THE FLORIDA STAR, NORTHEAST FLORIDA’S OLDEST, LARGEST, MOST READ AFRICAN AMERICAN OWNED NEWSPAPER The Florida Star Presorted Standard P. O. Box 40629 U.S. Postage Paid Court Blocks Florida Restrictions on Felons’ Voting Rights Jacksonville, FL 32203 Jacksonville, FL Permit No. 3617 Florida cannot, for now, bar felons who served their time from registering to vote simply because they have failed to pay all fi nes and fees stemming from their cases, a federal appeals court ruled Wednesday. A three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a Tallahassee federal judge’s pre- Can’t Get to the Store? liminary injunction that a state law implementing Amendment 4 amounted to an unfair poll tax that would Have The Star Delivered! disenfranchise many of the released felons. Florida voters in 2018 adopted a state constitutional amendment that returned the right to vote to all convicted felons “upon completion of all terms of sentence including parole and probation.” Read The Florida and Georgia Star Newspapers. thefl oridastar.com Listen to IMPACT Radio Talk Show. The people’s choice FEBRUARY 22 - FEBRUARY 28, 2020 VOLUME 69, NUMBER 45 $1.00 JARRETT ADAMS: FALSELY ACCUSEDMan Re-enters Society as an Attorney Atlantic Beach City Commissioner, Brittany Norris, refl ect on U.S. Army Sgt. First Class Leroy Everett By Lauren Victoria Burke at a recent dedication ceremony for Leroy Everett NNPA Newswire Contributor Memorial Parkway and remembering his legacy. arrett Adams spent ten years in prison for a crime he did not commit. Adams was Community wrongfully convicted of sexual assault at age 17. He was then sentenced to 28 yearsJ in prison at a maximum-security prison. Honored After fi ling numerous appeals Adams was ex- onerated with the assistance of the Wisconsin Innocence Project. Leroy Everett Adams would end up serving close to By Brittany Norris 10 years before fi nally being exonerated in For The Florida Star 2007. The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin denied Ad- I’m an Atlantic Beach City Commissioner and it’s my ams’ petition for exoneration, but on June 20, honor to represent the Marsh Oaks neighborhoods. 2006 the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Cir- I’m also honored to share a bit about U.S.Army Sgt. Please see ADAMS, page 8 First Class Leroy Everett Leroy was born and raised here in Atlantic Beach on Mealy Lane. This area Jarrett M. Adams was wrongfully convicted of here was his home turf. sexual assault at age 17 and sentenced to 28 years in a maximum-security prison. After serving nearly 10 He spent countless hours years and fi ling multiple appeals, Jarrett was exoner- there with his family, ated with the assistance of the Wisconsin Innocence childhood friends, ad- Project venturing in the pines amongst the palmettos and marsh of Dutton Is- land (then called Girvin island) … they would go crabbing … or hunting Trump Cuts Food Stamps for for squirrels … staying out all day until their at Least 700,000 Americans mothers called them Leroy Everett home. By Lauren Victoria Burke Trump Administration rule changes will cause 3.7 Leroy attended Douglas Anderson. At the time, DA NNPA Newswire Contributor million poor people to lose food stamps. was the only school on the Southside serving Afri- Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue and Brandon can-American students. Him and fellow students were The Trump Administration has fi nalized imple- Lipps, the deputy undersecretary for the USDA’s bused off the island into Jacksonville. He was a mem- mentation of new work requirement rules that would Food Nutrition and Consumer Services, spoke with ber of DA’s high school swim team … he would actual- cut food stamp benefi ts for 700,000 Americans. reporters for under 20 minutes regarding the chang- ly practice for swim meets, right out there in the brack- The average food stamp payout is $36 per month. es. The rule changes will take effect on April 1, ish water of the Intracoastal. A member of the class of Though the Trump Administration estimates that un- 2020. der 700,000 people will be impacted by their policy The work requirement rule change will cause Please see EVERETT, page 6 changes, the Urban Institute estimates that the new Please see FOOD, page 6 Six-Year-Old Rising Star London Rose Lands Two Tyler Perry Series And Oscar Nominated Film In One Year By Arthia Nixon adults who watch Tyler Perry shows automat- London For The Georgia Star ically calling your child out by her character’s Rose Sellars name.” plays the ATLANTA, Ga. — At just six-years-old, London Rose has also been confi rmed to daughter London Rose Sellars turns heads when she gets join the cast of ‘Ruthless’, the spinoff show to of Ruth into rideshares with her mother. First, there are Tyler Perry’s ‘The Oval’, currently one of the (Melissa L. the usual compliments on her cuteness, then hottest shows on BET. Williams) in familiarity sets in and the OMG moment of re- “You have to listen and do what the director Tyler Perry’s alizing the little girl was a part of the cast in says,” London Rose says of acting. “Some- ‘The Oval’ 2019’s Oscar-nominated “Harriet”. times it’s hard because you have to remember a and spinoff “If it’s not that, then they realize she’s the lot and you have to do it over and over until it’s show ‘Ruth- little girl who was kidnapped in ‘The Oval’,” right. Then sometimes you feel happy but you less’ which her mother Meckaela laughs. “It’s truly sur- are on BET. real to go from just minding your business to Please see TV, page 12 “We are not makers QUOTE FOR of history; we are THE WEEK made by history.” ‘Good Times’ star Ja’net – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. DuBois dead at 74 Story on page 12 PAGE 2 THE STAR FEBRUARY 22, 2020 Staff Directory OWNER/PUBLISHER CommunitListings are due the Tuesday before the next issue. y Follow Us! Clara McLaughlin Email submissions preferred. Send to: [email protected] Facebook MANAGEMENT Northside Church of Christ Presents Rinetta M. Fefi e @thefl oridastarnewspaper Twitter STOP THE VIOLENCE USE GENERAL MANAGER “Let The Bible Speak” Spring Gospel @thefl oridastar YOUR TALENTS: Opio Sokoni Instagram PLANS CANDLELIGHT VIGIL FOR Meeting SALES & MARKETING @thefl oridastar VICTIMS AND FAMILIES OF SLAIN Theme: Preparing for the Future Opio Sokoni Website: JACKSONVILLE NATIVES FEBRUARY 22 AT GLEN MYRA PARK March 7-11, 2020 Dan Evans www.thefl oridastar.com Stop The Violence Use Your Talents JACKSONVILLE, FL - All are invited to join the (STVUYT), a non-profi t organization created Northside Church of Christ for our annual Let the Bible Join the NAACP to expose talents and bring awareness of the Speak, Spring Gospel Meeting. Beaver Street violence in Jacksonville communities is set to Our theme: “Preparing For The Future”, March 7-11, NAACP ! host a candlelight vigil Saturday, February 22. 2020. We are located at 4736 Avenue B, Jacksonville, FL. Enterprise Center Surviving victims of violent crimes, family This year we welcome as I our guest minister Brother naacpjax.org 1225 W. Beaver Street, members and community leaders will pay Suite 112 tribute to those lost due to violence and uplift David Wilson, minister of the Kings Church of Christ in Jacksonville, FL 32204 Brooklyn New York. He will present a message of hope, Isaiah Rumlin the life and legacy of murder victims. “Families (904) 265-4702 never forget. Time moves forward, but families trust and encouragement as we faithfully move forward President are still affected by the pain. Communities “Preparing for the Future”. continue to be impacted by the senselessness”, Our week of events begins Saturday, March 7th with a G. Abrams says, founder of the STVUYT concert by our very own “Total Praise” who will Inspire The Church Directory movement formed in 2004 after the tragic loss you with acapella music at it’s best. Beautiful and “Come and Worship With Us” of his brother, Thomas Abrams Jr. and close Blessed!!! family member, Rickie Abrams Sr. 2002 Sunday, March 8th Family and Friends Day enjoy a full STVUYT encourages the community to day of fellowship beginning with Bible School at 9:15am, Greater El-Bethel Divine Holiness Church attend the vigil to light a candle together one “The Church Where Everybody Is Somebody” by one, as a symbol of support, refl ection and Morning Worship at 10:30 am, Family Dinner at 1:00pm healing. Community leaders are also encouraged and Evening worship at 6pm. Church Address: Mailing Address: to attend to continue the conversation of solving Join us nightly for Gospel Revival, Monday, March 9- 723 W. 4th St. P.O. Box 3575 the violent blight plaguing the communities of Wednesday, March 11th at 7pm. Jacksonville, Jacksonville, Jacksonville, Florida. Your local hosts for this amazing gospel event are Florida 32209 Florida 32206 WHEN: Saturday, February 22 Minister Charlie E. McClendon, Senior Minister and Al Telephone: Home: 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m (sunset) Jackson, Minister. (904) 359-0661 (904) 683-5919 WHERE: Glen Myra Park (in front of Cell: 710-1586 These two phenomenal ministers are also your host of community center) 1429 Winthrop Street the weekly television program “Let the Bible Speaks”, Bishop Lorenzo Hall, Pastor Jacksonville, FL 32206 which airs every Sunday morning at 7:30am on the CW17/ Stop The Violence Use Your Talents mission WCWJ!!! Sunday School...........................................9:30 a.m. is also to bring awareness of violence and the Morning Worship.....................................11:00 a.m.