Week of March 20 - March 26,, 2017 Providing ‘News that matters’ for years VVOOLL.. XXCCII NNOO.. 2277 Since 1925 9w1 ww.louisianaweekly.com 50 cents Study: Blacks comprise majority of defendants who are wrongfully convicted By Frederick H. Lowe than other convicted murderers, the report stated. Contributing Writer “A major cause of the high number of Black murder exonerations is the high homicide rate (Special from NorthStarNews Today) — in the Black community—a tragedy that kills African Americans comprise the majority of many African Americans and sends many others defendants wrongfully convicted of murder, sexu - to prison,” the report stated. al assault and drug crimes who are later exonerat - Blacks imprisoned for murder are more likely to ed, according to a study released by the National be innocent if they were convicted of killing white Registry of Wrongful Convictions. victims. Only about 15 percent of murders by The report titled “Race and Wrongful African Americans involve white victims, but 31 Convictions in the United States” reported that percent of innocent African-American murder African Americans constituted 47 percent of the exonerees were convicted of killing white people. 1,900 exonerations listed in the National Registry The convictions that led to murder exonera - of Exonerations as of October 2016, and a great tions with Black defendants were 22 percent majority of more than 1,800 additional innocent more likely to include misconduct by police defendants who were framed and convicted of than those with white defendants. crimes in 15 large-scale police scandals and later Police assist in convicting Black murder Task force lays out plan for cleared in “group” exonerations. defendants through witness tampering, which The report examined racial disparities for the occurred in 21 percent of murder exonerations major crime categories of murder, sexual assault with white defendants but occurred in 39 per - prison population reduction and drug crimes, three crimes that produce the cent of trials with Black defendants. largest number of exonerations. “Many of the convictions of African-American By Della Hasselle annual corrections spending, prehensive reforms the state African Americans who were convicted of mur - Contributing Writer officials said in a 76-page could see a 13 percent drop der are about 50 percent more likely to be innocent Continued on Pg. 2 report released last Thursday. in prison population, and Louisiana has long been Annual corrections spend - save $305 million over a known as the world’s prison ing reaches nearly two- decade in the process. capital, incarcerating more of thirds of a billion dollars, the Ultimately, the task force its people than anywhere else. report found, yet the “tough projects a reduction of 4,800 Now, leaders of a task force on crime approach” does lit - prison beds by the year 2027. Hate groups increase for aimed at criminal justice tle to ensure more public Gov. John Bel Edwards is reform have announced they safety. Rather, task force among advocates for criminal have a plan to change that. leaders said, policies that justice reform who has touted second consecutive year as Louisiana’s Justice result in locking up nonvio - the plans put forth by the task Reinvestment Task Force, cre - lent criminals and extended force. He had long pushed for ated to study the state’s crimi - sentences for offenders only prison reform, and in his cam - Trump electrifies radical right nal justice system, found that contribute to the state’s paign for governor had prom - Muslims hit hardest with hate attacks as fear heightened the state’s taxpayers are “not bloated recidivism rates. ised to reduce the prison pop - among African Americans, others getting a good public safety But with a new plan, offi - return on investment” into cials say that through com - Continued on Pg. 13 (Special to the Trice Edney News Wire from the Southern Poverty Law Center) — The number of hate groups in the United States rose for a second year in a row in 2016 as the radical right was energized by the candidacy of Donald Trump, according to the How to reverse incarceration in Southern Poverty Law Center’s (SPLC) annual census of hate groups and other extremist organizations. The most dramatic growth was the near-tripling of Louisiana: Thirteen steps to stop anti-Muslim hate groups – from 34 in 2015 to 101 last year. However, fear has grown among many racial and ethnic minority groups. In a post-election SPLC sur - being first in being last vey of 10,000 educators, 90 percent said the climate at By Bill Quigley don’t arrest people for stupid non-violent their schools had been negatively affected by the cam - Contributing Writer crimes in the first place. paign. Eighty percent described heightened anxiety Two . Stop racial profiling. African- and fear among students, particularly immigrants, Louisiana was recently named “Worst State” American people are two to three times as Muslims and African Americans. Numerous teachers in the nation, again. One of the reasons was the likely to be arrested as whites. Even though reported the use of slurs, derogatory language and state’s 50th ranking in crime and corrections. marijuana use is roughly similar in all commu - extremist symbols in their classrooms. Being the incarceration capital of the country is nities, Blacks are much more likely than The growth has been accompanied by a rash of crimes tar - obviously not helping our reputation. whites to be arrested and convicted of marijua - geting Muslims, including an act of arson that destroyed a Here are a dozen plus ways for Louisiana na crimes. Overall, African Americans and mosque in Victoria, Texas, just hours after the Trump to stop jailing many more of its citizens Latinos are incarcerated at rates two to four administration announced an executive order sus pending than Iran or China. The cover of the recently released Spring One . Decriminalize victimless crimes — Continued on Pg. 13 Continued on Pg. 3 issue of the Southern Poverty Law Center La. State Police chief retires amid probes, controversy Just weeks after news stories surfaced LSP superintendent was announced Safety Services and Superintendent of many natural and man-made disasters, about four Louisiana state troopers who Wednesday in a joint statement with State Police. The search will begin Col. Edmonson has been a steady hand misused public funds to pay for unau - Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards, who immediately for a full-time LSP super - and strong leader for the people of thorized stops at Las Vegas and the said last month that there would be a thor - intendent to head the state’s largest law Louisiana. I, and many of the people of Grand Canyon as they drove from ough investigation of the 2016 road trip enforcement agency. Continued on Pg. 13 Baton Rouge, La. to San Diego, Calif. after the story was released by WWL “Today, after careful consideration and to attend a law enforcement conference News and The New Orleans Advocate . many discussions regarding the future of last fall, Louisiana State Police Col. Prior to Edmonson’s retirement after the state police, Col. Edmonson notified Mike Edmonson announced that he will 37 years of service to the Louisiana me of his retirement,” the statement said. step down on March 24. State Police, Gov. Edwards will name “Together, we believe this is the best COL. MIKE EDMONSON Col. Edmonson’s decision to retire as an interim Deputy Secretary of Public approach for the department. Throughout THE LOUISIANA WEEKLY - Page 2 YOUR MULTICULTURAL MEDIUM March 20 - March 26, 2017 Still pleading our own cause: The Black Press celebrates 190 years By Stacy M. Brown studied the history of the Black Freedom’s Journal , the Tri- State Contributing Writer Press and used the 190-year mile - Defender and the Chicago stone to reflect on the legacy of Defender paved the way for free - (NNPA Newswire) — The old - Black newspapers. dom, justice and equality. est Black business industry in “[What I discovered] help me Brenda Andrews, the publisher America began 190 years ago understand how the Black Press of The New Journal and Guide , today. played a vital role in fighting for said that after 190 years, the pri - On March 16, 1827, the first human rights, abolishing slavery mary challenge facing the Black edition of the Freedom’s Journal and outlawing lynching,” Rolark Press remains its limited human was published, thrusting Barnes said. “The lesson for us, as and financial resources needed African-Americans into the publishers, is that we must remain to continue to tell news from the bustling publishing business. important in our communities and perspective of being Black in At the time, Blacks in America continue to be the voice for victims America. weren’t even considered citi - and spotlight those who have “It is a mission that, at times, can zens, most were slaves and for - achieved success.” seem like making bricks without bidden to read or write. While mainstream media remain sand; tying shoes without strings; However, John Russwurm and seems distracted by the current pulling yourself up by your boot - Reverend Samuel Cornish rose up political atmosphere, Rolark straps without boots,” Andrews bravely declaring that, “We wish to Barnes said that its vital that the said. “But, for me it’s a personally plead our own cause. Too long Black Press continue to focus on fulfilling mission that has been have others spoken for us.” telling the stories that are relevant guided for the past 35 years by my Dorothy Leavell, publisher of to the Black community and deep spiritual faith.” the historic Chicago Crusader recording Black history. Andrews continued: “To keep newspaper which celebrated its NNPA President and CEO Dr.