Page 8 ~ THE VILLAGER/december 9, 2016 THE DISPATCH www.theaustinvillager.com Fidel Castro Is Dead Man Arrested in Joe McKnight’s When Castro First Came to the U.S., Death; Sheriff Attempts He Stayed in Harlem and Met with Malcolm X to Defend Probe by: Rebecca Santana and Bill Fuller |

(Left) Booking photo released by the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office shows Ronald Gasser, 54, the man who fatally shot ex-NFL player Joe McKnight (right) in a New Orleans suburb during a road rage dispute. Fidel Castro and Malcolm X Gasser was arrested late Monday, Dec. 5, 2016, jailed on a charge of man- slaughter. He was initially taken into custody after the shooting last Thurs- By Frederick H. Lowe | Special to the Trice Edney News Wire day, but he was released without being charged pending further investi- from NorthStarNewsToday.com gation. (AP Photos/Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office and AP File) (TriceEdneyWire.com) himself a Communist un- mourning in Cuba. - On September, 18, 1960, til late 1961. President Barack HARVEY, La. (AP)— The sheriff said when Fidel Castro led a Cuba’s leader an- Obama visited Cuba in The Louisiana man who McKnight did have a gun Cuban delegation to New gered the American gov- May and met with Raul fatally shot ex-NFL player in his vehicle but no evi- York City to speak before ernment and the Ameri- Castro, Fidel’s brother. Joe McKnight during a dence suggested he in- the United Nations, they can Mafia by nationalizing Raul succeeded Fidel in road rage dispute was sinuated anything about it. stayed at the Hotel U.S. companies and invest- 2008 because of his jailed on a manslaughter It was his stepfather’s gun, Theresa in Harlem, where ments in Cuba and closing brother’s illness. President charge as a sheriff angrily and his stepfather’s ve- they met with Malcolm X, Mafia-owned casinos and Obama extended his con- defended the investigation hicle. poet Langston Hughes and bordellos, according to T. dolences to the Castro Tuesday, saying authorities During the news con- other African-American J. English’s book “Havana family. “strategically” waited for ference, the sheriff read leaders. Nocturne: How the Mob “Today, we offer con- days to make the arrest aloud some of the deroga- The meetings and Owned Cuba… And Then dolences to Fidel Castro’s because they needed to tory remarks about the in- Lost It to the Revolution.” their location caused an family, and our thoughts find independent wit- vestigation, including ra- Jefferson Parish Sheriff Castro, who had immediate sensation, al- and prayers are with the nesses. cially charged comments. Newell Normand though details of the con- overthrown the corrupt Cuban people. In the days Ronald Gasser, 54, “We have sometimes (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) versations are not known. U.S.–backed government ahead, they will recall the was initially taken into cus- unrealistic expectations of Two Black reporters and a of Cuban dictator past and also look to the tody after the shooting last how these things work … McKnight was rated Black photographer at- Fulgenico Batista in 1959, future. As they do, the Cu- Thursday but he was re- you don’t just run out and the nation’s No. 1 running tended the meetings, ac- delivered on September ban people must know leased without being start slapping cuffs on back recruit when he cording to the book 26, 1960, a scathing more that they have a friend and charged, drawing heated people,” Normand said. signed with the University “Memories of a Meeting than four-hour speech at partner in the United criticism from protesters He noted that on of Southern California. He Between Fidel and the United Nations con- States of America,” said who said race played a role Thursday, Gasser gave au- was a fourth-round draft Malcolm X,” published by cerning U.S. aggression President Obama. in the investigation. Gas- thorities a statement that pick of the Jets in 2010 and Black Classic Press. Castro and imperialism. ser, who is White, was ar- included him being fearful played three seasons for and Malcolm X spoke to Castro, Cuba’s Maxi- rested late Monday. and defending himself, New York. McKnight had a each other through inter- mum Leader, who McKnight was Black. saying that McKnight had 107-yard kickoff return for preters. launched his revolutionary Jefferson Parish Sher- made threatening com- a in 2011, and Castro also walked overthrow of Cuba’s gov- iff Newell Normand ments. At that point, au- it remains the longest play Harlem’s streets, shaking ernment in November pounded on a podium dur- thorities hadn’t inter- in Jets history. hands and talking with 1956 with an army of 82 ing a news conference ex- viewed any independent He also spent a sea- residents while drinking recruits, died after a long plaining the investigation. witnesses. One person son with Kansas City, and orange juice, according to illness Friday in Havana, “This isn’t about race. they had talked to lied to most recently played for Pan African News Wire. Cuba’s capital. He was 90. Not a single witness has authorities about what the Saskatchewan Thousands of Harlem Castro led the coun- said … a single racial slur happened, the sheriff said. Roughriders of the Cana- residents gave Castro a try for 50 years, defying was uttered,” the sheriff Normand said had an dian Football League. rousing reception. They the power of 10 U.S. presi- said. arrest been made Thurs- McKnight’s death stood in the pouring rain dents and numerous at- The case comes at a day, he was certain people was eerily similar to that outside his balcony win- tempts to assassinate or time of intense scrutiny in would be afraid to come of former New Orleans dow to cheer him. overthrow him, including the African-American forward. Instead, authori- Saints player Will Smith, They were unfazed the failed Bay of Pigs inva- community about the ties identified more than who was killed last April in by the government’s red sion in 1961, ordered by At a press confer- shootings of Black men, in 250 people they wanted to a shooting sparked by a baiting. U.S. Vice President President John F. Kennedy. ence, NFL quarterback particular by police. While talk to by identifying li- traffic altercation. Cardell Richard Nixon believed The announcement Colin Kaepernick wore a this case doesn’t involve a cense plates in the area at Hayes is charged with sec- Castro was leaning to- of Castro’s death sparked T-shirt bearing photos of police shooting, it has the time, and conducted ond-degree murder. wards Communism. But celebrations in Miami’s Malcolm X with commu- flared temperatures and more than 160 interviews. A decade ago, Gasser Castro did not declare Little Havana and days of nist dictator Fidel Castro. drawn protests at the The sheriff said several was involved in a similar sheriff’s department. witnesses were the key to altercation at the same in- It’s not clear whether making the arrest and tersection with a driver. Gasser has an attorney. made comments contra- The sheriff said that in Feb- Attempts to reach Gasser’s dicting Gasser’s state- ruary 2006, a man ob- family unsuccessful Tues- ments. served a truck driving er- day. He also pointed out ratically and called a num- The sheriff said the that Gasser didn’t ask for ber on the truck, speaking dispute between the men an attorney but instead sat to a man later identified as started on a bridge and with authorities for over Gasser. proceeded into a New Or- ten hours of interviews in Gasser and the man leans suburb, with both the days after the shoot- got into a fight on the men driving erratically and ing and gave permission phone and then Gasser yelling at each other. Even- for them to search his followed the man to a ser- tually, the cars came to a home. vice station, confronted stop and McKnight con- McKnight played him and hit him several fronted Gasser, who was three seasons for the New times. Gasser drove away still seated in his car, the York Jets and one with the and the victim called 911. sheriff said. Gasser pulled . Investigators found out a gun and shot The Jets held a mo- Gasser and issued a mis- McKnight three times, kill- ment of silence Monday demeanor summons for ing him. When deputies night before their game simple battery, which was arrived, the sheriff said against the Indianapolis later dismissed. Authori- Gasser handed them his Colts at MetLife Stadium ties have said they are try- gun and said he shot to honor the former run- ing to determine why it McKnight, 28. ning back. was dismissed.