Newspapers / Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / March 31, 1994, edition 1 / Page 12
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NATIONAL Voters Challenge State Redisricting Plan for Black Majorities RALEIGH (AP) ? Slates that drew new congressional districts " before the 1992 elections to help give minorities more voting power will be watching a lawsuit challeng ing such districts in North Carolina. A group of white voters is asking a panel of federal judges to throw out North Carolina's redis tncting plan, which created two dis tricts containing black majorities. Testimony begins today. "It's immaterial if North Car olina winds up with 12 black con gressmen," Duke law professor Robinson Everett, who's leading the challenge, said last week. "All we're asking is that it be done in a consti tutional way." If Everett's gToup succeeds, the ftntire iflap outlining North Car olina's congressional districts may have to be redrawn. The decision also could jeop ardize so-called "majority-minor ity" districts in other states, where about two dozen new districts were drawn prior to the elections to create black or Hispanic majorities. Everett said aj quota system should not be used to draw congres sional districts because it spawns "a race-classified electoral process." "A quota system works against everybody, white or black," he said in a telephone interview last week. "It works against the whites in _ the 12th and 1st districts and the blacks in the other 10 districts," he said. "It creates districts where vot ers are polarized on the basis of race." v . An attorney for the state acknowledged that the districts aren't pretty, but serve the interests of the black majorities that-live in them. "Beauty is only skin deep." said Eddie Speas. an assistant attor ney general. "Rather than the visual appearance, the focus ought to be on who we have in the district and what interests they might have." Voters in the 12th District, which stretches through several Piedmont cities, have urban inter ests, while residents of the 1st Dis trict in eastern North Carolina are concerned with rural issues, he said. The current map was drawn after the 1990 census, which allowed North Carolina to increase its congressional delegation from 1 1 to 12 seats in the House. The General Asseqibly first drew a plan that included one black majority district. But the U.S. Jus ' i tice Department rejected it. saying the state's 22 percent black popula tion lacked proper representation. The Justice Department must approve changes under the Voting Rights Act of 1965. State lawmakers redrew the map, and with the Justice Depart ment's approval, created two black majority districts. In November 1992, Eva Clay ton and Mel Watt were elected from those districts to become the first blacks representing North Carolina in Congress since the Reconstruc tion period near the turn of the cen tury. The white voters from Durham filed their lawsuit in March 1992, saying the redisricting plan amounted to unlawful "racial gerry mandering." I It was thrown out in a lower court and then reinstated last year by the, U.S. Supreme Court. "Racial classifications of any sort pose the risk of lasting harm to our society," Justice Sandra Day O'Connor wrote for the court. "Racial gerrymandering, even for remedial purposes . . . demands close judicial scrutiny." The decision appeared to state close scrutiny should be applied by courts when the districts drawn are "so bizarre" they appear to be "unexplainable on grounds other - than race." * ? The 12th District stretches 160 miles from Gastonia to Durham, hugging the thin line of Interstate 85. At one point, the dis trict is so narrow that drivers in the northbound lanes are in the 1 2th District, while drivers in the south bound lanes are in the 6th District. Speas argues that the state merely followed the charge of the Justice Department. "The federal law requires that race be taken into account," he said. "Our position is that taking federal law into account is not a violation of -federal law." Watt said Everett is trying R> live in the past. "My position is that minori ties have not been able to be elected ? because of the racially polarized history of elections ? in 90 years," he said. "Anybody who would sug gest that that kind of tradition is more important than democratic rep resentation doesn't understand the principles on which democracy is based." Both sides have strong sup porters. The state Republican Party has joined Everett's group in the lawsuit, saying that redistricting was de signed to protect incumbent - Democrats as well as elecrminority candidates. The Justice Department and the NAACP are supporting the state. Both sides agree on at least one thing ? whoever loSes will appeal, which means it may be up to the Supreme Court. The trial is expected to last about a week. Cinderella Scholarship Pageant Over $1000.00 In Prises and Awards at Cinderella International Finals 1994 North Carolina Preliminary May 1, 1994, Holiday Inn, Uni varsity Partway, WInston-Salam, NC BABY DIVISION 1 p.m. ? CINDERELLA DIVISION 2:00 p.m. Competition Includoa Party Draaa and Sportswear (Talant and Photogenic Optional) For Mora Information or an Entry Blank Call 704-568-5921 CINDERELLA SCHOLARSHIP PAGEANT 101S Foxhound Ct. - Charlotte, N.C. 28212 Cinderella Age Dlvialon 3-6, 7-9, 10-12, 13-17, 18-20 Baby Division Qirla 0-2 end Boys 0-4 . Deadline for Entry April 18, 1994 - Disease and accidents can cause hearing loss at any age, from infants to the older adult. After testing and evaluation, when a hearing aid is determined to be appropriate*, selection may be made from the wide variety pf types & styles available. ?Huanng aids tiu noi verxant tquallx and max nolb* appropriate far . mm* tndtviduab- ? A Voice is a Lovely 1 Sound to ? t- v *" Hear. x\\\ ? I'ORSYTH HEARING AND 1420 PLAZA [1RJVE WINSTON-SALEM, NC . 768-0886 U I jsi iiuai\invj nr SPEECH CENTERS Wrong Raid Leads to Death of Retired Minister ? BOSTON (AP) ? The city's police commissioner apologized for a bungled drug raid that led to the death of a retired minister. But that might not be enough to satsify the family of the Rev. Accelvne Williams, who suffered a heart attack after he was handcuffed by officers raiding the wrong apart ment Friday. "The family is going to be looking for much more than an apology," said John Drewery, the family's lawyer. "m A 1 3-membcr. police SW AT team burst into Williams' second floor apartment, toting rifles and wearing bulletproof vests and shields. Police now say they were looking for an apartment on the third floor of the buildirig. NAACP's =-Benjamirr= Chavis ? Daughter Dies DURHAM (AP) ? Natalie M.ichele Chavis, daughter of NAACP executive director Ben jamin Chavis. died Monday after a prolonged battle with liver disease. Ms. Chavis. who was 26. died at Duke University Hospital. She was the eldest of six children. Funeral services are sched uled for today at 1 p.m. at St. Cyprian's Episcopaf Church in Oxford. Burial will follow in the Chavis family cemetery in Oxford. In lieu of flowers, "contribu tions can be sent to the Natalie Michele Chavis Scholarship Fund for Youths, in care of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People's national office in Baltimore. E's SALON first m Elegance A Hair Perfection Total Salon Appointment Only HUB Silas Creek Partway Winston Salem, NC 27127 Edith Williams Owner-Designer (919)724-1681 Officers chased Williams into a bedroom and handcuffed him. Williams struggled, then collapsed. Preliminary autopsy-results Satur day said he died of heart failure, v Police Commissioner Paul Evans apologized publicly about Williams' death. On Sunday, he and Mayor Thomas Menino quietly attended services at a Baptist church in the area. v "We wanted to be out in the community and putting the healing process in place." Menino said after the service at Dorchester Temple Baptist Church. "A mistake was tBKNi i aa==3= i made and we're going to heal those mistakes." Menino backed Evans' deci sion to apologize to the- victim :s-ref-? atives. even though iU:ould strip the city of any legal defense in ihe^case of a wrongful death lawsuit by Williams' family. "He pledged when he was wrong, he will admit it," Menino said. "That's the sign of a true leader." Drewery would not say whether Will jams' widow-r -Mary ? had decided to'sue. The Rev. Bruce Wall, a pas ytmt** j^st O/fuvny &Ke? HOW DID YOUR FIANCE PROPOSE TO YOU? ? Did he bunjeejump off thgjii&hest bridge! Was he standing in the middle of rush hour traffic? Or did he parachute from a plane? If so, Marvette's Boutique and Bridal wants to hear from you. Your original story of the day your fiance proposed could win you a FREE BRIDAL ORIGINALS* GOWN Stop by today and pick up details and registration form. Contest ends April 2, 1994 G&zmetib' i <f SSmUtl 2109-D New Garden Rd Greensboro, NC 27410 (910) 282-0479 GM PRODUCTIONS WPEC TOWER 98" / WBAV-FM V101 Q / Iftnn AM Presents "TAMBOURINES TO GLORY" Written by Langnton Hughps Music Compofled by Jobe Huntley Starring Maya Angelou A GOSPEL MUSICAL... Music Composer Jobe Huntley A GOSPEL MUSICAL... Featuring J. A. White Choir Shiloh Institutional Baptist Church Rev. Clinton Caesar Sr., Paalor Directed by Defoy Glenn Friday, April 8, 1994 - 8 p.m. Saturday, April 9-3 p.m. A 8 p.m. Sunday, April 10 - % p.m. Tfcfcet Prfcgg; $18.00 (Matinee*) $20.00 (Evening*) Tirkftmantfr - (704) 522-6500 Oretti Bo* Office - (704) 335-3100 Ovens Auditorium 2700 E. Independence Blvd. Charlotte, North Carolina GM PRODUCTIONS 1318 Central Avenue Suite E-l Charlotte, NC 28205 (704) 372-4818/556-6182 Defoy Glenn, Executive Director Margaret Freeman, Artlatlc Director tor at the church, said Menino and Evans had asked to attend. He told them they would be welcome as longras-the\?were~nor accompanied by-television crews. ______ "This is the first time I've ever seen a mayor and police com missioner come out front and apolo gize," said Wall. What If... I f the people of Forsyth County knew more about the positive projects underway in the community 5 if m I 1 ^ Keeping citizens informed about community development projects-is a major emphasis of the Common Vision Long-Term Strategic Plan. This commitment to community-dialog ue will he evident in 1994, as Common Vision kicks off a community awareness campaign. This is the first in a series of public service announcements, which will highlight positive projects underway in Winston-Salem and Forsyth County. Wm. We hope that you will take time to read about what is happening in our community.. .news you'll want to know . about projects that are important to you. >mmot ~*ion ng Here, It's Happeni
Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
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March 31, 1994, edition 1
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