Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The skanner. (Portland, Or.) 1975-2014 | View Entire Issue (July 13, 2016)
Page 8 The Skanner July 13, 2016 News National Newspaper Publishers Association Calls for Appointment of a Special Federal Prosecutor on Racially Motivated Police Killings in the US Local groups and the ACLU of Louisiana Sue Baton Rouge Police for First Amendment Violations WASHINGTON--The nation’s larg- est trade association of African Amer- ican owned newspapers and media companies, the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), to- day issued an urgent call and demand that President Barack H. Obama and U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch appoint a Special Federal Prosecutor in the wake of the police killings of Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge, Loui- siana, and Philando Castile in Falcon Heights, Minnesota. Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. President & CEO of the NNPA stated, “The kill- BATON ROUGE, La. — Local orga- nizing groups and the American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana filed a lawsuit today against the Baton Rouge Police Department for violating the First Amendment rights of demon- strators who were protesting peace- fully against the killing of Alton Ster- ling. The case is co-counseled by Sima Atri, staff attorney at the New Orleans Workers’ Center for Racial Justice and cooperating counsel Ron Wilson on be- half of on behalf of Black Youth Project 100 and the Louisiana chapter of the National Lawyers Guild. The lawsuit alleges that the police used excessive force, physical and verbal abuse, and wrongful arrests to disperse protestors who were gathered peacefully to speak out against the po- lice killing of Alton Sterling. Eyewit- ness accounts recorded by plaintiffs in the suit show police in full riot gear with assault rifles, lunging and grab- bing at peacefully assembled people and throwing them to the ground. “[The police response] made me afraid to protest. Seeing the way the po- lice were manhandling folks caused me to hide, scream out of fear, and finally flee for my safety. I had to run. A peace- ful demonstration should never be like that,” expressed Crystal Williams, local resident and organizer with North Ba- ton Rouge Matters, “I feel like speech is my most powerful tool to ensure my community and my family are safe. But now I feel totally silenced.” “ federal interven- tion to both in- vestigate and to prosecute police officers who con- tinue to commit these wanton ra- cially motivated Benjamin Chavis, Jr. killings.” “We, therefore, NNPA President demand that a Spe- and CEO cial Federal Pros- ecutor be immediately appointed by the United States Department of Justice. To date, unfortunately, local These incidents are not isolated local trage- dies, but are the terrible growing manifesta- tions of a deadly national system of racism ings of African Americans in Louisi- ana and Minnesota during the past 72 hours represent an escalating nation- al pattern of fatal police killings that appear to be racially motivated. These incidents are not isolated local trag- edies, but are the terrible growing manifestations of a deadly national system of racism in the criminal jus- tice system that needs to be effectively challenged and changed. There are to- day too many African American fami- lies and communities that continue to endure police brutality and violence across the United States. This is a na- tional crisis that demands immediate investigations and prosecutions have been ineffective and have not insured equal justice. We have heard from many of our NNPA member publish- ers throughout the nation who all ex- pressed profound disgust and moral outrage about these brutalities. We will not be silent in the face of these injustices. We demand action by the federal government now.” The NNPA represents 209 African American owned newspapers based in 32 states and known as the “Voice of Black America” that reaches 20.1 mil- lion readers per week with national of- fices located in Washington, DC. By the ACLU of Louisiana “I witnessed firsthand as peaceful protestors were violently attacked and arrested, assault weapons pointed at them with fingers on the triggers, some dragged across the cement, their clothes ripped off of them,” said Loui- siana Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild President and a Catholic nun Al- ison Renee McCrary “What I saw hap- pening was an immediate threat to life. My and other demonstrators’ speech was chilled because of this event.” Counsel also filed for a temporary re- straining order against the defendants to prevent them from interfering with people’s constitutionally protected right to gather peacefully moving for- ward. “The police didn’t do their job in Baton Rouge, again. They are bound to protect us from harm, to keep us safe, to do everything possible before throwing someone to the ground or pulling the trigger. Yet Alton Sterling is on the long list of Black people killed needlessly by our nation’s police, and protests in his honor have turned into circuses of violence where the First Amendment is tossed aside,” said ACLU of Louisiana Executive Director Marjo- rie Esman. “We can’t bring Alton Ster- ling back but at minimum, the police can stop blocking our right to protest in his name.” A copy of the lawsuit can be found at: https://www.aclu.org/sites/default/ files/field_document/160713_filed_com- plaint_-_doc._1.pdf Law Enforcement, Activists to Meet with Obama WHOLESALE PRICES • OPEN TO THE PUBLIC Specials for July 7-16, 2016 When were out, WE'RE OUT! BEST DEAL! Eggs Medium 15 dz .............. $9.99 Corn Whole Kernal 6/10 Del Monte ......................................... $ 18.99 Ketchup PC 500/18grm Heinz .................................................. $ 8.99 Marinara Sauce 6/10 Best West ............................................... $ 12.99 Pizza Sauce 6/10 Angela Mia ..................................................... $ 12.99 Salsa Pouches Mild 6/.75gal Del Monte .................................. $ 6.99 Spaghetti Sauce 6/10 Angela Mia ............................................ $ 12.99 Tomatoes Crushed 6/10 Angela Mia ....................................... $ 14.99 Tomatoes Diced 6/10 Angela Mia ............................................. $ 14.99 Tomato Juice 12/46oz Cambells ............................................... $ 15.99 Tomatoes Whole Peeled 6/10 Angela Mia.............................. $ 15.99 Tomato Paste 6/10 Angela Mia ................................................. $ 24.99 Tomato Sauce 6/10 Hunts/Best West ..................................... $ 12.99 Apple Sauce 6/10 Unsweetened............................................... $ 24.99 Apricot Halves 6/10 Del Monte ................................................. $ 30.99 Fruit Cocktail 6/10 Del Monte .................................................... $ 30.99 Fruit Cocktail Tropical Celebrity ............................................... $ 39.99 Mandarin Oranges 6/10 Tularee .............................................. $ 30.99 WOW! Pears Diced 6/10 S.W........................... $ 20.99 Peaches Sliced 6/10 S.W. ..................... $ 20.99 Pineapple Tibits 6/10 Tularee .................................................... $ 30.99 Chocolate Syrup 6/10 Sonic ...................................................... $ 14.99 Olives Sliced 6/10 Tularee ........................................................... $ 30.99 231 SE Alder, Portland, OR 97214 • 503-238-1360 Hours: Monday - Saturday 8am - 4pm WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama will quickly return to the delicate balancing act of support- ing law enforcement while addressing concerns of bias from some of the com- munities they serve. Obama is meeting Wednesday with police officers at the White House — the second such session this week. This time it will be expanded to include mayors, academics and civil rights ac- tivists. “We’ll share solutions from commu- nities that have already found ways to build trust and reduce disparities,” Obama said on Facebook. Obama and Vice President Joe Biden met with representatives from eight police organizations Monday before flying the next day to Dallas to lead a memorial for five police officers killed by a suspect who said he wanted to kill whites, particularly white officers. The officers were working at rally in which protesters gathered to voice com- plaints about the shooting deaths of two black men by police officers, one in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and the other in Minneapolis, Minnesota. “Going forward, I want to hear ideas from even more Americans about how we can address these challenges to- gether as one nation. That means you,” Obama said. RECIPE: Quick Peach Cobbler A tasty dessert that can be enjoyed on its own or with added fruit. INGREDIENTS 1 can sliced peaches, packed in juice (16 ounce) 1 egg 1/3 cup sugar 1/2 cup flour 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon margarine (softened) DIRECTIONS 1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. 2. Open the can of peaches. Pour the peaches and their juice into the casserole dish. Heat them on the stove-top until they bubble. 3. Slightly beat 1 egg. 4. In a mixing bowl, mix the egg, sug- ar, flour, baking powder, salt, and margarine. 5. Drop spoonfuls of this mixture on top of the hot, bubbling peaches. 6. Use pot holders to carefully re- move the casserole dish from the stove. 7. Put the casserole dish in the oven. Bake for about 30-40 minutes. Pennsylvania Nutrition Education Program
