WI Web Staff
At-Large Council member Vincent B. Orange has been declared the official winner in the April 3 Democratic primary.
Orange had narrowly edged out his opponent Sekou Biddle by 543 votes when tallies were made 11 days ago, but due to ethics concerns a recount was held. The final decision regarding the D.C. Council seat was made by the Board of Elections and Ethics Friday evening after absentee and provisional votes were counted. The results garnered Orange a lead of 1,746 votes.
After learning the outcome of the recount, a jubilant Orange said it was time to put the matter behind and move forward. "I'm here standing today despite the strong opposition that I had. It's been a long struggle to get back to this point," he said in an interview. "But we're back and we have a great agenda."
Orange, who now turns his attention to winning the general election in November, also said that he'd receive a congratulatory message from Biddle.
Mayor Vincent C. Gray has announced the District's first city-wide Anti-Bullying Action Plan which will led by the D.C. Office of Human Rights (OHR).
This comprehensive plan brings together D.C. government agencies, non-profit organizations, community partners and educators across the city to find solutions to confront and eradicate bullying across the District.
"When one in every five children is a target of bullying each day, and these events all too often lead to severe social and emotional crises for our youth, we must let our young people know that we hear them," Mayor Gray said. "We must come together – government, non-profits, advocates, teachers and parents – to eradicate bullying in the District and promote safe and inclusive schools."
In 2011, Mayor Gray proclaimed April 21 "Bully-Free D.C. Day."
The initiation of the Anti-Bullying Action Plan coincides with the 2nd annual Bully-Free D.C. Day and represents a significant step forward in ensuring an inclusive and ridicule-free city.
Bullying remains an endemic problem for youth and young adults across the country. While not a new phenomenon, the widespread use of social media has given youth a new platform on which to engage in hurtful – and often dangerous – bullying of their peers.
"The problem of bullying transcends the schoolyard. It is a fundamental issue of human rights, and requires the entire city to be present to promote solutions," said Gustavo Velasquez, director of the D.C. Office of Human Rights. "We need to investigate where bullying occurs in the city and what makes the District different from other cities in incidents of bullying so we can develop and implement solutions to best help our youth."
NAACP President and CEO Ben Jealous said this week in an official statement surrounding the decision to charge George Zimmerman with second-degree murder in the death of Tryvon Martin:
"Forty-five days after Trayvon Martin's life came to a violent end, the wheels of justice have finally begun to turn. This is an important first step toward bringing justice for Trayvon and his family.
As we have seen, the system does not always work perfectly. But we have shown that when we stand together as a nation we can compel it to work. For the NAACP, this case has always been about the rule of law. We are encouraged by today's charges, but we know that this is just the beginning. We anticipate and expect a thorough federal investigation of the Sanford Police Department and their role in exacerbating this tragedy.
Trayvon's case moved the nation because it underscored the twin tragedies that affect so many of our young people: Trayvon was profiled because of his race -- looked upon as a threat rather than the loving son he was. And then, once he became a victim, he was neglected by the very police department tasked with protecting our communities and families. As a nation, we've got to address the issues of racial profiling and the valuation of black mens' lives by law enforcement. In the months... the NAACP and our allies in the civil rights community will continue to take these issues on as well as the urgent need to repeal stand your ground laws.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Trayvon's family. We are grateful for the courage and tenacity of Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin that continue to help shape a national movement for justice for their son and for all of America's children."
Jackie, Jermaine, Marlon and Tito Jackson will come together for a tour this year that will hit more than 20 cities. In making the announcement on April 4, the Jackson brothers said they look forward to performing hits from the Jackson 5 discography while also honoring their brother, the late Michael Jackson.
"This is a dream coming true," Jackie Jackson said of the tour. "I can't believe this is finally happening. There's nothing like having all the brothers on stage at the same time. This will be exciting for our fans around the world -- and I know at each concert, MJ's spirit will be in the house with us."
The "Unity Tour 2012" is slated to begin June 18 and run through July 29. 2012 and scheduled through July 29. It marks the first time the brothers siblings have toured together since their groundbreaking Victory Tour in 1984.
Tickets for tour went on sale in select cities on April 6, with additional dates to be announced. The tour includes a performance Tuesday, July 3 in D.C. at DAR Constitution Hall.
Seattle Sounders' Fredy Montero (center) outpaces D.C. United's Dwayne De Rosario (7) and Nick DeLeon (18) during the second half of MLS soccer action between D.C. United and the Seattle Sounders at RFK Stadium in Southeast on Saturday, April 7. /
Former Major League Baseball legend Maury Wills, (l), talks with Alex Kajumulo, 18, and Nicholas Hinton, 15 about the importance of the role of short stop during the Maury Wills Invitational on Friday, April 6 in Northwest.
Defenseless Against Criminals and Police
Thursday, 12 April 2012 19:46 Published in Opinion / EditorialWhile police are clear that 17-year-old Trayvon Martin was shot and killed by Sanford, Fla. neighborhood watchman George Zimmerman, questions abound about how and why this unfortunate incident occurred. Clearly, law enforcement officials are protecting the accused and thereby protecting themselves against claims that, if proven, will show complicity in the effort to justify Martin's unjust death. It is yet another example of the lack of protection, by some law enforcement agencies, afforded to Americans who represent a different race, gender, age or sexual orientation. Susan Powell, whose husband was a suspect in her disappearance from her home in West Vale City, Utah, has never been found. Yet, despite police reportedly knowing about Josh Powell's lewd and lascivious acts, coupled with their suspicions that he may have been responsible for his wife's disappearance, he was still allowed supervised visits with their two young boys. During a recent visit, Powell hacked the children to death with a hatchet and the set the house on fire killing all three of them. Police are now determining the evidence uncovered nearly two years ago may be reason to believe that Josh Powell could be guilty of harming his wife. But her children are dead and it is presumed she is dead, as well. It's yet one of innumerable instances that prove how African-Americans and other people of color, women, children and LGBT members are all likely victims of poor and inadequate police protection, in spite of their calls for help. Of course, there are exceptions, but the assumption is that law enforcement is there to protect anyone, regardless of their differences. Powell eventually killed his own children and then himself; Zimmerman, who like Powell, remains a free man, has killed someone else's child. Based upon his excuse of self-defense, there could likely end up being another victim. How will Sanford police explain their actions then?
April 11th marked the 44th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act, passed in 1968, just one week after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. As the iconic civil rights leader traversed the nation addressing countless inequities faced by African-Americans and other people of color, he included the right of all Americans to enjoy fair and decent housing opportunities as a mandate requiring legal enforcement by federal and local legislation. He even moved himself and his family into a housing slum in Chicago in 1966 to be closer to ground zero where a national campaign for fair housing was being fought. When Dr. King was killed, President Lyndon B. Johnson immediately pushed Congress to enact legislation aimed at ending housing discrimination in America. Yet, today, Dr. King would find himself still leading the same fight due to the historic housing crisis that has led to the biggest loss of land owned by African Americans in the nation's history. In addition, HUD, the agency responsible for enforcing the Fair Housing Act, continues to receive thousands of discrimination complaints annually. This week, the National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA) announced plans to file a discrimination complaint against several large banks for failing to maintain foreclosed properties in African- American neighborhoods in the same manner as in white neighborhoods. This pattern of negligence, found in D.C. and Prince George's County, causes distressed properties to fall further into disrepair, including broken windows and doors, trash and unkempt lawns lessens their marketability and decreases the housing values of neighboring homes. The Fair Housing Act is only as effective as those responsible for enforcing it and all agencies, including the Department of Justice, should come down hard on those institutions that continue to discriminate.
Former Ward 5 Council member Harry Thomas Jr., who pleaded guilty last year to stealing $350,000 of city funding earmarked for youth sports programs, is being hauled back to court to ensure he makes good on a plan to repay $300,000 of the money.
Thomas, 51, agreed last summer to make six payments of $50,000 every six months until all the money was reimbursed. He made the first pay but fell short $30,000 on a second payment that was due this past December.
A subpoena was recently issued to Thomas to appear in D. C. Superior Court April 27 to explain why he has fallen behind and to ensure he will come into full compliance with the agreement made with the District.
Thomas' lawyer, Fred Cooke Jr., said in an interview that, "we're happy to cooperate with the subpoena or otherwise."
After 44 days of mounting tensions and protests across the country, George Zimmerman has been arrested and charged with second degree murder in the Feb. 26 death of Trayvon Martin.
The 17-year-old unarmed youth was shot to death by Zimmerman - a neighborhood watch guard -- who had been patrolling the modest neighborhood in Sandford, Fla., where Martin was walking. Zimmerman, 28, claims to have shot Martin in self defense, and his attorney says he will plead not guilty.
Upon hearing that Zimmerman had been charged, the youth's mother commented that she'd "still be at home in my room crying."
Special prosecutor Angela Corey confirmed Zimmerman's arrest.
"Today we filed information charging George Zimmerman with murder in the second degree," Corey said during a press conference late Wednesday.
But Corey declined to say where Zimmerman was being held, citing safety precautions. "It is for his safety as well as for everyone else's safety," she said.
When asked about evidence in the case, Corey responded that was not up for discussion as well.
"We don't discuss the evidence in a case, it would be improper to do so," she said. "It was a full investigation, full facts and circumstances that lead us to any decision in any case."
ADVERTISMENT