Clean Sweep brings Northside unity
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St. LouiS AmericAn The
CAC Audited JULY 12 – 18, 2018
Vol. 90 No. 16 COMPLIMENTARY
stlamerican.com
‘The people’s ribbon-cutting’
Stenger ducks forum on county exec race Only his challenger Mark Mantovani answered community groups’ questions American staff
Photo by Wiley Price
Jennings Councilman Terry Wilson, state Rep. Bruce Franks Jr., St. Louis Treasurer Tishaura O. Jones, Susan Saarinen (the daughter of Gateway Arch designer Eero Saarinen), Cori Bush, 1st District congression candidate, Farrakhan Shegog, Rev. Darryl Gray, Mayor Lyda Krewson, Public Safety Director Jimmie Edwards, and 5th Ward Committeeman Rasheen Aldridge celebrated after the second, diverse ribbon-cutting at the Gateway Arch on Friday, July 6. Franks and Jones organized the event.
All-white official Arch photo op provokes display of diversity and inclusion By Kenya Vaughn and Rebecca Rivas Of The St. Louis American “We’re here today because diversity is who we are,” Rev. Darryl Gray said at the Gateway Arch on Friday, July 6. He served as master of ceremonies for an event that was a direct response to the official
ribbon-cutting photo for the grand opening of the renovated Arch grounds on July 3. The now-infamous photo spawned the hashtag #ArchSoWhite because of the total absence of people of color. “We cannot and must not allow ourselves and our history and our contribution to history be erased or forgotten,” Gray said.
Groups representing multiple ethnicities in the St. Louis region stood on the Arch grounds as a reflection of what they didn’t see in the photo, in an event organized by state Rep. Bruce Franks Jr., St. Louis Treasurer Tishaura O. Jones and others.
See ARCH, A6
‘Further desecration’ of cemetery DDI Media hired bulldozers to clear brush that also destroyed headstones Wanda Brandon stands in front of a billboard that sits on the grounds of Washington Park Cemetery.
By Sophie Hurwitz For the St. Louis American According to activist Wanda Brandon, bulldozers clearing trees at Washington Park Cemetery, an historically African-American burial ground, recently broke half a dozen headstones into pieces. St. Louis County Councilwoman Hazel Erby posted her outrage to Facebook: “This is criminal! It’s time to come together to stop this blatant disrespect! I was told that there is a company who shows up during weekdays with bulldozers trampling the tombstones.” Kevin Bailey, who owns most of the cem-
See CEMETERY, A7
Photo by Wanda Brandon
Incumbent St. Louis County Executive Steve Stenger did not respond to the invitation to take part in a public forum organized by a coalition of community-based organizations. Only his challenger in the Democratic primary, Mark Mantovani, agreed to participate and responded to a set of questions guiding the forum. “Voters will cast their ballots on August 7 without having had the opportunity to hear from candidates in an open dialogue,” organizers from Social Policy Mark and Electoral Accountability Mantovani Collaborative (SPEAC) said in a statement. SPEAC held one of the largest mayoral forums in 2017 for the City of St. Louis. Hundreds of citizens had a chance to hear from candidates on pressing regional issues identified by the community and in the Ferguson Commission report. “There are few things more core to the health of our local democracy than the right of residents
See STENGER, A6
Rev. Samuel Hylton Jr. passes at 91 Clergy Coalition’s first president, led Centennial Christian Church for 35 years By Gloria S. Ross For The St. Louis American The Rev. Samuel W. Hylton Jr., who led Centennial Christian Church for more than three decades while spearheading social service programs that ministered to the needs and hopes of the entire community, has died. He was 91. In addition to envisioning and implementing numerous Rev. Samuel neighborhood programs, Rev. Hylton Jr. Hylton was the first convener of the St. Louis Metropolitan Clergy Coalition, a group of spiritual leaders who actively address community concerns.
See HYLTON, A7