Propestors to Rally in Opposition to Trump
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Week of January 16 - January 22,, 2017 Providing ‘News that matters’ for years VVOOLL.. XXCCII NNOO.. 1188 Since 1925 9w1 ww.louisianaweekly.com 50 cents Punishing poverty through prison costs city millions, study finds By Kari Dequine Harden Justice release a report showing that bail, amounts to imprisoning people for being poor. Contributing Writer fines and fees cost the city significantly The Vera report reveals the burden on tax - more than they bring in. payers to keep people in jail who are awaiting Just two days before the New Orleans City The issue is part of a growing one national - trial and can’t make bail, and the human toll. Council unanimously voted to allow people ly, and there have been numerous lawsuits in The study found that jailing people for not charged with minor municipal offenses to be recent years, including out of New Orleans, released without bail, the Vera Institute of challenging the constitutionality of what Continued on Pg. 8 The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., at the Lincoln Memorial on May 17, 1957, calls on the government to put more teeth in the Supreme Court’s desegregation decisions. King told the tens of thousands that had gathered that both Democrats and Republicans have betrayed the caAuP sFeile o Pfh ojutos/Ctihcaerle os nG ocrriy vil rights questions. Dream of a just city still not a reality, some say As the city, state and nation pause to reflect on the legacy of the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., some in New Orleans say that the Dream expressed so eloquently by King at the Historic March on Washington is still not close to being a reality. Just days before the annual national holiday, President Barack Obama announced the designation of several monuments that tell the triumphant and defiant history of the Civil Rights Movement. President Barack Obama on stage with first lady Michelle Obama, daughter Malia, Vice President Joe Biden aAnPd P hhoitos/ Pwabilfoe M Jairltiln eBz iMdoennsi vaafis ter his farewell address at McCormick Place in Chicago, Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2017. “Today, I am designating new national monuments that preserve critical chapters of our country’s history, from the Civil War to the Civil Rights Movement,” Obama said. “These monuments preserve the vibrant history of the Reconstruction Era and its role in redefin - ing freedom. They tell the important stories of the citi - In final address: President Obama says zens who helped launch the Civil Rights Movement in Birmingham and the Freedom Riders whose bravery raised national awareness of segregation and violence. ‘post racial’ America was ‘never realistic’ These stories are part of our shared history. From des - By Hazel Trice Edney for a “more perfect union.” in this country face — not only the refugee, ignating Stonewall National Monument, our country’s Contributing Writer Amidst the pains of racism and discrim - or the immigrant, or the rural poor, or the first national monument honoring the LGBT move - ination for Blacks and other minorities, transgender American, but also the middle- ment, to recognizing the movement for women’s equal - (TriceEdneyWire.com) — In a tearful the president’s departing message was aged white guy who, from the outside, may ity through the Belmont-Paul Women’s Equality televised address before a passionate and that among the clearest strategies for seem like he’s got advantages, but has seen National Monument, I have sought to build a more exuberant Chicago audience, President progress is the ability for all people to his world upended by economic and cultur - inclusive National Park System and ensure that our Barack Obama gave his departing speech change their hearts toward each other. al and technological change. We have to national parks, monuments and public lands are fully Tuesday night, imploring African “For Blacks and other minority groups, it pay attention, and listen,” the President said reflective of our nation’s diverse history and culture.” Americans and others of diverse races and means tying our own very real struggles for to applause. “For white Americans, it means Local events marking the national King holiday include backgrounds to empathize with each other justice to the challenges that a lot of people Continued on Pg. 16 a wreath-laying ceremony at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial at the intersection of Martin Luther King Blvd. and Claiborne Ave., the annual MLK Jr. parade in the Lower 9th Ward on Monday and the City’s MLK march and commemorative program at City Hall. Last week, local leaders and residents talked about the need to continue the work of King and other leaders of Propestors to rally in opposition to Trump the Civil Rights Movement and a renewed effort to By Fritz Esker On January 21, the day after the inaugura - feminist Gloria Steinem and singer/activist Contributing Writer tion, the Women’s March on Washington Harry Belafonte are expected to attend. address systemic racism and a host of other problems and (womensmarch.com ) will convene. Local January 21 is a significant date because it challenges that continue to impede civil and human The inauguration of President-elect organizer Dora Lambert estimates that over falls between Trump’s inauguration on rights progress in New Orleans and beyond. Donald Trump will be met by protests from 200,000 men and women will participate in January 20 and the anniversary of the “Many of the things that Dr. King and others fought for New Orleans women in both Washington, this march, which will begin at 10 a.m. near in the 1950s and 1960s have still not taken root in New D.C. and in the Crescent City. the U.S. Capitol and end at 5 p.m. Noted Orleans,” the Rev. Raymond Brown, a community Continued on Pg. 16 activist and president of National Action Now, told The Louisiana Weekly Wednesday. “The local government continues to tax Black, Brown and poor people without any regard for their constitutional or human rights. “Black, Brown and poor people in this majority-Black St. Aug’s legacy on display at Smithsonian city are more likely to be racially profiled, targeted and When the Smithsonian throughout this nation’s history. Augustine High School during allowed to compete in the segre - assaulted by the police without cause, more likely to ben - Museum of African-American As WWL News reported last the early days of the Historic gated Louisiana High School History and Culture opened last week, the museum features Civil Rights Movement made Athletic Association. Continued on Pg. 8 year, President Barack Obama 36,000 artifacts that tell these its way to the nation’s capitol to While pictures are generally and other Black leaders cele - stories of triumph, courage dig - enjoy the spotlight at the said to be worth 1,000 words, brated the power the institution nity and resilience. Smithsonian and is a snapshot in the photo of St. Aug’s 1965 bas - would have to chronicle the sto - One of those stories that orig - history of Black New Orleans ries of people of African descent inated in the Seventh Ward’s St. before athletes of color were Continued on Pg. 8 THE LOUISIANA WEEKLY - Page 2 YOUR MULTICULTURAL MEDIUM January 16 - January 22, 2017 Race to Fill La. Treasurer’s Office gets crowded By Christopher Tidmore Treasurer stands as the marketing ceed Henson (who is not running). advocates around the state. Plus, Contributing Writer agent for nearly every piece of Not surprisingly, the term-lim - she enjoys prominent Democratic state debt acquired. He or she ited three-term House member crossover support thanks to her As 1st Assistant Ron Henson is liaisons with Wall Street, chairs echoed Kennedy in his work on Women’s Rights sworn in as La. State Treasurer to the Bond Commission, and in the - announcement with the words, issues—particularly from her replace his former boss, newly ory, stands sentinel over the fiscal “Louisiana has a spending prob - close friend New Orleans elected Senator John Neely reputation of Louisiana. lem, not a revenue problem.” Democratic Rep. Helena Moreno. Kennedy, candidates are already In other words, the job is critical - Schroder’s fiscally conservative State Sen. Neil Riser, R- lining up to succeed him, as the ly important, but does little to solutions, which he aired at his Columbia, also has said he intends field for the October 14, 2017 directly impact the average voter. announcement, have little to do to run, though, his performance in primary takes shape. Nevertheless, the once-political with the actual powers of his pur - his failed campaign in a special Henson takes office for his one- “dead-end” job has launched the sued office, but show how the election for the Fifth Ron Henson is pictured above being sworn in as La. State Treasurer last year interim term knowing that the careers of two U.S Senators, ‘bully pulpit’ of the Treasury can Congressional District to a flawed week. Henson, who was first assistant in the state treasurer’s office, average Louisianian has little idea Kennedy (albeit with two false serve as a powerful mouth - newcomer leads to questions of replaces John Kennedy who successfully ran for the office of U.S. what the State Treasurer does. starts) and his predecessor 17 piece—especially for Schroder, viability in a statewide contest. Senator, replacing David Vitter. Despite the title, the independently years ago, Mary Landrieu. one of the founders of the Former Republican House elected statewide position has little On January 9, Republican state House’s “Fiscal Hawks” caucus. Speaker Chuck Kleckley of Lake to do with the budget or spending Rep. John Schroder became the His most outspoken likely Charles has expressed a serious expand Medicaid would damage him popular across party and priorities.