California Advocate’s Graduate SALUTE TO 2007 Local Photos (SEE SECTION B1 – B8) Graduates & Celebrating our CSUF Grads Younger Graduates SEE PAGE B1 & B8 GRADUATES SEE PAGES B3 & B5 PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID 50 Volume 40 No. 22 – June 1, 2007 – Sections A & B FRESNO, CA cents The California PERMIT NO.35 AADDVVOOCCAATTEE Fresno’s African American Community Newspaper Youth Scholars Racial Death Threats Event on Obama Prompt Early Honors 1st Black Secret Service Protection Principal BY HAZEL TRICE EDNEY vice protection - apparently be- spending a lot of time worrying NNPA WASHINGTON cause of race-oriented threats on about or spending a lot of time FRESNO – Rutherford B. Rutherford B. Gaston CORRESPONDENT his life - says he will not be de- talking about,” Obama told the Gaston, The first African terred by intimidation. Another NNPA News Service last week. American Principal in terested in how the youth WASHINGTON (NNPA) – former Black presidential candi- “I think that all candidates for Fresno Unified School Dis- of today are seeing the fu- Democratic Presidential Can- date says the threats indicate a the presidency have some securi- trict, will be honored at the ture in our community and didate Barack Obama, who has resistance to change in America. ty risks. I don’t make these 2007 Youth Scholars nation. received earliest-ever Secret Ser- “It’s not something that I’m Continued on Page A4 U Recognition Event. This annual Youth Schol- Barack Obama Gaston, whose pioneer- ars Recognition Event will ing work in the District be held Sunday, June 3, helped pave the way for to- 2007, at the Veteran’s African-American Seniors day’s African American ed- Memorial Auditorium, ‘Bush is ucators, retired after 33 1:30-3:30 p.m. Over 80 years of service. African American students Neglecting Prescriptions Gaston is a long time res- from Fresno, Central, and Worst in ident of the Fresno Com- Clovis Unified School Dis- munity and is very in- tricts will be recognized. volved in both the African This is the fourth year of Because of Cost American community and recognition for Youth History’ the Fresno community as a Scholars completing the BY HEATHER FAISON a national study by AARP half of African-Americans whole. He is especially in- 6th, 8th and 12th grades. NNPA SPECIAL (American Association for expressed a concern about CORRESPONDENT Retired Persons) a number paying their prescription NEW JERSEY – of African-Americans are drugs over the next two Results of a national focus WASHINGTON (NNPA) – neglecting their medicines years. group among 303 Ameri- Many have had to deal because of high prescription “The costs of medicines cans, revealed that more than with stubborn relatives who costs. The study examines are critically putting peo- half (51%) indicated that “forget” to take their the experiences of adults ple’s health at risk,” said they agree with former Pres- medicines. But, according to and reveals that more than Continued on Page A4 U ident Jimmy Carter’s asser- tion that the current Bush administration is the worst in history. New Orleans Recovering, The communications re- search study was conducted by HCD Research, using its but Still Needs Help mediacurves.com web site, during May 21-22, to obtain NEW ORLEANS (AP) – city rebuild and bring back promise is unfulfilled.” Americans’ views on com- Mayor Ray Nagin, in his its residents. Nagin, in pre- Nagin called on Bush to ments made by former Pres- first State of the City ad- pared remarks Wednesday forgive millions of dollars in ident Jimmy Carter on Marilyn FernandezTye Tribbett Yolanda Adams dress since Hurricane Katri- evening, said President disaster loans the city took NBC’s Today Show on na, said New Orleans is on Bush promised “to do what- out after Hurricane Katrina Monday morning. the road to recovery but ever it takes to heal New Or- struck Aug. 29, 2005, to While viewing a segment called on the administra- leans. Because the funding help it continue to operate. from the Today Show, par- Gospel, Christian tions of both the president has not reached the affected He also called on Govenor ticipants indicated their Music Industries and governor to help the areas and the people, that Continued on Page A4 U Continued on Page A4 U Unite in Fresno for NORTH CENTRAL CALIFORNIA: 2007 Juneteenth the 2007 Christian New SEIU Local Celebration Hosted by Grandmother’s Love, Inc., The Music Awards 521 Celebrates Original Unknown Rider, One in a Million Hair Salons, and Delta Sigma Sorority, Inc., Two week Event two week event will kick XI Chi Chapter. Begins with Nationwide off with amateur nation- Rebirth of the Amateur Singing events wide singing events begin- When... Where... at the Radisson Hotel ning June 2nd and will cul- Friday, June 15 The Cecil B. Hinton and ends with Black Tie minate with a black-tie, red carpet awards ceremony Labor Movement Gospel Program Community Center Awards Ceremony at hosted by Mayor Alan 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm 2385 S. Fairview Ave. the Save Mart Center. Autry on June 15th. The Fresno, CA 93706 Proceeds will benefit FRESNO, CA – Central California commu- ceremony will honor some The newly formed SEIU nities. Saturday, June 16 the Mayor’s Gang of the industries top artists Local 521 officially kicked “This is an exciting time The Parade Special Events Prevention Initiative as well as those up and off Monday, May 21 with for Fresno and Yosemite,” 10:00 am - Noon & Theme Area... through “Bringing coming and will include celebrations throughout said Kristy Sermersheim, Broken Neighborhoods performances by 2006 Churches • Parade • Kid’s North Central California, President of SEIU Local Sunday, June 16 Area • Entertainment • Back to Life.” Grammy Nominee’s Byron marking a new beginning 521. “Now more than ever, Cage and Martha Munizzi The Celebration Arts & Crafts • Food for public and community residents have a strong orga- Court • Raffles • Clothing FRESNO – United One with Tye Tribbett, Joann services. nization that will strive to 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm Games • Prizes Productions, a local pro- Rosario, MASADA, Mari- In order to better provide provide the best possible duction company, has an- lyn Fernandez and the top quality public services, publc services for our com- Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration commemorating nounced that the 2007 three performances from members of SEIU last year munities, as well as fight for Christian Music Awards the end of slavery in the United States. Dating Back to 1865, the Solo/duet and Praise voted to combine five re- the rights of hard-working it was on June 19th that Union soldiers, led by Major General will take place at the Save Team categories. Over gional locals that spanned people everywhere.” Gordon Granger, landed in Galveston, Texas with the news Mart Center on Friday, $30,000 in prize money 17 counties, including Fres- “We are very excited to be that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free. June 15th at 7:00 P.M. The Continued on Page A2 U This was two and one-half years after President Lincoln’s no and Mariposa, to form united with other members Emancipation Proclamation, which had become official on one large local called 521. in a stronger union which January 1, 1863. The Emancipation Proclamation had little With almost 46,000 pub- will really emphasize im- impact on the Texans due to the minimal number of Union lic service workers as mem- proving the life for the pub- Troops to enforce the new executive order. With the surrender CALIFORNIA ADVOCATE bers, this new local is dedi- lic workers in the Cerntal of General Lee in April 1865 and the arrival of General “Your Local News Source” Granger’s regiment, the forces were finally strong enough to cated to providing top-qual- Valley and being a much influence and overcome the resistance. This day is celebrated Call 268-0941 To Subscribe! ity public services to North Continued on Page A4 U by African-Americans in honor of their ancestors. Page A2 The California Advocate June 1, 2007 Mississippi 1964 Murder Trial for Klansman Begins THE ASSOCIATED PRESS – lawyers hope to pick a conspiracy in the latest of said one of her cousins is when carloads of Klansmen of the three civil rights The first day of jury selec- dozen to decide whether more than a dozen civil married to one of Seale’s were chasing rumors of a workers, and the Dee- tion in the case of a reputed James Ford Seale, now 71, rights-era cases that have cousins. possible armed insurrection Moore case was turned over Ku Klux Klansman charged took part in abducting and been prosecuted across the “That makes me nervous, by black people in the area. to local authorities, who in the 1964 deaths of two killing Charles Eddie Moore South since the early 1990s. even though I don’t know The two were driven to threw out all charges against young black men brought a and Henry Hezekiah Dee. U.S. District Judge Henry him personally,” the woman the Homochitto National Seale and Edwards. Faulknerian cast of charac- The two 19-year-olds were T. Wingate is keeping ju- said nodding toward Seale. Forest and beaten, then The Justice Department ters to a federal courtroom beaten and dumped, still rors’ names a secret at the Among the 20 other peo- stuffed into a trunk and driv- reopened an investigation in Wednesday. alive, into the Mississippi request of prosecutors who ple dismissed from the ini- en more than 70 miles to the 2000. The FBI closed the Mississippi’s rural roots River.