University of South Florida Scholar Commons Newspaper collection The Weekly Challenger 2009-09-17 The Weekly Challenger : 2009 : 09 : 17 The Weekly Challenger, et al Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/challenger Recommended Citation The Weekly Challenger, et al, "The Weekly Challenger : 2009 : 09 : 17" (2009). Newspaper collection. 38. https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/challenger/38 This is brought to you for free and open access by the The Weekly Challenger at Scholar Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Newspaper collection by an authorized administrator of Scholar Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Presort Std U.S. Postage PAID Permit #2271 St. Petersburg, FL OPINION LOCAL LOCAL SPORTS Ron Walters on Obama fighting back 3 Local Gibbs H.S. graduate Justin Hires follows his dreams 4 Deveron Gibbons indorses Foster for Mayor 4 Bucs fall to Romo, Cowboys 7 50¢ We Value Diversity. We Value Education. We Value History. St. Petersburg • Clearwater • Tampa • Largo • Tarpon Springs • Safety Harbor • Bradenton • Sarasota VOLUME 42 NUMBER 3 SEPTEMBER 17 - SEPTEMBER 23, 2009 ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA Why African- Americans Are An Chief Justice Peggy Even Bigger Factor In Election And How Quince In St. Petersburg The ‘Obama-Effect’ With Her ‘Florida’s First Increased Their Fighting Forces Black Lawyers’ Project President Barack Obama BY GYPSY GALLARDO polls showed Rick Baker tied SPECIAL TO THE in a statistical “dead heat” with CHALLENGER Kathleen Ford. Then, just three days prior, The St. ST. PETERSBURG - Petersburg Times reported The Mayoral candidates have “black vote ambivalent in St. every reason to be strategic Petersburg,” with a record 43 about winning the support of percent of black voters still Florida Supreme Court with Justice Peggy Quince, center black voters. One obvious undecided. reason is that this year’s race is Come Election Day, ST. PETERSBURG - to the Florida Bar, dating from of Florida’s first black lawyers. Chief Justice Quince turned to sure to be a squeaker. Kathleen though, Baker had pulled Justice Peggy Quince made 1869. It is also inspiring current and the Virgil Hawkins Florida Ford and Bill Foster were ahead by 14 percent, with a history when she became the Justice Quince says, “Bias future lawyers, like our very Chapter of the National Bar separated by only one point in margin of victory over Ford of first African-American woman and prejudice really stem from own Attorney Jeannine Association. The Chief tapped the Sept. 1 Primary. 6,451 votes. That was courtesy to serve as Chief Justice of the lack of knowledge and under- Williams, who is the Immediate President Rachelle Munson and But more important than of the 7,085 new votes he Florida Supreme Court, but she standing of other racial ethnic Past President of the St. Judge June McKinney to that, there can be little doubt picked up in Midtown. Indeed, didn’t stop there. In town this groups.” Petersburg Bar Association and spearhead the initiative. that it was African-American African-Americans charted week as keynote speaker for a The project, which was an attorney for the City of St. President Munson subsequently voters who turned the tide to the City’s highest turnout rate St. Petersburg Bar Association announced during her historic Petersburg. Williams is one of adopted the project as part of her cement Mayor Rick Baker’s among any ethnic group (26.3 luncheon, Justice Quince is also passing-the-gavel ceremony, many lawyers who researched “Building on Our Legacy” win in 2001. percent). the visionary behind “Florida will soon result in a book that and co-wrote portions of the platform for this bar year. Remember how the race First,” a project that chronicled supporters say will foster a publication. played out? As late as 11 days ELECTION the oral and written histories of fuller understanding of the To implement the project QUINCE before the General Election, continued on pg. 10 the first black lawyers admitted struggles and accomplishments and bring her vision to fruition, continued on pg. 3 Black Newspaper Publishers Join NAACP’s Economic Boycott Of South Opinion ............................3 Carolina For Flying The Confederate Flag LOS ANGELES - The Representative Joe Wilson’s disrespect of President Barack Community News ...3, 4, 5, 6 National Newspaper Publisher’s outburst of “you lie!” that broke Obama by members of Congress Association (NNPA) decorum during President Barack will not be rewarded with our announced that it will not hold its Obama’s address to the Joint dollars nor will a state that Sports ...............................7 mid-winter conference in South Houses of Congress on health care continues to uphold America’s Carolina scheduled for January reform Sept. 9. shameful past by flying the Church Directory ........8, 9 2010 and is joining the NAACP “As African-American Confederate flag.” economic boycott of the state that newspaper publishers we stand in The NNPA is currently con- has been in effect since July 1999 solidarity with the NAACP and sidering North Carolina in lieu of Church News...................9 when the South Carolina NAACP fully support the economic its decision to boycott South called for it as a protest of the flag boycott of South Carolina,” stated Carolina. The group joins a host of atop the State House and inside NNPA Chairman Danny J. other organizations and business- State News.....................10 the House and Senate chambers. Bakewell Sr. “Rep. Wilson’s es that refuse to hold conventions The boycott, still in effect, calls on remarks were racist, disrespectful, or meetings in South Carolina. groups and individuals to avoid and a disingenuous violation— The National Newspaper National News...............10 traveling to the state for business not only of President Obama— Publishers Association, also or pleasure and discouraged but to the institution of the presi- known as the Black Press of residents from visiting South dency and only solidified our America, is a 69-year-old federa- Black History .................11 Carolina beaches or patronizing position and the importance in not tion of more than 200 black restaurants and motels. This spending black dollars where community newspapers from NNPA Chairman announcement comes on the heels black people are not respected. across the United States. Danny J. Bakewell Sr. of South Carolina Republican The continued public and blatant www.nnpa.org. How To Reach Us: News: [email protected] • Advertising: [email protected] • Phone: (727) 896-2922 • Fax: (727) 823-2568 2 THE WEEKLY CHALLENGER, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2009 The Weekly Challenger Newspaper The Weekly Challenger Ethel L. Johnson . Publisher/CEO L. Dianne Speights . General/Advertising Manager We Value Diversity. We Value Education. We Value History. Lorrie Bellinger . Art Director • A knowledge of history brings a feeling of fellowship that runs through the ages — be it a territory, a village, a district, or a nation. • To live without history is likened to living without a form of memory. 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Call (727) 896-2922 or Email [email protected] or Write to: 2500 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St. S., Suite F, St. Petersburg, FL 33705 THE WEEKLY CHALLENGER, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2009 3 OPINION COMMUNITY NEWS Obama Fighting Back, At Last! Crime Prevention Run And BY RON WALTERS health care and worked, whole system.