them." The state commission has no legal authority to conduct an inves tigation or impose penalties in areas under the jurisdiction of local dis trict attorneys, however representa tives recorded complaints and will forward recommendations to the appropriate city officials (ie.t the mayor, aldermen, city manager and police chief)r Stowe said that usually their recommendations are acted upon, but they have no real means of implementing change. "I thought there were some heartfelt expressions tonight that were articulated as real concerns," he said. "We will forward those concerns and recommendations to the proper city authorities but the community will have to constantly petition government officials and keep holding them accountable for things." Another public meeting, led by the local Human Relations Com mission, will be held on Thrusday, August 27 at the Sl Phillips Mora vian Church, 3002 Bon Air Ave., at 7:00 pjn. Emery Rand, director of the Department of Human Relations said that the meeting on Thursday was scheduled a month ago. Recently, allegations have surfaced that the local commission has been complacent about the problems in Winston-Salem. Some sources have implicated members of the local commission and the city manager's office in try ing to abort Tuesday's hearing. At press time those allegations could not be confirmed. This Is A New House / Or a college education. Or a comfortable retirement. It's the secure feeling you get knowing that you're providing for your family and your future. It's a U.S. Savings Bond, and it pays competitive interest rates with a guaranteed minimum rate of return when held five years or more. For more information, pick up a free Buyer's Guide at your local bank and ask about the ftyroll Savings Plan where you work. U.S. Savings Bonds yzmrrmt** ? r? * ? . A poWtc ?ervk* of this publication
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