Neidorff welcomed as National Urban League chair Centene CEO will ‘usher in a new era of leadership,’ says Morial
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St. LouiS AmericAn The
CAC Audited NOVEMBER 20 – 26, 2014
Vol. 85 No. 33 COMPLIMENTARY
stlamerican.com
Salute honors ‘who’s who’ of businesses Abe and Nicole Adewale, principals of ABNA Engineering, were recognized as 2014 Entrepreneurs of the Year.
American, Chamber, Urban League award excellence and inclusion By Chris King Of The St. Louis American “I feel like The St. Louis American has been looking in my personal checkbook and our city contracts,” St. Louis Treasurer Tishaura Jones said Friday at the St. Louis American Foundation’s 15th annual Salute to Excellence in Business, held at Four Seasons St. Louis.
n “We’re trying to increase both the number and the strength of local minority businesses.” – Lee Fetter, BJC HealthCare
The 2014 awardees, Jones said, are “a who’s who of who the City
of St. Louis and I personally do business with. Even Real Estate Solutions – Nate Johnson sold me my house!” Real Estate Solutions was honored as one of the Top 25 African-American Businesses of the Year. But, at the very top of the list of honorees, the same deep community spirit was felt and expressed. Nicole and Abe Adewale, principals of ABNA Engineering, were recognized as 2014 Entrepreneurs of the Year. During their tag-team speech, they
See SALUTE, A6
Photo by Wiley Price
Dying-in for Michael Brown Jr. Tribe X organizes direct action on 100-day anniversary of death
Preparing for peace? Unified Command will lead response to protests as Nixon declares State of Emergency By Chris King Of The St. Louis American The St. Louis County Police Department has completed an 1,077-page investigative report on the fatal shooting of Michael Brown Jr. by Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson, St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar told The St. Louis American on Friday, November 14. Belmar said he expects that St. Louis County Prosecutor Robert P. McCulloch will release the report to the public at a press conference in the event that the St. Louis County grand jury does not indict Wilson. Belmar said McCulloch See COMMAND, A7
By Rebecca Rivas Of The St. Louis American About 150 participants in a Tribe X direct action shut down Delmar and Skinker boulevards and Forest Park Parkway on Sunday, November 16 in remembrance of the 100 days that had passed n Ferguson since unarmed teen Michael protestors Brown Jr. was shot and chanted killed by a Ferguson police to “indict, officer. Two separate groups convict” of protestors gathered at Ferguson Delmar and Skinker Police Officer the Metrolink stops at 11:15 Darren a.m. and then marched down Wilson in the sidewalks on Delmar and Skinker boulevards. At Brown’s the intersection of Delmar shooting and Skinker, the groups death. converged and continued to march down Delmar westbound, while chanting to “indict, convict” Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson in Brown’s shooting death. “If we don’t get it, shut it down! If Mike don’t get it, shut it down!” they chanted, just as they stopped right outside of the Tivoli Theater and shut down Delmar. Some protestors – including Lisa Fithian, a nationally renowned direct action organizer and consultant – pretended to be police officers, yelling at other participants in the action See DYING-IN, A6
Nixon swears in Ferguson Commission Rev. Starsky Wilson, Richard McClure co-chair citizen advisory group By Bridjes O’Neil Of The St. Louis American
Photo by Lawrence Bryant
On Sunday, November 16, Tribe X led a direct action in the University City Loop that shut down Delmar Boulevard as protestors portrayed police officers who pretended to shoot and kill other protestors. Sunday marked 100 days since Michael Brown Jr. was fatally shot by a Ferguson police officer.
On Tuesday, November 18, Gov. Jay Nixon swore in 16 people – including nine African Americans – to serve on the Ferguson Commission, which is charged with studying the socio-economic problems that led to the unrest following Michael Brown Jr.’s death. Rev. Starsky Wilson, president and CEO of the Deaconess Foundation, and Richard McClure, former president and COO of Unigroup, will co-chair the independent, citizen-led commission. “It is my hope and expectation that this diverse group of commissioners is going to help dig See NIXON, A6