Which aldermen support their colleague Lewis Reed – and why?
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CAC Audited FEBRUARY 21 – 27, 2019
COMPLIMENTARY
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‘Her fighting spirit is needed at the city level’ Coalition of Black Trade Unionists endorses Nasheed for president of the Board of Aldermen Lew Moye, president emeritus of the St. Louis Chapter of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU), visited with state Senator Jamilah Nasheed at CBTU’s MLK Banquet on January 21.
By Chris King Of The St. Louis American Lew Moye, president emeritus of the St. Louis Chapter of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU), explained why the group voted to endorse state Senator Jamilah Nasheed for president of the Board of Aldermen. “Her fighting spirit is needed at the city level,” Moye told The American. Asked how she has “fighting spirit” where incumbent Lewis Reed does not, Moye said, “Reed has been there for over a decade” (he was first elected to the position in 2007). “He has had the pulpit to be more aggressive on jobs and more aggressive on investments in North City.” Asked for more specific evidence of this
Vol. 90 No. 48
Ferguson councilman posted about busting protestors’ skulls New interim Ferguson city manager was cited by DOJ for using police as ‘revenue pipeline’ By Rebecca Rivas Of The St. Louis American
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Photo by Leon Algee
Happy birthday to Mr. Mathews Martin Mathews was regaled with a rendition of “Happy Birthday” sung by youth from the Mathews-Dickey Boys & Girls Club that he co-founded during his 94th birthday celebration at Harris-Stowe State University on Sunday, February 17.
The Ferguson City Council and Mayor James Knowles III have made several moves this year that have community members worried. To fill St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell’s now-empty 3rd Ward seat on the City Council, the council members appointed an African-American man who wrote Facebook posts about wanting to run protestors over and shoot them if they came on his lawn during the Ferguson unrest in 2014. And to step in for the resigning city manager, the mayor appointed the city’s longtime financial director who was cited by the U.S. Department of Justice multiple times for urging police to issue n “I do not give more citations to generate more revenue for the city. a damn about “It’s a nasty storm protestors right brewing, between the city (now) who manager selection and the questionable position of do not live in the council person for the Ferguson!!!! I Ward,” said Jackie want to go bust 3rd Lewis-Harris, an active some skulls Ferguson community so right now, I member. “It’s sad because the mayor is intent on can taste their putting things back to the blood.” way things were when – Byron Fry, now Mike Brown was killed.” The St. Louis American a City Council reached out to the member city spokesperson for comment but had not received a response by press time. On January 29, the City Council voted to appoint Byron Fry, a health teacher at Riverview Gardens High School, to fill the council spot left vacant by Bell when he was elected county prosecutor. The day Fry took his oath for office on February 12, community members showed the See FERGUSON, A6
Fontbonne has most diverse freshman class ever Black Student Union provides a ‘home’ for black students By Sophie Hurwitz For the St. Louis American Fontbonne University, a private Catholic university based in Clayton, has made dramatic efforts in recent years to increase the diversity of its student body. In particular, the percentage of African-American students in this year’s incoming class skyrocketed. According to the university, the average percentage of African-American students in each class from 20102017 was roughly 8 percent. In this year’s freshman class, however, 31 percent of students identify as African-American. In addition, Fontbonne has been working to recruit other minority students, leading to a total of 43.7 percent students of color in this year’s incoming class (as compared to 23 percent in the class of 2015). The university also has had success targeting more lowincome and first-generation students. “Each year the amount of non-white, first-generation and students with economic needs increases, and it’s honestly great,” said Octavia Collins, a junior.
n “Black Student Union members can share their experiences and help newcomers through the transition.” – Fontbonne Black Student Union Vice President Octavia Collins
A few major policy changes drove this shift. Over the past few years, Fontbonne has committed to more needbased financial aid and has focused on enrolling more students from the St. Louis metropolitan area. “We want to change the paradigm,” said Fontbonne President J. Michael Pressimone, who published a memorable essay in The American about placing a Black Lives Matter sign in the yard of the university president’s home in Clayton. “The neediest students who demonstrate academic ability deserve an opportunity to See STUDENTS, A7
Fontbonne University Black Student Union executive board members Jillian Venegas, Octavia Collins, Nia Moses, Jaylah Jones and Raven Venagas