Where do you go to see a world-renowned cancer specialist? Right here in Erie.

Dr. David Bartlett is the new Allegheny Health Network Cancer Institute Chair. He’s a proven leader, a pioneer in new cancer treatments, and he’s taking new patients right now at AHN Saint Vincent Hospital. It’s one more way you can be sure that if you get the news nobody wants, we’ll be ready. And always close by.

The future of cancer care is at AHN.

erie.ahn.org CONTENTS From the Editors Where do you go to The only local voice for news, arts, and culture. JUNE 17, 2020 Pomp and consequence Editors-in-Chief f you’ve ever attended a commencement ceremo- Brian Graham & Adam Welsh see a world-renowned ny, you’re certainly familiar with Sir Edward El- Managing Editor COVID-19 and Colleges: Learning in the Time of gar’s “Pomp and Circumstance,” the official theme Nick Warren I Copy Editor a Pandemic – 5 song of graduations everywhere [with apologies to Matt Swanseger Vitamin C, composer of “Graduation (Friends Forev- cancer specialist? Local universities celebrate recent graduates, er)”]. Contributing Editors Ben Speggen plan for future However, you may not be aware that Pomp and Jim Wertz Circumstance is not the title of a single march, but Contributors Digital Divides in Education – 8 rather a series of marches — and the one that gets all Right here in Erie. Liz Allen Unequal access to the ‘new normal’ the spotlight is actually entitled “Land of Hope and Mary Birdsong Glory” (Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1 in D). Charles Brown Furthermore, you’re unlikely to ever hear the piece Jonathan Burdick New Erie Grads Prove Resilient – 10 Katie Chriest in its entirety during a procession, just a continuous Symoné Crockett Pandemic instills lasting lessons loop of its two-minute “B” section. Despite its regal el- Chloe Forbes The Class of 2020 in Their Own Words – 12 egance (it was initially played during the coronation Tommy Link of Britain’s King Edward VII), it’s curious that the an- Hannah McDonald Aaron Mook As commencement ceremonies are revised, them for “moving forward” and “going places” should Dan Schank student graduation speakers hone their voice repeat in such a circular fashion. Tommy Shannon Inevitably, though, diplomas and degrees will be Melissa Sullivan Shimek awarded and the orchestra will fade out, punctuating Ryan Smith Erie Equal: A Conversation with Andrey years of hard work and expectation, and off they’ll go Jen Sorenson Rosado – 16 Rebecca Styn to traverse the “Land of Hope and Glory” — or at least Cara Suppa The founder of Erie’s latest activist group that’s the idea. As we’ve seen in 2020, the landscape is Forest Taylor riddled with obstacles and questions, and for many Bryan Toy explains how it began and how they’re leading the discussion feelings of hopelessness and inglorious ends. Those Photographer born into privilege often march toward their destina- Jessica Hunter George Floyd and Candidate Joe Biden – 17 tions relatively unobstructed, in measured and con- Interns fident strides. Meanwhile, those born into struggle Madeline Bruce Erie Will Make the Difference Hannah Wyman often feel as if they’re marching in place. Sometimes, the struggle originates in poverty. Others, it origi- Cover Design Kristy Gnibus Prepares to Race Kelly for Nick Warren nates in the color of one’s skin. Often, unfortunately, Congressional Seat –18 they are far from mutually exclusive. 1001 State St. Suite 1315 Local leader motions for ‘getting up and doing As America has witnessed in the death of George Erie, Pa., 16501 Floyd and the subsequent protests across the coun- [email protected] something’ try — including the riots in Erie on the evening of May 30 — systemic racism and subjugation are alive The Erie Reader is published every Thinly Shrouded Racism – 20 other week and distributed at over and festering. It’s been playing on a continuous loop 350 high foot-traffic locations in The Ku Klux Klan and white supremacy in Erie for centuries, tirelessly, as those in power constantly Pennsylvania from North East to feed into its tip jar. Whether the band wears matching Girard to Edinboro. In addition to 2020 Virtual Pridefest Goes Digital at an costumes (the Ku Klux Klan) to stand out or civilian appearing in print, Erie Reader adds new content daily at ErieReader. Uncertain Moment – 22 attire to blend in, they’re playing the same hate-filled com as well as social media sites. Northwestern PA Pride Alliance and Erie song that should’ve faded out ages ago. Although it’s All rights reserved. All content been percolating through the airwaves for months, © Flagship Multimedia, Inc, 1001 Playhouse get creative COVID-19 is a radio jingle in comparison. State St., Suite 1315, Erie, Pa, When do we graduate from this? How many times 16501. No part of this publication Television Reviews – 23 may be reproduced without do we as a species need remediation in kindness, permission. The opinions of our Some casts fair better than others in new respect, and empathy? This year’s graduates — mil- columnists and contributors are lions of talented young men and women — have the their own and do not always reflect summer series chance to change our collective tune, just as the class- Dr. David Bartlett is the new Allegheny Health Network Cancer that of the editorial board or organization. Direct sales inquiries to Movie Reviews – 28 es that came before and those that will come after. In Institute Chair. He’s a proven leader, a pioneer in new cancer 814.314.9364. For editorial inquiries, Erie, the recent approval of a community college at email [email protected]. Of New Mexico frequencies and Japanese treatments, and he’s taking new patients right now at AHN Saint least extends a hand to economically disadvantaged Zombies individuals and minorities to band together as a larg- Vincent Hospital. It’s one more way you can be sure that if you get the er and more diverse skilled workforce on the stage. news nobody wants, we’ll be ready. And always close by. Cartoons – 29 In the Oval Office and other positions of power, the From Melissa Sullivan-Shimek, Bryan Toy, Brad instruments of hate have arena-sized amplifiers. Ev- Pattullo, and Jen Sorensen eryday civilians young and old must play their part The future of cancer care is at AHN. — even if they stumble to articulate the right notes Music Reviews – 30 at first — and play them loudly. We should demand more from our leaders than deflective pomp in ev- Run the Jewels, The 1975, Coriky, and Bibio ery circumstance; it’s far past time we commence ac- countability and advance the universal best interest. erie.ahn.org

June 17, 2020 ErieReader.com | Erie Reader | 3 4 | Erie Reader | ErieReader.com June 17, 2020 NEWS & VIEWS COVID-19 and Colleges: Learning in the Time of a Pandemic Local universities celebrate recent graduates, plan for future

The novel coronavirus outbreak brought an abrupt end to in-person instruction during the 2019-20 academic year, with institutions scrambling to pivot to a virtual model. Erie’s local universities plan to return to modified in-person instruction during a condensed fall semester, with numerous safety precautions and a heavy reliance on virtual classrooms in effect.

microbiology, molecular biology, anat- omy, and stem cell biology working to create that safe environment. “We’ve got pretty strong leadership when it comes to managing something like this,” he says. “It doesn’t mean we’re perfect, doesn’t mean we’ve got all the answers, but what we do have are brains smart enough to listen to the CDC and listen to the Department of Health and listen to the people out there that really are living this every day.” Hallmarks of the new plans appear as many might expect: social distanc- ing in classrooms, a relaxed attendance policy to accommodate for students needing to isolate or quarantine, and SYDA PRODUCTIONS SYDA students, faculty, and staff donning masks in public spaces. There’ll be By: Ben Speggen on, its blows to both public safety and — from doctorates to associates, a 102 increased cleaning and sanitizing of the economy continue to land hard. increase from last year — the Gannon spaces, thermal scanners and ther- y mid-March 2020, many col- But there are still credits to earn, de- plan is to resume classes on campus mometers to measure individual tem- lege students throughout the grees to complete. And for many, the Aug. 10 and conclude Nov. 16 with finals peratures, dining services emphasizing Bcountry had already packed up. college experience is just about to be- week to follow and students to head takeaway options, and more. They departed their dorm rooms and gin. homeward before Thanksgiving. The “Based on the approval date of Erie apartments not in anticipation of sum- “With infectious-disease experts fore- modified schedule omits a fall break. County’s transition to Green status, we mer break, but in the wake of the first casting recurring waves of COVID-19 The full plan, which is available on intend to cycle some employees back outbreaks of the novel coronavirus. contagion, a number of colleges are the university’s website, remains flex- to our Erie campus beginning July 1 so Whether social distancing practices to coalescing around a plan to send stu- ible, Taylor acknowledges. that the university is fully operational flatten the curve of increasing positive dents home by Thanksgiving this fall,” “I have been talking about creating by the time students start arriving in COVID-19 cases and deaths would last wrote Bennett Leckrone for the Chron- the safest environment we can and July.” a few weeks or a month then remained icle of Higher Education on May 20. having a healthy place for all. Safe Like Gannon, Edinboro University unknown. In Erie, on June 10, Gannon Universi- does not mean disease-free. Safe does of Pennsylvania has circled a date on But as March gave way to April and ty became the first to announce a plan not mean that there won’t be chal- the calendar and announced its plans May, Zoom classes were followed by to that effect. lenges or that things won’t happen. to the public. Edinboro President Dr. Zoom commencements, with the class “We’re trying to ensure that our em- But they were going to happen on our Guiyou Huang outlined the details of of 2020 closing out their college years ployees and our students and their campus, whether there was COVID or the university’s plan via email on the in front of computer screens rather families have as much time as they not; they’re going to happen all over afternoon of Friday, June 12. than learning in lecture halls and cel- possibly can to plan and to know what Erie and across the country. So there EUP will begin classes Monday, Aug. ebrating in gymnasiums packed for it is they need to be planning for,” says is a need for us to have faith that we 17, and conclude before Thanksgiving graduation. The world that awaits Gannon President Dr. Keith Taylor. are putting the best plans in place,” on Friday, Nov. 20. Final exams will them is unlike one we’ve seen before. Taylor credits the Gannon communi- Taylor says. “And those plans are going be conducted remotely the following For 2019-20’s freshmen, sophomores, ty and his leadership team of roughly to change as the environment changes week, and since finals week will be on- and juniors, summer break hangs 100 people working on the university’s and as new data comes across.” line, both housing and dining services heavy, not like a comma dividing two adaptive plans for the fall to “meet our Taylor points out, too, that in addition billing will be prorated to reflect that clauses but a bolded ellipsis … will the mission and our purpose of transform- to those with operational background adjustment. fall feel at all familiar? ing lives.” and skill sets, there are faculty mem- According to Huang, when it comes As the long tail of the pandemic wags On the heels of granting 841 degrees bers with doctorates in epidemiology, to courses, “classes will be offered

June 17, 2020 ErieReader.com | Erie Reader | 5 NEWS & VIEWS through a blend of in-person and on- environment will only be sustained “We expect to have fewer students cists, dentists, or health care adminis- line instruction to allow for social if everyone — students, faculty, staff, from out-of-state, and from other trators. They never once missed a beat, distancing by limiting the number of and visitors — takes responsibility countries. We are exploring ways that and that’s evidenced by the 99 percent students in the classroom at a given for their own health and safety and Penn State can offer our internation- match rate of our osteopathic medical class meeting; face coverings will be re- the health and safety of those around al students in-country courses paired students who will enter residency pro- quired in all campus buildings, shared them.” with high-quality online classes that grams this summer.” public spaces and in areas where so- These measures include a reconfigur- will allow them to continue their en- Like others, the 2019-20 academic cial distancing is not possible; those ing of classrooms and laboratories to rollment at Penn State Behrend,” he year was a banner one for LECOM. enrolled in face-to-face classes will be reduce density and maintain physical says. “We’ll know more about that in Across the three locations, the institu- assigned a seat, and attendance will be distancing; an amalgam learning expe- the weeks to come.” tion graduated 1,254 students, with 610 taken regularly; all classes will be de- rience of face-to-face, hybrid, and re- But while applications outside of at Erie, 537 at Bradenton, and 107 from signed so that they can quickly pivot mote instruction; and modified hous- Erie County may be down, Ford says Seton Hill. While typically LECOM to fully online delivery if necessary; ing and dining services. Behrend is experiencing an increase would host two in-person commence- students with health issues should The return to campus follows the from local students throughout the ments, one for the students in both work with the Office for Accessibility largest graduating class in the univer- surrounding areas. Erie and Seton Hill and one for the Services to arrange for accommoda- sity’s 94-year history. “All told, 893 stu- “Penn State has introduced a Flex Floridian students, both were pivoted tions; faculty office and advising hours dents across all campuses and all pro- Plan program that enables students online. and other campus services will be pro- grams were slated to graduate,” Victor to begin their education at a Penn “LECOM President and CEO Dr. John vided in a way that allows for social reports, who says he’s working daily State campus close to home, and in Ferretti delivered a special message to distancing.” with his COVID-19 Task Force. the case of Penn State Behrend, many this year’s graduating class that paid The full plan, which reviews on-cam- Penn State Behrend recently an- of those students are likely to remain tribute to their resilience and to the pus housing, dining, safety, and more, nounced that “campus-based residen- with us through graduation, as more sacrifices they’ve had to make,” Sil- is available on the university’s website. tial instruction” will begin on Monday, than three-quarters of our students do via Ferretti reports. “His message also Accompanying it is a video message Aug. 24, ending Friday, Nov. 20. now.” spoke to the noble profession our grad- from Provost and Vice President for “We are taking steps to prepare the In an era of flexibility, Ford notes uates will be entering at a time when Academic and Student Affairs Michael physical campus,” says Dr. Ralph Ford, the university’s “rolling admission” they’re needed more than ever.” Hannan and Director of Safety and Penn State Behrend’s chancellor, “add- approach, allowing the campus to When it comes to the fall term, Fer- Risk Management Jim Dahle. ing plexiglass barriers at high-traffic “continue enrolling students as we ap- retti anticipates classes will be deliv- “Additional details will be forthcom- common areas, for example, and con- proach the start of the academic year. ered in a hybrid format across the in- ing between now and the start of the ducting a census of the instructional The application deadlines are later, stitution’s various locations. According semester, but we wanted to ensure space in all classrooms and labs, as and in many cases are being waived to her, enrollment across the campuses you have essential information now,” well as any available space in our prop- altogether.” are on track. “The virus hasn’t impact- writes Huang. “On behalf of the fac- erties in Knowledge Park, in the event “Students and their families have ed our numbers,” she adds. ulty and staff of Edinboro University, we need to continue social distancing. a lot to consider this year, and we ar- “LECOM has always been an innova- I want to tell you how excited we are We will also be making bulk purchas- en’t rushing them,” Ford adds. “As the tive leader in the way we’ve taught our about your return to campus.” es of health and safety equipment, in- pandemic continues to evolve and the students,” Ferretti says. “Each student Like Gannon and Edinboro, Mercy- cluding masks, thermometers, and ad- landscape for fall instruction becomes has the ability to choose a learning hurst University also has a date on ditional hand-sanitizing stations.” clearer, families will be in a much bet- pathway that is the right fit for his the calendar. However, the fleshed-out Like the other college leaders, Ford ter position to make a decision. When or her specific learning style. That in- plan has not yet been released to the acknowledges that the shift to re- they’re ready, we’ll be ready for them.” cludes online distance education.” public at the time of this writing. mote-learning in the spring on short Lake Erie College of Osteopath- No doubt, in March, universities na- And like Gannon, courses will begin notice was a “monumental task.” He ic Medicine is also planning to have tionwide found themselves in unchart- earlier, in Mercyhurst’s case on Aug. credits the adaptability of the Behrend students, faculty, and staff return to ed territory. In many ways, as the pub- 19, and end Nov. 24, two days before community to its long history with the campus, but official dates have not yet lic health crisis and the economic crisis Thanksgiving. At Mercyhurst, stu- Penn State World Campus, which “of- been announced. perpetuated by the pandemic plod on. dents will complete finals remotely be- fers several degree programs taught Dr. Silvia Ferretti, provost, senior vice But many institutions, including tween Dec. 1 and 4, with students not entirely by Behrend faculty members, president, and dean of academic affairs Erie’s own, are navigating their way returning to campus until the spring was a significant advantage when we at LECOM, credits the institution’s con- through. Some have more specific term. switched to remote learning. With a tingency plan with the smooth transi- plans presented today than others, but “As we prepare to address all of the heavy lift by the staff of our eLearning tion from in-person to online learning all are remaining flexible and hopeful potential issues with reopening this Center and the technology resourc- across its Erie and Seton Hill campuses and are recognizing the inherent op- fall, both those anticipated and those es of the larger university, we moved and its Florida location in Bradenton. portunity to innovate through times unexpected, we are committed to es- nearly 1,200 classes and labs fully on- “Throughout it all, we were mis- of crises. tablishing a level of readiness that will line without missing a single day of sion-driven to ensure that all of our This experience has been, and will enable us to implement change, pivot, scheduled instruction.” students, including our 539 fourth- continue to be, a learning experience adapt, and meet the challenges head- In spring, Behrend granted 674 de- year medical students, would graduate for us all, including recent 2020 grads on,” says Mercyhurst President Mi- grees, down just 39 from 2019, which on time because we knew they were and the incoming class of 2024 nation- chael Victor. was the university’s record freshman desperately needed on the front lines wide and here in Erie. The times, in- “For our return to campus to be ef- class. in combating the coronavirus,” she deed, they are a-changin’. fective, we must reinforce a climate of Ford notes that this semester’s em- says. “At the graduate, professional shared responsibility. Together, we can phasis is on safety. As for enrollment, education level, our students are de- Ben Speggen can be contacted create an environment that enables Ford acknowledges the nationwide termined to stay the course when it at Bspeggen@ErieReader. safe behaviors and reduces the spread impact colleges and universities are comes to reaching their professional com, and you can follow him of COVID-19, but a dynamic campus anticipating experiencing. goals of becoming physicians, pharma- on Twitter @BenSpeggen.

6 | Erie Reader | ErieReader.com June 17, 2020 We Get through this TOGETHER, Erie

www.panacheerie.com/COVID-19 814.838.3333

March 11, 2020 ErieReader.com | Erie Reader | 7 NEWS & VIEWS Digital Divides in Education Unequal access to the ‘new normal’

With virtual classroom models taking precedence during the COVID-19 pandemic, satellite Internet service — both inferi- broadband Internet access defines the or alternatives to broadband — are the educational haves and have-nots. Author only option. Jim Wertz argues that federal funding will be Then-Vice President Joe Biden came needed to bridge the gap. to Seneca High School in the Wattsburg Area School District in 2009 promoting District and the head of the education- a $7.2 billion funding package to ex- al leadership program at Edinboro Uni- pand rural broadband access that was versity. “Some districts are located in part of the federal economic recovery areas where 99 percent of the homes act passed after the 2007-08 financial have broadband Internet access. Those crisis. He was there because Wattsburg schools pivoted on a Friday from face- received broadband service in 2008 and to-face instruction to going online on was viewed as a model for rural access. Monday. We couldn’t do that,” says To date, however, many of the boroughs Pushchak. and townships surrounding Wattsburg Broadband Internet access is the mod- are still without broadband access be- ern equivalent to what rural electrifica- cause the expansion was left in the

MARINA-ZLOCHIN/MICROONE tion was in the New Deal era. Only 11 hands of private industry, for whom the percent of American farms had elec- return on investment was never large By: Jim Wertz tricity that came from a central service enough. has little to do with the quality of their provider when the Rural Electrification For school districts like Pushchak’s, ew normal” seems to be the schools. Act of 1936 was signed into law. By 1960, that complicated the response to pan- buzz phrase of 2020. It’s a Kids from low income households 98 percent of rural America had a cen- demic school closings. “Nloaded phrase, to be sure, were three times more likely not to tral electric service provider. “We had to take the time to verify and it leaves us much to unpack. That’s have consistent access to an electronic Today over 90 percent of Americans which households have Internet access because normal — the old normal — device, the survey found. In some cas- have access to some form of broadband and which ones don’t, so that we could wasn’t working. es that was because the student had Internet — cable, DSL, satellite, fiber provide wireless hotspots to the fami- The COVID-19 pandemic exposed vast no device. But it was more likely that optic, or something else — according lies that needed access,” says Pushchak. insecurities in our daily lives, from the the student had to share a single de- to a 2019 study by the Congressional “If the kids are in the school, we’ve got fragility of our economy and the anti- vice with other members of the house- Research Service. That number doesn’t them covered. Go a half mile down the quated operations of commercial and hold, including siblings who were also accurately describe the vast swaths road and you’ve got nothing.” educational enterprises, to the gross limited in their ability to access online of America with smaller populations Pushchak’s story is repeated in school divide between the working class and educational resources or parents who that have no access to broadband In- districts throughout Erie County and those who don’t worry much about needed the family’s device to work ternet service providers or populations across the country. And it’s only scratch- hardship or hard knocks. from home. In households with in- in both urban and rural communities ing the surface of the old normal. While the pandemic shed light on comes over $100,000, just eight percent with broadband Internet access but School administrators are taking many fissures in our society, perhaps reported needing to share a device. For without the means to pay for service great strides to ensure that students none was more equally distributed than families with household incomes less that is often overpriced as the result of have the tools they need to be success- the challenges facing education and the than $50,000 nearly half of the survey industry monopolies nationwide. ful as we venture into the new, whatev- struggle to level the instructional play- respondents reported that students in “While the number of new broadband er that may be. But students will need ing field between students with access their home shared a device. subscribers continues to grow, studies a leveling of the broadband field to put to the technological resources neces- Given the range of household incomes and data indicate that the rate of broad- those tools to work. sary to continue their coursework and among the survey’s nearly 1,600 respon- band deployment in urban/suburban It’s time for the federal government those who lacked the tools, such as lap- dents, such results might be expected. and high-income areas is outpacing to do its part, just as it did in 1936. Be- tops or tablets, and access to broadband However, many believe education to deployment in rural and low-income cause in a world of e-commerce and Internet connections. be the foundation to opportunity and areas,” the study concludes. telehealth and every other promissory The ParentsTogether Foundation, expect that students within a single The broadband divide is both eco- note written to those on the economic which publishes a website that pro- district or a single classroom share a nomic and geographic in Erie County. A and geographic margins, the only thing vides research and a variety of support common advantage. Unfortunately, the “Community Technology Action Plan” that’s normal are the promises of pri- to parents and families on a range of equity of school resources are limited prepared in 2017 by the Northwest vate industry that go unfulfilled. topics including healthcare and educa- to that which students have access to Pennsylvania Broadband Committee From education to broadband access, tion, published in May the results of a within the school itself. Once a student — composed of 29 organizations span- normal is no longer good enough. Let’s survey it conducted on access to online leaves the school, variables beyond the ning business, education, and govern- simply build it new. educational resources by household school’s control become mitigating fac- ment throughout Northwest Pennsyl- income. The results illustrate a vast tors in a student’s ability to academical- vania — estimated that 99 percent of Jim Wertz is a contributing editor divide in remote learning opportuni- ly achieve. the geographic region north of I-90 had and Chairman of the Erie County ties between households making less “That’s what we’re facing every day,” broadband access. South of I-90, just 25 Democratic Party. He can be reached than $25,000 and those with household says Andrew Pushchak, school board percent of the region has broadband ac- at [email protected] and you can incomes greater than $100,000, and it president of the Wattsburg Area School cess. For those folks, mobile hotspots or follow him on Twitter @jim_wertz.

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June 17, 2020 ErieReader.com | Erie Reader | 9 NEWS & VIEWS New Erie Grads Prove Resilient Pandemic instills lasting lessons CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS

By: Liz Allen We’ve all read the accounts of Zoom classes and graduations were commonplace this spring, as local high schoolers experienced diluted young people who were upset versions of some of the hallmark moments of senior year — if they didn’t miss out on them outright. However, students such as [top row] Lara Glendenning (Villa Maria), Chonje Hassan (Collegiate Academy), Elaina Lawson t a small family gather- that they couldn’t compete in (Girard), [middle row] Regina Malango (Erie High), Chloe Robison (Villa Maria), Abdulah Sadeik (Erie High), ing on May 31, I watched their final sports seasons, at- [bottom row] Olivia Sanders (Villa Maria), Mike Wassolu (Erie High), and Ben Wyrosdick (Collegiate Academy) Amy granddaughter Mol- tend prom, or celebrate with maintained positivity despite the circumstances, remaining rightfully proud of their accomplishments. ly’s livestreamed graduation. On throngs of family and friends at June 11, I clicked on Vimeo for post-graduation parties. the previously recorded gradua- But when I interviewed 10 Erie virus. repairs; they got new passwords a better education and every- tion ceremony for my grandson area teens, I learned that these Yet as they move to the next to continue those lessons online body has a better future,” said Cam. newly minted grads are readily stage of their lives, they all have at home. Wassolu, who plans to study en- Cam was supposed to gradu- adapting to what we call the lessons to share about educa- Wassolu was well-prepared gineering at Gannon University ate in Waldorf, Md., on May 28; “new normal” of life during a tion, resilience, and innovation to adapt to change. When he or Penn State Behrend. Molly’s graduation from Harbor pandemic. in the age of COVID. arrived here in fifth grade from Elaina Lawson, 19, is a gradu- Creek High School had been set This doesn’t mean that ev- Mike Wassolu, 17, didn’t have Burundi, in East Africa, “I did ate of both Girard High School, for June 4. erything is rosy. Some teens difficulty switching to online not know any English except her home school, and Erie Coun- COVID-19 not only changed have had to put college on hold. learning for his auto mechanics for greetings,” he said. Now he ty Technical School, where she graduation dates and formats, Those who are heading off to classes at Erie High. Students al- speaks the language perfectly. studied drafting and design. the virus also upended the last school are somewhat uneasy ready had been using the web at “The best part of coming here Most of her County Tech classes months of senior year for my about whether enough is being school to learn which tools are was the great opportunity for already required the use of com- grandkids and their peers. done to protect them from the used for various types of auto education. We (in the U.S.) have puter software. When she had

10 | Erie Reader | ErieReader.com June 17, 2020 NEWS & VIEWS to switch to classes at home, she ends, eliminate breaks, and fin- go, who will study criminal jus- Donatos, but said the pandemic Erie County Tech and Girard, and her classmates had to com- ish by Thanksgiving. tice at Gannon University. hasn’t affected his other friend- said she knows several people plete some assignments using In addition to coping with the But adapting to a new coun- ships. “It allowed us to kind of who were the first ones in their Word instead of technical soft- pandemic, college students “will try was difficult at times. “Some separate at an easy pace, rather families to graduate from high ware. “It was a pretty easy pro- have no breaks to just breathe,” people ... might treat you differ- than having that awkward slide school. It was disappointing cess,” she said, because by that she said. Such an accelerated ently,” she said. She had to learn (right before college),” he said. that their families couldn’t cel- point in senior year, students schedule will be difficult in to be “confident and proud of In addition, as an online gamer, ebrate that accomplishment had mastered most of the skills high-pressure environments, where I am from.” One of her a lot of his friendships are on- in the traditional way, she said. they needed to graduate. she said. disappointments is that she line, with people who live out of But, she said, “In reality, the only Lawson, who plans to become Abdulah Sadeik, 18, studied didn’t get to wear her long dress state. other thing that really matters an architect, had landed an in- pre-engineering at Erie High in an African print to what Chloe Robison, 18, a Villa Maria is that we graduated. Even if ternship with Erie architect and will major in electrical en- would have been her first prom. Academy graduate, will major in there isn’t a ceremony, we know Michael Grab but she only got gineering at Gannon University. Collegiate graduate Tatiana exercise and sports science on a that we did it. In the big scale of to spend a week at the office He, too, said there were disad- Lamberty, 17, had been accepted pre-med track at Nova South- things, it’s better off having -ev before the shutdown. Now she’s vantages to taking his last high to Akron University for nurs- eastern University in Florida. eryone safe.” doing projects for him online. school courses online rather ing and Edinboro University of Her college classes are supposed Sadeik, the Erie High graduate, She hopes she’ll be allowed to than in school. “It’s just harder,” Pennsylvania for criminal jus- to start on time, but she’s a little knows firsthand about over- return to the office before she he said. “In manufacturing and tice but will put off college for uneasy that she will be rooming coming challenges. His family starts school at Pennsylvania anything technical, it’s hands- a year because she is pregnant with two other students. “I feel went from Iraq to Syria and College of Technology in Wil- on. You can’t learn it by just with a son, due in September. like that’s not super safe at the then to Turkey after the Iraq liamsport, where she will study theory alone. Unless there’s an As an expectant mother, “You’re moment,” she said. War started. Nearly 12 when his architecture and sustainable de- instructor and someone profi- more in jeopardy for easily Like other teens, she missed family moved to Erie, he had sign. The move-in date for fresh- cient (teaching), you won’t know catching something, like coro- not participating in the mile- taught himself the “basics” of men has been extended to two what you are doing.” na,” she said. stones of senior year. “It defi- English when they were living days instead of one to allow for Collegiate Academy graduate She plans to go to college next nitely stinks but I think it made in Turkey. “Other than that, I social distancing. Food will be Chonje Hassan, 18, planned to year for a career in health care. every one of us in this gener- did not know that much stuff,” served as takeout, rather than study nursing in college imme- “Nursing is something I will still ation stronger and shaped us he said. communal dining. diately after high school but is try to accomplish. Being in an into innovators,” she said. “We He decided to become an en- Villa Maria Academy gradu- “taking a little break” so she can environment of helping people will be more flexible and adapt- gineer because he likes prob- ate Lara Glendenning, 18, who get a job and save money for and saving lives is something able to things that might hap- lem-solving. Dealing with the will study electrical engineer- school. I look forward to. I believe this pen in the future.” pandemic is one more challenge. ing at Georgia Tech, has some But adjusting to new circum- (the pandemic) has opened Her Villa classmate, Olivia “It’s another hardship that we reservations about completely stances is nothing new for Has- many eyes of people who take Sanders, 18, will major in pre- have to overcome,” he said. replacing classroom education san, whose family is originally things like school and work for med at the University of Notre “We’re strong and we can get with online learning. During from Somalia. Born in Kenya, granted, because it did for me,” Dame, where classes begin Aug. through it. That’s my thought her years of schooling, there has she came here at age 3. “Seeing she said. 10, two weeks earlier than the process.” been wide recognition that kids all the people of different colors Ben Wyrosdick, 18, a Collegiate original start date. She won’t Hassan, the Collegiate Acade- have different learning styles, surprised me, but I was taught Academy graduate, will attend find out about housing until my graduate who will work to she said. that the place I was in was going Penn State Behrend to major July 2, which will definitely save up for college so she can “I’ve been a relatively to help me with my education,” in economics and minor in po- mean “a little more adjusting,” become a nurse, was crushed at high-achieving student, but I she said. “Fast forward to now. I litical science or accounting. He she said. first that the virus made it im- couldn’t have done nearly as got my diploma, but not under plans to later transfer to Penn But those changes are minor possible for her to graduate in much without actually experi- the circumstances I expected. State’s main campus and then to what she has learned because the traditional way. encing and seeing exactly how Our class was hit the hardest attend law school. of the pandemic. She and the “I came to this point for my par- the teacher was delivering (the when it came to the pandemic, Wyrosdick wasn’t enamored other class speakers at the Villa ents and family. I accepted life in lessons),” she said. Doing that via but our generation proves time with the coursework he had to and Cathedral Prep graduations America, learned English, passed Zoom is much harder, she said. and again that it can adjust and complete online in the months focused on the theme “Endur- all my middle school classes, got “For my education, I learned a accept whatever comes at them. before graduation. “It was like ing Much, Achieving More.” into Collegiate Academy, and lot in the classroom but I real- The protests proved how much background work,” he said. In her speech, Olivia opened now could graduate,” she said. ly got close to my teachers, and we stick together for a cause or “Learning was severely limited.” by reminding her classmates But there are lessons from this that was so valuable. It gave me situation,” she said. But there was more to learn that they had been born at the experience, she said. “What do I not only knowledge … but gave Regina Malango, 18, an Erie during the school shutdown time of 9/11. “There was so much think this has taught me? A lot. me the basis for how to interact High graduate, did not know than just academics. “Ironically, uncertainty during that time, so Perseverance, dedication, hope. with people and how to talk to English when she started sec- the quarantine has helped me much fear, so much worry, yet But at the very least, I was able people besides your parents. ond grade in Erie after arriving to grow,” said Wyrosdick. “Stay- so much strength,” she said in to walk across the stage with my That was very valuable growing here from Tanzania with her ing at home when most people her speech. family. A girl who once had no up.” family, who had fled the Demo- are working has allowed me to She talked about those dream finally accomplished it.” Her college will open on its cratic Republic of the Congo. become much more of an inde- strengths in an interview. regular schedule, but students She mentioned the benefit of pendent person,” he said. “Prom and graduation would Liz Allen expects to be in good will be able to choose among educational opportunities avail- Wyrosdick has been working have been nice, but I’m just hap- hands in her old age because in-person and online classes. able in this country. “The good at Donatos Pizza since October py everyone is safe. It’s woken both of her graduating She wonders, though, about experiences are the opportu- and recently started a second us up to what’s really important grandchildren want to become other colleges that will start nities that we didn’t have back job at Sheetz. He likes the “so- in life,” she said. doctors. You can reach her early , offer classes on week- where we are from,” said Malan- cialization” aspect of working at Lawson, the graduate from at [email protected].

June 17, 2020 ErieReader.com | Erie Reader | 11 NEWS & VIEWS The Class of 2020 in Their Own Words As commencement ceremonies are revised, student graduation speakers hone their voice

The prohibition of large gatherings due forced area high schools to be creative when our future endeavors. Our graduation it came to their intra-pandemic graduation marks the end of our high school years, ceremonies — North East High School’s drive- in solution has also been applied to weddings but more importantly, it marks the be- and concerts throughout the spring. ginning of the rest of our lives. — Abi- gail Caviglia, North East Valedictorian taught me what is and what isn’t friend- I speak for the vast majority of the ship, how to work together, and what class when I say that we would much true compassion is. I would say that I rather be in a classroom right now — and many of us have changed as aca- we’d never have thought we’d be saying demics, athletes, performers, friends, that. The cancellation of many import- and people in general as a result of the ant moments in our high school career company we have had during the last has left us feeling heartbroken and handful of years. — Miranda Bly, Mer- robbed. But I invite you all to look at cyhurst Preparatory School this situation from a different perspec- The last three months have been less tive, where instead of dwelling on what than ideal for everyone. And this is we missed out on, we look back and cel- certainly not how the seniors were ex- ebrate what we did get to experience as pecting to end their high school expe- students at Harbor Creek High School. rience. However, three months is such These memories should be the basis a small fraction of time if we choose of what we remember from our time CONTRIBUTED PHOTO to look at the bigger picture. We have spent here. — Dan Dabrowski, Harbor Collected by Nick Warren chill, Muhammed Ali, Charles Dickens, our entire future ahead of us, which I Creek High School, Summa Cum Laude David Bowie, Ruth Bader Ginsberg, hope is much more exciting than these We love our families and have been raduation looks very different in Thornton Wilder, Lou Holtz, The Da- last three months would have been. blessed to grow closer with them 2020. As the COVID-19 pandemic lai Lama, Ferris Bueller, and Drake to — Lily Brak, Harbor Creek High during this time, but we have another Gcontinues, Pennsylvania moved name a few. School, Summa Cum Laude home, one located at a place most of us to close schools for the remainder of So we’re doing the same. Here are We have dealt with fires, three dif- have grown up in for the past 13 years. the year, starting on April 9. In-person small excerpts from dozens of the top ferent principals, the Erie community One where we used to see our friends classes were halted, and students fin- local students across Erie County in talking negatively about us, and now each and every day. One with unforget- ished their academic year online. The their own words. COVID-19. We have come together, and table memories we will never get back. graduating class of 2020 didn’t get to Unlike any other graduating year, it’s we took on every obstacle that has One where we faced hard circumstanc- have a traditional ceremony. Sitting not just our family and friends pour- come our way. Although it has been es like the one we continue to face to- shoulder-to-shoulder with your entire ing out love and congratulations. The an eventful four years, it has also been day and one that has built ourselves class, with hundreds of family mem- entire world is celebrating the class of great, and we are ready to take on what into the men and women here today. bers in attendance nearby was simply 2020. The world needs our love, hope, is next in our lives … A lot of us thought General McLane has become our home not an option. and energy. While I am hopeful that we would never make it to where we and this class has become our family. Ceremonies have been changing over graduates around the country will rise are now, but we did! And now it is time — Timothy Fair, General McLane, the years on their own, however. For to the occasion, I know for a fact that for new and better things. —Angela Summa Cum Laude (Student Choice) example, only half of the schools that my sisters will. — Bella Agresti, Villa Breter, Erie High School Valedictorian During this entire process, we’ve not responded to our call chose the vale- Maria Academy I know that our impact on the world only focused on the task at hand, but dictorian or salutatorian as featured Never stop asking questions, never will be prominent. But in that vein, I have also been able to take the posi- speaker. Many schools around the stop learning, and never stop trying to think it is worth highlighting that this tives from every situation. It may be country have been either moving to a better yourself. Being motivated and prominence can only be felt if we take hard to understand right now, but I can Latin honors system featuring Summa having the focus to achieve your aspi- the time to make our voices heard. I assure you that we will grow stronger Cum Laude honorees, having students rations make success a much more real- urge each of you to employ the full as people and as friends from what we apply to be speakers themselves, show- istic end product. Although at this mo- force of the tools you have been pro- are dealing with as of late. Like I said, casing student and faculty choices, or ment in time, finding motivation may vided to amplify your voice and take a We’ve learned that taking the positive some combination of those tactics. seem difficult. We feel lost, trapped, stand for what you believe in. In doing from every situation is so important. Many student commencement and filled with confusing emotions, so, I feel confident that you will never That mentality has been necessary speeches feature a quote. Using words not only because of the COVID-19 shut- fail to find new and positive ways of during these times, and is also a skill of wisdom from someone well-known down, but also because our routines — impacting your community. — Cassie that we will take into the next chapter and respected is a common tool to that we’ve all become so accustomed to Carr, Girard High School, Summa Cum of our lives. — Tyler Habursky, Harbor add a dose of credibility to prepared — have ended because of graduation. Laude Creek High School, Summa Cum Laude words. These quotes can help to frame — Kenny Berlin, Harbor Creek High To my classmates, our valiant efforts, Be persistent in achieving your goals. a speaker’s own thoughts and distill School, Summa Cum Laude impressive successes, and memorable If you give up in the middle of trying, a complex message into memorable Please learn from those around you, friendships are not all for nothing. you would have nothing left. Even pieces. This year’s students highlighted because just as I learned an immense Everything we did over the past four though by the end you still might not quotes from Maya Angelou, Thurgood amount from my teachers, I have also years still has meaning, and the lessons achieve your goal, the fact that you Marshall, Derek Jeter, Winston Chur- learned from my peers. They have we learned will carry on with us to have tried hard can console you. “I have

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June 17, 2020 ErieReader.com | Erie Reader | 13 NEWS & VIEWS

Mercyhurst Preparatory School celebrated a day count. — Caroline Kraus, Fairview socially distant commencement outdoors. High School, Summa Cum Laude Despite all of the setbacks corona[vi- we cared. Because we were taught that rus] gave us, we graduated. Now is not having an opinion is fine, but doing the time to be sad. Now is the time to something constructive with it is what rejoice. We were hit with a challenge makes it valuable. We have learned and we faced it head-on making us that exhibiting pride, honor, and re- stronger. Now the changes and chal- spect will encourage people to listen to lenges that we will be subject to in our you and that is the way we should treat next steps — whether that be in college people. — Lacey Jo Hunter, Collegiate or the military, or in a job — we all will Academy speaker be prepared and ready for whatever Because of our hardships, it made this comes at us. — Glory Linebach, Gener- class stronger, more successful, and al McLane, Summa Cum Laude (Facul- more passionate about our lives. The ty Choice) class of 2020 will not be defined by this Please also keep in mind that the virus that is going on, but by our unity. things we did in high school do not de- I am proud of every single one of my fine us for the rest of our lives — and CONTRIBUTED PHOTO classmates, and I am proud of what we an international pandemic certainly have become. — Nathan Jones, Girard doesn’t either. Life will be what you put all my effort, that’s enough.” This This fall, my perspective shifted. We, High School, Summa Cum Laude make of it, so I challenge each one of may sound ideal because it is hard to as a class, embodied the idea of trans- Between the stresses of classes and you in the class of 2020 to leave no door succeed. Only a few talented people lating our opinions into meaningful the impending SATs, we still found time unopened, no stone uncovered, and can succeed easily. Most people have to action as we shared our perspective to have fun and even got to attend our no opportunity unchecked. — Lucas exert a lot of effort to succeed. The re- on the changes that were being made first and only prom. Whether it was in Mosher, Fort LeBoeuf Valedictorian ality is tough, though. Even though you to our environment, our school, our the classroom or on the field, we began This is our time to use what we have try your best, you may still gain noth- family. I remember opening Instagram to discover our true passions and build learned to bring light into the darkness. ing. However, if you give up at first, one afternoon, astounded by the num- unbreakable bonds with our FHS class- Now more than ever, we need to spread you are definitely not getting anything. ber of people who didn’t think twice mates. Junior year was the beginning the idea of togetherness and family. We — Anran (Lyle) Huang, Mercyhurst about putting their opinion into posi- of the end of our FHS careers. But as may be required to be physically apart Preparatory School tive action … We were doing it because Fairview Tigers, we’ll make every single but we can still connect through kind-

14 | Erie Reader | ErieReader.com June 17, 2020 NEWS & VIEWS

[left] General McLane was another high so unexpectedly the way it did, I am school that utilized Waterford’s Sunset so proud to be a part of the class of Drive-In for their graduation ceremony, as cars made their procession under 2020. I am going to miss my time spent balloon archways of Lancer red and in those hallways, but I am confident white. [bottom] Harbor Creek High in saying that I left a wiser, stronger, School graduates proceed to the stage for braver, and most importantly kind- their diplomas six feet apart as a sparse contingent of masked parents look on. er person than when I entered those Traditional indoor graduation ceremonies doors because of my fellow classmates. in auditoriums or gymnasiums were of — Sydney Wetzel, Girard High School increased rarity in 2020. Senior Class President High School is a time in our lives Some of you may call this the worst when we begin to experience and have times of your life but many people are the opportunity to explore the world dealing with similar concerns. Such as we are so eager to enter. Each of these “will life ever be the same?” And “when past four years has been a stepping will this all end?” But in light of those stone, leading us and preparing us concerns, life still continues. At times, for our bright futures. Every year has we may feel that all hope is lost, but brought us fond memories that we there’s always some gift of hope wait- will reflect on throughout our lives. ing around the corner. And it’s just a — Lauren Weindorf, Fairview High matter of seeking it out for ourselves. School, Summa Cum Laude CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Our attitude about these drastic life In the coming years, remember changes is what determines our out- that you all hold the power to create ness. Whether we are placing motiva- memories you have with your friends, come throughout it all. — Joseph War- change, regardless of what position tional signs on display, making small and how none of them happened go, Iroquois Salutatorian you hold or how much power you pos- donations to charity, or simply check- when you were focused in class. But We can compassionately use the sess. Especially in turbulent times like ing in on a friend or neighbor, we are let’s not take away from all the won- knowledge we have gained to help oth- these, we need people who can leave impacting our community. — Rachel derful teachers we had. I only went to ers, whether by inventing a scientific behind a better world, people who can Nesgoda, Iroquois Valedictorian one high school. So I don’t know many device, educating people who would serve as models for posterity as they I had to make the decision to put my- other teachers from other schools. But not have access to proper schooling continue the advancement of human self out there, follow up on that email, I can confidently say that I wouldn’t otherwise, or bringing joy to people achievement. — Kevin Xu, Collegiate and ask for other work after finishing replace a single teacher at Fairview. through works of art. With such a wide Academy speaker my tasks. I forced myself to get out of — DJ Smith, Fairview High School variety of talents, the possibilities are Thank you to the many principals, my comfort zone, try something new, (student choice) limitless. — Tyler Warzynak, Mercy- teachers, counselors, and school ad- and out of it came a stronger, wiser, Since elementary school, we have hurst Preparatory School ministrators who assisted in compiling and more unique me, although I still been asked the question, “Are you Our class may be small, but we have these excerpts, and a sincere thank have my moments. Graduates, use brave enough?” The context of this sure made an impact at our school and you and congratulations to the class of your insight to put energy into some- question has changed as the years have in our town. We have accomplished 2020. thing different, something challenging progressed, and went from “are you many things throughout our time as and meaningful to you as you enter brave enough to make new friends” or YellowJackets, and although it is trag- Nick Warren can be reached your next chapter in life. Lead. Set ex- “to stand up to the bully,” to “are you ic that our time together had to end at [email protected] amples in whichever path you choose. brave enough to try out for the varsity We learn from doing, not only listen- sports team or to overcome senioritis?” ing. — Alexa Pierce, Collegiate Acad- And finally, today, we are faced with emy speaker the question: “Are you brave enough to We, the class of 2020, are leaving here face a global pandemic?” I would like today with a sense of pride. Pride in to answer it. Yes, we are brave enough. knowing that we are about to enter — MacKenzie Smith, Iroquois speak- the ring ready to fight our fight. We er (faculty choice) are leaving here today knowing that Use your voice. The world needs lead- we are stronger than we ever could ers, people who aren’t afraid to stand have imagined. We will not give up in up for what they believe in. Speak the years to come, we will continue your mind proudly and confidently, to show great resilience, and we will and others will follow. Don’t jump on show everyone what fighters are made the bandwagon of groupthink and of. We have so many to thank for pre- herd mentality. Have original thoughts paring us so excellently for this huge and be proud of them. Go out into the step we are about to take. — Olivia world and lead with character and in- Sanders, Villa Maria Academy tegrity. Show the world how strong School is a lot more fun when you we can be in the face of adversity. And take away all the learning and the most of all, never give up on who you work. I know, I know, learning is im- are just because of who other people portant. And that’s the reason why we think you should be. — Halle Swasing, KEVIN SOLES PHOTOGRAPHY KEVIN SOLES were here. But think of all the great Seneca Valedictorian

June 17, 2020 ErieReader.com | Erie Reader | 15 NEWS & VIEWS Erie Equal: A Conversation with Andrey Rosado The founder of Erie’s latest activist group explains how it began and how they’re leading the discussion brothers, Aaron and Kennedy Horton. with a local councilman, Mr. [Michael] We all sat in on a meeting. We all had Keyes. We spoke heavily. So I had a lot our different points that we wanted more for him. He had some new ideas to talk about. Jenessa was in charge of and values to learn from me. We hung demanding a civilian review board or out for about two hours, just talked community review board — it’s been and educated each other, and it really tossed around as a few different names. brought me to the realization that our NW: And are the Hortons related to group’s goals really do have a huge im- [local politician] Andre? pact and have the potential to serious- AR: They are. ly reform our entire society. The goals NW: I know that he’s been a big part aren’t just about Black Lives Matter. of the citizen’s review board. The goals aren’t just about minorities. AR: Yeah, we were all in charge of our Although that’s a large portion of it, the own thing. I was in charge of voter ed- overall goal is to relocate money from ucation. Jenessa was in charge of the the police department and put that community review board. And the Hor- back into social service programs such tons were in charge of police brutality, as housing, education, and things like and holding them accountable, and im- the community college. So, essentially, plementing [changes to funding]. I was the goal is to revitalize Erie, like I keep

NICK WARREN trying to steer away from using the saying over and over again. I know the term ‘defund the police.’ But as more older generations have been in charge ess than two weeks ago, there Andrey Rosado (left) and Jenessa Williams people talked about it, I understand for a very, very long time, and we see was no Erie Equal. A few days ago, head the racial equality activism group Erie what it means. It doesn’t mean ‘take that it is our time to kind of step up to Equal, kneeling nine minutes daily to honor the the plate and establish the foundation Lit didn’t even have a name. Even life of police brutality victim George Floyd. away everything, all the money that so, local political action has coalesced they have and completely drain them for a better Erie. Establish the founda- around a group of local residents and just abolish the department.’ tion so our kids’ futures aren’t at risk. committed to change. Building off the that happened — I was at home during NW: Reallocate, kind of? And you know, you can walk around George Floyd protests and Black Lives it — I saw it on the news, saw Ember AR: So myself and a random group and not be scared. Matter movement, Erie Equal has come + Forge get their window kicked in, member, she said ‘refund society,’ or ‘re- NW: Obviously this has evolved ex- to lead the daily demonstrations going with a [Molotov cocktail] thrown on a fund our community’ or social services. tremely quickly. We talked about how on in downtown Erie. At 8:19 p.m. every table. That made me really emotional. I So, we’re going to say ‘defund the police, this came together on Sunday on the day, a large group peacefully takes a had a couple friends over, we were just then refund ____’ Fill in the blank for 31st. So now, can you speak a little bit knee for nine minutes, to honor the life talking, hanging out, and it really got anything that matters. So we talked about how the group has evolved? of George Floyd. Out of these demon- me thinking, I’ve always thought about heavily with the mayor, we all hit him How has the mission changed? It was strations, and a collection of nearly it, but I’ve never acted on the inequality with our points. Jenessa’s was very, posted on the group today about how 1,900 people on Facebook, the group that’s in our city. And not only inequal- very in-depth. So I can’t really stream the protests were kind of pigeon-holed has become a progressive force in the ity — this isn’t necessarily just exclu- all that out off the top of my head ... So as George Floyd protests, and how it’s Erie area. Founded by the 22-year-old sively a Black Lives Matter thing — but at the end of the meeting, we did a re- grown to be so much more than that. Erie native Andrey Rosado, Erie Equal it’s more or less about Erie itself, the cap and we each hit upon every single AR: So things have definitely changed is seeking to find solutions to problems community that we live in, we all want point that we wanted to discuss. So I’ll from the beginning. Initially, when it all inherent to our community. Since gain- it to prosper again, especially my gen- use myself as an example. I said, ‘Mr. came together or fell together, I should ing Jenessa Williams as a lead partner, eration. So I set up the Facebook group Mayor, given the voter education pro- say, because it wasn’t perfect. When it Erie Equal has been building partner- on Sunday, like I just mentioned, and I grams that I asked you to implement in first started — we’ve got a lot of work ships with like-minded groups such initially just wanted to give everybody our society, starting at the youth level to do — it was more about organizing as Erie United, and recently starting a platform to organize their protest. at Youth Centers, the Martin Luther demonstrations. We try to steer away a regular series of conversations with Everybody has the right to protest. It’s King Center, YMCAs, Boys and Girls from using the word ‘protest’ because Mayor Joe Schember. in the Constitution. So I wanted to give Club, and then transitioning that into there’s a negative [connotation]. So that Nick Warren: So, what is your role in everybody a platform where they can middle school, high school, as well as was kind of the main goal, was just or- all of this? In the protests and in the all come together and discuss ideas the general population voter’s educa- ganizing everybody at the protest, and organization of everything, how would and promote it to be peaceful, because tion course, just to get people more setting that all up downtown. And then you define that? things get nasty when people start involved in voting, if that proves to be as we slowly moved, all the ideas came Andrey Rosado: So essentially, my breaking and looting and setting fires, effective, would that be something you together and I slowly started realizing role is to be the voice of so many peo- as you can see in other cities and states would support? So that’s a question myself, ‘hey, this has got to be bigger ple. Because obviously we can’t bring where that’s happening. where he had to say yes or no, and he than just going downtown and protest- 1,900 people into a meeting with city NW: Can you tell me a little bit about said yes to that. Same thing with the ing.’ officials or anything like that, especial- your meeting with the mayor? other two topics, so that was highly suc- So that really got us thinking serious- ly with COVID-19 going on. So when AR: It happened yesterday, which was cessful. He did ask to continue working ly here, and you decided that the kneel- I first started this group, it was the Tuesday (June 9), at three o’clock. Yeah, closely with us, he asked to meet again ing, and the main focus of that meeting Sunday after the riots that happened we were comprised of myself, Jenessa next week. And following the meeting is just to take that knee, give respect to downtown. The very next day after Williams, then two men — the Horton with the mayor, I went and had dinner George Floyd, who was murdered and

16 | Erie Reader | ErieReader.com June 17, 2020 NEWS & VIEWS lost his life so early. So once that knee complete reform in our community. NW: Which is part of the political the record, I’m not against police offi- happens, you think about that. You That’s the long story short, so complete machine, but it’s also hopefully getting cers. I know a handful of them, who are have nine minutes to think about that reform. Once you get all the points more voices heard. What has your reac- good guys. But it’s literally just explod- personally in your head. And that knee that I’ve been touching here. Our ed- tion been? Do you think the conversa- ed, that’s the best way to put it. hurts, man. I don’t know if you got any ucation system, I’m sure you know as tion has moved quickly? Because last NW: Right. So, what are the next time to get out there, but kneeling for an Erie resident, all these schools that month, I didn’t hear publicly people plans? Is it more of a day-to-day, or an nine minutes isn’t fun. have been shut down and all the kids talking about defunding the police, and evolution? NW: How long have the kneelings crammed into one high school, with a now it’s something that’s being heavily AR: We’re definitely still working. been going on consecutively? heavy police force inside of that school. considered. How has that conversation There’s a lot of things that are happen- AR: The Monday after I started the I understand just due to school shoot- moved in the past few weeks? ing behind closed doors. We’re moving group, one day after, that’s when the ings and stuff like that, they have to AR: I’ve heard rumblings about ‘the forward with our agenda. We have our kneeling started. The group started have somewhat of a police force in police need less money.’ I don’t know usual day-to-day activities, kneeling evolving once we started hearing a lot there, but we don’t need city cops and if you know, but the police unions all downtown to answer any general ques- of that, and we kind of decided that sheriffs and this and that in the schools. across America, and even right here in tions. Reach out to people in the group we need to divvy up what our focuses NW: Yeah, and then there’s the argu- Pennsylvania. I mean, they’re backed that want to meet up in person, or just are and really hone into them. So that’s ment that it probably causes more ten- by millions and hundreds of millions have a Facebook Live, because that’s why it became Erie Equal, and that por- sion than it eases. of dollars. They have access to people kind of easier to get the message out tion of the name is just a shout out to AR: Yeah, so that’s one of our main fo- that have extreme power, they have ac- to everybody in the group. But as far all the minorities who are oppressed, or cuses aside from supporting minorities cess to the best attorneys and lawyers. as long-term planning goes, there are suppressed is the term I like to use. And and equal rights, which is a God-given So I’ve always heard rumblings about long-term plans being set in motion. it makes perfect sense. That term in the right — that’s not something we should breaking that up a little bit. Just like This isn’t going to be a one and done. name is to support and show respect even be having to ask for at this point, how you see Facebook getting too big We’re going to keep the fire lit. We’re to all of us. You know, I myself am a but, unfortunately, we are. It’s literally for people calling to break that up. going to continue banging on the doors minority, so the Erie part is to cover ev- 50/50, so 50 percent community reform. But as soon as all this happened, I saw and making sure everybody’s voice is erything else that we stand for, which Everything from top to bottom, even the cities nearby us calling for it, I saw heard. This won’t stop until the com- is better funding for Erie schools, better in our local leaders, local leaders with the states nearby calling for it. The con- munity is where this generation thinks pay for the teachers, the forming of a quotations around it [laughs]. That’s es- versation exploded like a nuclear bomb. that it should be. Even once it is, we’re community college, more after school sentially what we’re shooting for. We’ve And now we’re in the middle of the ra- gonna have to fight to keep it like that, programs or better funding for ones been on the path to success so far. A diation that’s happening, the fallout because there’s always gonna be people that are already in there. Voter educa- lot of big names, a lot of big people are from people calling for that. Because that come in and they have their own tion. starting to throw our group’s name obviously there’s going to be the people selfish reasons for wanting to do stuff. NW: Actually you beat me to that around and reaching out to us in re- that call for it, and then the people that NW: Thank you very much. question. What is Erie Equal seeking gard to that. Especially people who are are completely radicalized and they’re out? What are you asking for? up for reelection or want to get elected just like screaming, you know, pro-po- This interview has been edited AR: To sum it up? We are asking for because they want us to support them. lice. I’m not against the police. That’s on for length and clarity.

George Floyd and Candidate Joe Biden Erie will make the difference

Erie County traditionally votes rious violence on our campus. black-white cooperation and blue due to its heavily Democratic Civil Rights activist Julian understanding. He and his so- population base in the City of Bond — who later would be- cial activist lieutenants, some Erie — however, in recent years it’s taken on a purplish tinge as come chairman of the NAACP who remain active today, grew Republican sympathies have — was invited to Gannon in GECAC from 50 to nearly 200 grown. It will prove an important the middle of our lowest mo- employees of various racial battleground county in the ments to speak with students backgrounds. The city of Erie upcoming general election, for both incumbent Donald Trump and in an effort to mediate the witnessed how black leader- Democratic challenger Joe Biden. growing anger and violence. ship could enrich the com- In addition, a small group of munity for all citizens. Every tion Agency (GECAC) under black and white students were Friday night we’d gather at the the highly respected commu- brought together in a retreat Pope Hotel for chitlins, chew- nity leader Ben Wiley. That house south of Erie for sev- ing the fat, so to speak, feel- experience inspired me to seek eral days in search of a better ing as though the world was a career in Washington, DC, understanding of one another. changing for the better. Un- eventually becoming the U.S. We came back from that ex- fortunately, in hindsight, not By: Edward Gabriel me of my days living in Erie Ambassador to Morocco and a perience more hopeful and as much seems to have changed between 1968 and 1974. During foreign policy professional. friends. after all. he demonstrations fol- these years I attended Gannon At the end of the 1960s and Ben Wiley’s period of lead- As a white person living lowing the death of University and worked at the during 1970, racial tensions ership in the early ’70s was through this Erie experience TGeorge Floyd remind Greater Erie Community Ac- erupted in Erie, including se- among the most optimistic for I learned from black friends

June 17, 2020 ErieReader.com | Erie Reader | 17 NEWS & VIEWS and colleagues that greater ship, and the right to vote, only At this time of needing a American influence in the We have to be hopeful at this good comes from compassion- to have those rights melt away leader and a healer, we are world. momentous era in our history ate, empathetic, and caring after a dozen years of the Re- strapped with a self-centered President Trump’s response that a person with Joe Biden’s individuals. The black commu- construction. person who divides us, and to the killing of George Floyd experience and moral fiber has nity demonstrated at the time Equal rights would lay dor- who is among the most inef- and the ongoing coronavirus risen to become the Democrat- that although filled with hurt mant for more than 80 more fectual U.S. presidents to hold pandemic further accentuates ic Party nominee for president. and pain and sometimes anger, years until Lyndon Johnson al- office. Donald Trump has not the need for the United States He is most needed in this tur- they were the first to forgive, most single-handedly pushed only separated this country to have a president who can bulent time. We really don’t and maintained hope for an the Civil Rights Act through into factions, he’s alienated our unite the country with genu- have another 50 or 80 years to equal and just future. Congress in 1964, followed by allies and set the world against ine compassion and empathy. wait, or even one. We cannot Nearly 250 years ago, our his War on Poverty, which es- us, with the exception of some One may disagree with some let the death of George Floyd founding fathers stated that tablished community action authoritarian dictators with of Joe Biden’s policies, but no be overlooked, nor miss the op- all men were created equal agencies like GECAC, which a similar mindset. During the knowledgeable person can portunity that the November but failed to actually include raised the hope once again that nearly four decades of my say Joe’s not caring, empa- election offers, to finally put all people. It took Lincoln and blacks would be given equality. professional career in foreign thetic, and compassionate. His this dreadful history behind us Grant to make a remarkable Fifty years later and black affairs, I have never seen four lifetime of public service has and move forward together. and indelible mark with the folks are still waiting for full more disastrous years of in- demonstrated a strong moral 13th, 14th and 15th Amend- equal rights. How much for- ternational affairs than those compass, with a calm and bal- Edward Gabriel is the ments, granting Black Amer- giveness is there left in the under President Trump. Eight anced ability to bring people former U.S. Ambassador icans their freedom, citizen- black community? years could spell the end of together in solving problems. to Morocco, 1997-2001

Kristy Gnibus Prepares to Race Kelly for Congressional Seat Local leader motions for ‘getting up and doing something’

Candidate for U.S. Congress Kristy Gnibus “I think Erie has felt neglected for (PA-16), a mother of two and a culinary quite some time from our congress- arts and nutrition teacher at McDowell man,” Gnibus told Erie Reader in early Intermediate High School, will try to unseat five-term Republican incumbent Mike Kelly May. “I think that’s across the district, of Butler County in November’s elections. but certainly in Erie, where [Kelly] promised lots of things,” she contin- In mid-2019, Kelly announced he would ued. “We want to be heard as constit- be running for his sixth two-year term. uents, including myself, as a constitu- Over the last decade, Democratic ent, I want to be heard, and I want to challengers have repeatedly failed to know what his solutions are going to unseat Kelly. He beat Erie County’s be, and see them brought up in Con- Dahlkemper by just over 20,000 votes, gress. What are we going to do to fix according to the Pennsylvania Depart- the issues? How are we going to keep ment of State. Again, in 2018, Kelly beat Western PA and Erie’s economy ro- out another Erie native when he won bust? Are you going to fight for infra- over Democratic lawyer Ron DiNicola structure for this area?” by just over 11,000 votes. Gnibus, an Erie native, got her start Coming off the June primaries how- in public policy at a young age. Today, ever, it seems Gnibus may have a shot her dreams of a Congressional term CONTRIBUTED PHOTO at taking the seat. include using the position to fight for In the election earlier this month, universal healthcare. ing, even though we’re dealing with a Gnibus brought home 21,245 votes In regard to healthcare, Gnibus said: By: Hannah McDonald pandemic. I feel with everything going from Erie County compared to 16,472 “Millions of Americans are now unin- t seems change may soon be com- on, that it was a phenomenal turnout, votes for Kelly. Throughout the entire sured because they’re unemployed and ing to Pennsylvania’s 16th Congres- especially from the Democrats. And I district, Gnibus received 47,387 votes in that has to stop. And so the first step is Isional District as Democrat Kristy think a huge part of that lends to the the primaries. protecting what we have in place now Gnibus is officially on the ballot to run fact that we were able to do mail-in With the new systems in place for … our ACA [Affordable Care Act]. And against incumbent Congressman Mike ballots.” mail-in and absentee ballots in Penn- we have to continue to work on a plan Kelly (R) in November. The district, which covers all of Erie, sylvania — which were enacted by to make sure that every single Ameri- “Even though I didn’t have any prima- Crawford, and Mercer counties as well Act 12 in October of last year — results can is insured.” Gnibus continued, “We ry opponents … being declared the offi- as parts of Lawrence and Butler coun- for the primary have been delayed, can’t have a robust economy and we cial Democratic nominee for District ties, has been represented by Kelly of but it seems that Republican turnout can’t be a successful nation if we do 16 is huge,” Gnibus explained. “And I Butler since he took office following outpaced Democratic turnout by over not have our health.” feel like the results were very promis- Democrat Kathy Dahlkemper in 2011. 10,000 votes. As a mother, teacher, and community

18 | Erie Reader | ErieReader.com June 17, 2020 NEWS & VIEWS member, education is another passion teacher at McDowell Intermediate of Gnibus. High School in Millcreek, found her The education system in place is love of public policy when she was a interesting, Gnibus said, as federal high school student herself. legislation strongly dictates action in “[It] started when I got really in- schools, yet only four percent of the volved with the county fair,” Gnibus funding for education in the common- said. After winning Erie County Fair wealth comes from this level of gov- Queen, she traveled to Harrisburg to ernment. present her winning essay. “I think that should be increased,” She continued: “And I thought, ‘Well, Gnibus said. “And I would like to work this is amazing what people are doing to find out how we can equally rep- and what they’re standing for.’ And resent districts and not tie them to that was my first taste of politics. I their property. Because we know that thought people are doing something where you live can determine the type to make a change.” of education you get. And that’s segre- Her eyes were opened to the caus- gation.” es she felt adamant about “as my life “These issues are something I’ve al- started advancing, and having cancer, ways been very passionate about,” it opened my eyes to the healthcare Kristy told Erie Reader prior to the system. [Between] raising my two girls June primary. “It’s just more apparent and … getting my Ph.D. in leadership, I how incredibly important our educa- just remember reading stories about tion system is, how incredibly import- incredible female leaders and what ant — and fragile — our economy is, they were doing to impact the world and how incredibly important some- around them,” Gnibus said. thing such as healthcare is. I think Around the same time she remem- the position that I’m in has just been bers thinking, “This might be my call- highlighted even more through the ing, this might be what I need to do.” pandemic because I’m going through a “And so taking my passion for my lot of the same issues that many peo- community and my life experiences ple are right now.” over the past few years, I took some Those people include many of the different candidate trainings and 195,451 registered voters in Erie Coun- talked to different leaders in the com- ty. Because it’s a presidential election munity and I just thought, now’s the year, a greater percentage of them are time,” Gnibus admitted. likelier to turn out. In the last presi- The greatest hurdle to Gnibus must dential election, 62.9 percent of Erie overcome to have her voice heard in County voters cast ballots. Just four the capitol is name recognition, she years prior, 64.6 percent of registered said. voters voted (compared to a rate of 31.9 “A lot of people vote and don’t have percent during an odd year like 2013). all the information, and (Kelly) has the The most recent challenger to Kelly, advantage of having that name recog- DiNicola, won Erie County by 19,813 nition from being in office for so long,” votes in 2018. That midterm election Gnibus said, adding “I think raising that saw only a 53 percent voter turn- money during an economically de- out, but Democrats came out to pledge pressed time is going to be incredibly support for their candidate. There will difficult. It’s proven to be difficult. And be naturally voters of both parties at I don’t take any corporate PAC money the polls in 2020 — not only in Erie like my opponent, so everything is tru- County, but in District 16’s Republi- ly grassroots. I’m really, really relying can-leaning rural territories. It’s there on people to help fund this race.” were Gnibus will have to make up the Despite these challenges, Gnibus and most ground. her campaign team “are doing every- At home base, however, Gnibus has thing we can to make sure that we are garnered favor — just last year, Gni- successful come November.” bus was nominated and won a spot in “We’re done with the thoughts and the Erie Reader’s 40 Under 40. prayers, and now it’s time for policy “Kristy is an influencer because change,” Gnibus said. “And the only her voice is real,” one nominator ex- way that we’re going to enact poli- plained. “Even more so she speaks as a cy change is by getting up and doing strong woman who can be looked up something.” to. She is an independent, honest voice that resonates.” Hannah McDonald can be reached Gnibus, a culinary arts and nutrition at [email protected].

June 17, 2020 ErieReader.com | Erie Reader | 19 FEATURE Thinly Shrouded Racism The Ku Klux Klan and white supremacy in Erie

A cross burns at Behr Farm just west of Waldameer Park in August front yard. Scott, not initially the Erie mayoral primary, in 1923, closing out a “joint political- realizing it was the Klan, went which they were planning to social outing” of the Ku Klux Klan, for her revolver but decided endorse William L. Morrison who endorsed then-mayoral against confronting them. over the Republican favorite, candidate William L. Morrison over Republican favorite Joe Williams. They graffitied her front door Joe Williams. with “KKK” and left her a What the organizers did ed the Ku Klux Klan as “guests warning letter, but fled before not realize was that, despite of the evening.” In April, the the police arrived. having guards around the pe- Lawrence Park Methodist “The Kluxers have just paid rimeter, Times reporters had Episcopal Church held a ser- your disorderly house its first infiltrated the event under- vice where Rev. Harvey H. Bair visit, to warn you and the rest cover. They estimated a total gave a sermon titled “The Pa- of your kind to close up and of 2,000 men, women, and chil- triotism of Jesus.” The local get out,” the letter read. “You dren attended. The reporters Klan, again, were advertised have defied the laws of God, “mingled with the Klansmen,

ERIE DAILY TIMES/NEWSBANK ERIE DAILY as “guests of the church.” The country and city long enough. secured the names of many Central Presbyterian Church, Now listen, you black viola- present, [and] took the license recognizing the increasing tors, close your places and go. numbers of most of the auto- By: Jonathan Burdick that blocked traffic for at least grip of the Klan in Erie, adver- Erie does not want you.” mobiles...” he Ku Klux Klan is the an hour while they also set tised a “present day and popu- If they returned, they Throughout the day, Klan most infamous of the off “red lights, fireworks and lar theme” to be discussed the warned, it would be their “sec- leadership debated endorse- Tmany white suprema- bombs,” before inducting 500 following Sunday: “Shall I join ond and last visit” and would ments. Some conversations cist groups that have existed news members and setting fire the Ku Klux Klan?” “be one of greater force.” were heated. To close the eve- throughout the United States. to a 50-foot-tall cross. Meanwhile, Rev. W. D. Demp- By morning, the newspa- ning, the Klan then had their This is in part due to their por- During this time, the Erie ster, a Presbyterian minister per reported she appeared “customary display of ‘the fi- trayal in Hollywood movies, branch of the Ku Klux Klan from Crafton, Pa., met with the frightened, but she stood her ery cross.’” It stood 30 feet and from Mississippi Burning to had entrenched itself in the Erie Ministerial Association to ground and refused to leave, “lighted up the sky ... easily dis- the more recent BlacKkKlans- community, involving itself in discuss if they should accept while publicly pointing out all cernible for a mile or more.” man, but also due to their se- local politics, co-opting local Klan contributions. Demp- of the letter’s spelling errors. By this point in 1923, Klan ac- crecy, their regalia, and their churches into their cause, and ster spoke admirably of the The district attorney promised tivities were dominating news campaigns of terror. making it known that vigilan- KKK, noting that they were charges if he could “secure suf- coverage in the Times. In the 1920s, a second wave tism was a tactic they weren’t an “American Protestant or- ficient evidence.” He did not. “We suspect that a good of the Ku Klux Klan was grow- afraid to employ. ganization” who did “missions As the Klan’s numbers grew many fellows join the Ku Klux ing in numbers and power In February of 1923, Dr. Rev. of charity.” They would only in Erie, so did their confidence. Klan simply to have a new throughout the country. This Homer B. Potter, who pastored “maintain law and order and That August, the Erie Daily excuse to hand the wife any- was partially due to the pop- the Simpson Methodist Epis- act if city and county officials Times ran a story titled “Koo time they happen to be out all ularity of D.W. Griffith’s 1915 copal Church in Erie, gave a are negligent,” Dempster rea- Koo Klaners Parade in Fords.” night,” one resident joked in a film The Birth of a Nation, sermon to 300 members of the soned. After a late-night meeting at letter to the editor. “Too many which glorified and romanti- local Klan. He preached that Erie was about to witness their headquarters at 818 State wives were getting wise to the cized the Klan, but also their he did not agree with all the this maintenance of “law and St., plainclothes Klansmen ‘sick friend’ alibi.” new and more modern system Klan’s platform, but that Erie’s order.” went “parading up and down “We shall not join the Klan of recruitment. At their peak, Klansmen were “law-abiding In the early months of Pro- State Street in their automo- while they continue to charge this second Klan claimed to citizens who will not act as hibition, a 25-year-old black biles (mostly Fords).” ten dollars for ordinary cotton have somewhere between 4 to bigots or law-breakers.” He de- Erie woman named Ruby Scott “Talk about noise. These nighties,” quipped a columnist. 5 million members at a time clared that the Klan was nec- had been arrested for selling night owls who paid ten dol- Meanwhile just south of when the U.S. population was essary for Erie. whiskey to undercover federal lars [in dues] to learn some se- downtown Pittsburgh, approx- around 100 million. “[T]his Erie Klan has done agents at her German Street cret stuff, blew their horns for imately 25,000 Klansmen con- Despite the common per- some things for which the home, which also served as twenty minutes,” the Times gregated. During one march, ception that the Klan was a church and law-abiding citi- a boarding house. She was reported sarcastically. “They a group of Klan resistors (re- problem historically plaguing zens may well be thankful,” fined $500. In February of 1923, disturbed the peace.” ferred to in the paper as “an- only southern states, this sec- Potter said. He pointed out the she was arrested again, this Later that month, the Erie tis”) blocked them. Violence ond Klan tightened its grip speakeasies around Erie. If the time on charges of “being the Klan held their first of what ensued and a robed Klansman in northern states as well, city wouldn’t shut them down, proprietress of a disorderly was to be an annual picnic was killed and “scores of oth- expanding deeply through- then the Klan would. “And so house.” On the night of April and “joint political-social out- ers” were injured. The Klan of- out Pennsylvania. By 1923, long as they continue to do it, 20, she had returned to her ing” on Behr Farm across the fered up a reward of $2,500 for the Klan was making news they are what Erie needs.” home just before midnight road from Calvary Cemetery the killer and they condemned daily in the state, such as in During another evening when hooded Klansmen ap- on West Lake Road. It was an “the action of the mob” which Wilkinsburg, when thousands service, Potter preached on peared. election year and the local had a “sense of anarchy.” of Klansmen descended on “Americanizing Americans.” A They doused a cross in pe- Klan was working out a list of On Sept. 4, the Times report- the town, conducting a parade newspaper advertisement not- troleum and ignited it in her endorsements. This included ed the Klan’s official endorse-

20 | Erie Reader | ErieReader.com June 17, 2020 FEATURE

[top] During a 1923 sermon, Homer and in the front rows of his ate tactic meant to legitimize B. Potter, a pastor at Simpson service, he attacked the pub- themselves as well as distance Methodist Episcopal Church, declared that the Ku Klux Klan was lisher and editor of the Times themselves from the Klan. necessary for Erie. [bottom] During as “waging a battle against the On Nov. 28, 1998, the Klan the 1920s, the merits of Ku Klux Ku Klux Klan” and claimed visited Erie once again, a rally Klan membership was legitimately that they were not “one hun- planned for outside the Erie debated in some white churches — this church bulletin condemns dred percent American” like County Courthouse, organized the group’s overly glorified self- the Klan. by a woman out of Allegheny righteousness. “He was greatly perturbed County. and told his audience they “We are there to stand up for

THE CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE/NEWSBANK THE CHRISTIAN to the Woolworth’s below and should not become discour- white rights,” Kathryn Neg- apartments above them. They aged,” the Time reported. Hulse ley Hedrick, who went by the believed the blaze was started seethed that Erie politics were pseudonym Kay Ryan as the by a Klansman’s discarded cig- “of the skunk variety,” then re- branch’s leader, said two days arette, as the Klan held a meet- vealed to the congregation that prior. This time though, 75 ing throughout the night after the Klansmen in attendance years after the Klan was in- an evening of burning crosses were concealing guns and that creasing its grip on the city of outside of city limits. an unnamed state official had Erie, only 25 Klansmen were Discovered during the morn- approved this violation of the present — and they were met ing fire was a business direc- law, which was greeted with with fierce resistance. tory. Times reporters on the thundering applause. “The Klan were met by 400 scene wrote down the more In response to this escalation, furious spectators, who simply the 100 local businesses that the Erie Daily Times published couldn’t resist unloading their appeared to have dealt in some 21 license plate numbers of ve- verbal outrage at these hooded way with the Erie Klan. Some hicles outside of the church. fools,” the Erie Times-News ed- businesses, it appeared, of- This included a handful of itors wrote. “Thirty-two blocks fered perks to Klan members. prominent members of the to the south [at Mercyhurst], The Times published a list of Erie community. 500 people gathered for a ‘Uni- these businesses which includ- After Morrison lost the pri- ty in Our Community’ rally, set ed grocers, jewelers, builders, mary to Williams, coverage of up to offer the community a dentists, chiropractors, plumb- the local Klan dwindled. The celebration to the power of di- ers, barbers, insurance agen- momentum that the Klan had versity.” cies, banks, and more. built over the previous year “The people here, assembling In the following days, many seemed to stall as well. On Dec. like this, to stand together TIMES/NEWBANK ERIE DAILY of these business owners de- 31, a Ku Klux Klan leader, who to oppose hatred, it tells me nied being in the KKK or hav- was a volunteer state police- that Erie is moving forward in ment of William Morrison for In another editorial, they im- ing any connection to or busi- man and attempting to obtain teaching its young people,” an mayor. The meeting had tak- plied that the Ku Klux Klan ness dealings with them. “[I] a federal Prohibition job, had 80-year-old Cornelius J. Smith en place at their State Street was “a menace to the pursuit of am not in sympathy with the his home on Stafford Avenue told journalist Ed Palattella at headquarters and of the 318 liberty guaranteed by the con- organization and did not know vandalized while he and his the time, after recalling to him Klan members present to vote, stitution” and that the “organi- that our business card was in wife were at a dance: furni- a time in Erie when he and 315 chose Morrison. zation is declared to encourage the rooms of the Klan,” George ture was smashed, lights were friends who had purchased The Erie Daily Times was race prejudice and religious Epp of Epp Furniture Compa- torn from the walls, fixtures tickets to a skating party were not attempting to hide their bigotry instead of promoting ny released in a statement. were shattered, and water was not permitted in because they bias. They were clearly aiming fellowship and good will.” One “We are not knights of the left running in a bathtub, fill- were black. to take on the Klan, as well as published letter referred to the Ku Klux Klan,” another grocer ing the entire home with an- “There has been a great keep the Klan’s endorsement of KKK as “illiterates” and “night advertised. “We offer $50.00 to kle-deep water. change in Erie,” Smith added. Morrison fresh on everybody’s shirted cobras.” anyone if this is not true.” “Police declared it was one of Erie, like the rest of the Unit- minds. The Erie Dispatch Her- Each time the Times pub- Dozens of other public deni- the most complete jobs they ed States, has a long way to go ald, Erie’s other prominent pa- lished a story about the up- als were made over the follow- had ever seen,” the Erie Daily in confronting and accepting per which preferred Morrison, coming mayoral election, they ing days. Times reported. its past. White supremacist condemned the Times for con- reminded readers of Morri- Perhaps emboldened by the By 1925, total membership in ideologies that once made the tinuously linking his campaign son’s Klan endorsement. By newspaper’s escalation, the the local Klan had declined to Ku Klux Klan both popular to the Klan. Sept. 6, Joe Williams had 5 to downfall of Morrison’s cam- around 700. Even if member- and powerful still permeate “The next mayor of Erie will 1 odds over Morrison. This ag- paign, and heightened emo- ship had declined though, the every part of our society. If we have a lot of big problems to itated local Klan leaders. tions over the fire, Rev. Ethel- ideologies that permitted its recognize this and recognize meet, problems that must be Early in the morning on bert D. Hulse escalated the rise in the first place would the flaws within our society, met wisely if the best interests Sept. 8, a fire was reported at Klan’s feud with the Times continue to persist. White su- we can continue to effectively of the city are to be served,” the Klan’s State Street head- on Sept. 10. Hulse, who was a premacy ideologies, in fact, rework it in a meaningful way. Times editors wrote. “And they quarters. Fire department preacher at the Tenth Street persisted in Erie in many are not the sort of problems officials were able to keep it Methodist Church and the Erie forms throughout the follow- Jonathan Burdick runs the additional state police or from burning to the ground, County Jail, was also a promi- ing century — although most the historical blog Rust & the Ku Klux Klan can help him but it caused thousands of nent member of the Klan. With white supremacists traded in Dirt. He can be reached at solve.” dollars of damages, including 60 robed Klansmen hooded their robes for suits, a deliber- [email protected]

June 17, 2020 ErieReader.com | Erie Reader | 21 ONLINE EVENTS 2020 Virtual Pridefest Goes Digital at an Uncertain Moment Northwestern PA Pride Alliance and Erie Playhouse get creative

will be hosting Google Hangouts, Face- Neubert-Lechner notes that “there will book chat rooms, and other options.” be BIPOC [Black, Indigenous, People of Sphon and his team are working hard to Color] speakers throughout the event make the experience interactive. “We’re and performances that will be related trying to emulate as much as we can and to and supporting Black Lives Matter.” keep as many of our original partners as In particular, the Playhouse will be “pre- we can,” he says. “At Pride we have ta- senting streamed performances of The bles where you can go eat with different Mountaintop by Katori Hall on July 16, 17, people, and then you watch the show. and 18 with all proceeds going to Black And because it’s in person, it’s interac- Lives Matter. We felt it was incredibly im- tive. So the tables are being replaced, so portant to use the platform that we have to speak, with chatrooms. You can go in to present a work by a black author, ad- and talk to people about things that in- dressing the messages of injustice and

NEGRO ELKHA NEGRO terest you — and you’ll be able to watch the fight for equality.” Sphon concurs: the performance also.” “Given the current political climate, we By: Dan Schank names (Alysin Wonderland and Priscilla To pull this off, the Northwestern PA are stepping up to not only celebrate the et’s get the bad news out of the way. Godzilla), performers with conventional Pride Alliance turned to the Erie Play- LGBT community, but also to raise the COVID-19 is going to eliminate an names (Debbie), and performers from house for help with programming. Ac- voices of the black and brown commu- Lin-person parade from the North- out-of-town (L.A.’s Porshaa Lejayy). cording to executive director Kate Neu- nity since there’s such a great crossover western PA Pride Alliance this summer, There’s a great range to the offerings bert-Lechner, “Our venue will be the between these communities.” just as it has eliminated many other fun scheduled — Senator Bob Casey is pre- location for live streamed performances Though it comes at a time of uncer- things in our lives. paring a short video, Austin Kulyk of the and we will also have some pre-recorded tainty, Sphon is quick to stress that the Thankfully, through a partnership with Erie Playhouse will sing us some songs, performances from our volunteer per- event will also provide a sense of relief. the Erie Playhouse, the show will go on and a daredevil named Joe Snarey (aka formers throughout the event.” “Our goal is to create an escape and a digitally. And organizers are doing their Snarenbear) will literally breathe fire. The event comes at a precarious time, sense of happiness. One of my favorite best to adapt the spirit of the celebra- Something for everyone! both locally and nationally. In addition to things about pride is the incredible emo- tion to an online setting, while taking To hear how it’s all coming together, I the global epidemic keeping us all from tional high and euphoria that you get advantage of the opportunities that pre- spoke to Pride Alliance president Alex leaving our homes, the enormous out- from being in an area where you’re total- taped performances provide. Sphon (who will perform in drag as Lovin pouring of activism in response to the ly accepted.” Fans of drag shows have nothing to Heart during the event), who explained killing of George Floyd is making a big On June 27, that sense of acceptance worry about. 2020 Virtual Pridefest will that a Zoom webinar will screen the day’s impact. In fact, the local LGBT commu- will illuminate smart phones and laptops feature two winners of our annual Miss events in a manner similar to a Facebook nity already staged an action on June 13, across Erie. We can’t march this year, but Erie contest (2011’s champ Misty Mi- Live video. “Our feed won’t have com- declaring that there is “No Pride Without we can certainly log on. chaels Kall and our current title-holder, ments available,” says Sphon, “but we’re Black Lives.” Saturday, June 27, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. // Learn Rebecca Mae), performers with amusing partnering with other organizations who In response to the recent momentum, more at: facebook.com/NWPAPride

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22 | Erie Reader | ErieReader.com June 17, 2020 TELEVISION Space Force Shoots for the Stars, Just the Stars The well-cast comedy ultimately suffers from a failure to launch

Steve Carrell stars as General Mark acquainted with Naird and scientist Dr. Naird in the Netflix comedy series Space Adrian Mallorie (John Malkovich), as Force, lampooning the Space Operations well as their fumbling attempts to un- department of the U.S. Armed Forces. derstand each other as coworkers and possible friends. Ben Schwartz plays a Armed Forces. While a good leader who fast-talking media manager known as F. values the needs of people, Naird knows Tony whose attempts to keep Naird up little to nothing about the science be- to date on current slang and trends is hind the President’s mission to have quite entertaining. Unfortunately, flesh- “boots on the moon by 2024.” The many ing out the A plot leaves little room to responsibilities of his job, on top of be- properly build on additional characters ing a father to an angst-ridden daughter to a point where the audience can’t (Diana Silvers) without the help of his identify with them. Tawny Newsome wife (Lisa Kudrow), who is incarcerated and Jimmy O. Yang play coworkers for reasons that are never explained, that have their own side plot centered create a significant amount of stress around a bond that developed in min- that he can only relieve through singing utes and seemingly out of nowhere. to himself at least every episode. Hopefully, if the show is renewed, more While the concept is brilliant — and is time will be dedicated to development arguably worth it just for the fact that it of everyone’s motivation and arc. — NETFLIX beat the Trump administration’s military Claudia Rose branch to the copyright punch — the Season One currently streaming on Netflix f Michael Scott had a military career, Space Force, now streaming on Netflix. first season seems to be in a hurry to get // Created by: Steve Carell, Greg Daniels // Imarried Phoebe Buffay, and was put in The series follows General Mark Naird, people excited for the next one, without Starring: Steve Carell, John Malkovich, Ben charge of astronauts, the results would played by Steve Carrell, who is put in dedicating time to building all of the Schwartz, Diana Silvers, Tawny Newsome, look something like the new series charge of Space Operations for the U.S characters. Viewers become pretty well Jimmy O. Yang // 10 episodes

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June 17, 2020 ErieReader.com | Erie Reader | 23 Thank you! #Erie Stronger How long should your pet live? Help your pet live a longer, healthier life. Than Ever

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24 | Erie Reader | ErieReader.com June 17, 2020 TELEVISION Betty’s Indie Style Shreds The HBO female skateboarder series wobbles, but lands an impressive trick Moonbear (Kabrina Adams, at left), Ajani the heady and lovable wildcard Kirt (Nina Russell, Nina Moran, Dede Lovelace, and Moran). While Skate Kitchen almost to- Rachel Vinberg aren’t exactly skating tally centers around Camille, Betty gives through life as they reprise their roles in Crystal Moselle’s six-episode series. each character their time to shine, with Janay arguably taking center stage. Each character is unique and well fleshed-out, The Animated Series). It makes sense to one of the series strongest credits. though, as the cast are real-life skate- Capturing Moselle’s ethereal, almost boarders essentially playing heightened mumblecore sensibilities is done with a versions of themselves. deft hand. It’s relatively faster-paced with If you never saw Skate Kitchen, fear not. a denser narrative than the original film, In many ways, aside from its name, Bet- and brings aboard behind the scenes tal- ty (an iffy term in surf and skate culture ents like Leslie Arfin and Moshe Kasher referencing a young woman) actually ex- (and the soundtrack doesn’t hurt either). ceeds its source material. And there’s no Betty is punchy and quick-witted while at Jaden Smith! the same time floating in an urban bokeh The show centers around five young fe- of navel-gazing indie style. HBO male skateboarders in New York City, as Though it starts off shaky, it quickly they make their way through a male-dom- finds its footing. Having such richly iden- television series based on a movie the new HBO series, is just that. Led by inated subculture. There’s Janay (Dede tifiable characters cut from such a spe- Ais no new thing. Shows like West- showrunner Crystal Moselle, it’s based Lovelace), the emotional anchor of the cific millennial cloth is the toughest trick world and Fargo have found success on her 2018 production Skate Kitchen, show, Camille (Rachel Vinberg), the the series lands, and we’re glad the cam- mining themes and playing in a world a well-received yet relatively unknown group’s new friend trying to balance eras were running. — Nick Warren created previously. It’s far less often film. One of the most intriguing aspects out her male and female friendships, Now available on HBO // Created by: Crystal that we see something helmed by the of the show is that it sees the five prin- the taciturn documentarian Honeybear Moselle // Dede Lovelace, Moonbear, Nina original creator, and even rarer when it’s ciple characters reprise their roles (per- (Kabrina Adams), the charming rich-girl Moran, Ajani Russell, and Rachelle Vinberg // carried out by the same actors. Betty, haps sharing the most DNA with Clerks: drug dealer Indigo (Ajani Russell), and Six episodes

June 17, 2020 ErieReader.com | Erie Reader | 25 TELEVISION Little Italy Queer Eye In Philadelphia for Fab Fifth Season Farmers Market Relocating the show continues to tune in with what made it click 331 West 18th Street

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SNAP, WIC and FMNP Senior Vouchers! ust in time for Pride Month, Net- Bobby Berk (left), Tan France, Antoni Porowski, Jonathan Van Ness, and Karamo flix released Season 5 of Queer J Brown drop in on the City of Brotherly Love Eye on June 5. This time their head- for their fifth season. quarters moved from Atlanta to the more familiar city of Philadelphia. In of What Not to Wear, the show re- For more info call: 814-454-7814 line with past seasons, the Fab 5 re- tains all the true emotions within the minded viewers of the show that any transformation without the over-dra- Online: www.SSJNN.org transformation is possible, whether matized reveals. it be a dog groomer, DJ, pediatrician, The focus has shifted a bit though. Facebook or Twitter: @SSJNN or gym owner. Jonathan Van Ness In a time when there is an ever-egre- brings his bubbly attitude, while Tan gious news story always ready to France remains the confident con- break, the themes of love and re- noisseur of fashion, Antoni Porows- demption ring truer than the Liberty ki continues to master the kitchen, Bell. With episodes featuring a young Bobby Berk provides his artistic eye man reconnecting with his mother, a with a side-smile, and Karamo Brown family coming back together to con- maintains his lovable personality tinue their family business, and even (and most memorable T-shirts yet). a father handing his daughter off for The biggest difference this season is marriage, the season is packed with the increased focus on designer Bob- stories of repairing relationships by and his work, as he heads the best while continuing self-love. Many ep- renovations of the entire series. In isodes also feature small businesses the first episode, he reconfigures the in different parts of Philadelphia, with church of a gay pastor into a more in- discussions about gentrification and clusive parish center for the city. work-life balance. With all said and There isn’t one episode that stands done, the show continues to be a go- out more than the others, and the to for an easy hour of feel-good enter- revamped series (which now ties its tainment. — Chloe Forbes Bravo predecessor by season count) Seasons one through five currently stays true to its format each time. streaming on Netflix // Created by: David The shock factor is still there, but Collins // Starring: Antoni Porowski, not quite like it was the first few sea- Tan France, Karamo Brown, Bobby Berk, sons when it was new. Reminiscent Jonathan Van Ness // 10 episodes

26 | Erie Reader | ErieReader.com June 17, 2020 TELEVISION “Never Have I Ever” Takes Teen Comedy for a Spin Inspired by Mindy Kaling’s own life comes a story for first-generation teenagers of color

Maitreyi Ramakrishnan (left) stars as Devi, the most endearing quality of the show alongside Ramona Young and Lee Rodriguez is in how complicated yet ultimately re- in the new coming-of-age comedy series warding Devi’s relationships are with from Lang Fisher and Mindy Kaling. those around her. Throughout the season, Devi grap- Kaling and Lang Fisher. ples with the death of her father while Together, Kaling and Fisher concocted seeking acceptance from her strict a refreshingly earnest and diverse take mother (Poorna Jagannathan) by try- on the classic high school coming-of- ing to meet lofty expectations set by age story. Never Have I Ever follows Devi her seemingly perfect cousin (Richa Vishwakumar (Maitryi Ramakrishnan), Moorjani). One of Devi’s best friends or “your favorite Hindu girl in the San Fer- (Lee Rodriguez) comes to terms with nando Valley” as she puts it, as she navi- her sexuality while her other best friend gates sophomore year of high school as (Ramona Young) comes to terms with a child of immigrants while feeling “too her absent mother. To complicate things Indian” at times, dealing with first loves further, Devi feels compelled to com- and important friendships, and all the pete with her nemesis (Jaren Lewison) angst, heartbreak, and joy that comes of their class while pining over her se- NETFLIX with growing up in modern America. cret crush (Darren Barnet). But hey, From episode one, the writing and di- no one ever said high school was easy. alogue are as quirky as they are funny. — Hannah Wyman Though some situations read a bit un- Season One currently streaming on Netflix ever have I ever... seen Asian teen- lacking. Even less represented on the believable, viewers can’t help but em- // Created by: Mindy Kaling and Lang Fisher Nagers accurately portrayed on tele- screen are the faces and stories of the pathize with Devi because despite the // Starring: Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Poorna vision. Okay, this isn’t totally true, but it’s South Asian community. Enter Never quotable one-liners, Never Have I Ever Jagannathan, Richa Moorjani, Jaren Lewison, no surprise that Asian representation Have I Ever, one of Netflix’s latest original is sincere in highlighting very real prob- Darren Barnet, Ramona Young, Lee Rodriguez, in mainstream media is unnecessarily series straight from the brains of Mindy lems young people face. In fact, I think and John McEnroe // 10 episodes

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June 17, 2020 ErieReader.com | Erie Reader | 27 MOVIE REVIEWS Watch the Skies: The Vast of Night Makes the Most of Its Small Budget “The Dead Walk!”: One Cut of the Dead is the Best Film You May Not Have Heard Of AMAZON STUDIOS AMAZON THIRD WINDOW FILMS THIRD WINDOW t is now easier to make a film than ever before, but that doesn’t mean that directors Iaren’t still restrained by their budgets. While Hollywood can spend hundreds of mil- ombies are quite possibly the most malleable movie monster in history. They’ve lions of dollars to fill every scene with the most advanced effects available, indepen- Zbeen slow, fast, stupid, smart, metaphors for just about every societal problem that dent filmmakers still have to rely on style and technique to tell their stories. This is the has ever existed, and they have managed to permeate every aspect of pop culture — case for Andrew Patterson’s debut feature The Vast of Night, a clever little thriller that from film to television, comic books to video games, and everything in between. In sadly doesn’t quite stick the landing of its ingenious premise, although it certainly gets Shin’ichiro Ueda’s delightfully inventive One Cut of the Dead, zombies are now being an “A” for effort. used to tell a story about the impossible task of making a film itself. Horror fans who Set in a very small New Mexico town in the late 1950s, the film follows high school think they’ve seen everything under the sun now have the pleasure to witness this student Fay Crocker (Sierra McCormick) to her job as a telephone operator. While lis- modern masterpiece themselves thanks to streaming site Shudder. tening to her friend Everett’s (Jake Horowitz) radio program, she picks up a strange Following the cast and crew of a low-budget horror movie, things go from bad to frequency over the airwaves. Fay and Everett soon team up to find the source of this worse when the director (Takayuki Hamatsu) decides to up the realism factor by turn- signal and they learn that it may come from visitors from outer space! ing various crew members into actual zombies! Now, this small band of actors has to As I said, the film doesn’t have the budget to give us big effects set-pieces so it fo- fight to survive while their mad director desperately tries to get all the shots needed cuses on intimate moments of characters describing the events in long, tense detail. to complete his film. Often the visuals cut away entirely leaving us with only the dialogue. The result is a Most talk of this film centers around the first act, which amazingly contains all the fascinating minimalist exercise similar to an episode of The Outer Limits or the War action in one unbroken, 37-minute shot. However, after that breath-taking opening, it of the Worlds radio broadcast and the film is carried by the charisma of its two lead gets even more interesting as the film goes back in time to show us how we got to this actors. Unfortunately, all this intriguing build-up doesn’t really result in a climax that point. To describe what happens in the film would take away its impact, but suffice to pays off. The film feels like it’s ramping up to something great but doesn’t quite get say, very few films have captured the pain, stress, and euphoria of making a low-budget there. Still, The Vast of Night is a treat for anyone looking for subtle, character-driven film like this. The best thing I could say of this film is to see it with as little knowledge as sci-fi. — Forest Taylor you can. It contains more thrills, twists, humor, and heart than we expect from zombie Currently available on Amazon Prime // Directed by: Andrew Patterson // Written by: James flicks.One Cut of the Dead is currently available on Shudder. — Forest Taylor Montague and Craig Sanger // Starring: Sierra McCormick, Jake Horowitz, Gail Cronauer, Written and directed by: Shin’ichiro Ueda // Starring: Takayuki Hamatsu, Yuzuki Akiyama, Cheyenne Barton, Gregory Peyton, Mallorie Rodak, Mollie Milligan, Ingrid Fease, and the voice of Harumi Shuhama, Kazuaki Nagaya, Hiroshi Ichihara, and Mao // 96 minutes // Unrated (‘R’ Bruce Davis // 89 minutes // Rated ‘PG-13’ equivalent)

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28 | Erie Reader | ErieReader.com June 17, 2020 June 17, 2020 ErieReader.com | Erie Reader | 29 ALBUM REVIEWS

Run the Jewels The 1975 Coriky Bibio RTJ4 Notes on a Conditional Form Coriky Sleep On The Wing BMG Records Dirty Hit Records Dischord Warp

t’s been three- ho is more t’s impossible he year 2020 Iand-a-half long Wpolarizing Ito view some Tthus far can years since RTJ3 than The 1975 music in a vac- be best summa- dropped on right now? As uum, free of rized as a months- Christmas Eve of the relevancy of preconceptions. long army crawl 2016, and a lot has megastar Kanye Searching for through a briar changed in that West — an artist new albums, I patch … into a fetid same span of time. The political climate they’ve referenced both on and off-re- saw one with a simple black and white drainage ditch … onto hot asphalt. Within many predicted became a reality, and cord many times — continues to fade, cover from a band whose name I didn’t all that frustration and fatigue, it’s never the systems that allowed that to happen it seems the eccentric and ambitious recognize. I played it and immediately en- been more relieving to settle into a good became more apparent. In a new age of British pop-rockers have taken his place. joyed the opening lo-fi vibrato of “Clean pair of headphones and good music. a global health crisis, economic crisis, It’s enough to make most listeners roll Kill” and the band’s charmingly cacopho- Bibio’s 11th studio album, Sleep On The and civil unrest, there’s never been more their eyes between albums, but none of nous instrumentation. I liked the singer’s Wing, reminds us that the grass is green- of a demand for Killer Mike and El-P’s that seems to matter once a new album voice and it sounded warmly familiar, like er on the other side (of the play button). radicalized rap history lessons. RTJ4 not drops — provided it’s strong enough to a post-punk band that doesn’t take itself Serenely atmospheric and daydreami- only delivers exactly what we’ve come make up for abrasion, that is. Notes on a too seriously. The singer said the line ly beautiful, multi-instrumentalist and to expect from the two-man crew, but Conditional Form is a particularly odd re- “But she’s seen a lot of action” and then producer Stephen Wilkinson’s predom- similar to 2014’s RTJ2, it does so with- lease from the band as it seems to imme- I looked them up. Coriky is the newest inantly instrumental follow-up to 2019’s out wasting a single second. One of the diately be their least meticulous. Some project from Ian MacKaye. His inflection Ribbons is a welcome respite for wearied most exciting things about this new al- songs carry on and on, others end before was still the same from 1983’s “Look Back minds and ears. Close your eyes and you bum is the number of genres the group hitting the three-minute mark, and the and Laugh,” as any self-respecting punk can envision yourself peering pensively musically traverses. Miraculously, El-P transitions from orchestral interludes to can recall lines from the Minor Threat through a forest canopy (“Oakmoss,” one continues to sound more confident scattered electronic pieces (“Frail State discography like holy scripture. Though of the few songs to include Wilkinson’s than ever behind the boards, churning of Mind”) and nostalgic Britpop (“Me & some may be scratching their heads, oth- vocals), marveling at the magnitude of a out old-school boom-bap (“yankee and You Together Song”) are almost always ers are looking up this album before they starlit sky (“The Milky Way Over Ratling- the brave”) and bass-heavy electronics jarring. That being said, the album is rem- even finish reading this. MacKaye was hope”), or enjoying an afternoon wagon (“goonies vs. E.T.”) in equal measure. But iniscent of Father John Misty’s polarizing the singer for Minor Threat and Fugazi. ride in grainy black and white (the lo-fi vocally, RTJ4 is Killer Mike’s album; the 2017 opus, Pure Comedy. Notes is the This is his new project featuring longtime “Otter Shadows”). Muddling folk, classi- veteran rapper delivers the anarchistic most self-aware the band has ever sound- Fugazi bassist Joe Lally and drummer of cal, and ambient electronica (in the vein bravado we’re used to on single “ooh la ed; skeptics will find next to nothing to The Evens, Amy Farina, expertly sharing of Boards of Canada), Sleep On The Wing la,” but in a verse that seems to tran- change their mind here, but believers will vocal duties with MacKaye. The album is soothing and meditative but hardly scend timeliness, he delivers a haunt- relish in the creative decisions and im- stands on its own, with memorable tracks boring, the musical equivalent of reclin- ing verse reacting to police brutality in perfections that are beginning to show like “Bqm,” “Last Thing,” and “Shedilee- ing on a picnic blanket or in a hammock album highlight “walking in the snow.” in the band’s stunning craftsmanship. bop” having their standout moments. after a week’s hardships and letting go. — Aaron Mook — Aaron Mook — Nick Warren — Matt Swanseger

TOMMY IN TOON — BY TOMMY LINK

30 | Erie Reader | ErieReader.com June 17, 2020 CROSSWORD ♥ For Your Continued Support! ThankWe Really You Appreciate Erie YOU! We are OPEN & Ready to help you with... Letterhead Brochures Rack Cards Flyers Envelopes Booklets Newsletters Posters Business Cards Business Forms Raffle tickets Vinyl Banners Did you know we also offer... Graphic Design • On-Brand Marketing and Social Media Ads for ! Call 833-9020 to schedule an appointment for these services. 4318 West Ridge Road • Erie, PA 16506 Presque Isle Ph: 814.833.9020 Printing Services [email protected] Across using a rod and reel” movie) www.PresqueIslePrinting.com 1. Commercial ending with 51. Otherworldly 13. Hurston’s “____ Eyes Water 55. Mars : Roman :: ____ : Were Watching God” 4. 1974 Gould/Sutherland Norse 18. “NBC Nightly News” C.I.A. spoof 56. Without it, Earth is just anchor Lester Answers to last puzzle 8. Nervous ____ on a hot “Eh” 21. Convened tin roof 57. It may have a hook 24. President’s annual 14. Have another birthday 58. What a pop-up link delivery to Cong. 15. Je ne sais ____ might lead to 25. Quaint gestures of 16. Jumping-in-a-puddle 60. “That man is looking to gratitude sound put someone out of a job” 26. Jackson 5 brother 17. “Leave the joke-telling 62. “ASAP!” 28. Barack’s first chief of to me” 63. Archipelago part staff 19. “Wuthering Heights” 64. Giorgio’s god 30. DVD remote button author 65. 2017 Tony winner “Dear 31. Opposite of ‘neath 20. Old-school Evan ____” 32. Nonagenarian, for one “Fuhgeddaboudit!” 66. Hit 100, say 34. Largest city on the 21. Astronaut Jemison 67. Tax ID Rhone 22. ____ Lanka 35. Suffix with señor 23. Ax and adz Down 36. Org. with Sharks and 24. “Yeah, that girl was 1. Coat that’s hard to take Penguins definitely crying” off 38. Laze 27. Bad place for a frog 2. “I” pad? 39. Starbucks offering 29. Jackhammer product 3. Ashton Kutcher TV role 40. [Kiss!] 30. Rock’s ____ Fighters 4. Game played with a 45. Plop down 33. Brief writer, briefly dotted ball 46. Capsized, with “over” 34. Admits 5. What you might do with 47. Introvert’s focus 37. “Together, you and I can gas or a fist 48. Kind of infection physically prevent me from 6. “____-hoo!” 49. Monster slain by talking” 7. What Marcie calls Hercules 41. Archenemy of the Peppermint Patty in 50. A/C cooling agent Fantastic Four “Peanuts” 52. PEDs, in slang 42. “Letters From ____ Jima” 8. “There’s no such thing 53. Actor Elba 43. “Do the Right Thing” ____ publicity” 54. “Keep your ____ the ball” pizzeria owner 9. Terse cop order 57. French miss: Abbr. 44. Toilet paper layer 10. Teléfono greeting 59. ____ and outs 45. Hits bottom? 11. Meeting of the minds 60. Casual greetings 48. “That woman is up for 12. “Ad ____” (2019 Brad Pitt 61. Psychic gift

June 17, 2020 ErieReader.com | Erie Reader | 31