Af-Am Your VOICE OINT O IEW Your COMMUNITY P F V Your POINT OF VIEW www.afampov.com Our Community News Magazine august 1, 2020 WHEN THE BUILDINGS STOP BURNING “In the blink of an eye, white people were forced to VOTE realize the fragility of lives across racial lines.” By Dr. Bridgette Baldwin – 5 st BLACK LIVES MATTER TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1 “We are living through a historic moment and help- ing our children stand up for what is right, to speak out against injustice and to value diversity…” By Nicole Blais – 7 PRIMARY TIME IS BLACK LIVES MATTER RALLY “For hundreds of years, Black people have been over policed, overrepresented in jails and prisons, ELECTION TIME and endured longer and harsher criminal sentences By Frederick A. Hurst Frederick A. Hurst than people of other races.” By Hampden County Defenders – 8 t’s voting time again. But I assure you that And I don’t mind re- VOTE not voting at all is not the VOTE EVERY YEAR FOR EVERY Iminding folks of their JOSEPH P. KENNEDY III answer to your frustration SEAT… obligation to take a few UNITED STATES SENATOR especially if you are not “Young people who are just starting to vote cannot minutes out of their day to ALEX MORSE satisfied with the incum- do what our generation did and stop voting after a fulfill their obligation to UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES bents who are always few elections.” vote on September 1st for ADAM GOMEZ laser focused on getting By Zaida Govan – 9 candidates of their choice. HAMPDEN STATE SENATOR their voters out, which GARDEN OF HOPE I must admit my frustra- DENISE HURST guarantees their re-elec- Every plan to kill is fertilizer…for those who be- tion, however, at past low 9th HAMPDEN DISTRICT STATE REPRESENTATIVE tion―whether they de- lieve…that Black Lives Matter…” voter turnouts where the JACOB OLIVEIRA serve it or not―if you By Renay Intisar Jihad – 10 vote in communities of 7th HAMPDEN DISTRICT STATE REPRESENTATIVE don’t vote. color was simply unfor- To the contrary, the BLACK LIVES MATTER—TO givably low especially in primary elections. vote is your voice. And if you do not exercise it, and are WHOM? Yet, I must admit, I understand how difficult it is to known not to exercise it, then you can forget about get- “It’s an enormous battle cry with years of injustice, vote when voting so often yields so little from candidates ting the attention of people in power or those who aspire inequality, and institutional racism behind it that who promise the moon and all but disappear after they to be in power. You simply won’t count. everybody talking about it can’t possibly know its are elected. It happens altogether too often. continues to page 2 depth…” By Willette Johnson – 11 PERCEPTIONS… “I immediately noticed that the majority of passen- gers were unconsciously or consciously avoiding this one passenger. He was a young, African American man…” By Zelmon Johnson – 17 NO MENTHOL. KNOW WHY. “It’s no coincidence that so many people of color Joseph P. Kennedy Alex Morse Adam Gomez Denise Hurst Jacob Oliveira smoke menthol – it’s by design.” By Sara Moriarty – 18 ANONYMOUS VOTE “There is a lot of concern about how the Spring- field Police Department treats minorities in the st community and rightfully so.” TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1 By “Anonymous” – 25 af-am point of view page two august 1, 2020 VOTE, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1ST understand the reasons why they all his district while his primary oppo- Election Time have earned our respect and endorse- nent is more known for his absence. continued from page 1 Mayor Alex Morse for United States ments. We think our choices will all bring But an equally important reason necessary new life to both state and The election on September 1st is House of Representatives. for our endorsements is that our en- federal government and we urge you the primary election which is more For State Senator in the Hamp- dorsees are fresh faces who have la- to vote for them. important than ever because the win- den District, we endorse City Coun- bored selflessly for years doing We want to re-emphasize the ners of the primaries of many election cilor Adam Gomez, a long-time face-to-face good things for people in importance of voting in the Septem- contests will automatically win in the community activist who has spent their districts. We believe that they ber 1st primary. If Adam Gomez and November 3rd final election either be- several active years on the Spring- cause they have no November oppo- field City Council. And for State Rep- will not forget where they come from Denise Hurst win their respective th sition or because their opponents are resentative in the 9 Hampden and whom they serve, which alto- contests, they will automatically win too weak to mount a serious chal- District, we endorse Springfield gether too many incumbents often do. office because they have no opposi- lenge. So, if you put off voting until School Committeewoman Denise Two serve on school committees tion in the November elections. If the final election, as altogether too Hurst whose broad experience, polit- (Denise Hurst and Jacob Oliveira) Joseph P. Kennedy III wins his pri- many so often do, you will, in effect, ical activism and people skills will where the work is hard and the acco- mary Senate contest, he will coast to waste your vote. Voting in the pri- serve the people of the 9th Hampden lades few. One serves as a city coun- victory in November as will Alex mary election is extremely important. District well. Likewise for the 7th cilor (Adam Gomez) who has no Morse if he wins. So don’t forget to We at Point of View have some Hampden District, we endorse candi- qualms fighting against the status quo vote on September 1st. Jacob preferences who we urge you to vote date Jacob Oliveira whose record of for the good of his constituents. An- Oliveira’s opponent in the September for. For United States Senator we en- public service is extensive. other, Alex Morse, is the effective primary dropped out of the race but thusiastically endorse Congressman Each of the candidates endorsed mayor of one of the more challenging he will face a Republican opponent in Joseph P. Kennedy III who shows up by Point of View has a distinguished cities in the Commonwealth. And, November. and has demonstrated the compassion background that makes each unequiv- Joseph P. Kennedy III is well known There are other primary races and understanding that makes for a ocally qualified for the offices they for his hardcore, unassuming ap- but these are the ones we chose to good elected official. We equally as seek. For more information, simply proach to service in Congress and his focus on and we hope you will do the enthusiastically support Holyoke Google the name of each and you will constant contact with the people in same. ■ NOT VOTING IS NOT AN OPTION John Lewis Made America a More Perfect Union WASHINGTON, DC – July 18, 2020 – The nation “We honor the life of John Lewis awakes to the overwhelmingly sad news that Congress- by redoubling our work to man John Lewis of Georgia, a champion for democracy restore the Voting Rights Act, and civil rights, has passed. The following is a statement a law achieved in part from Kristen Clarke, president and executive director of through the violence he the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law: “From marching in the streets to fighting in the halls endured in Selma, Alabama of Congress, John Lewis literally dedicated his life to the while peacefully marching project of making American democracy stronger, more for the right to vote. We open and equal to all. Because of his sacrifice, Black peo- also recommit ourselves ple have had greater access to the ballot and have had the to carrying forth Lewis's ability to serve in elected office at every level in our coun- legacy by fighting voter try. He was fearless, tireless and a dedicated voice of con- suppression and working science for Congress and the nation. The world has lost one of its most enduring voices on civil and human rights. to ensure that every- one has a voice in Background: February 21, 1940 our democracy.” — In 2017, the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights July 17, 2020 Under Law honored John Lewis with the organiza- tion's highest award, its Robert F. Kennedy Justice Prize. While accepting the award, Congressman Lewis said, “When you see something that’s not right, not just, you have to stand up. You have to speak out. And Photo appleinsider.com you have to get in the way.” af-am point of view page three august 1, 2020 CLASSIFIED/REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS .................39 AN AFRICAN AMERICAN Point of View 688 Boston Road, Springfield, MA 01119 COMMUNITY Phone: (413) 796-1500 ● Fax: (413) 796-6100 Community Beat ........................................................................17 CONTENTS E-mail: [email protected] ● Website: www.afampointofview.com www.facebook.com/ https://plus.google.com/ www.twitter.com/ Community Calendar.................................................................39 AfAmPointofView +PointofViewSpringfield AfAmPOV Community Information ..................................................13,15,16 Point of View is a monthly news journal with an African American orientation. It is distributed Community Perspectives .............................................................6 free to select locations in Hampden and Hampshire counties and in Connecticut. Letters, articles and comments appearing in the newspaper reflect the opinions of the contributors Congratulations.....................................................................34-38 and do not constitute an endorsement by POV and are subject to editing.