What’s up with the NAACP’s travel advisory for Missouri?
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2016 Gold Cup Newspaper Missouri Press Association
St. LouiS AmericAn The
CAC Audited AUGUST 10 – 16, 2017
Vol. 89 No. 21 COMPLIMENTARY
stlamerican.com
Closing arguments made in Jason Stockley trial On anniversary of Mike Brown killing, cop tried for murder of black man By Sophie Hurwitz For The St. Louis American On Thursday, August 9, closing arguments were heard from the prosecution and the defense in the trial of Jason Stockley, who killed Anthony Lamar Smith, 24, in December of 2011 while on duty as a St. Louis police officer. The trial rested on one question: Did the manner in which Stockley killed Smith qualify as murder? The prosecution team, led by former public defender Robert Steele, contended that Stockley
committed deliberate, premeditated murder, and even planted a gun in Smith’s car to provide false justification for his crime. The defense, led by Neil Bruntrager, said that Stockley acted in self-defense and that his use of force, as a police officer, was legally justifiable. The prosecution asked the judge that Stockley be convicted of firstdegree murder. The decision rests on
Jason Stockley
Judge Timothy Wilson alone, because Stockley waived his right to a jury trial. Instead, since the courtroom remained close to entirely full throughout the trial, and especially in the last few days, the media were put in the jury box. “The evidence that we have presented has proven beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr. Stockley is guilty of first-degree murder,” Steele said in his closing argument. “Mr.
Stockley has acknowledged that he made the statement, ‘We’re going to kill this [expletive].’ And 45 seconds later, he put five bullets in him.” In testimony on August 8, Stockley did agree that he said that, as captured on video in his squad car, though he said that he didn’t remember what prompted him to do so. In the event that Judge Wilson decides there isn’t enough evidence of deliberation on Stockley’s part for a first-degree murder charge,
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‘Hellish’ conditions prompt widespread outrage Undercover Workhouse tour reveals overworked staff and frustrated inmates By Sophie Hurwitz For The St. Louis American Photo by Wiley Price
Bubbles Beyond the Backpack Children played in an atmosphere of bubbles when Beyond Housing and its 24:1 Community hosted Beyond the Backpack on Saturday, August 5 at Normandy High School, providing free haircuts, school supplies, eye screenings and immunization for local kids. Classes resumed in the Normandy Schools Collaborative on Wednesday, August 9.
Salute to Salute co-chairs Albrecht, Bell and Gaines co-chair 30th annual Salute By Sandra Jordan Of The St. Louis American Three St. Louis education, business and civic leaders are chairing the St. Louis American Foundation’s 30th Annual Salute to Excellence in Education scholarship and recognition event. They are Doug Albrecht, chair of the Bodley Group; Valerie D. Bell, board chair for the Saint Louis Public Schools Foundation; and Richard K. Gaines, a member of the Special Administrative Board for Saint Louis Public Schools. They are at the helm of an event that
Doug Albrecht
Valerie D. Bell
Richard K. Gaines
grew throughout the years into the premier recognition and scholarship gala in St.
Louis to honor the work of dedicated, primarily African-American educators, while supporting the education goals of outstanding college students. The foundation has facilitated $4.5 million in in scholarships and education grants since its inception in 1994, with the assistance of educational, corporate and individual supporters, while facilitating over $705,000 in scholarships and education grants last year alone. “Raising over 700,000 last year – that’s a lot of money,” said Doug Albrecht, who is chair of the familySee SALUTE, A6
Although activists have been decrying conditions in the St. Louis Medium Security Institution – known as the Workhouse – for years, the videos that circulated online in early July showing inmates describing the “hellish” conditions prompted widespread outrage. The protesters’ demands n “If you can’t that the Workhouse be reformed or shut down pay child led the City of St. Louis support, you to install temporary air conditioning in the jail. certainly can’t Aside from the air pay your child conditioning, though, it support when has been unclear whether you’re locked conditions inside the up.” Workhouse have actually improved. Alderwoman – Alderwoman Megan Ellyia Green, who Megan Ellyia represents the 15th Ward, Green toured the jail with other aldermen recently, but was unsure if she was being given “the dog-and-pony show,” she said. So on Friday, August 4, Green showed up unannounced at the Workhouse at 4 p.m. and asked for a tour. She brought reporters from The St. Louis American and The Riverfront Times and two activists from Decarcerate STL – who all went in undercover posing as graduate socialwork students. Because none of the employees or inmates were aware that they were talking to See WORKHOUSE, A7