Salute to Excellence in Health Care
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2013, 2014, 2016, 2017 Gold Cup Newspaper Missouri Press Association
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St. LouiS AmericAn The
CAC Audited APR. 26 – MAY 2, 2018
Vol. 90 No. 5 COMPLIMENTARY
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‘We demand change’ Students protest on anniversary of Columbine shooting By Rebecca Rivas Of The St. Louis American As thousands of students across the country walked out of their schools on the 19th anniversary of the Columbine High School shooting, about 400 St. Louis high school students from around the region gathered in front of Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley’s office at noon to rally against gun violence. “We will not rest until not one more person, not one more student, not one more child has to live with the effects of gun violence,” said Peyton Kidkuk, a member of Students Demand Action STL. “We demand change.” They chose Hawley’s office for the target of the protest because he accepts campaign contributions from the National Rifle
n “We are one nation that allows children to go to school and risk their lives. We will not stand for it.”
St. Louis area high school students demonstrate outside the office of Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley’s office to rally against gun violence on April 20, the 19th anniversary of the Columbine High School mass shooting.
– Alayna Jenkins
Association (NRA), they said. Across the country, the March for Our Lives movement – started by Parkland, Florida students who survived a mass school shooting – is targeting politicians running for office who support the NRA’s agenda to loosen gun laws. The St. Louis students vowed to vote out any politician who accepts campaign contributions from the NRA,
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The reluctant protestor Believe it or not, Anthony Shahid does not like to protest – it’s his duty By Chris King Of The St. Louis American
there’s a feeling that the country’s been hollowed out, and the center of the country, both geographically and politically, has disintegrated,” Kelly said. “That’s not a good thing at all for the health of our country and the health of our democracy.” Like the parishioners of New Life,
Anthony Shahid is a feared man in St. Louis in part because there is no way of knowing what will come out of his mouth next. For decades he has earned the reputation of someone willing to speak truth to power – right to power’s face, possibly while wearing a Ku Klux Klan costume, and often using language you can’t print in a newspaper. But at the end of a long interview with The American about his role in recent protests, Shahid said perhaps the most unbelievable thing yet: “I don’t like to protest.” That’s right. St. Photo by Wiley Price Louis’ most visible In the early days of and notorious the Ferguson protest, protestor does not Anthony Shahid told like to protest. young protestors, “This “I just look at will not be business as it like that’s my usual,” urging them on son lying in the to sustained protest. street,” he said of the police killings of civilians that have driven him to protest again and again. “That’s your son. You’ve got to get out in the streets and protest that.” Protest is a duty, not a pleasure. Protest in the St. Louis region garnered national and international attention during the Ferguson unrest, where mostly young people new to protest were caught in the spotlight. It was a Twitterdriven movement, and young protestors who used Twitter the most became best known. But the role of veteran protestors, in particular Shahid, was
See KELLY, A7
See SHAHID, A7
Photo by Wiley Price
Chilling out Kaleigha March (7), ZaBren March (6), and Khalil Jackson (6) take a break enjoying snow cones at the Children at the Center Community Fair hosted by the Deaconess Center for Child Well-Being Saturday, April 21 in Grand Center.
National Democratic leader visits East St. Louis to stump for Kelly ‘Red to Blue’ program hopes to flip Illinois’ 12th Congressional District By Jessica Karins For The St. Louis American New Life Christian Church in East St. Louis got a visit on April 15 from a current congressman and a congressional candidate hoping to win their votes in the 2018 congressional election in Illinois’ 12th district.
Brendan Kelly is running as the Democratic challenger to Mike Bost, the Republican currently occupying the seat. Kelly, a U.S. Navy veteran currently serving at the St. Clair County state attorney, said the concerns of Southern Illinois were being neglected by the national political conversation. “Here in the heart of the country
BUSINESS
HEALTH
‘Lack of sleep is killing us’
‘Lack of sleep is killing us’
Stars shine at local track meets
Richaundra Poe worked her way up from White Castle to management at Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis.
Chronic lack of sleep increases the risk for serious chronic health conditions that can lead to an early death.
Parkway North standout Jakeel Suber was the Outstanding Male Athlete at the Fred Lyon Invitational on his home track.
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SPORTS