rfwi 1 i I 3A NEWS/The Charlotte Post Thursday, January 30,1997 Reid fires back at detractors Continued from page 1A nished your ‘good guy’ image with many people in Charlotte,” Reid said. Reid told Davis that he should resign as chair of the Black Political Caucus and suggested that the organization change its name to the Black and White Political Caucus and include whites “if you really what to strike a blow against racism....” He accused keeper of enriching himself off the poor people of Earle Village. Reid said keeper wrote that Reid is “more dangerous than any of these kids out in the com munity.” He suggested that keeper teU that to the family of a white Oregon woman killed at the University Hilton two years ago; the ftiends and families of over 500 black men murdered in Charlotte over the past 10 years and the families of four police officers who were slain in the last four years by African American males. Simms and Davis were pre sent at the council meeting, but decided not to speak. Neither could be contacted for reaction to Reid’s comments Monday. Many of the blacks present at the meeting-had participated in Black Monday, a protest many African American leaders had shunned,' if not outright opposed. Black Monday leader the Rev. Ben Chavis did speak Monday, saying, “We take exception to any racist statement.” “Mr. Reid, you have no reason to fear black youth, no more than you have to fear white youth,” Chavis said. One speaker, Tina White, said she was afraid of Reid. “It is white men like you who served with the KKK,” White said, sug gesting that Reid should afraid of “black sisters,” too. Several speakers, including at least one black woman, voiced support for Reid. Many carried signs to that effect. ’The comments were so heated and emotional that council member Mike Jackson, who is white, stormed out of the meet ing when Mayor Pat McCrory, who was attempting to stifle the debate, wouldn’t allow him to speak. Jackson was so angry he punched a hole in the wall of a small room off the meeting chamber. Reid said Tuesday that he met with an interracial, interdenomi national group of ministers led by the Rev. James Samuel at kittle Rock AME Zion Chinch. “I didn’t hear a person tatking about racism,” Reid said. “They wanted to solve the problems.” He said Monday’s was a “very open meeting.” ‘We had people who had very strong feeling and were willing to share their feelings. It was a kind of watershed for Charlotte. Now we can put aside this issue of racism and start talking about the ways to improve the quality of life in this city. “Sure there are racists in Charlotte. There always will be. Principal wins local school award By John Minter THE CHARLOTTE POST Hidden Valley Elementary School principal Albert T. Winston says he’s thrilled to be the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools 1997 Principal of the Year. “Not as much for myself as I am for what it says about the school and the children here and the staff here,” he said Tuesday. “They make me look good. Receiving an award like this is easy when you have good students, outstanding staff and very cooperative par ents. I will surely accept this bn their behalf.” Hidden Valley, a predomi nantly black school, has made significant gains under Winston. It is one of several schools which has instituted a uniform dress code for stu dents. The use of uniforms at Hidden Valley - white tops and navy bottoms - has made •a difference, Winston said. ’ “The most redeeming thing I have found from the whole thing is my boys look like boys and my girls look like beauti ful little girls,” Winston said. “The parents go all out getting patent leather shoes and the like.” “The record indicates stu dents are Hidden Valley con tinue to achieve,” Winston said. “We have Winston parents who trust us and cooperate with us and allow us to deliver the instruction program we need to deliver. We don’t get bogged down on a lot of things. Parents trust us to do the right thing by their children.” Winston will now compete at the regional level. Winston started as a kindergarten Catch us in cyberspace http://www.thepost. mindspring.com James Earl Ray is sick mmw '-/■V THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ' .'.f ''' ■4Si- ■ M NASHVIkkE, Tenn. - James Earl Ray, jailed for the assassi nation of Martin kuther King Jr., was back in the hospital for the third time in a month with chronic liver disease. Ray was brought to Nashvflle Memorial Hospital around mid night Saturday in critical condi tion, and was in serious condi tion this morning, officials said. Ray’s lawyer, William Pepper, said earlier this month that Ray, 68,. vrill die within months unless he gets a liver trans plant. The convicted kUler is not on the national liver transplant list and his supporters are searching for a donor to provide a liver directly to him. Ray spent slightly over a week in the Nashville hospital in late December, and was hospitalized there from Jan 3. to Jan. 10. He then went back to the prison hospital, where he was first admitted in September. Ray is serving a 99-year sen tence in the April 1968 shooting of King. He initially admitted kilUng the civil rights leader on April 4, 1968, but almost immediately 'recanted and has been trying to -win his freedom ever since. He ihas a state court hearing in ^Memphis on Feb. 20 on a ^request for new scientific tests “on the rifle identified as the -murder weapon. Li'- ' But there are just as many peo ple who use racism to promote themselves and their wealth.” “I think that people now feel freer in coming to council and expressing their feelings and the council members and I will feel freer in discussing the real issues in this city. “Leaders will say lets talk and lets look at others’ feelings. Let people say what they are feeling without retribution and name calling. 1 think we have taken a bold step toward doing that and, if my speaking out helped in doing that, Tm glad.” E Bolt Braids Cornrows Professional African Hair Braiding and Weaving Receive Up to 20% off Senegalese twist • Micro braids Weaving and more T^eee £ ‘p’ue Synthetic • Maintence 4801 N. Tryon St. • Suite M • Beside PEP BOYS OPEN 6 Days A Week 9:30 - until (704)599-9200 teacher at Allenbrook Elementary and has been an assistant principal at Bain, Ashley Park and Allenbrook. He became principal at Pinewood Elementary in 1984 and came to Hidden Valley in 1993. Winston has already won significant honors in his 24 years in the local schools. Two years ago, he won a $25,000 Millikin award for outstand ing work. 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