Closing the Divide’ Have a ‘Year of Action’
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www.mississippilink.com Vol. 20, No. 15 JaNuary 30 - February 5, 2014 50¢ Obama hopes to Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership sidestep Congress to a platform for ‘closing the divide’ have a ‘year of action’ President Barack Obama delivers the State of the Union address in the House Chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., Jan. 28, 2014, giving special recognition to Army Ranger Cory Remsburg. (Official Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership 2014 Chairman Andy Taggart, outgoing 2013 Chair- White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy) Movie director and producer Tate Taylor man Socrates Garrett and CEO/President Duane O’Neill PHOTOS BY TAMEKA GARRETT By George E. Curry In a glowing review of his first By Ayesha K. Mustafaa followed by Garrett and Tag- Mississippi but it is happen- bring commerce and diver- NNPA Editor-in-Chief Editor five years in office, Obama said, gart. ing. The first was The Help, sity to a town. There are tour With a largely uncooperative, “Here are the results of your ef- With a changing of the “We have two more days which I filmed in Jackson and busses still coming to Green- highly-partisan Congress headed forts: The lowest unemployment guard - outgoing chairman of filming (the James Brown up in the Delta. That brought wood, Miss. into a mid-term election, Presi- rate in over five years. A rebound- of 2013 Socrates Garrett, and movie ‘Get On Up’) here in a $15 million impact to the “Since the release of The dent Barack Obama declared ing housing market. A manufac- incoming chairman Andy Jackson,” Taylor began. “Fri- Mississippi Delta. Help, they can attribute $5 in his State of the Union speech turing sector that’s adding jobs Taggart for 2014 - the Greater day, we go back to LA and “With the help of the Mis- million tourism dollars just Tuesday night, Jan. 28, 2014, that for the first time since the 1990s. Jackson Chamber Partnership finish up and this movie will sissippi legislators and the for the movie having been he will have ‘a year of action’ by More oil produced at home than (GJCP) once again held its be in theaters August 1 this governor, the film ‘Get On filmed there. That will hap- expanding economic opportunity we buy from the rest of the world annual meeting in downtown year.” He then explained why Up’ is filmed here. We will pen here in Jackson, as we through executive orders and oth- - the first time that’s happened in Jackson at the Jackson Con- he makes movies in Missis- have spent $27 million in are filming some of our most er action that do not require legis- nearly 20 years. Our deficits - cut vention Complex. GJCP’s lo- sippi. the state of Mississippi and important, key scenes right lative approval. by more than half. And for the cal office is located in down- “Filming here in Missis- half of it spent right here in here in Jackson. … Paris, “I’m eager to work with all of first time in over a decade, busi- town Jackson. sippi and in Jackson has been Jackson. I want to reiterate France - downtown Jackson; you,” Obama said in a speech that ness leaders around the world The presenters at the an- fantastic. Growing up here that every film and TV show Boston Gardens - downtown lasted a little longer than an hour. have declared that China is no nual GJCP luncheon painted as a boy, I went around town in my hands I want to film in Jackson; parts of Vietnam - “But America does not stand still longer the world’s number one a picture of a ‘closing divide’ making homemade movies my home state and hometown outside of Jackson. - and neither will I. So wherever place to invest; America is.” that was heard in the com- with some of your children Jackson. “I firmly believe that fos- and whenever I can take steps Obama continued, “…The ments from movie director who are in this room. And I “I’m a Jacksonian and I tering a filming industry here without legislation to expand question for everyone in this and Mississippi native Tate always hoped to have a career truly want to make this the is a unique way to bring com- opportunity for more American chamber, running through ev- Taylor, who dropped in with in film and this is a dream best place it can be and cel- merce and cultural diversity families, that’s what I’m going to ery decision we make this year, Gov. Phil Bryant, along with come true. ebrate what it has to offer and do.” is whether we are going to help speakers Duane O’Neill, “It’s been a long road in show it to the world on the ‘Closing the divide’ Repeating many of the themes or hinder this progress. For sev- GJCP president and CEO, getting my films made in big screen. That is how you Continued on page 3 he sounded in his State of the eral years now, this town has Union speech a year ago - and been consumed by a rancorous having seen congressional inac- argument over the proper size of tion on most of them - a frus- the federal government. It’s an trated Barack Obama promised to MIRA - Mississippi Immigration be more aggressive in using the State of the Union power of the presidency. Continued on page 6 Rights Alliance lobbies state legislators By Stephanie R. Jones Contributing Writer Hinds County Sheriff The Mississippi Immigra- tion Rights Alliance (MIRA) issued a call to the state Leg- Tyrone Lewis deputizes islature Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014, to pass a measure that actor Dan Aykroyd would allow children of un- documented immigrants to at- tend college for the same cost as other children who have graduated from the state’s public schools. As the law stands now, chil- dren whose parents were not born in the U.S. must pay out of state tuition rates to attend college here. About 60 people gathered for a news conference at the Mississippi State Rep. Jim Evans speaks to supporters of MIRA and House Bill 209 at the state Capitol state Capitol to bring aware- Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014. PHOTOS BY STEPHANIE R. JONES ness to their efforts and gain support of other Mississip- ans. “Human rights are en- er,” Evans said. source by denying in-state pians for House Bill 209 and dowed by God. I don’t have This education issue has fees for students of undocu- other immigrant issues in- any conflict with that.” come before the legislature mented parents. “Under fed- cluding the ability of undocu- Evans referenced civil before without success. Ev- eral law, children of undocu- mented immigrants to obtain rights leaders Dr. Martin Lu- ans was optimistic this time mented immigrants go to our state driver’s licenses. ther King Jr. and activist Ce- because members of the public schools. We provide Mississippi State Rep. Jim sar Chavez, who both won state’s Black Caucus met with them with a public educa- Evans, District 70 and presi- Nobel Peace Prizes for their Speaker of the House Philip tion. Some were brought here Sheriff Tyrone Lewis and Deputy Dan Aykroyd PHOTOS BY FREDERICK dent of MIRA’s Board of fights to ensure equal rights Gunn to discuss the bill. Ev- as young children who have SMITH Directors, said his position in this country. “Nobel laure- ans said it is seldom that the spent virtually their whole on immigration is clear. “It ates in Norway declared some Caucus meets with the speak- lives in the state of Missis- Associated Press Jan. 24, 2014, Lewis swore doesn’t matter if you came years ago that workers rights er and the occurrence was sig- sippi, in our communities,” Hinds County Sheriff Ty- in Aykroyd as the newest ad- across on the Mayflower or were human rights. Dr. King nificant. rone Lewis has a new reserve walked across the border last won for civil rights; Cesar State Rep. Cecil Brown, deputy: actor Dan Aykroyd. In Aykroyd night, you’re entitled to the Chavez won for human rights, District 66, said the state is MIRA Continued on page 5 Continued on page 4 a Friday afternoon ceremony, same human rights,” said Ev- they are indelibly tied togeth- underutilizing a valuable re- BOOK REVIEW: In Memoriam - Jim Hill School Share this issue with a friend “Love, Peace, and Pete Seeger cheerleaders by mailing it to: Soul” - Behind 1919 - 2014 to compete Inside the scenes at Soul in national Train championship Page 18 Page 7 Page 8 2 • the mississippi link January 30 - February 5, 2014 www.mississippilink.com PSA PSA Pink Goes Red For A Day Time 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. When Saturday, February 1st WheRe Jackson medicalmall~Center Stage Contact 601-624-3825 Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Rho Lambda Omega chapter will host a Pink Goes Red For A Day on Saturday, February 1, 2014 at the Jackson Medical Mall~Center Stage. The event begins at 10:30 a.m. Registration is at 10 a.m. Pink Goes Red For A Day is designed to raise awareness regarding heart health among minorities and women in the Metro Jackson Community. The event will feature free health screenings, line dancing and an informative session regarding heart disease prevention, stress, and nutrition. Free refreshment will be provided and attendees can register to win a $100 grocery card. In Mississippi, more women die from heart attacks than men. More women die from heart diease than all cancers, including breast cancer.