Trial of Hinds County District Attorney Ends With
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www.mississippilink.com VOL. 24, NO. 47 SEPTEMBER 13 - 19, 2018 50¢ Trial of Hinds County Nia Franklin District Attorney ends with Miss America 2018 “NOT GUILTY” By Othor Cain Editor Having gone through two tri- als in Hinds County, with one ending in a mistrial; the other in a not guilty verdict, Hinds County District Attorney Robert Franklin Twitter Photo courtesy Miss America Pageant Schuler Smith faced a third trial this week in as many years. Appearing before an all white Another Black Girl Rocks jury in Rankin County, Smith was originally facing four charg- By Stacy M. Brown of arts and music helped me feel NNPA Newswire Contributor es in Rankin County; one of positive about myself and about aggravated stalking, one of rob- The genius, intelligence, who I was.” bery and two counts of domes- beauty and spirit of black wom- Her win set Twitter and all of tic violence. The two domestic en, which continues to trans- social media ablaze. violence charges have been put form the world, shined brightly “Congratulations to our new on hold. Both of these are mis- again Sunday as Nia Franklin Miss America,” famed radio demeanors. became the fi rst Miss America and television personality Don- Several African Americans in the post-swimsuit era. nie Simpson said. “Nia Franklin were a part of the initial jury “It took a lot of perseverance represented New York and won pool, however after three were to get here,” Franklin, the fresh- the crown last night. She’s obvi- dismissed by the state, in the ly crowned beauty queen, said ously very smart, very talented initial rounds of the selection after her win. “I want to thank and absolutely stunning. I’m so process, the all white jury was my beautiful family, my mom proud.” seated before the other jury pan- Smith and my dad, who is a cancer sur- Another popular radio show els could be seen. vivor.” host, Michael Lyle Jr., also “Jury members are usually f### you call about this situa- “Our relationship did become Both Alexander and Beas- An opera singer, Franklin is a couldn’t contain his joy for picked from the fi rst two panels,” tion.” romantic,” Edwards said. The ley offered closing arguments native of Winston-Salem, North Franklin. said Yemi King, one of Smith’s Edwards failed to fi le charges defense team told the jury that on behalf of the state. Each one Carolina and earned her mas- “Huge congratulations. Well- defense lawyers. “For whatever or seek help. After three years of Edwards withheld who she was hammering to the jury that they ter’s degree in music composi- deserved and another reason reason, the state struck two of doing nothing, the matter has fi - and why she initially reached out should fi nd Smith guilty. tion from UNC School of the why Black Girls Rock,” Lyle the three in the fi rst round, so we nally reached the courts. to Fears. “Mrs. Edwards befriend Smith’s team by contrast told Arts, according to her biography said. knew our chances of getting a Edwards testifi ed that she dis- Mr. Fears on FaceBook by say- the jury that the state did not as reported by CNN. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr., the jury of Smith’s peers were slim.” covered Smith was having an ing, you’re cute and asking him prove any of the two charges She moved to New York after president and CEO of the Na- Two days of testimony from affair with Wanda Fears after go- if he was single?” leveled against him. “Mr. Smith being accepted at the Kenan Fel- tional Newspaper Publishers state witnesses that attempted ing through his phone. Edwards Stanley Alexander, an unsuc- is innocent...he isn’t above the low program at Lincoln Center Association – the trade organi- to portray Smith as an offi cer of told the jury she befriended cessful opponent of Smith in law as is evident by him being in Education in Manhattan. zation that represents 220 Afri- the law who seemingly thought Fears’ then husband William on 2015, for the offi ce Smith cur- court and taking the stand,” the During the competition, can American-owned newspa- he was above the law included FaceBook. “I did my own in- rently occupies (DA of Hinds team shared. Franklin described how music pers across the country – said Christie Edwards, a former girl- vestigation and discovered who County) is one of the state’s at- After more than four hours helped her fi nd her identity. Franklin’s win is just another friend who’s at the center of this he was,” Edwards said. “We be- torneys for this case. of deliberations, the jury found “I grew up at a predominately statement on the outstanding trial. came friends and after 2-3 days Patrick Beasley, a former as- Smith not guilty on the robbery Caucasian school where there achievements of black women “I was afraid that nothing of communicating on FB, we sistant district attorney in Hinds charge and could not reach a was only fi ve percent minority, today. would be done because of who had lunch.” County, who worked for Smith, concensus on the aggravated and I felt out of place so much he was,” a tearful Edwards said. A short time after meeting, Ed- is also one of the lead attorneys stalking charge. Both sides opted because of the color of my Franklin “He said, I don’t care who the wards and Fears became lovers. against Smith in this case. not to deliberate any futher. skin,” Franklin said. “My love Continued on page 3 Black church sends message to Trump White House By Hazel Trice Edney president of the Council of AME of our battle. We will eliminate 45. people led in building America and Hamil Harris Bishops, is the visionary who But there’ll be more young aspir- through fi ghting in wars and even Triceedneywire.com called the “Day of Action.” ing 45s. They will be inspired by building the White House and U. As America prepares to return The high-spirited two-day event his conduct and want to grow up S. Capitol buildings. to the polls for mid-term elections drew hundreds to a day-long is- to be like him. We must watch for “Seems like the harvest has amidst racial tensions, continued sues’ symposium before the wor- those who are on the horizon who come but we didn’t get any of it. economic inequities and a presi- ship service that drew more than must come this way.” It was enough harvest for every- dent that appears to embrace rac- a thousand. After the rally the next Franklyn pointed out that Af- body, but the harvest was inequi- ism and shun truth, thousands of day, bishops and church leaders rican Americans are statistically tably distributed. The folk who got black church leaders and parish- traveled to Capitol Hill to meet worse off than any other racial the harvest, took the harvest and ioners answered a “Call to Con- with senators and representatives. group in every social category in passed it on to their children,” he science/Day of Action” last week, The activities recalled a 1960s America. He then paralleled the said to the applauding and shout- intended to send a message to the type movement, an awakening of current pains of black people to ing congregation. “We as pastors, White House and beyond. sorts. those by the Children of Israel in we must focus on what our people “Racism is not dead in America. Pastor Jamal-Harrison Bryant; Bishop Reginald T. Jackson; Senior Bish- “There’s one thing that’s worse the Book of Jeremiah as they suf- are going through. I don’t mean As a matter of fact, it’s not even op McKinley Young; Bishop E. Anne Henning-Byfi eld and Rev. Stephen than slavery. That’s to adjust to it. fered an economic crisis. the members of our churches. sick. It doesn’t even have a cold,” Green answer questions during a press conference at Metropolitan AME A slave should be maladjusted,” “The spring harvest has past I mean the collective African- said W. Franklyn Richardson, Church. PHOTO: ROY LEWIS/TRICE said the Rev. Jesse Jackson at and the summer has ended and American people!” chair of the Conference of Nation- the worship service. “It was hard though we have planted, there has The next day, Lafayette Square al Black Churches, preaching at a ery. But slavery provided a forum AME Church. to wake us up until Trump came been no harvest,” he paraphrased was fi lled with prayers, songs of worship service the night before a wherein our oppressors were vis- “Tomorrow at Lafayette Park, along. Trump is nothing but a the Prophet Jeremiah. “When you praise and calls for social Justice mass rally in Lafayette Park across ible and we could see them. They we not only want the occupant of wakeup call.” do not plant it is unreasonable to as the bishops of the African Meth- from the White House Sept. 6. were touchable. What makes the 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue – who Richardson, the keynote speak- expect a harvest, but when you odist Episcopal (AME) Church “We live in one of the most diffi culties of this time is our op- is living in the hands that black er at the worship service, agreed plant you ought to expect a har- hosted a rally across from the racist times in the history of this pressors are invisible.” hands built – we not only want that Trump is only temporary.