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Presorted Standard U.S. Postage Paid Austin, Texas Permit No. 01949 This paper can be recycled Vol. 36 No. 52 Website: theaustinvillager.com Email: [email protected] Phone: 512-476-0082 Fax: 512-476-0179 May 29, 2009 UNITED NATIONS TO APPOINT RUSSELL SIMMONS VILLAGER CELEBRATES 36TH ANNIVERSARY GOODWILL AMBASSADOR WITH AUSTIN URBAN MARKET FOR THE PERMANENT MEMORIAL Today’s ‘Top 25 Most Influ- ential People of the Past 25 years’, “was an easy choice,” he added. Ambassador Lila RAPPIN’ Ratsifandrihamanana of the Tommy Wyatt African Union highlighted the commitment of African countries to the initiative re- Thank you ferring to a decision taken at the 12th Assembly of Heads Austin!!! Honoring The Victims of State and Government “Time flies when you Of Slavery And The Trans-At- which “recognizes the endur- are having fun.” How many lantic Slave Trade ing and tragic impact of slave time have you heard that state- New York, NY - May trade as a crime against hu- ment? Well, take it from me, 20, 2009 – American entrepre- manity on the African people the statement is absolutely. It neur, hip-hop and fashion and its generations.” is hard to believe that, with pioneer, Russell Simmons Best known as a lead- this issue, we have completed will be appointed as the ing entrepreneur and hip- 36 years of publishing The Vil- “Goodwill Ambassador For hop pioneer, Russell lager. Who would have The Permanent Memorial To Simmons’ groundbreaking thought in 1973 that we would Honor The Victims Of Slavery vision has influenced music still be around 36 years later. And The Trans-Atlantic and the recording industry, (L to r) Villager Publisher T. L. Wyatt, Don and Sharon Ellerby and Michael Lofton is shown at There have been a number of Slave Trade” at the United fashion, jewelry, finance, tele- last years event. File photo. African American owned Nations Headquarters in vision and film, as well as the With this issue, The This event will be co- African American Books & newspapers that started and New York, on Wednesday, face of modern philanthropy. VILLAGER will celebrate its ordinated by Don and Accessories, Purses and more. died since that time. But our 20 May 2009 at 10:00 a.m. The As Chairman and CEO of 36th Anniversary as Sharon Ellerby, owners of Last years festival was so suc- supporters in Austin have hour-long ceremony will also Rush Communications, he “Austin’s Community Ser- African Visions. They have cessful that we decided to do it made sure that we survived. double as the official launch has consistently leveraged vice Weekly.” It was in May invited a number of their again. “Opening up our We have seen the good of the Trust Fund for the Per- his influence in the media of 1973 that the first issue of fellow vendors to partici- grounds to the Eastside busi- times and the bad times, eco- manent Memorial which will and popular culture to ben- the newspaper rolled off the pate in this event. The idea ness community is our way of nomically, and we are still acknowledge and benefit one efit and acknowledge disad- press. of the Austin Urban market, giving back,” says Villager standing. When the economic of the most profoundly tragic vantaged communities. A de- For the second year, according to the Ellerbys is publisher T. L. (Tommy) collapse came in the mid periods in the history of hu- voted yogi, Simmons also The VILLAGER will host a “Doing it the Ujamaa Way.” Wyatt. 1980’s a lot of businesses mankind. leads the non-profit division community festival featur- Cooperative economics has The entire community is failed, including a number of “It’s humbling to be in- of his organization, Rush ing some of the areas Afri- been acknowledged as a invited to come out to the Aus- banks in Austin. The bottom vited to join the UN Commu- Community Affairs, ensuring can American vendors. The way to grow all of our Afri- tin Urban Market and support fell out of the Real Estate mar- nity in this role as Goodwill its ongoing efforts to em- event will be held Saturday, can American businesses. our community, home grown, ket and business failure was Ambassador. In recognizing power at-risk youth through June 6, 2009 on the grounds The Urban Market businesses. The event is free to high in all areas. We are now the past, we understand the the arts (Rush Philanthropic of the newspaper at 1223 will feature food, music, the public. For further informa- in the midst of our latest eco- stakes in ensuring that some- Arts Foundation), social en- Rosewood Avenue, from 10 handmade jewelry, African tion call (512) 785-7045. All nomic downturn and strug- thing as devastating to the gagement (Hip-Hop Summit a.m. to 3 p.m. Visions hair & skin care, vendors are welcome. gling to survive. human condition as the Action Network), and higher We are happy to be Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade education for Africa (Dia- around to celebrate another will never happen mond Empowerment Fund). Filibuster Unlikely Against 1st Hispanic anniversary. We will be doing again,”statedRussell Mr. Simmons, a na- it quietly, but believe me, we Simmons. “My commitment tive New Yorker and the Appointed to Supreme Court are celebrating. And we are in life is to be of service to the proud father of two daugh- By JULIE HIRSCHFELD ist who would put her feel- happy that many of our local empowerment of young ters, is also the Chairman of DAVIS, Associated Press ings above the Constitution. businesses have decided to people living in struggle, who the Foundation for Ethnic Writer Julie Hirschfeld Davis, Sotomayor has said celebrate with us. We are all undoubtedly have been ef- Understanding, dedicated to Associated Press Writer that personal experiences "af- happy to still be around. And fected by this legacy. I look to bringing all religions and WASHINGTON – The fect the facts that judges a special thanks go out to Don the future with inspiration ethnicities together. He also top Republican on the Senate choose to see." and Sharon Ellerby for agree- and faith as we work every serves on the Board of Direc- Judiciary Committee said "I simply do not know ing to coordinate the Austin day to bring freedom and tors of several organizations, Wednesday he doesn't fore- exactly what the difference Urban Market. This is the sec- equality to all young people including Petra Nemcova’s see a filibuster against Su- will be in my judging," she ond such project and we are around the world.” Happy Hearts Fund, and is preme Court nominee Sonia said in a speech in 2001. "But looking at ways of making it a Co-hosted by the Per- involved in numerous cause Sotomayor, even though he I accept there will be some regular event. manent Mission of Jamaica to initiatives to empower people thinks her legal philosophy based on my gender and my It is going to be very im- the United Nations, the Mem- to be aware of and embrace should be closely examined. Sonia Sotomayor Latina heritage." portant for our businesses to ber States of the Caribbean their full potential. "The nominee has seri- publicans should attempt The White House and pull together for their survival. Community (CARICOM), the The Permanent Memo- ous problems," Sen. Jeff Ses- one. Still, seven Republican its allies, including Hispanic And we will need the contin- African Union (AU) and in rial, honoring the memory of sions said in a nationally senators currently serving groups with broad reach into ued support of the community collaboration with the UN the victims of slavery, will be broadcast interview. "But I backed Sotomayor's 1998 communities throughout the to insure the economic sur- Office for Partnerships and administered through the Per- would think that we would nomination to the appeals country, are readying a major vival of these businesses. It the UN Department for Pub- manent Memorial Fund by all have a good hearing, take court covering New York, push to persuade more GOP will be the responsibility of our lic Information, the event the UN Office for Partner- our time, and do it right. And Vermont and Connecticut, senators to back her confir- business community to em- aims to re-engage the atten- ships (UNOP). then the senators cast their and she was first nominated mation. ploy many of the unemployed tion of the international com- Completion date for vote up or down based on to be a federal judge by Re- A coalition of liberal in our community. The high munity on the horrific nature the Permanent Memorial is whether or not they think this publican President George groups calling itself the Cen- rate of unemployment in our of slavery, the Trans-Atlantic set for 2012. So far, the Fund is the kind of judge that H.W. Bush. ter for Constitutional Rights community can be directly tied slave trade and its legacy of has received $250,000 of the should be on the court." Sessions was among launched a television ad to the loss of our businesses. discrimination. projected $3.5 m cost from "I don't sense a filibus- several Republicans who op- Wednesday touting It has been the role of “We feel Mr. Simmons 25 of the 122 Member States, ter in the works," the Alabama posed her when she came be- Sotomayor as principled, fair- the African American commu- is an ideal candidate to es- co-sponsors of the United Republican said, after Presi- fore the Senate as a nominee minded and independent.