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The Chron icle
Volume43,Number26 WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. THURSDAY, March 3, 2016
leaders see lynch as best for Court
BY CASH MICHAELS
FOR THE CHRONICLE
When President Obama, Republican Majority Leader
Senator Mitch McConnell (Ky.) and others briefly met at
the White House Tuesday to discuss
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ow on the president nominating a
replacement for the late U.S.
Supreme Court Justice Antonin
Scalia, one thing was made very
clear - Obama intends to carry out
his constitutional duty to nominate
a qualified candidate before he
leaves office next January, whether
McConnell and the Senate take up
that nomination or not.
The Republicans present reaf
firmed their vow not to even con
sider it before the next president takes office, hoping that
it will be a Republican.
If the president nominated either a moderate or pro
gressive to fill the ultra-conservative Scalia's shoes, it
would tip the ideological balance of the SCOTUS to the
left, thus breaking the current four-four liberal to conser
vative tie, something that Republicans do not want.
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President Obama
Justice Scalia's right-wing leanings assured conservatives
that they had at least one solid champion on the court. In
the wake of his death several weeks ago, they do not want
to hand Obama any advantages.
Among black leadership, though, the growing consen
sus of who the president should nominate to the High
Court is clear - U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch.
"I would love to see him appoint Loretta Lynch," US.
Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD), senior member of the
Congressional Black Caucus, told The Hill Newspaper.
"She's already been vetted. She meets the criteria that he's
laid out. She would certainly be my recommendation."
Even North Carolina's black leadership agrees.
"She would be a powerful nominee," says N.C.
NAACP President Rev. William Barber. Her credentials
are phenomenal. She is from the South, a black woman,
and someone who has already been confirmed."
The Greensboro native, 56, endured a prolonged five
month confirmation battle in 2015 before McConnell and
his Republican U.S. Senate majority finally confirmed her
See Court on A2
Photo by Tevin Stinson
A group of parents make a list of changes they would like to be included in a new federal education model
that will focus on literacy at Cook Elementary School next school year.
Cook administrators
and parents unite
to improve school
BY TEVIN STINSON
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After years of posting test scores in the bottom five
percent among elementary schools in the entire state,
Cook Elementary School will see a number of radical
changes ahead of the 2016-2017 school year.
Aside from changing the name of the school to Cook
Literacy Model School, the school located on 11th Street
just off Thurmond Street will also have a new principal,
staff members and instructional design. According to
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School officials, the
changeover is part of a federal education model they have
adopted called Restart.
During a meeting held last month to announce the
changes, a number of parents voiced their issues with the
proposed changes. While a number of parents took issue
with the lack of communication, many more asked ques
tions about current teachers who have built relationships
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Keisha Wisley said there are teachers at the school
who have built strong relationships with the students and
the fact that they have to leave just isn't right.
"I know something has to be done, but I don't think
replacing staff members who have created bonds with
these students is the answer," said Wisley. "It isn't fair to
them or the students."
Superintendent Beverly Emory said that although the
new model calls for an entirely new staff, teachers and fac
ulty members who are currently at the school can re-apply
for their positions. However, she did explain that because
of the literacy model and its requirements, it's unlikely
everyone would be brought back.
Emory also mentioned the new model will attract more
teachers who have shown they have the ability to acceler
ate reading and help children who have fallen behind.
See Cook on A2
Matthews'
civil rights
legacy set
BY TODD LUCK
THE CHRONICLE
Carl Wesley Matthews, the leader of the local lunch
counter protest in I960 that became the state's first victo
ry for the sit-in movement, passed away on Friday, Feb.
26.
A service for Matthews will be held today (Thursday,
March 3) at noon at Russell Funeral Home, 822 Carl
Russell Ave.
Matthews, 84, started the sit-in at the downtown Kress
store that led to the desegregation of lunch counters in
Winston-Salem. The graduate of Winston-Salem Teachers
Lot lege (now Winston
Salem State University)
started his sit-in on Feb.8,
just one week after the
four students from NC
A&T University started
their sit-in at the
Greensboro Wool worth.
"I knew from the time
that I heard about the
gentlemen in Greensboro
sitting down, I knew from
that moment that I would
offer some support for
them, that I would be a
pinch hitter," said
Matthews in a 1996 tele
vision interview for the
local AAPshow. .~
- During the same interview, he said he discussed doing
a sit-in with five of his co-workers at a local trucking
company, but by the time he started the sit-in, it was just
him.
Though alone with white patrons threatening him, he
later said he was not afraid, saying he felt the presence of
a higher power and kept repeating the 23rd and 27th
Psalm. But he was not alone for long, as he was joined by
students from Winston-Salem Teachers College the next
day and for the rest of the 107-day protest.
"I knew he needed some help," said Victor Johnson
Jr., one of the students who joined him.
Johnson, now a school board member, knew
Matthews from the neighborhood. He described
Matthews as being outspoken, adamant and even cocky.
Students from Atkins High School also participated in
the sit-in, as did white students from Wake Forest College
See Matthews on A2
Matthews
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