Newspapers / Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / June 20, 1996, edition 1 / Page 1
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African-American leaders attack court rulin2 State Rep. Larry Womble ii The Rev. Carlton Evers ley r U.S. Rep. Mel Watt B> JOHN H1NTON Chronicle Senior Staff Writer Local African-American leaders roundly criticized the U.S. Supreme Court s ruling last week that the 12th Congressional District was unconstitutional. The Rev. Carlton Eversley, spokesman for the Ministers Conference of Winston Salem and Vicinity, described the decision as "unethical, and unjust." The court's 5-4 ruling was an awful moment in the history of North Carolina, Eversley said, adding that the ruling repre sented a radical right-wing reaction to the progress of African Americans in electoral politics. "It was a travesty," he said. U.S. Rep. Mel Watt, the Democrat from the contested 12th District, was disappointed with the Supreme Court's decision, saying that the justices have placed "another obsta cle in the way of fair participation by all peo ple in our democracy." The court ruled that North Carolina's redisricting that created the 12th District was unconstitutional, because the state jmproperly used race as a primary factor in creating the district. The court also stated that the North Carolina's reappointment scheme was not narrowly tailored to serve a compelling state interest. The justices said none of the state's rea sons, such as eradicating the effects of past discrimination tor a compelling interest, were sufficient to sustain the 12th District. The court also noted the odd shape of the district and said that congressional districts with a black majorit\ must he shown to be "geographical 1\ compact." The 12th District encompasses portions of Forsyth. Alamance. Davidson. Durham. Gaston. Guilford. IrcdclJ. Mecklenburg. Orange and Row an counties. It generath follows the Interstate 85/40 Please see A FK1C A \ A 7 Wjn^oti-Salem Chronicle FORSYTH CNTY PUB LIB 6 60Rw?5th st ? 3 The Choice for African-American News, and Information WINSTON-SALEM NC 27101-2755 Tui,ocnAv . .nnc THURSDAY, June 20,1996 75 cents Dedicated to the Memory of Clarence E. Nottingham: 1903-1995 vol. xxii, no. 45 City/county school board fires teacher By JOHN HILTON Chronicle Senior Staff Writer The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Board of Education fired a fifth-grade teacher at Forest Park Elementary School after his principal confronted him in front of his physical education class in April, according to the schools' attorney Douglas Punger. The school board did not renew the wmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm contract of Nathaniel Bennett for the 1996 97 school year. Punger said. The school board took the action after Bennett was insubordinate toward Herman Lane, principal of Forest Park Elementary School, officials said. Bennett, 46. a former physical educa tion and health teacher, met with school officials locally and in Raleigh to resolve the matter. He wanted school officials to either reinstate him with back pay of about $2,100 or fire him, he said. After a meeting in May, Punger sus pended Bennett without pay. The school board also upheld Bennett's suspension. Punger said. "I am going to sue these people." Please see CITY \7 Nathaniel Bennett Donald l~ Martin Jr. Joseph Johnson ?WUKWIIIl UMWJ9Mm*mrsmiMX'*X}9ff&WJ >? :: '*?>'? Clinton vows to catch church burners AFederal agents investigate attacks By JOHN HINTON Chronicle Senior Staff Writer The Clinton administration will do everything it can to bring the suspected arsonists to justice for the burning of more than 30 black churches in the South, an aide to President Bill Clinton said recently. "The president has sent a message to the nation to remind ourselves as Americans that we cannot go back to the dark days," said Alexis M. Herman, director of the White House Office of Public Liaison. "He called on every American citizen to speak out against racism." Two more churches were burned this week in the South Herman, who accompanied Clinton to the rededication of Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church in Greeleyville, S.C., spoke to a group of reporters of the black President Clinton prays at the new Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church with Bishop John Adams, left, the Rev. Terrance Mackey and Johnnie Mae Burgess. Clinton attended the dedication of the new church building, which replaced one burned down by arsonists. press last week in a telephone conference call. She restated the president's call for increased federal efforts to solve the cases of church burnings, which have captured national attention. More than 200 FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agents have been inves tigating the firebombings and vandalism against black church es. They have solved 10 cases. Herman said. The U.S. Attorney General's office is following all leads, especially the racial epithets left on the charred remains of the black churches, Herman said. She acknowledged that many African-American ministers are frustrated with the lack of progress in solving the arsons of the churches. "Some of their concerns have been assayed by the presi dent and federal officials." Herman said. "Many of them did not know the extent of the feder al investigation." During his remarks in Greeleyvilie. the president praised the congregation of Mt. Zion A.M.E. Chureh for rebuild ing its sanctuary. "We see in the rebuilding of Please see CUSTOM A 7 Womble,Oldham back resolution condemning church fires, vandalism B\ JOHN HINTON Chronicle Senior Mali W ritcr State Reps. Larry Womble and Warren C. Oldham, both Forsyth County Democrats, have introduced a resolution authoriz ing the N.C. General Assembly to consider legislation condemning arson, vandalism, and bomb threats against predominately black churches. "These acts of malicious \ io lence against churches cannot be tolerated." Womble said. "Hate has flared its ugly head in this state and across the country ." ^ev Mmdez Nearly 80 African-American churches have been burned since 1990. More than 30 firebombings have occurred at black sanctuaries in the past IS months, including a recent fire that destroyed the historic Matthews Murk land Presby terian Church in Charlotte. Oldham said state law enforcement agencies must take immedi ate action to investigate and solve these cases. "We as citizens must do all we can to challenge the climate th.it creates this kind of hatred and racial intolerance." said State Rep. Please set- WOMBLE \7 Singer Ella Fitzgerald dies at age 79 From Chronicle Staff Reports Ella Fitzgerald, 79. the forever girlish singer who melded jazz and pop to become the First Lady of Song, died last Saturday sur rounded by family and friends at her Beverly Hills, Calif., home. Fitzgerald's six decades of performance began in the swinging '30s and continued into the hip-hop '90s, even as fading eyesight and dia betes took their toll. Fitzgerald underwent heart-bypass surgery in 1986. She had both legs amputated below the knee in 1993 because of diabetes. Even when ailing, Fitzgerald could stun fellow musicians wii'i her gift for mimicry and her perfect ear. She popularized scat singing creating fanciful flights of new melody in a way that blended perfectly with the Please see SISGFR \ 6 Ella Fitzgerald CLASSIFIEDS B-13 OPINION A-12 ENTERTAINMENT..B-10 OBITUARIES B-12 SPORTS B-1 This Week in Hlack History June 25, 1915 Jdc Louis defeated Pnmo Camera at Yankee Stadium June 22, 1949 E//ard Charles defeated Jersey Joe Walcott for the world heavyweight championship Million Women's March draws 6,000 in Los Angeles B\ DHNMS SCHAT/.M AN Special to the ("hmnn le LOS ANGELES - Undaunted by "sabotage" b\ some local elected and public officials and false media reports that the Million Women's March and Conference had been canceled, more than 6.000 attendees of the two-da\ con ference marched despite being denied a permit and were reportedly treated to political and cultural presentations. "Never mind that uc drew onlv a tew thousand participants." beamed a never theless proud Gwendolyn Hughes, ehan person ot the at lair. "Wo had a good time. There was plent\ ot food available, the speakers were dynamic, and tlu entertainment was first-rate. So take that: Mark R idlev-Thomas and Willie Williams."' Please see \1IU.IO\1 16 a 'mm
Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
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June 20, 1996, edition 1
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