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Volume 86 | Number 31
ENTERTAINMENT
Celebrating
CECE WINANS in concert in Sugar Land
MEMORIAL DAY
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PEOPLE CLYDE “CJ” MESSIAH appointed to top city position
P8 FEATURE BILL COSBY supporters versus opponents
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Al Green receiving threats
Cornell Brooks out at NAACP
U.S. Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) has received voicemails threatening to lynch him and calling him racial slurs after he recently called for President Donald Trump’s impeachment.
The NAACP has decided to implement an organizationwide refresh and strategic re-envisioning and opted not to renew its president’s contract.
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DEFENDER | MAY 25 | 2017
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newstalk
Al Green receives death threats By JASEMINE KNOWLES Defender
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Trump, a sentiment echoed among other congressional colleagues. After the voicemails, the floor was opened for questions. Those who asked questions largely agreed with Green’s argument, but some constituents seemed uncertain about the
ouston Congressman Al Green received racist death threats from alleged supporters of President Donald Trump, days after Green called for Trump’s impeachment. Green played the voicemail recordings during a packed Al Green weekend town hall meeting, which he held to explain to constituents why he thinks impeaching Trump future. is imperative. He also wanted “Wouldn’t it be pointless to impeach Houstonians to know what he has Trump, being that [Vice President Mike] experienced in recent days. Pence would be next in line? He’s no better “Hate cannot and should not than Trump,” said Maryann Robinson of be hidden,” he said to attendees Missouri City. before the audio recordings were Green responded that Trump has a played. “You can decide for your“peculiar” way of behaving and should be self what we’re dealing with.” removed. “Try it,” the first caller “He acts off impulsivity and I don’t want threatened, referring to impeachto wake up the next morning only to find out ing Trump, “and we’ll lynch all that something ugly has happened that would you f*****g n****rs, you’ll be impact the American people,” Green said. hanging from a tree. I didn’t see Nine-year-old Kesena Orette asked, anybody calling for the impeach“Why does it take so long to impeach ment of your n****r Obama when Nine-year-old aspiring activist and Trump?” Green replied that it “may never he was born in Kenya. He’s not actress Kesena Orette holds up a sign she happen,” but it would be worth giving the syscreated calling for the impeachment of even an American. So, f**k you, tem time to function as it should. Trump n****r.” Additionally, Green said that Two other callers he isn’t planning to lobby his fellow make the same threats. members of Congress to get behind Hear the Al Green voicemails at Unyielding, Green the impeachment call saying, “People promised to continue have to be guided by their own his fight to drive out conscience.”
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Third Ward chess players honored Students from Zoe Learning Academy, a Houston charter school, were honored by City Councilman Michael Knox after topping 20 other schools at the 2017 North/Central Texas Scholastic Chess Championship. The team finished first in the elementary division and second in the novice division, and took home a total of five trophies. “The game of chess challenges their ability to analyze, evaluate and create,” said Richard Burton, the team’s faculty sponsor. “These are critical thinking and problem-solving skills they will utilize throughout life.”
He did hope, however, that they would listen to public opinion. “This is something that will have to start from the ground up, not the top down,” he said. Green asked residents to visit www.impeachdonaldtrumpnow.org/ to register their support. Green said Trump should be impeached due to “the obstruction of a lawful investigation” of his campaign’s ties to Russian influence in the 2016 presidential election.
localbriefs STATE REP. HAROLD DUTTON is pushing for legislation to name a portion of U.S. Highway 59 between State Highway 288 and Interstate H-610 as the El Franco Lee Memorial Highway. Dutton wants the highway renamed because Lee, a Fifth Ward native, cared about his community and “spent his entire life working to change the negative conditions faced daily by the residents of Houston.” In 1985, Lee became the first African-American elected as a Harris County Commissioner. He died in 2016…….STATE SEN. BORRIS MILES is speaking out about the State Senate’s passage of House Bill 25, which would eliminate straight-
ticket voting in Texas. “This has not been a Republican priority until the 2016 election occurred and Democrats swept the urban counties,” Miles said. “The author’s argument for this bill is that voters are not educated enough to vote if they cast a straight-ticket vote. This claim is arrogant and patronizing.” Miles said if the bill is signed into law, he welcomes the courts to judge it for what it is – a discriminatory bill that will dilute minority votes……..SOME FIRST-TIME, LOW-LEVEL OFFENDERS could have their criminal backgrounds sealed if a new bill passes the Texas Senate. Also known as the “second chances” bill, House Bill 3016 by State Rep.
Senfronia Thompson, would make it easier for people to apply for jobs if they have a low-level offense on their record and have demonstrated that they won’t reoffend. Those applicants would not be required to disclose t heir offenses.……THE DEADLINE FOR HARRIS COUNTRY PROPERTY owners to protest the market value set by the appraisal district is May 31. Homeowners should complete a protest form that was included in the property value notice the Harris County property Appraisal District sent to each property owner in April. A Notice of Protest form can also be downloaded at www.hcad.org.
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DEFENDER | MAY 25 | 2017
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national
U.S.briefs
NAACP parts ways with leader Brooks Defender News Services
The nation’s oldest and largest civil rights organization will not renew the contract of Cornell Brooks, president and CEO of the NAACP for three years. The civil rights leader, who has vocally opposed the policies of the Trump administration, said his contract expires June 30. The organization’s executive committee voted on the move, he said. NAACP Chairman Leon Russell and Vice Chair Derrick Johnson said that the change was due to a needed restructuring of the organization. They are aiming for moves that Cornell Brooks will better equip the group as they take on President Donald Trump on issues like voting rights and the justice system. “Our executive committee, looking at itself, looking at our organization and reviewing where we’ve come from in the last three year, made a decision that we believe is in the best interest for this organization,” Russell said. The organization has struggled to be a leading voice amid the Black Lives Matter movement. Brooks said he had previously been assured that his contract would be renewed. “The NAACP has had a revolving door of CEOs and this is a particularly bad moment for the door to be spinning, so it’s disappointing,” Brooks said. “For all the people out here who have been imperiled because of police misconduct, because of voter suppression, schools imperiled because of
segregation and under-funding, distraction is not what we need.” He said that the underlying issue was one of structure. The organization has 64 members on its board, 17 members on its executive committee and has had four CEOs in the last 15 years, Brooks said. The board has yet to name a new president and Russell and Johnson said they plan on traveling across the country on a “listening tour” to hear from NAACP members about their concerns, fears and wants for the organization. The organization said in a statement,” The leadership of the NAACP has decided to implement an organization-wide refresh and strategic re-envisioning to determine how best to position the organization to confront head-on the many challenges of today’s volatile political, media and social climates.”
Budget slashes $800 billion from Medicaid Defender News Services
President Donald Trump’s proposed budget includes big cuts to entitlements like Medicaid as well as other “safety net” policies. The budget would reportedly follow through on House Republicans’ plans to cut Medicaid by $800 billion over 10 years, plans that go directly against Senate Republicans’ expressed desires not to roll back the expansion of Medicaid that was successful under Obamacare. In addition, anti-poverty programs such as welfare and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will reportedly have more flexibility for states to impose more work requirements “for able-bodied
Americans” on the program. For conservatives, these changes are exactly what they are looking for to combat what they see as too much reliance on the government. Democrats have railed against such cuts, with Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer saying that Trump’s proposed budget would pull “the rug out from so many who need help.” “This budget continues to reveal President Trump’s true colors: His populist campaign rhetoric was just a Trojan horse to execute long-held, hard-right policies that benefit the ultra-wealthy at the expense of the middle class,” he said. Trump has proposed cuts to the estate tax, capital gains and business tax rates.
THE U.S. SUPREME COURT STRUCK DOWN two congressional district maps in North Carolina, ruling that the state engaged in unconstitutional gerrymandering. The ruling is a victory for Black North Carolina voters who had argued the plans packed African-Americans in districts that already had a high percentage of African-Americans, thus diluting their presence in other districts…….MILWAUKEE COUNTRY SHERIFF DAVID CLARKE, who claims he is going to be assistant secretary of Homeland Security despite no confirmation from the department, is once again under fire. New documents show that he plagiarized sections of his 2013 master’s thesis on U.S. security. He earned his master’s degree in security studies at the Naval Postgraduate School. His thesis, “Making U.S. Security and Privacy Rights Compatible,” failed to attribute his sources properly a minimum of 47 times……. THE WHITE POLICE OFFICER WHO SHOT TERENCE CRUTCHER is back on the job. Betty Jo Shelby returned to work at the Tulsa Police Department after being acquitted of first-degree manslaughter. Shelby was accused of using an unreasonable amount of force against Crutcher in the September 2016 shooting. She encountered him along with his stalled vehicle on a city street. He can be seen on video walking away from the officers with his hands in the air before he is shot in the chest. Shelby said she fired her gun because she feared for her life. Crutcher was unarmed… ….A BLACK STUDENT AT BOWIE STATE UNIVERSITY was stabbed to death by a man who claimed allegiance to a hate group. Sean Urbanski was charged with assault and first- and second-degree murder after stabbing Richard W. Collins III, who had recently been commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army and was about to graduate. Police say Urbanski had been a member of the “Alt-Reich Nation,” a Facebook group that was filled with racist posts.
VOLUME 86 • NUMBER 31 MAY 25, 2017 Publisher Sonceria Messiah-Jiles Ad/Client Relations Selma Dodson Tyler Digital Editor LaGloria Wheatfall Art Director Tony Fernandez-Davila Proofer Maia Shelby
Editors ReShonda Billingsley Marilyn Marshall Contributing Writers Aswad Walker Jasemine Knowles Sports Editors Max Edison Darrell K. Ardison
The Defender newspaper is published by the Houston Defender Inc. Company (713-663-6996.. The Defender is audited by Certified Audited Circulation. (CAC). For subscription, send $60-1 year to: Defender, P.O. Box 8005, Houston TX 77288. Payment must accompany subscription request. All material covered by 2012 copyright. (No material herein may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher).
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MAY 25 | 2017 | DEFENDER
entertainment
CeCe Winans
Concert heading to Sugar Land come from God. What I do is more than entertainment. Will they be entertained? Yes, but it’s inspiring and ospel great CeCe Winans is they will leave with something more than CeCe Winans heading to Sugar Land for a conjust a song. The great thing about gospel Thurs., June 1 - 7 p.m. cert she’s hoping will leave fans music is it brings forth the gospel and entertained and inspired. Smart Financial Centre makes you feel like you can fix broke Winans has released a slew places. Concert-goers are going to 18111 Lexington Blvd. of duo and solo albums that crossed genres leave out understanding, first of all, www.cecewinans.com and boundaries and influenced a generation of that God loves them, but also undergospel and secular vocalists. Her mantel today standing the importance of loving one holds a staggering 10 Grammy Awards, 20 another. Dove Awards, and seven Stellar Awards. Defender: Why do you think She’s been inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, the you’ve been able to merge different types of gospel Hollywood Walk of Fame, and the Nashville Music City Walk of music? Fame, in addition to being named a Trailblazer of Soul by BMI and Winans: I think it’s because I love them garnering multiple NAACP Image Awards, Soul Train Awards, Esboth. I love the contemporary and the sence Awards, and more. She’s sold in excess of 5 million albums in traditional. So, when I go in the studio, the U.S. alone, topping the gospel charts repeatedly while managing I’m open to do a little bit of it all. I think to cross over. most people are like that. When you hear Promoting her first solo CD in nine years, “Let Them Fall in something good it can be fast, it can be Love,” Winans said she is going all out to make it a night to reslow, it can be contemporary, or “Old member. She talked with the Defender about the concert, which is Rugged Cross.” If it’s something that sponsored by Medi-Share, a healthcare sharing program. penetrates the heart, you can embrace Defender: What is the inspiration behind your new album, it. When you listen to our music over “Let Them Fall in Love?” the years, you’re going to hear some CeCe Winans: I think it’s my best work to date because it has of everything. different styles of music, I have some great people singing on here Defender: What do you enjoy with me: The Clark Sisters, Hezekiah Walker and his choir, we have doing when you’re not spreading a 40-piece orchestra, so it’s a lot of fun. The concert will be a journey the gospel? of joy and healing and I just believe there’s something that can bless Winans: We have a church everyone that listens. now, Macon Disciples in NashDefender: Is that what people can expect when they come to ville, so I enjoy spending a lot of your concert? time with that. But when I’m Winans: My prayer is that when people hear the music, their off, I enjoy doing nothing, hearts can be turned toward the Lord, and they will receive faith in being at home, with no Him. I have a song called “Peace from God.” Our nation is going makeup, just chilling and through a lot of stuff right now and if we’re going to heal, it has to relaxing with my husband. By RESHONDA TATE BILLINGSLEY Defender
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In Concert
what’sup Although actress KERRY WASHINGTON is “sad” to see “Scandal” ending next year, she’s excited about the final season. “We’re already talking about how it’s going to be like no-holds-barred, better than ever, no holding punches, putting it all out on the table,” she said. The show will be ending after its seventh season........MARY HARVEY, the ex-wife of STEVE HARVEY, is suing him in a new lawsuit for $60 million for “damaging her soul.” In new docs filed by someone described as her “civil rights activist,” Mary claims that she self-medicated after the 2005 divorce, which emotionally and physically destroyed
her. The suit charges Steve with child endangerment, torture, conspiracy against rights, kidnapping, murder, breach of contract and intentional infliction of emotional distress…….JA RULE and BILLY McFARLAND, the organizers behind the disastrous Fyre Festival, are now under investigation by the FBI for possible mail, wire and securities fraud. The illfated festival promised ticket holders that it would be a luxury affair in the Bahamas, with catered meals and glamorous performances, but instead, people who paid as much as $12,000 for a ticket arrived to find that the festival had been canceled and the accommodations
were nothing more than “refugee” tents and meals made of bread and cheese sandwiches. Ja Rule and McFarland were hit with a $100 million federal classaction lawsuit claiming that the two of them knew beforehand that the festival would be a disaster……. Forbes has just named the top five wealthiest hip-hop artists for 2017, and as usual, DIDDY is at the top. However, JAY Z isn’t far behind, especially after his streaming company, Tidal, received a $200 million investment from Sprint. For the first time since 2014, when DR. DRE sold Beats to Apple for $3 billion, Jay Z has pulled ahead of him on the list.
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BLACK FIRSTS IN THE MILITARY
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or more than 200 years, African-Americans have participated in every conflict in United States history. They have not only fought bravely the common enemies of the U.S. but have also had to confront the individual and institutional racism of their countrymen. Many of us know about contemporary trailblazers such as Gen. Colin Powell, the first African-American to serve on the Joint Chiefs of Staff, but there are a number of other Black firsts in the U.S. military. 2012: Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III. First Black vice chief of staff of the U.S. Army and first Black commander of U.S. Central Command. 2011: Maj. Gen. Marcia M. Anderson. The Army’s first Black female reserve officer to obtain the rank of major general. 2004: Command Sgt. Maj. Evelyn Hollis. First Black female command sergeant major of a combat arms unit. 2003: Command Sgt. Maj. Michele S. Jones. First Black female command sergeant major of the Army Reserve. 1980: Gen. Vincent K. Brooks. First Black U.S. Military Academy cadet brigade commander or “First Captain.” 1979: Brig. Gen. Hazel Johnson-Brown. First Black chief of the Army Corps and first Black female brigadier general. 1977: Clifford L. Alexander Jr. First Black secretary of the Army. 1975: Gen. Roscoe Robinson Jr. First Black four-star general. 1942: Maj. Della H. Raney. First Black chief nurse commissioned as a lieutenant in the Army Nurse Corp. 1940: Gen. Benjamin O. Davis Sr. First Black general officer in the regular Army and the U.S. Armed Forces. 1877: 2nd Lt. Henry Ossian Flipper: First Black cadet to graduate from the U.S. Military Academy. 1866: Cathay Williams. First Black female to enlist in the Army. 1863: Sgt. William Carney. First Black Medal of Honor recipient.
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M Gen. Colin L. Powell
Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III
Mem a time who h while force tunity about the im ing th we ca who h Maj. Gen. Marcia M. Anderson
Gen. Roscoe Robinson Jr.
Things to do for Memorial Day Memorial Day is the perfect opportunity to get out and celebrate as a family. If you’re looking for some different ways to observe the holiday, here are a few ideas to get you started. w Visit local military monuments. Houston is home to a number of military monuments, like the Houston National Cemetary, the Buffalo Soldiers Museum or one of six West Texas World War II Museums. Find the nearest monument and take some time to stop by with your family. You’ll find it’s a great way to learn about the specific war or wars that the monument is dedicated to honor, and you’ll be able to start a conversation with your kids about American history and the significance of military memorials. w Honor the National Moment of Remembrance. Many people don’t know the true meaning behind Memorial Day. In response, Congress established the National Moment of Remembrance. It asks all Americans to pause, wherever they are, at 3 p.m. on Memorial Day in a moment of national unity for one minute. That specific time was chosen because it’s the time when most Americans are expected to be out, enjoying the freedoms of this country. You’ll find trains blasting their horns at that time, and all Major League Baseball
games will pause for one minute at the time as well. It’s a simple and easy way to remember the true meaning of the day. w Decorate your home with flags. If you have younger children, craft time is always a great way to bond as a family while also using the opportunity as a teachable moment. Grab some fabric, fabric paint and stencils to help your kids make their own flags or American flag-style tributes. It’s tradition to fly the flag at half-staff until noon on Memorial Day, so you can also explain this tradition and what it means as you fly your own flag at home. You can also use this time to teach them about the flag, what each star represents, and why there are 13 stripes on the flag. Then, you’ll have some great home-made flags to use for years to come. w Thank a veteran. While Memorial Day is a time for remembering, and honoring our fallen soldiers, it’s also a wonderful time to
thank those soldiers past and present who are right here in our midst today. Thank them for all they have done to protect our country and our freedoms. Don’t know a veteran or want to do more? You can write a letter to a veteran or soldier! Check out: OperationGratitude.com for more information about writing letters or sending care packages to soldiers currently deployed. w Barbecue with friends and family. Of course, the big one for Memorial Day is the backyard barbecue. However, you can make the most of the holiday by making sure your barbecue is patriotic and American-themed. Stick to the classics like hot dogs and hamburgers, but find ways to incorporate red, white and blue in your decorations and side dishes. Ask people to dress in their best red, white and blue gear and serve drinks that match the color scheme. Use the holiday to honor the past, while also making memories with your family that will last a lifetime.
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Celebrating
MEMORIAL DAY By RESHONDA TATE BILLINGSLEY Defender
morial Day is May 29, e to remember those have given their lives e serving in the armed s. It’s a great oppory to teach your family t American history, mportance of supporthe troops, and how an help to honor those have passed.
Memorial Day Fa cts
w M em or ia l D ay h ad a d if fe re n t n am B ef or e th e 18 e. 80 s, m en ti on th an 25 0 pr is in g M em or ia on er s di ed fr D ay w ou ld ’v l om di se as e an e pr ob ab ly go ex po su re . A fe w d tt en yo u a co fu se d lo ok . T one town hold w ee ks af te r th nha t’s be ca us e s the official se at es su rr en de e C on fe de r- from the th e ho li da y w re d to th e N or al of approval or ig in al ly kn government: W as ce nt ly fr ee th , 1, 00 0 re ow n as D ec or aterloo, N.Y. d sl av es al on at io n D ay. It w as a da y w he P re si de The late nt Lyndon B. g w it h m em be th e U .S . C ol or n fa m il y an d Johnson recogn rs of fr ie nd s w ou ld ed Tro op s an ho no r th os e w ti ny vi iz ll ed the age as the d so m e of th ho di ed se rv in ci ty ’s ci vi li an e s, ga th er ed to g th e co un tr y by de co ra ti ng after more than birthplace of the holiday pr th ei r gr av es th op 10 e er so ld ie rs , si ng 0 years of com ly bu ry w it h fl ow er s (p op pi es ar e wide celebrat hy m ns , gi ve munityst il l th e fl or a ions were held ho no r th e “M re ad in gs an d of ar ty rs of th e there. ch oi ce ). It w ou ld ta ke al R ac e C ou rs e. m os t a ce nt ur ” y fo r th e ce leb ra ti on to of w Celebratin fi ci al ly be re g Memorial D w T h e b ir th na p ay is the law la ce of th e h m ed by th e go ve rn m en t. In 1971, Memor . ol id ay is q u es ti on ab le ia l D ay w as . declared a national holida A ha nd fu l of y by an act of to w ns cl ai m Congress. It w Early celebr was also plac to be th e offi ations were he ed on the last bi rt hp la ce of ci al ld M M by freed slaves onday in May A s th e C iv il em F ed or er ia al l , D ay. If yo u w state, county . . War ne ar ed it tr av el to B oa and city gove er e to office s en d, U ni on ls bu rg , P en n. so ld ie rs be in rnment s ar e , cl yo g he ld as pr is os a u’ ed gr d on ou p of w om en he ar th at Memorial Day on er s by th e C on fe de ra te s banks. w er e th e fi rs , as are w er e ta ke n to of th e ho li da t ce le br an ts y ca in 18 64 w he n C ha rl es to n, S m ps in .C . O ne su ch th ey ga th er ed to m ca m p ha pp en ou rn th os e re to be a fo rm er w The flag flie ed ce nt ly fa ll en at G et ty sb urg. s at half staff ra ce tr ac k in . th e ci ty an d C ar bo nd al e, th e co nd it io ns In case you have Il l. cl ai m s th ho li da y th an th er e w er e so a fl ag po e le ks in ba d th at m or to a pa ra de he your front yard, it’s a go e od thing to re ld in 18 66 an d le d by fo member that be un de r Jo hn L ca us e th is holiday honors og an . B ut on ly fallen soldiers flag should be , your flying at half-s taff until noon .
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DEFENDER | MAY 25 | 2017
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Clyde J. “C.J.” Messiah Jr. has been confirmed by Mayor Sylvester Turner and the Houston City Council as director of the General Services Department for the City of Houston. “I have had the pleasure of working with C.J. over the last year,” Turner said. “He is a man of his word and knows how to get the job done, and I am confident in his ability to lead this department. “I look forward to working with C.J. and the great city employees that work in the General Services Department to ensure that the lights come on in our buildings and that our facilities are clean, well-maintained and secure.” Messiah has served as interim director of the department since November 2016 and joins the mayor’s executive team with more than two decades of law enforcement experience. He has been the deputy assistant director in charge of security for the General Services Department since June 2016. As director of the General Services Department, Messiah is tasked with coordinating the preparation, implementation and monitoring of the department budget, training employees and establishing policies and procedures for the department. Messiah has more than 23 years of experience with the Houston Police Department and served as sergeant of the Mayor’s Protection Detail Division for 11 years. Messiah also served as technical sergeant, staff sergeant and airman sergeant in the United States Air Force. He is a veteran of the Air Force and has worked as a security consultant with the Major League Baseball Organization for 16 years. The General Services Department oversees maintenance, construction and security management services for more than 400 city facilities.
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MAY 25 | 2017 | DEFENDER
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Opinions mixed on Cosby rape allegations NNPA News Service
The arguments go back and forth. Detractors of comedian Bill Cosby say he made his bed and should suffer the consequences. Supporters argue that greed, extortion and a campaign to distort his legacy, by alleged racists, have destroyed Cosby’s career. At the center of the controversy are the dozens of accusers. Some of the women who sued Cosby and his legal team for defamation as the comedian defended himself publicly, lost those lawsuits. The extortion, his supporters say, comes courtesy of Gloria Allred, a celebrity attorney who, in 2014, called on Cosby to put $100 million in a fund for the alleged victims and to let a panel of retired judges determine the truth about their claims, many of which allegedly happened in the 1960s and 1970s. And claims of racism have mostly been directed at Hollywood and its tolerance for individuals like Roman Polanski and Woody Allen and Judd Apatow, who has been vocal in his condemnation of Cosby, even calling the “I-Spy” star “one of the most awful people you’ve ever heard of.” Tanisha Jones, a New York fashion Bill Cosby’s fans question the motives of his accusers, while designer who works in the entertainment others just want him to have his day in court. (The World industry, called the allegations T:9.5” against Cosby, Affairs Council of Philadelphia/Wikimedia Commons)
“an absolute intentional murder of his legacy.” Jones, 28, said she feels for any woman who has been raped, assaulted or demeaned in any way. “But, realistically, we have not seen evidence that any of this is true, yet we can’t watch his shows, which all have been groundbreaking and a boost and an encouragement to Black people,” said Jones. “Yet, what we do see are other comedians going against Cosby with venom and attorneys like Ms. Allred asking Mr. Cosby for $100 million in what I think is nothing more than a shakedown.” Allred has denied those claims. She told NBC that she thinks Cosby’s recent NNPA Newswire interview (which ran in the Defender) was an attempt to influence the jury pool. “I expect Mr. Cosby and members of his family to continue to speak out in an attempt to portray him as a victim rather than as an alleged sexual predator,” Allred said. Dr. Carolyn M. Byerly, a professor and chair of the Department of Communications, Culture and Media Studies at Howard University’s School of Communications, said Cosby’s early work clearly broke ground and should continue to be recognized. However, the “deeply significant events of what appears to be his later life behavior, cannot be dismissed or trivialized,” Byerly said. “We do not know where things went wrong for Bill Cosby, but we have to listen to women who have broken silence, often with great emotional difficulty.”
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DEFENDER | MAY 25 | 2017
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sports
TSU dominates SWAC spring sports By MAX EDISON Defender
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Dr. Charles McClelland
exas Southern University has dominated the Southwestern Athletic Conference’s spring sports landscape. The Tigers have won the conference championships for men and women in basketball, the women’s championship in golf and most recently the softball and baseball championships. The significance of the Tigers’ efforts in spring sports is that with the exception of the basketball program, most spring sports athletes are not on full athletic scholThe TSU baseball team won the 2017 SWAC arships. They are the embodiment championship. of the term student-athlete. TSU Athletic Director Dr. Lady Tigers third SWAC Charles McClelland acknowledged championship in four the program’s success with one word. seasons. “To put it in a word I’d have to say ‘remark“When I first came able,’” McClelland said. “Basketball has a regular to TSU in 2008 the season champion and a tournament champion. For the softball program was on first time in school history we won both championNCAA probation, had a ships, male and female – that’s four titles. To folpost-season ban and had low that up with championships in golf, softball and scholarships reduced,” baseball…it’s been a truly remarkable run. “When you look at where we were five years ago McClelland recalled. “It was Coach coming off of NCAA probation, poor APR [academic Members of women’s golf team claimed their first SWAC championship. Barker’s first or second progress rate], not extremely competitive, it’s truly year and there was talk of remarkable looking at what we’ve done,” he said. discontinuing the program. championship. The biggest feat is that coach Stew“The programs are competing at a high level across Coach totally rebuilt the program and won five West art found five African-American women that were the board because we have great coaches.” his first conferDivision titles before finally winning outstanding golfers. Competing in the NCAA TournaCoach Mike Robertson’s baseball team captured ence title.” ment’s toughest region against schools like Cal, Duke the SWAC title with a 4-2 extra inning win over The TSU women’s golf team claimed its first and Stanford with five Black female golfers was truly Alabama State. It’s the second conference champiSWAC championship in program history. The Lady impressive.” onship in three years, and fourth in school history. Tigers broke up a four-year title run by Alabama In basketball, coach Mike Davis has been nothSophomore outfielder Christian Sanchez was named State, which had won the SWAC women’s golf chaming short of amazing. Davis and the Tigers have won the tournament’s most valuable player. pionship in five of the previous six seasons. five consecutive regular SWAC titles. McClelland “I hired coach Robertson when I was at Prairie Lady Tigers Amber Kuykendall and Jaylen Jois quick to acknowledge the success that women’s View and he won their first championship,” McClelseph were each named to the all-conference first team coach Johnetta Hayes-Perry has enjoyed. land said. “He has come to TSU, inheriting a good and Hank Stewart was named the SWAC Women’s “Coach Perry has done an outstanding job winprogram from former coach Candy Robinson and has Golf Coach of the Year. ning both the regular season and conference title this continued the winning.” “It was a special year for coach Stewart and year, but she has won two other regular season titles,” In softball, the Lady Tigers continued their reign the Lady Tiger golf team,” McClelland said. “After McClelland said. “In addition, she sports a 1000 APR of dominance defeating defending champion Alacoming in second on the men’s and women’s side which is a perfect score. Her players do well on the bama State in the finals of the 2017 championship for so many years we finally broke through with the court and are outstanding in the classroom.” just a few weeks ago. It was coach Worley Barker’s
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MAY 25 | 2017 | DEFENDER
h.s.zone
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sportsbriefs North Shore High School players (l. to r.) Micheal Boult, Drevian Williams Nelson, Ryan Randle and Isaiah Henry helped lead the baseball team to the regional semifinals.
Harden named All-NBA Despite a disappointing final game in the playoffs against the Spurs, James Harden was acknowledged as one of the NBA’s elite players and named first team All-NBA. Harden was the only player selected on the first team on all 100 ballots submitted by a global panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. For the third straight season Harden has set career highs in scoring (29.1 ppg, second in the league), rebounding (8.1 rpg.) and assists (11.2 apg., first in the league). Harden has made AllNBA in four of his five seasons with the Rockets. He joins Moses Malone, Yao Ming and Hakeem Olajuwon as the only Rockets in franchise history with at least four All NBA selections. Joining Harden on the first team are LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook.
Keuchel on disabled list
North Shore baseball finds missing dynamic singles in the six-run eighth-inning uprising. Kortlin Williams came off the bench to deliver a two-RBI hit while Ryan Randle and Gilbert Cavazos added RBI walks. North Shore High School has fielded good baseball Micheal Boult picked up North Shore’s first hit of teams in the past. The 2017 version has discovered a the game with a fourth-inning single. Randle had a boommissing dynamic that has the Mustangs in the regional ing triple in the sixth inning and eventually scored on a semifinals for the first time in 30 years. La Porte error to bring the Mustangs within 5-4. Jordan Rallying from a 5-0 deficit in the fifth inning of game Hussein’s bases-loaded walk tied the game (5-5). two of a Region III-6A quarterfinal series against La Henry pitched a scoreless seventh inning to send the Porte, North Shore forced the game into extra frames. game into extra innings before Ace lefthander Joshua a six-run eighth inning blew it Larzabal survived some open. base-running traffic to Find out which schools advanced to The 24-9 Mustangs swept close the game in the botRegion III-6A softball final the best-of-three regional tom of the eighth. quarterfinal series with La Now the Mustangs Porte 3-2 and 11-5 to face Fort Bend Travis in a best-ofare back in the regional semifinals for the first time since three regional semifinal series beginning May 25 at Rice 1987 when they advanced to the state semifinals before University. losing to eventual state champion Abilene Cooper. North Shore has defeated Brazoswood, Dickinson In 1989 North Shore lost to Dulles in the third round and La Porte in the 2017 state playoffs. of the playoffs and the Vikings went on to claim the state “We’ve had talent in the past, but there was always title. something missing that kept us from being really good,” Long before North Shore became a state powerhouse said North Shore head baseball coach Lee Martinez. in football, basketball and track, the Mustangs’ baseball “This team is the most talented team I’ve had. But what program was at the top of the school’s athletic totem pole. sets it apart is the kids genuinely care about each other. Several of the current Mustangs players will have an “When you have a team that believes and are willing opportunity to display their baseball talents play on the to fight for each other regardless of their role on the team, collegiate level, including Larzabal (Rice University), that’s a tough combination to beat,” Martinez said. “They Henry (Alvin Community College), Aaron Celestino back each other up whether they’re starters or backups. (Incarnate Word), Randle (Mountain View College), “When you can eliminate the selfish factor and the Hussein (Crowder College) and Isaiah Sanchez (Wayego factor, then you have a great team,” Martinez said. land Baptist). The North Shore team-first formula emerged victori“These guys came together at the right time,” Martinez ous in the series clincher against La Porte. said. “We started clicking in the second round of district Drevian Williams Nelson and Isaiah Henry had RBI play. We want to ride this wave for as long as we can.” By DARRELL K. ARDISON Defender
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Astros ace and 2015 Cy Young Award-winner Dallas Keuchel has been placed on the disabled list with a pinched nerve in his neck. Keuchel exploded out of the blocks this season with a perfect 7-0 record. He has a 1.84 ERA, 54 strikeouts and has held opposing hitters to a .186 batting average in 9 starts this year. “We hope that this can knock out any sort of lingering soreness,” skipper A.J. Hinch said. “I don’t know what has to happen between now and then other than the diagnosis is a pinched nerve and we need to calm it down a little before he can resume his activity.” Keuchel is only expected to miss one start.
Memorial aces tennis For the fourth time in five years Spring Branch Memorial High School has produced the state champion boys’ doubles tennis tandem. Andrew Esses and Artur Zigman defeated Memorial teammates Benjamin Westwick and Anthony Huynh 6-4, 6-4 at Texas A&M University. The same culprits met in the district and regional rounds, splitting the two earlier meetings. Esses and Zigman broke their teammates’ serve twice during the state match, including the opening game and trailing 3-1 in the second set that ignited a comeback. Memorial had two entries square off in the Class 6A boys’ doubles state championship match in 2013 when Grant Reichmann and William Jou prevailed over teammates Thomas Pecor and Christian Viera. Melissa LaMette and Varun Thachil of Cypress Ranch High School won the Class 6A state mixed doubles title with a 6-4, 6-3 decision over Clear Brook’s Andres Padilla and Maria Herrera.
FB Travis ousts Katy Fort Bend Travis head baseball coach Rodney Hernandez waited nearly 20 innings before the inevitable occurred. The big bats of the stateranked Tigers put a huge crooked number on the scoreboard (7) in the sixth inning of game three against Katy in a regional quarterfinal series. Travis closed out an 8-2 victory to take the series after winning the first game 12-0 and falling 2-1 to Katy in game two. In the game-deciding sixth inning of game three, Travis sent 11 batters to the plate and the first seven scored before an out was recorded. “One of the best hitting teams I’ve seen in a long time,” said Katy coach Tom McPherson.
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DEFENDER | MAY 25 | 2017
Caregivers gain rights
Take huge strides
said AARP Texas Director Bob Jackson. “Family caregivers are everyday heroes who are doing all they can to help their loved ones. I thank the sponsors of this bill and applaud the members and leadership of the House and Senate for this very significant action in support of caregivers in Texas.” In Texas, there are more than 3.4 million Texans who provide unpaid care to family and loved ones at any time. The value of this unpaid care in Texas alone is estimated at $35.5 billion a year. More than 84 percent of Texas voters aged 50 and older strongly support the bill, according to a recent AARP survey. The prime sponsors of the Texas legislation are Rep. Four Price (R-Amarillo) and Sen. Van Taylor (R-Plano).
Texas lawmakers have finalized a measure that gives important new rights to millions of unpaid family caregivers. House Bill 2425 (companion to Senate Bill 1417) would help Texans when their loved ones go into the hospital and as they transition home. The legislation goes next to the governor’s desk. The measure would ensure hospital patients’ designated family caregivers are offered instruction in providing needed care at home. It is vital because unpaid family caregivers often provide complex medical and nursing tasks for their loved ones, and sometimes without adequate explanation or training. It’s not uncommon for their tasks to include managing multiple Invitation for Bids medications, providing wound care, Balfour Beatty Infrastructure, Inc. is soliciting bids for subcontractors and vendors for construction of control no. overseeing special 0271-04-071 on IH 10 from Brazos River to FM 359 that bids diets, and operating on June 7, 2017. Mail, fax, or email quotations to Balfour high-tech medical Beatty Infrastructure, Inc., 1701 Directors Blvd, Suite 1010, Austin, Texas 78744 fax: (512) 707-0798 email: equipment. bbiisw@bbiius.com. DBE/HUB contractors are encouraged “This is great to submit bids. Plans and specifications are available to be news for family carereviewed at TxDOT Plans On-line: http://bit.do/dsihi E.O.E. For information contact Brian Ficzeri at (512) 707-0797. givers across Texas,”
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