Greene County Democrat

Month: February 2022

  • Merriweather is candidate for County Commission District 4

    My name is Malcom Thomas Merriweather, Sr. and I am a candidate for District 4 County Commissioner here in Greene County, Alabama. I’ve lived, worked, and farmed here in the Forkland community for the past 40 years. My wife and I, along with our two sons Malcom (Jr.) and Tyler, are all active members of the Lloyd Chapel Missionary Baptist Church.
    One question that people typically ask when you are a candidate in my position is, “why run for county commissioner?” The answer is straightforward. I was born and raised by both of my parents. I was married here, raised my family here, farm here, and plan to stay here long enough to see my grandchildren grow up in this part of the county. That’s four generations of the Merriweather bloodline in the Greene County Community. I am running for county commissioner because I want to see a difference in my community for future generations to come. 
     My Experience: My 35 years in the paper industry have granted me countless opportunities to manage and work alongside a diverse group of people in the public and private sector that stretches from Forkland, Alabama to Portland, Oregon. My years of experience with these groups of people have exposed me to the various challenges and obstacles that different demographics face keeping their businesses, counties, and state infrastructures in place. The plan would be to work together and implement knowledge as well as new technology for our community. This new technology will be focused on helping the citizens of Greene County understand the means and methods of creating/writing grants as well as sourcing outside funds for the community. With these measures, we aim to create new opportunities to reconstruct/revamp roads, bridges, schools, and hospitals.
      I want to see this county grow and upgrade in ways that we have not seen before. My proposal is to maintain the same small-town community feel, but have better roads, schools, and health care facilities for the people who are rooted here in Greene County. My vision is to also clean up the overall appearance of the county by putting a stop to the illegal dumping of trash/littering on the roadways.
    As a member of this community, I take pride in where I am from. Let’s work together to make our district beautiful, safe, and clean for ourselves and the future generations to come. A new beginning for Greene County, Alabama starts here, and it starts with us. Let’s make a difference together now, so we have something to be proud of.
     I am asking you for your vote and trust. I will work hard for everyone here in District 4 to keep this community a place we can be proud to call home.
    Your candidate for County Commissioner District 4 Greene County Alabama,
    Malcom Thomas Merriweather, Sr.

  • Newswire: The GOP takes aim at D.C. Statehood and Home Rule as Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton fights back

    Longtime D.C. delegate Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton said that she would work with the NNPA and the NAHP to pressure Congress to demand greater federal adverting spending with minority-owned publishers. This photo was taken during a congressional panel discussion on judicial diversity on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. (Freddie Allen/AMG/NNPA)

    By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent


    Longtime Democratic District of Columbia Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes-Norton has condemned attacks on her city by Republicans who now want to strip the nation’s capital of Home Rule.

    “Representative Clyde literally wants the federal government to resume running D.C. as a colony,” Rep. Norton said. Republican Georgia Rep. Andrew Clyde, a member of the House Oversight Committee, counts among those leading a GOP contingent seeking to repeal the District of Columbia’s Home Rule Act.

    Clyde and others have been critical of Mayor Muriel Bowser’s administration, claiming that crime, homelessness, and open drug use are out of control in the nation’s capital. The GOP lawmakers also cited Mayor Bowser’s indoor vaccine mandate, which she’s since rolled back.
    “While I’m glad our intention of repealing D.C.’s Home Rule Act was heard loud and clear, the problems facing our nation’s capital city extend far beyond medical tyranny,” Rep. Clyde contended.

    “Make no mistake, this was not an empty threat; legislation is coming to restore Congress’ Article I Section 8 Constitutional duty ‘to exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District’ and to properly manage D.C.’s affairs.

    “In the near future, we will free Washington D.C. from the failed experiment of so-called ‘Home Rule,’ and we will return our nation’s capital to the American people after the Democrats’ almost 50-year reign of terror and failed leadership,” Rep. Clyde continued.

    With the midterm elections in November, Republicans are positioned to retake the U.S. House and Senate, and killing any hopes of D.C. statehood.

    “Rep. Clyde wants to take away the limited self-government the nearly 700,000 D.C. residents, a majority of whom are minorities, have had for the last 50 years and give absolute power over D.C. to Congress and, presumably, to congressionally or presidentially appointed administrators,” Rep. Norton stated.

    “At a time when we are having unprecedented success on our D.C. statehood bill, we will continue to move forward, not go back. We will defeat his anti-democratic efforts.”
    President Richard Nixon signed the Home Rule Act into law, and the measure gives D.C. an elected chief executive (mayor) and legislature (Council).

    Rep. Norton pointed out that, in signing the statement on Home Rule, Nixon wrote, “One of the major goals of this Administration is to place responsibility for local functions under local control and to provide local governments with the authority and resources they need to serve their communities effectively.”

    Nixon’s statement continued: “The measure I sign today represents a significant step in achieving this goal in the city of Washington. It will give the people of the District of Columbia the right to elect their own city officials and to govern themselves in local affairs.”

    “As the Nation approaches the 200th anniversary of its founding, it is particularly appropriate to assure those persons who live in our Capital City rights and privileges which have long been enjoyed by most of their countrymen. But the measure I sign today does more than create machinery for the election of local officials. It also broadens and strengthens the structure of the city government to enable it to deal more effectively with its responsibilities.”

    D.C. remains deprived of voting representation in Congress and full self-government, which Rep. Norton called undemocratic.

    “Statehood is the remedy,” she declared. “Congress has the constitutional authority to grant D.C. statehood. D.C. has a larger population than two states, pays more federal taxes than 21 states, pays more federal taxes per capita than any state, has a larger budget than 12 states, has a larger gross domestic product than 17 states, has a triple-A bond rating, and federal funds constitute a smaller percentage of its budget than the percentage of total state revenue.”

  • Newswire: Joint Economic Committee and Congressional Black Caucus release new analysis highlighting economic progress and socioeconomic barriers facing Black Americans

     
    Congressional Black Caucus Chairwoman Joyce Beatty

    Washington, D.C. — In recognition of Black History Month and in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), the Joint Economic Committee (JEC) and the CBC released a new analysis of the impact of economic trends and barriers on Black Americans.

    State and national data spanning the last 50 years highlight significant areas of economic progress among Black Americans. However, the data also make clear the persistence of structural and economic barriers facing Black workers and families that result in disparities across broad socioeconomic indicators and outcomes.
    According to the analysis:
    • Black child poverty rates have been cut by nearly half since the 1980s, and the share of Black Americans living below the poverty line reached the lowest level since federal data collection began in 1959.
    • High school completion rates have risen significantly, and notably, the Black-white racial gap in high school graduation has nearly disappeared: In 2019, less than 6 percent of Black high school students dropped out of high school.
    • The share of Black adults with college degrees has more than doubled since 1990.

    However, despite this progress:
    • White households have eight times the wealth of Black households, a result of historical disparities in asset ownership, unemployment, wages and intergenerational wealth transfers.
    • Black households earn just 62 cents for every dollar earned by white households.
    • Black Americans have consistently experienced unemployment rates that are nearly twice that of white Americans.
    •
    Additionally, the effects of the coronavirus pandemic have disproportionately impacted Black workers and families, exacerbating existing gaps and threatening decades of progress.
    Investments to improve job quality and raise wages, lower household costs and remove barriers to wealth-building are key to addressing racial inequality and advancing shared prosperity.
    “We recognize the contributions of Black Americans and work to confront structural barriers throughout the year, and Black History Month presents a specific opportunity to shine a light on both the progress to address racial disparities and the systemic racism that remains entrenched in our society and in our economy,” said JEC Chairman Don Beyer.

    “I am pleased to partner with Chairwoman Beatty and the Congressional Black Caucus on this important work, which makes clear the progress that has been made and the imperative that we in Congress do more to promote racial equality. In addition to directly harming Black workers and families, the effects of discrimination and inequities in income, wealth, health and education restrict the pathways to stronger and broad-based economic growth. We have before us a blueprint of the work we must do to build a more inclusive economy that values and honors the work of Black Americans.”
    Added Congressional Black Caucus Chairwoman Joyce Beatty, “As Chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus, a member of the Joint Economic Committee, and the first Chair of the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Diversity and Inclusion, I applaud the efforts made to compile this critical report.
    “The gaps identified throughout this report do not lend themselves to quick fixes. Hundreds of years of structural exclusion and systemic oppression cannot be simply erased. However, the status quo is not tenable for Black Americans or for the US economy as a whole.”
    Chair Beatty continued: “This report aims to identify multiple entry points for action—and underscore the urgency of getting started. As a nation we must embrace the transformational powers of diversity and inclusion, and by harnessing the unique skills, tools, and talents of all people, at all levels in the private and public sectors, we can create a stronger economy and brighter futures for everyone.”
    The JEC recently held hearings examining the racial wealth gap and the gender pay gap, with a particular focus on the “double gap” faced by Black women, who experience the effects of both the gender and racial wage gap.
    The Congressional Black Caucus is committed to advancing Black families in the 21st Century through addressing the economic disparities that have plagued our communities for generations, creating opportunities that combat poverty, and closing the worsening racial wage and wealth gaps in America.
    The CBC supports policies that strengthen protections for workers and expand Black entrepreneurship, business development, partnerships and reports such as this one. The CBC will continue to champion economic justice for Black families throughout the nation, until true equity is achieved.

  • Newswire : Ahmaud Arbery’s killers found guilty of hate crimes in Federal Court

    Ahmaud Arbery and his mother


    By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent


    A federal jury found Travis McMichael, Gregory McMichael, and William “Roddie” Bryan guilty on all counts in the murder of Ahmaud Arbery.
    The verdict came on the eve of the anniversary of Arbery’s murder.
    The McMichaels and Bryan chased Arbery through their mostly white Georgia neighborhood in their pickup trucks, cornering him before Travis McMichael shot the innocent jogger with a shotgun.
    The trio was convicted in state court and given life sentences. The federal charges included a hate crime that exposed each of the men’s history of racism. Throughout the one-week trial, defense attorneys tried to sell the jury that, while the men weren’t “likable,” their actions weren’t driven by racial hatred.
    However, Prosecutor Christopher Perras ferociously attacked that stance. The murder “was driven by their pent-up racial anger and [Travis McMichael] was just looking for a reason,” Perras insisted. He also noted that if the men thought Arbery had committed a crime, they never alerted the police.
    Trial testimony from FBI intelligence analyst Amy Vaughan revealed a host of racist remarks from Travis McMichael. Vaughn testified that Travis McMichael and his friends routinely used racist slurs directed at African Americans.
    One text from Travis McMichael to a friend describes how he enjoyed his new job because he didn’t have to work with Black people.
    “They ruin everything,” McMichael wrote. “That’s why I love what I do now. Not a [n-word] in sight.”
    In a Facebook video that purportedly shows a group of Black teenagers beating a white youth, Travis McMichael commented, “I say shoot them all,” and he referred the group as “monkeys.”
    Travis McMichael also referred to a woman who dated a Black man as an “[N-word] lover.”
    Kim Ballesteros, who lived next door to the McMichaels, told the court about a conversation in which Gregory McMichael used racist language to describe a tenant he had.
    “She was a large Black woman who did not pay her rent very well,” Ballesteros told the court. “Their name for her was the walrus.”
    When Gregory McMichael told her that the woman didn’t pay her rent on time, he disabled her air conditioning unit. “You should have seen how fast her big fat Black a– came with the rent check,” Gregory McMichael said, according to Ballesteros.
    The FBI’s Vaughan also testified that Bryan often used the n-word and words like “bootlip” to describe Black people.
    She said he routinely slurred African Americans on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. “Happy Bootlip Day,” Bryan told a friend in one message. “I worked like a [n-word] today,” he stated.
    Perras dismissed any notion that the defense attorney’s claims on behalf of his clients somehow justified their deadly actions. “There’s a big difference between being vigilant and being a vigilante,” he told the jury. “It’s important for you to understand the full depth of the defendants’ racial hatred.”
    Attorney Benjamin Crump released the following statement following the verdict:
    “Tomorrow marks two years since Ahmaud Arbery was stalked, trapped, and murdered in cold blood as he jogged through his Brunswick neighborhood. And today, after much sorrow, grief, and pain, Ahmaud’s family can finally put this chapter behind them. For the last 24 months, they’ve dedicated themselves to getting justice for their son. They’ve had to relive his brutal murder, watch and listen as he was demonized in court, and fight to share with the world who Ahmaud Arbery was and who he could have been had his young life not been so violently cut short.
    “For many of us, there was never any doubt that Greg McMichael, Travis McMichael, and William Bryan targeted Ahmaud because of his skin color. But because of indisputable video evidence, disgusting messages sent by the defendants, and witness testimony, their hate was revealed to the world and the jury. We hope and demand that the severity of their crimes are reflected in the sentencing, as well.
    “Ahmaud Arbery was denied the opportunity to define his own legacy, but America, we have the power to ensure that it is one that propels our fight for equal justice and dispels hate from this world. That is how we continue to honor Ahmaud and make sure his death was not in vain.”

  • Newswire: Biden imposes new Russia sanctions,
    decries ‘beginning invasion’

    Map of Ukraine showing disputed areas

    From Aljazeera News Service

    US President Joe Biden has announced a new sanctions package against Russia, calling Moscow’s recognition of two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine as independent the “beginning of a Russian invasion” of its neighbor.
    In a brief speech on Tuesday, Biden condemned his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin’s decision to recognize the independence of Luhansk and Donetsk and to authorize the deployment of Russian troops to “maintain peace” in the regions.
    “If Russia goes further with this invasion, we stand prepared to go further as with sanctions,” Biden said. “Who in the Lord’s name does Putin think gives him the right to declare new so-called countries on territory that belongs to his neighbors? This is a flagrant violation of international law and demands a firm response from the international community.”
    The sanctions target Russia’s sovereign debt as well as two large Russian financial institutions, including the country’s military bank, Biden said.
    “That means we’ve cut off Russia’s government from Western financing. It can no longer raise money from the West and cannot trade in its new debt on our markets or European markets either,” the US president added.
    On Monday, Putin recognized the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) and Luhansk People’s Republic (LPR) – areas that have seen fighting between Moscow-backed separatists and the Ukrainian government since 2014. Moscow then signed agreements with the territories that would allow it to establish a military presence in eastern Ukraine.
    The Biden administration initially responded with sanctions targeting trade in the two regions specifically, but Tuesday’s measures go after Russia itself. “We’ll also impose sanctions on Russia’s elites and their family members. They share the corrupt gains of the Kremlin policies and should share in the pain as well,” Biden said.
    “This is the beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine, as he [Putin] indicated and asked permission to be able to do from his Duma.” US and European officials have said in recent weeks that they believe Russia is planning a large-scale incursion into Ukraine.
    “Every indication is that Russia is continuing to plan for a full-scale attack of Ukraine,” NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on Tuesday. Biden echoed that assessment later in the day, saying that Russia “poised to go much further in launching a massive military attack against Ukraine”.
    The United States and its allies were quick to denounce Putin’s decision on Monday, with several European countries imposing sanctions on Russia.
    Germany halted the approval of Nord Stream 2, the Russian-owned $11bn gas pipeline across the Baltic Sea. The United Kingdom announced sanctions on three Russian billionaires and five banks, and Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Russia will have “pariah status” if it continues to invade Ukraine.
    Western powers have been warning for months that Russia, which they say has been amassing troops near the Ukrainian border, may be getting ready to invade its neighbor.
    Russia previously denied it is planning to invade, but it has vehemently opposed Ukraine’s efforts to join NATO. Moscow also wants security guarantees that the US-led alliance will stop its expansion into former Soviet republics, but Washington and NATO have rejected the demand as a “non-starter”.
    Several rounds of talks between Western and Russian leaders and diplomats have failed to resolve the crisis.
    Biden also said the door remains open for diplomacy. “There is still time to avert the worst-case scenario that will bring untold suffering to millions of people if they move as suggested,” the US president said. “The United States and our allies and partners remain open to diplomacy – if it is serious.

  • 57th annual Bridge Crossing Jubilee in Selma March 3 to 6

    The 57th Bridge Crossing Jubilee will be held next week in Selma, Alabama to commemorate “Bloody Sunday”, the Selma to Montgomery Voting Rights March and the passage of the Voting Rights Act in 1965.

    The Bridge Crossing Jubilee is the largest continuing celebration of civil rights, voting rights and human rights in America.
    Parts of the Jubilee will be held in person and others will be virtual due to the lingering presence of the coronavirus.

    Faya Rose Toure, a major organizer of the Jubilee said, “Because of the mounting attacks on voting rights and the adoption of voter suppression legislation in many states, this year’s Jubilee takes on greater significance to defend the right to vote and fight-back against these attacks on Black, Brown, young and poor people’s rights. We invite you to attend the our many events and the march on Sunday.

    In addition to the commemorative march from Brown’s Chapel Church across the Edmund Pettus Bridge on Sunday afternoon, there will be a recreation of the full march from Selma to Montgomery from March 7 to 11, coordinated by major civil rights organizations,
    including NAACP, SCLC, National Action Network, Black Voters Matter and others.

    Among the scheduled events are:

    Thursday, March 3
    7 p.m.-9 p.m. – Mass Meeting, Tabernacle Baptist Church, 1431 Broad St. Speakers: TBA
    Friday, March 4
    6:30 a.m. – Jubilee Golf Tournament, Valley Grande Golf Course, 1009 Warrior Dr., Valley Grande, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Dr. Leroy Maxwell, 334-412-8090, Fee: $50
    9 a.m.-12 p.m. – Education Summit: Theme: TBA, Dallas County Courthouse and Virtual Zoom Sessions Presenters: TBA
    9 a.m.-2 p.m. – Children’s Sojourn, Virtual Sessions. Fee: $7
    3 p.m.-4:00 p.m. – Induction in Legal Guardians and Women’s Hall of Fame, (NVRM) 6 Hwy 80 East, Inductees: TBA
    5 p.m.-7p.m. – Mock Trial, Dallas County Courthouse, 105 Lauderdale St. Expert Witnesses: Texas Southern Law School Students – Whether the ban on critical race theory (Black history) is in violation of the 14th Amendment
    7 p.m.-9 p.m. – Public Conversation, Dallas County Courthouse, 105 Lauderdale St. Speakers: TB
    Saturday, March 5
    8 a.m.-10 a.m. – Foot Soldiers Breakfast, Selma Amphitheater, Tickets: $5
    8 a.m.-10 a.m. – Jubilee Parade, Begins: Concordia College-2180 Broad St. to Edmund Pettus Bridge on Water Ave.
    9 a.m.-10:30 a.m. – Intergenerational Summit, Selma Amphitheater Guests: TBA
    9 a.m.-2 p.m. – Various workshops (see workshop schedule) Virtual Zoom Platform
    11 a.m.-7 p.m. – Jubilee Street Festival (Blues, Gospel, Hip Hop, R&B), Water Ave. Foot of the Pettus Bridge
    7 p.m.-10 p.m. – Freedom Flame Awards Gala, Selma Amphitheater Selma, AL Honorees: TBA, Tickets: $50 (per person) $450 (per table) Performance by: TBA
    Sunday, March 6
    7:30 a.m.-9:30 a.m. – Martin Luther & Coretta Scott King Unity Breakfast, WCCS, 3000 Earl Goodwin Pkwy. Tickets: $25
    10 a.m.-1 p.m. – Sunday Morning Services, various churches in Selma – Tabernacle Baptist Church, Clinton Chapel, Brown Chapel Church, First Baptist Church
    1:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m. – Pre-march rally, Brown Chapel AME Church, 410 Martin Luther King St.
    2:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. – Reenactment of “Bloody Sunday” march starting from Brown Chapel over Edmund Pettus Bridge
    3:30 p.m.-3:45 p.m. – Post-march rally, foot of Edmund Pettus Bridge
    4 p.m.-6:30 p.m. – Post-march gospel concert: Gospel tribute to foot soldiers, gospel: TBA, Foot of the Pettus Bridge, Tickets: $10 donation

  • School board presented detail plans for students’ success in reading; RBM School initiates Creative Girls Rock project

    The Greene County Board of Education met in regular session Monday, February 21, 2022. Dr. Corey Jones, as part of his superintendent’s report, presented Curriculum Coordinator, Mrs. Barbara Martin, who gave a detailed report on the school system’s intensive activities designed to equip students with effective reading skills. Ms. Martin elaborated on the various programs in place from the primary school level through high school. She emphasized the overall theme of ‘continuity and consistency’ of delivering and monitoring the daily reading engagements of students with one school level building on the previous.
    Martin explained that the schools have a system in place that quickly identifies students who need additional attention, noting that parents are also kept informed of their children’s progress. “Parents and guardians are significant partners in assuring that their students are getting the best and all that is needed for their children’s educational growth and success,” she said.
    The schools have enacted tiered levels of reading instruction with allows for intervention as needed for individual students. According to Ms. Martin, after school programs as well as summer programs are continuing opportunities for students to access extra time and attention needed for skill improvements and other academic and cultural enhancements. Portfolios are kept on all students.
    She noted that teachers at all schools are engaged in intensive training to accommodate these various approaches to teaching reading.
    Martin noted that it is crucial that students are engaged in participatory roles in reading classes, as well as other academic classes. “It is crucial to student’s success that their self esteem is lifted throughout the learning process,” she said.
    Superintendent Jones announced a recently funded program focusing on developing self esteem in young girls and preparing them for career choices. The Creative Girls Rock project is an after school program funded by Alabama Power Company, which can serve up to 100 girls at Robert Brown Middle School. The $2,500 grant award will be used to provide all materials and supplies needed for the project. The project will be presented through Zoom, engaging noted presenters.
    The superintendent also presented John Cole with American Fidelity Insurance, who described the detailed management approach his company could provide to school employees, regarding the section 125 Cafeteria Plan for Education Employees. His presentation at this time was for informational purposes only.
    Jones also introduced a key mentoring approach for school principals. “ All our current school principals are new to their positions, and I noted that we have central office personnel who have served in the role of principal at some point in their educational careers and can serve as mentors, therefore, I have assigned mentors to basically give support to our principals,” he explained.
    As part of his report, Dr Jones presented information on the following: the COVID positive update for the county; testing calendar for schools; current schools enrollment; summary of the Wellness Camp on Asthma held last summer (20021).
    The board approved the following personnel agenda items recommended by the superintendent.
    * Employment of Robin M. Campbell, First Grade Teacher, Eutaw Primary School, for 2021-2022 School Year.
    Supplemental Contract – Track Team – Ralph Marshall – Coach and Rodney Wesley – Assistant Coach.
    The board approved the following administrative service items.
    Payment of all bills, claims, and payroll.*
    Bank reconciliations as submitted by Ms. Marquita Lennon, CSFO.*
    Approval of Greene County High School Debate Team Travel to Mississippi State for Team Competition.
    Select Raymond James as the underwriter for the Bond refinancing.
    A Resolution Authorizing the Issuance, and Making Provision for the Payment, of a Public-School Warrant (Federally Taxable), Series 2022, to Refinance the Capital Outlay School Warrants, Series 2013, of the Board, and Approving Related Financing Documents.

  • COVID-19

    As of February 23, 2022, at 10:00 AM
    (according to Alabama Political Reporter)

    Alabama had 1,275,355 confirmed cases of coronavirus,
    (7,448) more than last week with 18,007 deaths (258) more
    than last week)

    Greene County had 1,848 confirmed cases, (23) more cases than last week), with 48 deaths

    Sumter Co. had 2,526 cases with 45 deaths

    Hale Co. had 4,655 cases with 98 deaths

    Note: Greene County Physicians Clinic has testing and vaccination for COVID-19; Call for appointments at 205/372-3388, Ext. 142; ages 5 and up.

  • Newswire: Thousands of teachers suspended in
    Zimbabwe after rejecting low pay

    Teachers protesting in Zimbabwe

     

    Feb. 14, 2022 (GIN) – Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa suspended thousands of striking teachers for three months without pay after they rejected a 20 percent salary increase as insufficient.
     
    Teachers in Zimbabwe earn about $90 a month.
     
    Schools had opened this past week after a month-long delay due to a surge of Covid-19 cases, but many teachers did not report for work as they protested the poor salaries.
     
    Primary and Secondary Education Minister Evlyn Ndlovu said teachers not reporting for work were being suspended for three months to allow for “investigations”.
     
    Unions said the suspensions would affect as many as 135, 000 teachers and warned that schools would have to close if the threats are carried out.
     
    The government action angered parents.
     
    “The government should respect teachers,” one parent was quoted to say, “so that our children can learn at school. We are just coming out of lockdowns and now the schools are open but no learning is taking place. What kind of future are we building for our children?”
     
    Another parent, added: “At the end of the day, teachers expect to be paid. Unfortunately that pay is not forthcoming. Their salary is already eroded on a daily basis. They are parents too, they also have kids to take care of”.
     
    “Teachers have been reduced to paupers, they are living in poverty,” Obert Masaraure, president of Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe was reported to say. “We know there is an ongoing academic genocide, we are losing a whole generation, a generation that is now engaged in child marriages because they can’t be in school, a generation that is taking to drugs because they can’t be in school. 
     
    “Our call to government is to immediately resolve the value of teachers’ salaries”, Masaraure said.
     
    Ndlovu announced the action saying: “The ministry would like to inform the nation and its valued stakeholders that all officials from the ministry, who absented themselves from duty since the opening of schools on Monday, February 7, have been suspended without pay forthwith for a three-month period,” Ms Ndlovu said.
     
    “During this period, members are not to hinder or interfere with any investigations or evidence relating to the alleged misconduct.
     

  • Newswire : With her Speedskating Gold Medal, Erin Jackson hopes to inspire more Black girls in winter sports

    2022 Beijing Olympics – Speed Skating – Women’s 500m – National Speed Skating Oval, Beijing, China – February 13, 2022. Gold Medallist Erin Jackson of the United States celebrates on the podium during the flower ceremony. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch

     

    By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

     

    While the Super Bowl expectedly received all the attention in the sports world on Sunday, February 13, the Winter Olympics provided a most historical moment. Erin Jackson became the first Black woman to win a speedskating medal when she took home the Gold during the 500 meters speedskating event.

    Jackson’s time of 37.04 seconds gave the American speedskating program its first medal at the Games in Beijing. It marked the first individual medal by an American in a dozen years.

    “Hopefully, this has an effect. Hopefully, we’ll see more minorities, especially in the USA, getting out and trying these winter sports,” Jackson, 29, declared.

    A day after her historic medal victory, Jackson reflected on how she received her golden opportunity. She noted that Team USA flag bearer Brittany Bowe, a childhood friend, surrendered her spot in the 500-meter so Jackson could take her place.

    “She was just saying she’s so proud of me,” Jackson said of Bowe during a nationally televised interview. “We did it,” she exclaimed. “Yeah, it was pretty wild.” Bowe declared that Jackson had earned the right to compete. “She’s ranked No. 1 in the world,” Bowe told NBC News.
    “No one is more deserving than [Jackson] to get an opportunity to bring Team USA home a medal.”

    Hailing from Ocala, Florida, Jackson said she’s roller skated for as long as she could remember. She pursued inline speedskating in 2002, roller derby in 2012, and long-track speedskating in 2017.

    A 2015 cum laude graduate of the University of Florida Honors Program, Jackson earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Materials Science & Engineering.

    Just two years later, Jackson transitioned from inline skating to speedskating on ice, where she quickly qualified for the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

    She also earned an AS in Computer Science from Salt Lake Community College in 2020 and continues her work toward an AS in Exercise Science/Kinesiology.

    Jackson said she wants to inspire other African American girls. “I just hope [her gold medal win] sparks something,” Jackson stated. “Maybe a young Black girl saw my race or something, and she’s like, ‘Oh. Maybe I should try this.’ That would be amazing, even if it’s just one person.”