Greene County Democrat

Category: Community

  • Students lead new wave of anti-Trump protests

    Susan Miller , USA TODAY

     

     Los Angeles protest Trump’s election and  protestors in New York City march to Trump Towers to protest election results

    High school students led the charge Monday as protests against President-elect Donald Trump rolled into a sixth day.

    Hundreds of teens, many not even old enough to vote, exited classrooms on both coasts, carting signs and chanting slogans against a man they say poses a threat to their future. The students are part of a protest movement that has seen tens of thousands taking to the streets in U.S. cities large and small after Tuesday’s election. Monday’s protests happened in Los Angeles, Denver, Portland, Ore., and Silver Spring, Md., among others.

    Hundreds of students from about a dozen Oakland high schools walked out on their classes and took to the streets. “We hope to get our rights and just get our freedom. We want less racism, stop the violence, all of that,” said 14-year-old Salvador Briseno, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

    While most protesters acknowledge they can’t change the fact that Trump beat Democratic rival Hillary Clinton in the electoral vote count, they say they want to make a statement that the Republican’s barbed campaign comments against women, Muslims, immigrants and beyond aren’t acceptable and Trump’s policies have not earned a national mandate. Clinton still leads Trump 48% to 47% in the popular vote.

    In Los Angeles, students converged Monday on Mariachi Plaza, a gathering spot for the city’s iconic musicians, and marched to City Hall. The walkout was part of a planned demonstration in the Los Angeles Area School District, KTLA reported.

    “Although it has been nearly a week since the presidential election, many students remain concerned about the outcome and want their voices to be heard,” Superintendent Michelle King said in a statement released by the district Monday morning, KTLA said. “These are important conversations that need to take place. We want our students to know they are not alone.”

    The students carried signs with message such as “Be Kind Not Racist,” “We Reject the President Elect” and “Bridges Not Walls.” Many of the youths were Latino, and some lifted aloft Mexican and American flags as they trekked down the street. Some protest signs were in Spanish.

    A few students had a rejoinder for those charging that the younger generation, many loyal to Sen. Bernie Sanders in the Democratic primaries, bears responsibility for Trump’s stunning upset.  “Don’t Blame Millennials or the 3rd Party Vote; Blame the DNC,” one sign read.

    United Teachers Los Angeles union applauded the walkout, saying the union “stands proudly” with the students, KLTA reported. “We believe students should join their communities in expressing themselves through peaceful protests,” the union said in a statement.

    In Silver Spring, Md., a northern suburb of the nation’s capital, youths from five high schools walked out en masse Monday morning for a student-led march. About 500 students, some chanting “we reject the president-elect,” blocked traffic on a busy downtown boulevard on their journey to Veteran’s Plaza. School officials said no teachers were involved in organizing the protest.

    “We want the children to realize what their political power is and how to utilize their voices,” said pastor Jeffrey Thames, who joined the protest at one point. Other passersby offered words of encouragement.

    In Portland, Ore., hundreds of students from at least three schools also staged a walkout and march to City Hall. The protesters caused some disruptions for shoppers and merchants when they headed to a shopping mall.

    While most of the anti-Trump protests have been peaceful, Portland has had a turbulent week with nightly demonstrations that have turned violent and led to at least 100 arrests. On Saturday, protesters blocked streets and tossed bottles and other projectiles at police officers.

  • American Legion Post 2007 displays flags for Veterans Day

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    Members of the American Legion Post 2007, with commander George Hall, assembled Monday, November 7, 2016 to post American Flags around the historic Thomas Gilmore Courthouse Square in the center of town in Eutaw, AL. Several veterans were present, including newly re-elected Eutaw Mayor Raymond Steele, Greene County Sheriff Jonathan Benison, Eutaw Police Chief Derick Coleman and Eutaw Police Officer Robert Clayton. Retired Probate Judge Earlean Isaac was also present. Judge Isaac was responsible for getting the flags. Veterans Day, which is celebrated Friday, November 11, 2016, is a time for us to pay our respects to those who have served our country. This holiday started as a day to reflect upon the heroism of those who died in our country’s service, and was originally called Armistice Day. It fell on Nov. 11 because that is the anniversary of the signing of the Armistice that ended World War I. However, in 1954, the holiday was changed to “Veterans Day” in order to account for all veterans in all wars. We Salute All Veterans.

  • Mayor Raymond Steele and new Eutaw City Council inaugurated

    On Monday, November 7, 2016, Mayor Raymond Steele and the new Eutaw City Council were inaugurated in a ceremony on the Thomas Gilmore Courthouse Square.
    Steele was sworn in by Greene County Probate Judge Judy Spree. Council members – Latasha Johnson (District 1), LaJeffrey Carpenter (District 2), Joe L. Powell (District 3), Shelia H. Smith (District 4) and Bennie L. Abrams III (District 5) were sworn in by District Judge Lillie Osborne.
    In his remarks, Mayor Steele said, “I want the very best for Eutaw. Thank you for your confidence. I am eager to go to work. The City of Eutaw is at a turning point and we need to grow to support our budget and services. I feel that the newly elected City Council will work together
    “We need to develop Exit 40 on Interstate 59 and 20, where 20,000 to 40,000 cars pass each day. We need a truckstop, fast food restaurants and a hotel to accommodate people passing through the area. This will help increase our tax base to expand our city budget.
    “We also need to help develop and create 300 to 400 good paying jobs in the city and surrounding Greene County.We need to expand our park on one hundred acres on the Lock 7 Road with ball fields, tennis courts and other amenities.”
    Steele thanked his supporters and many officials for their help and support. He indicated that he needed the support of many politicians from U. S. Senator Richard Shelby to the local legislators and county commissioners, to accomplish his goals and program.
    A number of local officials, including State Representative Ralph Howard, Dr. James Carter, Superintendent of Greene County Schools, Mattie Atkins, Circuit Clerk, Joe Nathan Benison, Sheriff and Rev. Joe Webb, community leader attended the inauguration ceremony and gave greetings.
    Joyce E. Brooks, a business consultant and former Alabama Power Company engineer and community relations officer, presented the new Mayor in an inspirational and uplifting speech.

    Eutaw City Council holds organizational meeting

    On Monday evening, the new Mayor and City Council met to hold their organizational meeting at the Eutaw City Hall. The Council agreed to meet on the second and fourth Tuesdays at 6:00 PM and follow Roberts Rules of Order in governing the procedures and process for meetings and official business.
    Mayor Raymond Steele was designated as Utility Superintendent, which is traditional for the Mayor of Eutaw. The City agreed to maintain the same bank depositories and designated the Mayor, City Clerk and another person as signatories.
    The City Council could not agree on selecting a Mayor Pro Tem, who serves in the absence of the Mayor. Councilman Joe L. Powell nominated LaJeffrey Carpenter, which Carpenter seconded, but other Council members did not vote in favor of the motion.
    Councilwoman Latasha Johnson asked if the Mayor Pro Tem had to be selected for a full four year term or whether the position could be rotated among the Council members. This question was not immediately answered and the decision on selecting a Mayor Pro Temp was postponed until a future meeting.
    Attorney Nick Underwood, former County Commissioner, was selected as City Judge. Grace B. Sanford, the current City Judge, was selected as City Clerk. Bennie Abrams III was selected to continue as Fire Chief and Derrick Coleman was designated to remain as Chief of Police. Ken Aycock, current City Attorney was also asked to continue in his current position.
    The City Council selected Standing Committees: Finance Committee – Joe L. Powell, Chair, Bennie Abrams and LaJeffrey Carpenter; Utilities Committee – LaJeffrey Carpenter, Chair, Bennie Abrams and Joe L. Powell; Parks, Recreation and Cemetery – Latasha Johnson, Chair, Shelia H. Smith and LaJeffrey Carpenter; Police, Fire and Safety – Bennie Abrams, Chair, LaJeffrey Carpenter and Shelia H. Smith; Sanitation and Streets – Shelia H. Smith, Chair, Joe L. Powell and Latasha Johnson.
    Mayor Raymond Steele rehired the three police officers dismissed last month by former Mayor Hattie Edwards, at the recommendation of Police Chief Derrick Coleman.

  • All 14 Amendments approved statewide Hillary Clinton sweeps Greene County 4,006 to Trump’s 838

    Hillary Clinton polled 4,006 votes to 838 for Trump in a heavy turnout in Greene County, although Donald Trump won the electoral vote nationwide, in yesterday’s November 8 General Election.
    Clinton received 82.2% of the vote in Greene County, which included 3,543 straight Democratic votes, to 17.2% for Trump; Gary Johnson received 13, Jill Stein 5 and there were 11 write-ins for President of the United States.
    In the race for U. S. Senate in Greene County, Democrat Ron Crumpton received 3,829 (80.6%) to 918 (19.3%) for incumbent Republican Richard Shelby of Tuscaloosa. Shelby was re-elected statewide in Alabama by a large margin.
    Congresswoman Terri Sewell was running unopposed for re-election. She won easily with 4,200 votes (99%) in Greene County.
    In local races, Carol P. Zippert was running unopposed for District 1 on the Greene County School Board. She received 811 votes with 9 write-ins against her. Kashaya Cockrell was elected to District 2 on the Greene County School Board with 661 votes and 116 write-ins against her. These are the unofficial returns. When all the votes are tabulated and counted on November 15, the specific names of the write-ins will be available.
    Greene County supported 10 of the 14 statewide amendments voted on yesterday. Greene County voters approved all of the amendment but 7,8,9 and 10. Statewide all amendments were approved, 12 by strong majorities and Amendment 9 for Pickens County and Amendment 12 for Baldwin County were approved by 51% of the statewide vote, based on unofficial returns.
    Statewide voters approved adding members to diversify Auburn’s Board of Trustees (Amendment 1), support the budget of Alabama State Parks (Amendment 2), make procedural changes in the Alabama Constitution to give more power to County Commissions (Amendments 3, 4, and 5), place “Right-to-Work” provisions in the Constitution (Amendment 8), insure the legality of local legislation passed over the past thirty years (Amendment 14) and a variety of Amendments that applied to specific counties and localities in the state.

  • Donald Trump projected to be the next president of the United States

     

    Associated Press

     

    Donald Trump is projected to win the electoral votes necessary to become the next president of the United States, according to the Associated Press.

    The billionaire businessman bested Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in a stunning upset after entering Election Day as the underdog.

    Clinton conceded to Trump over the phone shortly before his early morning victory speech, less than an hour after campaign chairman John Podesta addressed her supporters the Javits Center in Manhattan saying they were not ready to give up on the race.

    In a notably humble tone, Trump congratulated Clinton for running a tough campaign in his victory speech, saying, “We owe [Clinton] a major debt of gratitude for her service to our country.”

    Trump also thanked members of his campaign, giving shoutouts to Rudy Giuliani, Chris Christie, Jeff Sessions, Ben Carson and Mike Huckabee. Trump called Reince Priebus, chairman of the Republican National Committee, “a very special person who believed me” and “an unbelievable star.”

    Despite repeatedly receiving criticism throughout his campaign for taking what some described as a devisive tone, Trump took a graceful and concilllatory tone in his address to the nation. “While the campaign is over, our work on this movement is really just beginning,” he said to the cheering crowd of supporters.

    Trump pledged to bring the country together following the historically contentious campaign. “I pledge to be a president for all Americans,” said Trump. “Working together, we will begin the urgent task of rebuilding our nation and renewing the American dream.”

    Trump defied nearly all polls by flipping multiple states President Obama won in both of his presidential campaigns in 2008 and 2012 including Ohio, Florida and Iowa. He also carried North Carolina, a state Obama won in 2008 but lost to Mitt Romney in 2012.

    Trump jumped out to an early lead, picking up victories in Indiana, Kentucky, West Virginia and South Carolina. Vermont was the first state to go to Clinton. The GOP nominee quickly pulled further ahead after capturing must-win Republican stronghold states like Texas, Kansas, Louisiana and Nebraska. Trust in the polling leading up to Election Day took a hit early when Virginia, a state many polls comfortably placed in the winning column for Clinton, turned out to be far closer than previously projected.

    Trump entered Election Day with only a 28.6 percent chance of winning according to FiveThirtyEight. As the night progressed, and Trump continued to rack up Electoral College votes, election forecasts from The New York Times and FiveThirtyEight started to sharply lean toward a Trump victory. Clinton led nationally 46.6 percent to Trump’s 43.3 percent in Real Clear Politics’ polling average before Election Day.

    The financial markets reacted quickly as Trump’s victory became more apparent, with S&P futures ESc1 down more than 4 percent and Dow Industrials futures falling more than 700 points.

    1. 1.Mexico’s peso plunged to its lowest-ever levels as Trump’s chances of winning the presidency increased. Concerns of a Trump victory have weighed heavily on the peso for months because of his threats to rip up a free trade agreement with Mexico and tax money sent home by migrants to finance building a wall on the southern U.S. border.

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  • World Confab on rising temps begins calls for focus on Africa

     

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    Floods in Kenya

    Nov. 7, 2016 (GIN) – Marrakesh, home to mosques, palaces and gardens, will be going green for COP 22, the international follow-up to last year’s historic Paris Agreement on Climate Change.

    World leaders will be gathering there for the next 11 days to advance the landmark agreement, where an unprecedented number of countries agreed to limit the increase in average global temperature to less than 2 degrees Celsius.

    But it remains to be seen if the world will successfully limit warming to prevent the point of no return.

    As the host country for the COP22 talks, Morocco is determined to make this meeting the “African COP”.

    Morocco – where 40% of the population still works the land – already feels the impacts of climate change on its agricultural production. Last year, Morocco went without rain for more than two months. Overall it received 42.7% less rain during its main planting season than in an average year.

    Mohammed Ibrahimi, a farmer with one hectare of apple trees in Boumia, recalled that last December there were temperatures of 77 degrees. “Normally it is 33.8 or 35.6 at that time of year,” he says. As a result, he harvested just 20 tons “when I’d expected 40 tons.”

    The impact of climate change is being felt around the world but the irony is that while Africa is the least polluter it suffers one of the worst impacts.

    Seven of the 10 countries most at risk from climate change are in Africa (Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Nigeria, Chad, Ethiopia, Central African Republic and Eritrea).

    “COP21 was a failure because the things mentioned were things they could do, and not what they should or must do,” remarked Nnimmo Bassey,

    Meanwhile, some 245 participants, from 37 different countries (among which 23 African countries) joined “African and international Conference” on the “Issues and challenges of COP22” – in Casablanca, Morocco, Sept. 23 to 24. The final document read:

    “Record-breaking temperatures month after month, a succession of cyclones, hurricanes, floods, forest fires and debilitating droughts remind us that climate change is a reality which already affects hundreds of millions of us.

    “Africa, host of the COP22, suffers most directly and dramatically the consequences of runaway climate change: resource and environmental degradation, food insecurity, water stresses, increasing poverty, health risks, and massive population displacement. Africans are not responsible for climate change, so our commitment is in the name of justice: of climate, but also of social justice.” w/pix of floods in Kenya

     

     

  • ‘Loving’ star Ruth Negga on why interracial couples aren’t a statement “They just wanted to be in love.”

     

    Zeba BlayVoices Culture Writer, The Huffington Post

     

    The Supreme Court ruled unanimously that a Virginia law banning marriage between African Americans and Caucasians was unconstitutional, thus nullifying similar statues in 15 other states. The decision came in a case involving Richard Perry Loving, a white construction worker and his African American wife, Mildred. The couple married in the District of Columbia in 1958 and were arrested upon their return to their native Caroline County, Virginia. They were given one year suspended sentences on condition that they stay out of the state for 25 years. The Lovings decided in 1963 to return home and fight banishment, with the help of the American Civil Liberties Union.
    This image released by Focus Features shows Ruth Negga, right, and Joel Edgerton in a scene from, “Loving.” (Focus Features via AP)

    Joel Edgertgon and Ruth Negga as Richard and Mildred Loving in “Loving.”

     

    She isn’t flashy or overemotional, but rather ignites the screen with a quiet gravitas. She plays the soft-spoken Mildred Loving, a Black and Native American woman who took on the state of Virginia in 1967 for the right to stay married to her husband Richard Loving, who was white. The couple had been sentenced to a year in prison for violating Virginia’s Racial Integrity Act of 1924. At the time of the case, a total of 16 states had similar laws, known as “anti-miscegenation” laws.

    Because of the Lovings and their landmark case, Loving vs. Virginia, the laws banning interracial marriage across the South were struck down, deemed unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. And yet, despite a 1996 TV movie and a stellar 2011 documentary by Nancy Buirski, the Lovings and their story are still widely unknown.  The real Mildred and Richard Loving, after the Supreme Court ruled unanimously that a Virginia law banning marriage between African Americans and Caucasians was unconstitutional.

    That’s all about to change with “Loving,” written and directed by Jeff Nichols and starring Negga opposite Joel Edgerton as Richard Loving. The film has been building up steady buzz since it premiered at Cannes in May, and various outlets have described it as “Oscar bait.” But it is so much more than that.

    At its heart is Ruth Negga, an Ethiopian-Irish actress known for small roles in films like “World War Z” and “The Samaritan” and a current role on AMCs “Preacher.” Negga is poised for superstardom and accolades thanks to her performance in the film, out Friday, but the 35-year-old actress is far more concerned with making sure the Lovings’ legacy is recognized.

    In a conversation with Negga earlier this week, the actress expounded upon the power of the Loving story, the absurdity of racism, and making space for other actresses of color:

    It’s wild that the Lovings made such an impact on so many lives with their case, and yet very few people are aware of their story. Did you know about the Lovings prior to joining this film?

    I knew about the Supreme Court case, but I didn’t know about the couple behind it until I came upon Mildred’s obituary [a few years ago], which I found deeply emotional. When I auditioned for Jeff he gave me the documentary by Nancy Buirski, and I watched it and I just fell in love with this couple.

    I’ve known about the history [of anti-miscegenation laws], but it’s still quite shocking to watch old footage and hear people give reasons for that racism as if they’re being totally logical. It made me so angry. None of it made sense. None of it. I remember thinking, what’s so terrifying about us? That these laws were made? I thought, “This is a story that really needs to be told.”

    Were you at all daunted by the idea of playing someone like Mildred Loving? Someone so important, but so little known? Did you feel an added responsibility to “get it right?”

    I was daunted, but I wasn’t daunted to the point where I didn’t want to do it. I think I was really propelled by my own need to see people like that on a screen. My own need to see a story like this being told. My own personal need to see people like me on the screen. That became stronger than my fear, which I’m glad about. I felt like I was the right age, had the right spirit. I felt a confidence that I hadn’t felt before. And it wasn’t that I had this huge super ego about it. It was that I felt this was the right story at the right time and I knew I would work hard. I knew I’d have the graft to do her justice.

    What’s so powerful about this story is how ordinary the Lovings were, despite the huge impact that they made. But there’s this idea that interracial relationships are somehow always about making some sort of statement, or that just by virtue of being in an interracial relationship a couple has “solved” racism. What do you think of that? 

    We deify most leaders of any movement because they’re super charismatic and they have this sort of glow, they’re really good orators. This couple wasn’t. And yet they were equally as charismatic and compelling, in a very quiet way. They weren’t making a statement, they just wanted to be in love.

    I think it’s kind of uncomfortable that anyone would accuse a relationship of being a maneuver. I find it very difficult that we still ask people in these relationships to explain themselves, constantly.

    This couple wasn’t giving an “F U” to the establishment. This wasn’t an act of defiance. It was about, “I want to raise my family where I want to. I want to legitimize the rights of my children.” But I do think that the deeper involved they got in this movement, Mildred realized the deep unfairness of this, and that it wasn’t just going to effect her it was going to effect other couples. She felt that that was a good thing if that was the fall out of their struggle. It’s such a complex situation.

    The Lovings have both passed, but they have one surviving daughter: Peggy Loving Fortune. Were you able to connect with her at all? 

    Yeah she was on set with us quite often. We had talks. It’s private. I don’t really want to share our chats because she’s quite a private woman as well. Maybe I should have asked her more questions, maybe I could have asked her more questions, but I don’t really like asking questions that are unnecessary for the sake of asking questions. It’s showing that you’re being a good student rather than doing the work. The thing with Peggy is that, of course we wanted her a approval. But I think we would have known if she was not happy. I do believe that. Because she’s not a pushover. This is her family. And I think that she wanted to be a true legacy.

     

  • Jury selection has begun in S.C. shooter Dylann Roof’s trial

    By Yvette C. Hammett, UPI

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    Dylann Roof, the man accused in a shooting spree that left nine dead at a historic Charleston, South Carolina church appears before a judge on June 19, 2015

    CHARLESTON, S.C., Nov. 6 (UPI) — Final jury selection for the Dylann Roof federal murder trial began on Monday and is expected to be a long and tedious process, authorities said.

    Picking 12 jurors at the historic courthouse in downtown Charleston won’t be quick, with prosecutors seeking the death penalty, The State reported. The federal trial is expected to take place in two phases. The first phase is to determine guilt or innocence. The second phase, if the self-proclaimed white supremacist is found guilty, is to determine whether the death penalty should apply or if he will get life in prison.

    The 22-year-old Roof faces 33 separate charges stemming from the mass shooting at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston on June 17, 2015. Nine people died, including a state representative. Some of the charges are for hate crimes.

    Jury selection started in September with a pool of 3,000 potential jurors. The group was vetted and pared down to about 700. The pool will be pared further to a dozen jurors and six alternates over the coming weeks.

    “This is the most challenging jury selection in the American legal system,” said Johnny Gasser, now in private practice in Columbia but who has tried 10 death penalty cases as first a state prosecutor and then a federal prosecutor.

    “There’s nothing like it,” said Gasser, who has served on the U.S. Attorney General’s Death Penalty Review Committee. “And cases don’t get any more high profile than the Roof case.”

    Roof had agreed to plead guilty to murdering nine people, rather than going through a lengthy and expensive trial, only if the death penalty gets taken off the table, his lawyers said. Roof’s attorneys argued in court filings and in hearings that the death penalty is unconstitutional and should not be considered.

    Federal prosecutors argue that the racial motivation and depth of the crime call for the death penalty, The Wall Street Journal reported.

     

     

     

  • Venus & Serena Williams open center in Compton to fight gun violence

    Written By NewsOne Staff

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    Serena and Venus Williams

    The world is used to expecting greatness from Serena and Venus Williams on the tennis court, but the sisters are changing up their game. The Williams have opened the Yetunde Price Resource Center in their hometown of Compton, California.

    The community service center is named for their older sister who was killed by gun violence in 2003. It is the first endeavor under the Williams Sister Fund, an organization designed to support the sisters’ philanthropic efforts to fight gun violence.

                “The resource center will be able to map all of the resources in and around the Compton community while providing customized assistance that will be a vital asset to improving our ability to service our youth, adults and families,” said Mayor Aja Brown.

  • Fire Department investigates early morning house fire

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    The White House on Wilson Avenue

    The City of Eutaw First Responders were called to a house fire at 201 Wilson Avenue in Eutaw, early Sunday morning, Oct. 30. The large house, known as the ‘white house’ was totally destroyed by the fire with only a frame of the facility standing. No one was at the property when the fire department arrived. The incident is under investigation.