Urban League prepares to ‘Serve Our Streets’
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St. LouiS AmericAn The
92 years serving, empowering and advocating equity in St. Louis
CAC Audited JUNE 18 – 24, 2020
Vol. 92 No. 13 COMPLIMENTARY
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The charge of 1st Degree Assault is a Class A felony. Joshua Smith’s bond was set at $50,000.
Incitement charges against Avery dismissed Prosecutor’s attempt to connect violence to protestor made judge laugh By Rebecca Rivas Of The St. Louis American
Photo by Wiley Price
Attorneys Jermaine Wooten and Jerryl Christmas, who were retained by the victim, claimed the video is sufficient evidence to charge Joshua Smith with Assault 1st Degree and Armed Criminal Action. Clearly, the special prosecutor agreed.
Florissant cop charged Joshua Smith faces felony assault and armed criminal action for striking man with SUV By Chris King Of The St. Louis American After more than a week of protests and one day after the release of an incriminating video, Joshua L. Smith was charged with 1st Degree Assault, Armed Criminal Action and 4th Degree Assault for driving a Florissant Police SUV into an unarmed man, then kicking and punching him on the ground before cuffing him. The charge of 1st Degree Assault is a Class A felony. Smith’s bond was set at $50,000. St. Charles County Prosecuting Attorney
n A new surveillance video that shows Smith veering off the road and deliberately striking a fleeing pedestrian with his unmarked SUV.
Tim Lohmar announced the charges on Wednesday, June 17. The day before, attorneys for the victim released a new surveillance video that shows Smith veering off the road and deliberately striking a fleeing
pedestrian with his unmarked SUV. Smith then exits his vehicle, kicks the injured man on the ground, and then strikes him with his fists twice before cuffing him. Attorneys Jermaine Wooten and Jerryl Christmas, who have been retained by the victim, claimed the video is sufficient evidence to charge Smith with Assault 1st Degree and Armed Criminal Action. Clearly, the special prosecutor agreed. The assault occurred on June 2 in Dellwood, which is in St. Louis County. But St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell See COP, A6
‘Youth who should be home are now infected’ Clergy, Youth Services workers demand release of youth from COVID hot spot By Sophie Hurwitz For the St. Louis American There are currently 28 young people being detained at the Hogan Street Youth Center juvenile detention facility. Of those, 18 are now infected with COVID-19, along with 14 staff members, according to the Missouri Department of Social Services. Fifteen of the youth cases are still considered active.
LaTrisha Gandy, a family organizer with Metropolitan Congregations United (MCU), said every young person detained in the Hogan Street facility is African-American, so it is both a health issue and a racial justice issue. Representatives of CWA 6355, the workers’ union that employs many workers at the center, attended the rally. They See YOUTH, A6
Photo by Wiley Price
“We’re just fighting for the youth that are still here, the youth that can break that prison pipeline,” LaTrisha Gandy, a family organizer with MCU, said at the Hogan Street Youth Center on June 11.
The federal prosecutor who charged Ferguson activist Michael Avery for incitement to riot based on Facebook posts asked the federal judge hearing the case to dismiss the charges on Wednesday, June 17. Michael Reilly, the federal prosecutor, asked U.S. Magistrate Judge Shirley Padmore Mensah to dismiss the charges “without prejudice,” meaning the charges could be issued again. In his motion to dismiss, Reilly said the investigation of Avery is ongoing. Photo by “Even though they state Heather DiMian the investigation is ongoing Michael and they could refile charges, Avery we are hopeful that they will realize that this prosecution has no basis in law,” Marleen Suarez, Avery’s attorney, told The American. Mensuh signed the order Wednesday afternoon. Reilly filed his motion after twice failing to get U.S. Magistrate Patricia Cohen to keep Avery in jail without bond. On June 12, Reilly argued — for the second time — that the only way to See AVERY, A7
2020 HeALtH SALute
Treating two pandemics: COVID and addiction Dr. Kanika Turner honored with 2020 Salute Excellence in Mental Health Award By Rebecca Rivas Of The St. Louis American In December, the St. Louis region received a harsh annual update from the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse (NCADA-STL). There were 1,080 people who died from overdoses involving opioids in 2018 alone — a new high for the region, the council reported. St. Louis is at the height of an opioid addiction epidemic with no sign of slowing. Then, just a few months later, the region went on complete shutdown for the COVID19 pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic and opioid epidemic intersect in one significant way. Dr. Kanika “We have two things that Turner are really impacting the black community — COVID-19 and overdose deaths,” said Dr. Kanika Turner, who has served as associate medical director at the Family Care Health Center’s Carondelet location since March 2019. However, Turner sees a great opportunity preSee PANDEMICS, A7