June 28, 2020
As we ‘kneel for justice,’ for those who can no longer stand, we think of the names attached to the hashtags and we ask ourselves, “when will it end?” Sadly, we cannot answer that. But proudly, we can continue to fight. Many could not understand when Colin Kae-
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pernick, the light-skinned brother rocking the afro and braids, said figuratively “to hell with the NFL” as he defiantly refused to salute America’s flag and National Anthem. They wondered why he would risk it all. They shrugged him off as an agitator who was just seeking
attention. They thought he was not ‘Black’ enough to understand and not ‘White’ enough to have a voice. He stood for the rights of the oppressed as he knelt in honor of the fallen. As we protest with masks on to protect us from the global health pandemic,
we must remember that we, as Black people, have been in a racial pandemic since being brought to this America for which we stand...one nation... under God... indivisible...or so they told us. #Black Lives Matter - AANI
Vol. 25, Issue 23
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June 28, 2020
EDITORIAL
President/Chief Editor
Tristar
Griselda Ramirez: Production
Food for Thought Oscar Blayton
Office: (713) 692-1178
One Bad Apple Spoils the Barrel There is currently a roiling debate in the United States over whether police departments should be disbanded and replaced with civic structures that better serve their communities. This debate was sparked by the shocking videotape of George Floyd being casually murdered by a Minneapolis police officer. The obvious cruelty and disregard of George Floyd’s humanity by Officer Derek Chauvin appalled not only the nation, but people around the globe. Chauvin had 17 complaints against him for misconduct during his 20-year
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career. Despite that record, he was allowed to remain on the Minneapolis police force and act in a supervisory role. Nationwide protests arising from Chauvin’s killing of Mr. Floyd were met with the usual minimalist argument from the Minneapolis Police Depart-
Chauvin was a “bad” cop. And if we apply the adage to describe him, it logically follows that he spoiled many of the officers around him. The truth of this is evidenced by the murder video where two rookie cops, following Chauvin’s lead, can be seen pressing Mr. Floyd
or is rife with such instances. Take for example, Jon Graham Burge of the Chicago Police Department. Burge was accused of torturing more than 200 criminal suspects between 1972 and 1991 to obtain forced confessions. But despite ample evidence of his wrongdoing,
ment declaring that Chauvin was just “one bad apple.” The problem with using this adage when referencing police behavior is that no one ever quotes it fully. The saying is: “One bad apple spoils the barrel.” No one disputes that
into the ground, preventing his ability to breathe. Chauvin’s behavior triggered similar behavior by the cops around him. The rookies have even said in their defense that they were following Chauvin’s lead. The history of policing people of col-
Burge was never convicted of these crimes. However, in 2010, he was convicted of obstruction of justice and perjury related to testimony he gave in a 1989 civil suit filed against him seeking damages for alleged torture.
During his career with the Chicago police, Burge rose to the rank of detective and was made an area detective commander before being suspended in 1991 and fired in 1993 for leading a team of officers in the violent abuse of citizens – most of whom were Black males. Being asked to trust these police after they have demonstrated their capacity to murder, torture and abuse citizens confirms that we are being asked to enter the realm of the absurd with this issue. It is time to admit that the barrel of apples has rotted, and it is time to clean it out. We must withhold dollars going into bad policing and use those funds to bring about a change in our communities that respects the rights of all citizens. - AANI
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CONGRATULATIONS TO RECIPIENTS OF 2020 THOMAS H. ROUTT SCHOLARSHIP FUND HOUSTON - The Thomas H. Routt Scholarship Fund in upholding the legacy of the late Judge Thomas H. Routt has awarded $1,000 each in grants to Caleb J. James of North Shore High School and Jacob H. Boyd of Shadow Creek High School for 2020. James will be attending Rice University while Boyd will be attending Prairie View A & M this fall. Over the last 25
years, the Routt Fund has awarded over $275,000 in scholarships to students in the Greater Houston Metropolitan area. Since its inception, the Routt Scholarship Fund has endeavored to provide meaningful services to the Houston community through mentoring and tuition assistance to enhance and enrich the lives of deserving youth. Working to Advance the Education of the Leaders of Tomorrow: The board officers are Norman Thomas, Chairman; Walter Sloan, Secretary; Herman L Gabriel, Treasurer; Edward Brown II, President; Members: James Hooper, Kevin Barnett, Christopher Houston, Patrick D. Lewis, Charles Mills and Oscar Coward. C o n g r at u l a tions to the deserving youth! - AANI
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