L.A. City Council Confirms Denise M. Verret as Zoo Direc- NBC4 Names Renee Washington tor of the Los Angeles Zoo & Bo- Vice President of News tanical Gardens (See page A-4) (See page A-4) VOL. LXXVV, NO. 49 • $1.00 + CA. Sales Tax THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12 - 18, 2013 VOL. LXXXV NO. 28, $1.00 +CA. Sales Tax“For Over “For Eighty Over Eighty Years Years, The Voice The Voiceof Our of CommunityOur Community Speaking Speaking for forItself Itself.” THURSDAY, JULY 4, 2019 Kamala Harris Rises in the Polls After Stellar Debate Sen. Bernie Sanders. Her performance at the The debate showcased debate gave her an oppor- Harris’ leadership skills as tunity to express her sen- she called command on all timents when she stated, her opponents when she “There is not a Black man stated to the candidates, I know, be he a relative, a “Guys, you know what? friend, or a coworker, who America does not want to has not been the subject “The biggest thing we can collectively do to support her campaign is to support her financially. At this point in the elec- tion it is through financial support that we can give strength and clarity to her voice throughout the country. Her voice is the voice we need to get this country back on track and provide justice for us all”. - Danny J. Bakewell, Sr. – Chairman & Ex- ecutive Publisher of Bakewell Media and Chairman Emeritus of NNPA – The Black Press of America. witness a food fight; they of profiling or discrimina- want to know how we’re tion,” Harris said during going to put food on their her pointed exchange with table.” Biden. “My sister and I Harris still has a huge had to deal with the neigh- reckoning to do with the bor who told us her parents Black community, regard- couldn’t play with us be- ing her past history as Dis- cause we were Black,” she trict Attorney and Attor- added. ney General of California. Harris went as far as AP PHOTO However, she is not shy confronting former Vice U.S. Presidential candidate Kamala Harris of the decisions she made President Joe Biden over while in those positions, his 1970s-era opposition to BY NIELE ANDERSON cratic candidates, Kamala According to a recent independents are backing even admitting in prior- inthe federal government’s Digital Editor Harris has managed to riseCNN/ SSRS poll, findings Biden for the party’s presi- terviews there have been role in using school busing to the number two spot after show 22 percent of regis- dential nomination; 17 some regrets. Neverthe- to integrate schools while In the crowded competi- the recent two-night Demo - tered voters who are Demo- percent Harris, 15 percent less, she is willing to - exhighlighting her personal tion of presidential demo- cratic presidential debate. crats or democratic-leaning Warren, and 14 percent plain her reasoning. {See HARRIS A-8} BY JENNIFER BIHM Contributing Writer The family of an un- armed Black man shot by county sheriffs in Compton joined the Cochran Firm in a press conference June 20, in the wake of a recently re- leased video documenting the incident. Twenty-four year-old Ryan Twyman’s family said that the video made it clear that their COURTESY PHOTO loved one was murdered. “My brother was human,” said Chiquita Twyman, Ryan Twyman’s older sister at What’s worse, they said, is a June 20 press conference. the possibility that nothing will be done. “Because, he isn’t the brook area, where sheriff’s Twyman for firearms pos- “We just want justice first and he won’t be thedeputies alleged that he session, when they were for Ryan,” said a tearful last.” used his car as a weapon informed that he often COURTESY PHOTO Chiquita Twyman, the vic- Twyman was fatally against them. At the time, hung out at an apartment Newly-elected NNPA Chair Karen Carter Richards tim’s older sister. shot June 6, in the Willow- they had been investigating (See FULL STORY A-8) {SeeTWYMAN A-8} BY STACY M. BROWN NNPA Newswire Talent competition gets a reboot and new category Correspondent LAUREN FLOYD One night, after many Staff Writer pundits said he acquitted himself well in the debate Every year, at in Miami between himself Bakewell Media’s Taste and other 2020 Demo- of Soul Family & Food festival, hundreds of hopeful performers au- dition for a chance to BLACK PRESS USA PHOTO showcase their talent in “People aren’t able to go to the doctor because they front of thousands on the can’t afford to and if you go to a hospital, you’re afraid to StarQuest stage at Taste of get hit with a $50,000 medical bill,” said Sanders, before Soul. That opportunity re- FILE PHOTO promising that a Sanders administration would work to turns this summer with the StarQuest contestant performing at Taste of Soul provide medical coverage for all. launch of the StarQuest Family Festival. 2019 competition. All -in cratic Presidential hopefuls, Sanders addressed a terested and talented vo- Annual Taste of Soul Fam- the ‘Gospel’ category to Vermont Sen. Bernie Sand- large local and national- calistsme can now submit a ily & Food Festival are the StarQuest competition ers arrived in Cincinnati to dia contingent, which alsovideo audition by visiting bringing even more rawthis year,” says Danny J. deliver the keynote address included many members of TasteofSoul.org and the talent and quality entertain- Bakewell, Sr., Founder & at the National Newspa- the Ohio press. Taste of Soul Instagram - ment to Crenshaw Blvd., Creator of Taste of Soul per Publishers Association Earlier this month, Sand- @TasteofsoulLA. but this year with an added & Chairman of Bakewell (NNPA) Legacy Awards Just like every year, category — Gospel music! www.lasentinel.net {See SANDERS A-10} Dinner. StarQuest and the 14th “We are pleased to add {See STARQUEST A-10} E. MESIYAH MCGINNIS/L.A. SENTINEL A-2 LASENTINEL.NET NEWS THURSDAY, JULY 4, 2019 Pop-Up Event Brings BET Weekend Festivities to Skid Row BY LAUREN FLOYD former music executive Twin, who designs T-shirts. Staff Writer Henry Butler and his wife - He enjoyed a plate of bar- casting director Leah becue as the DJ played Every June, the arrival Daniels-Butler. The organi- some old school hip-hop of BET weekend in Los zation partnered with the so loud, the whole neigh- Angeles means summer has Charles Oakley Foundation borhood could hear. officially arrived. The four- and Los Angeles Communi- “When you say, ‘home- day fan festival leading up ty Action Network, also less but human,’ it means to Sunday’s BET Awards known as LA CAN to bring everything because a lot of was no different this year the festivities of BET Week- people don’t feel human with concerts, entertain- end 2019, along with com- because we’re not treated ment, fashion and more. munity services, to an area like humans,” said Twin. Just blocks away from that is often overlooked. Part of that reason he said, the Microsoft Theatre where Over 850 meals were served stems from the poor repre- the awards show took place, to the community at the sentation of homeless peo- is Skid Row, an area in event. ple in the media. Downtown Los Angeles “We were so pleased “We got to better these conditions, people are just LAUREN FLOYD/ LA SENTINEL left for dead,” said Gener- Charles Oakley (left) poses with business partner Bo Grey (right). al Jeff. So, that’s why we got a lot of love and a lot of Skid Row residents that homeless community feels names and respect to ‘the of comradery here in Skid lined up to attend the event. left out and that just give back component’,” Row because you can’t “It’s nice to see a lot of because they are homeless said General Jeff, also just leave and forsake locals come out and a lot of nobody cares about them, known as the “Mayor of human beings like this if the Skid Row residents and no one is here to help Skid Row.” you’re really true to your come out here and have a them out,” said Diaz. “I good time today,” said feel like it’s great that Oakley. “You know, you’re we’re here because we homeless but you’re don’t just help them with human, it doesn’t mean you testing. If they ask us for give up on life. Everybody any resources for mental LAUREN FLOYD/ LA SENTINEL has a chance. A lot of peo- health, we’re able to refer Residents of Skid Row enjoyed barbecue with live music ple come from the bottom them somewhere else and and vendors. to the top.” AHF also just recently The festivities of the started ‘Healthy Housing’ where an estimated 2,000 with the turnout for the day included food, live to help homeless people people are living and experi- event. Everything was per- music and health and well- and provide housing to encing homelessness, men- fect! Food, dancing and lots ness services available for people transitioning out of tal illness and other traumas. of smiles. We are already free to the Skid Row com- homelessness.” The ailing symptoms of planning the next one,” said munity. Laura Diaz, a HIV The location of the pop- L.A.’s homeless crisis create the Butlers. testing counselor for Los up event was Gladys Park, LAUREN FLOYD/ LA SENTINEL the essence of the neighbor- Former NBA All-Star Angeles-based AIDS in the heart of Skid Row.