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William Miller
Racial equity and minority inclusion under Better Together’s Stenger
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St. LouiS AmericAn The
91 years serving, empowering and advocating equity in St. Louis
CAC Audited SEPTEMBER 5 – 11, 2019
Vol. 91 No. 24 COMPLIMENTARY
stlamerican.com
Coming to grips with gun violence
Real solutions to reduce violence From ‘The Shadow Mayor’ By Treasurer Tishaura O. Jones For The St. Louis American
Photo by Wiley Price
Rasheed Thompson, the father of 8-year old Jurnee Thompson, was comforted by a circle of mothers during a vigil for murdered children in St. Louis at Herzog Elementary School on Wednesday, August 28. Jurnee was killed by a stray bullet on August 23.
‘Whatever the movement is going to be, I’m going to be part of it’ By Rebecca Rivas Of The St. Louis American Going to the football jamboree at Soldan High School on Friday, August 23 was a “reward” for eight-year-old Jurnee Thompson’s good behavior during her first two weeks at school. “I got not one call from the school and not one bad report,” said Rasheed Thompson, Jurnee’s father. “I asked my baby twice if she wanted to leave. She said, ‘Yea.’ She hugged me. She kissed me and told me, ‘Bye,’ not knowing that would be the last time I would
n “When a grown person or teenager murders your eightyear-old child and you don’t come forward, it’s heartbreaking.” – Rasheed Thompson
see my baby.” Jurnee was shot and killed by a stray bullet while leaving the football game that
night. Thompson spoke at the candlelight vigil held for his daughter at her school Herzog Elementary on Wednesday, August 28. It was also a vigil for the 20 children killed by gun violence in St. Louis in 2019. The event was organized by radio stations 95.5 The Lou and Radio One Hot 104.1 and community organization Better Family Life Inc. Jurnee’s killer remains at large, and CrimeStoppers is offering $25,000 rewards until September 10 for supplying information about her case and those of three other See GUNS, A6
‘It’s the safety we are creating’ Flynn Park Elementary is 2019 Bayer School of Excellence By Rebecca Rivas Of The St. Louis American Flynn Park Elementary School in University City has been on a journey these past three years, said Principal Nicalee Wilson. And it’s one that’s best illustrated through a story. “I think of a student we received as a kindergartener, who had screaming tantrums all the 32nd time,” Wilson said. The student would tell her teachers that she couldn’t read because she wasn’t a reader. By second grade, she was using the calming area in the classroom, along with the calming practices she learned. And she experienced growth as a reader. Now the student See FLYNN PARK, A7
Photo by Rebecca Rivas
Keale Siebert, third grade teacher, reads to her class at Flynn Park Elementary.
Recently, Bill McClellan penned a column about me titled “The Shadow Mayor of St. Louis strikes again.” The longtime PostDispatch columnist was referring to an op-ed I wrote here in The St. Louis American last week. I want to thank McClellan for the new title of “Shadow Mayor”; it brought some levity and laughter to the weekend. He was right: what I proposed would not completely “eradicate violence in the city, but at least they were ideas, programs, something more concrete than rewards and balloon releases.” And, although readers of his column also enjoy his humor, I want to be clear: violence is a serious problem and calls for comprehensive, St. Louis transformative, evidenceTreasurer based solutions. Tishaura O. Leaders like Comptroller Jones Darlene Green, Circuit Attorney Kimberly Gardner, Superintendent Kelvin Adams, and Rev. Starsky Wilson should also be credited with helpful ideas to protect our children all published in The American. But we must not look only to elected leaders and individuals for answers to end violence. Community groups like the Organization of Black Struggle (“OBS”), the Coalition Against Police Crimes and Repression (“CAPCR”), and the Close the Workhouse Campaign (led by Action St. Louis, ArchCity Defenders and The Bail Project) have spent years researching evidence-based methods for reducing crime in other cities. Crime in the city has been a problem for See VIOLENCE, A6
Michelle Sherod enters primary for state Senate Steve Roberts has announced, Megan Green is considering options, in 5th District By Chris King Of The St. Louis American Michelle Sherod – longtime staffer for former U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill – is entering the race for the open seat to represent Missouri’s 5th Senate District, where state Senator Jamilah Nasheed (D-St. Louis) is term-limited. She has the strong endorsement of Nasheed, who speaks as if the office belongs to Sherod. “Michelle is going be a great addition to the Missouri Senate,” Nasheed told The American. “I know she will hit the ground Michelle running after working on Sherod policy issues for over 20 years on the state and federal level. Michelle is very methodical and pragmatic; those are the qualities you need to get anything done on the state level.” See SHEROD, A7