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St. LouiS AmericAn CAC Audited DEC. 28, 2023 – JAN. 3, 2024
Serving, empowering and advocating for equity in St. Louis since 1928
Vol. 95 No. 38 COMPLIMENTARY
stlamerican.com
Database seeks to keep police accountable
Gabe Gore: American’s 2023 ‘Person of the Year’ “Gabe Gore has brought some much-needed administrative leadership to a beleaguered Circuit Attorney’s office.”
Current leader of the St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office Gabe Gore has been chosen as the St. Louis American’s 2023 ‘Person of the Year.’
– Dr. Donald Suggs
By Sylvester Brown Jr. St. Louis American Six months ago, the name “Gabe Gore” was largely unknown. Sure, the Detroit native has lived in the region off and on since the early 80s. He’d spent more than a decade building a promising career with several high-profile law firms, including most recently the powerful Dowd/ Bennett firm. He served as the assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri, assistant special counsel for the John C.
See GORE, A6
‘Every person deserves to be safe’ By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Senior Reporter In what the White House called a significant step towards enhancing police accountability and rebuilding trust between law n “Every enforcement and the communities person in our they serve, nation has President Joe a right to be Biden and Vice safe. And trust President Kamala Harris announced between law the establishment enforcement of the National and the Law Enforcement communities Accountability Database. The they serve is initiative marks the essential for federal public safety.” first-ever database designed to track official – Vice President records of law Kamala Harris enforcement officer misconduct. “Every person in our nation has a right to be safe. And trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve is essential for public safety,” Harris asserted. “Police
Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American
See DATABASE, A9
An oftentumultuous 2023 fades into memory
Photo by Taylor Marrie / St. Louis AMerican
Children and parents celebrate at the annual Michael Brown Sr. Chosen For Change organization, which provides food, clothing and children’s toy at STL Artworks on Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023. The Kribmas Foundation donated proceeds from Smino’s annual Kribmas concert to the Michael Brown Sr. Chosen for Change organization this year.
By Alvin A. Reid St. Louis American
Michael Brown Sr. helps families find holiday happiness By Ashley Winters St. Louis American The Michael Brown Sr. Chosen For Change organization’s 9th annual toy giveaway handed out Barbie dolls, bikes, clothes, and other goodies to spread joy to families and kids in the neighborhood on Dec. 23. The community toy drive looked like Santa’s workshop, volunteers dressed up in elf costumes handed out candy and toys from 10:00 am until 2:00 pm at STL Artworks in the Delmar Loop. Kids of all ages played and danced to music, some were drinking hot cocoa sponsored by Starbucks. Others took pictures with ‘Hood Santa’ and enjoyed a hearty
BUSINESS
breakfast and lunch. The day was filled with the magic of giving and spreading holiday cheer. The annual community event makes Brown Sr. feel happy especially when he sees all the kids running around playing. He says their faces light up when they see him dressed like Santa. “This is to bring cheer, laughter, and love back,” he said. During his organization’s first toy giveaway, he was not in the holiday spirit. “I felt like I needed to do something,” said Brown Sr. He explained that the community did a lot of work in
See BROWN, A9
Two of the world’s most iconic singers who shared St. Louis roots, Grace Bumbry and Tina Turner, passed away in 2023. Throughout the region and the nation, mass shootings occurred frequently, including one in St. Louis during this past summer. Historic changes to governance of the city of St. Louis became official, and two young Black stars, Jordan Walker and Masyn Winn, joined the St. Louis Cardinals. Congresswoman Cori Bush found herself unexpectedly challenged by St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell, former Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner resigned her position under fire, and Gabe Gore was appointed to replace her. For more on the year that was, please see our Year in Review Special Section.
SPORTS
Don ‘DJ Wrekk 1’ Williams’ success is no accident
A year of triumphs for area teams and athletes
St. Louis’ own Don ‘DJ Wrekk 1’ Williams, who’s radio career has spanned nearly 30 years, has returned to his hometown as program director for Foxy 106.9, the area’s newest R&B radio station.
It was an exciting year of sports for the athletes from the St. Louis metropolitan area at all levels of competition. Incarnate Word’s 100-game winning streak led the way.
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