CLEVELAND, Ohio- Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson, the city's third Black mayor who is two months into his third four-year term, gave his State of the City address on Wednesday at Public Auditorium and surprised people by giving the Cleveland Police Department a 'B' grade and an 'A' for professionalism, even in the wake of a deadly 137 shots gunning down of unarmed Blacks Malissa Williams and Timothy Russell by 13 all non-Black police officers who are still on the job. Moreover, the Ohio Bureau of Identification and Investigation, led by Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine, is re-enacting the shooting this morning that occurred on November 29, 2012 following a police car chase that began in downtown Cleveland and ended in neighboring East Cleveland in the parking lot at Heritage Middle School. And the U.S. Department of Justice is currently investigating police procedures and excessive force complaints.
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Mayor Jackson gives Cleveland police a 'B' grade and an 'A' for professionalism during State of the City address, unrest mounts around 137 shots police murder of 2 unarmed Blacks, tragic shooting is reenacted today, dead victim's family member comments
- 08 March 2014
- Kathy
Meredith Tucker hired by Ohio Democratic Party as its communications director as statewide elections loom, including race for Ohio governor, polls show that women, Blacks will likely determine gubernatorial race
- 08 March 2014
- Kathy
By Kathy Wray Coleman, Cleveland Urban News. Com and The Cleveland Urban News.Com Blog, Ohio's Most Read Online Black Newspaper and Newspaper Blog. Tel: 216-659-0473. (Kathy Wray Coleman is a 20-year investigative and political journalist and legal reporter who trained for 17 years at the Call and Post Newspaper, Ohio's Black press)
COLUMBUS, Ohio – As the elections for Ohio governor and other statewide offices for secretary of state , auditor, attorney general, and treasurer loom the Ohio Democratic Party announced earlier this week that it has hired Meredith Tucker (pictured) as its communications director, a powerful roll previously held by Jared Kurtz, who left to run a state campaign elsewhere
"Today, the Ohio Democratic Party announced changes to its staff as it puts in place a team to elect Ed FitzGerald and Democrats all the way down the ballot who are committed to fighting for middle-class families in Ohio," said Ohio Democratic Party Deputy Communications Director Brian Hester in a press release to Cleveland Urban News.Com, Ohio's most read digital Black newspaper. "Democrats across the state are excited to welcome Meredith Tucker back to the state party as communications director for the 2014 cycle and beyond."
FitzGerald is the Democratic candidate for governor and faces incumbent Republican Gov. John Kasich.
Tucker's hiring comes as polls show that Blacks and women will likely determine the election. A recent Quinnipiac poll reveals a 5 point gap with Kasich leading FitzGerald, a Cuyahoga County executive, 43 percent to 38 percent.
Hester said that Tucker has a track record of success, having played a critical role in the Ohio Democratic Party’s historic 2012 victories. Other Democratic party affiliates agreed.
The Dems are "thrilled to have her lead our communications team,” said Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern.
“From her extensive work with all of our statewide candidates, she’s well-prepared to hold Governor Kasich and his friends accountable for their attacks on the middle class," said Redfern.
Tucker worked on the historic Obama for America Campaign in Athens, Ohio in 2008. After the 2008 cycle, she worked for various campaigns, helping elect Democrats at the local and statewide level. She headed to Columbus, the state capital, in 2010 to serve as Representative Debbie Phillips’ legislative aide for the Ohio House Democratic Caucus.
Following her experience in the statehouse, Tucker served as regional communications director for the We Are Ohio campaign, resulting in the overwhelming defeat of Senate bill 5 (Issue 2), a controversial state law that limited collective bargaining that was pushed by Kasich and Republicans that voters repealed in 2011 following a campaign finance by unions across the state.
During the successful 2012 elections, Tucker served as the deputy communications director for the Ohio Democratic Party. Since then, she has worked as communications director at Precision New Media, helping clients, including many of the Democratic party’s 2014 statewide candidates, build and execute strategic communications plans. www.clevelandurbannews.com) / (www.kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com)
Press Release: Community activists call for indictments in deadly Cleveland police chase, support Police Chief Williams' new police chase policies, a message from Activist Kathy Wray Coleman
- 07 March 2014
- Kathy
Subject: Press Release on 137 shots aftermath rally coverage by mainstream media..Read below.. A message from journalist and community activist Kathy Wray Coleman (Note: Activists never planned the 137 shots rally in East Cleveland on March 6 for Heritage Middle School where a parent teacher conference was being held. That was some of community activist Art McKoy's slickness for a Channel 5 article with coverage. He is becoming a distraction and a tool for the media, himself and the police, some believe. The rally went forward as planned at the intersection of Lee and Terrace Roads in East Cleveland, a neighboring Black impoverished suburb of Cleveland, Ohio)
Community activists, victims family members to hold candlelight vigil and rally on March 6, 2014 at 5 pm to call for 13 Cleveland cops that gunned down unarmed Blacks Malissa Williams and Tim Russell with 137 shots to be indicted criminally
- 04 March 2014
- Kathy
Pictured are Cleveland police deadly shooting victims Malissa Williams and Timothy Russell, Cleveland Criminal Defense and Civil Rights Attorney Terry Gilbert (in blue suit) and Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Tim McGinty. Both Black and both unarmed, Williams and Russell were gunned down by 13 non-Black Cleveland police officers on November 29, 2012 with 137 rounds of ammunition following a car chase that began in downtown Cleveland and ended at Heritage Middle School in neighboring East Cleveland.
By Kathy Wray Coleman, Cleveland Urban News. Com and The Cleveland Urban News.Com Blog, Ohio's Most Read Online Black Newspaper and Newspaper Blog. Tel: 216-659-0473. (Kathy Wray Coleman is a 20-year investigative and political journalist and legal reporter who trained for 17 years at the Call and Post Newspaper, Ohio's Black press)
CLEVELAND, Ohio-Greater Cleveland community activists groups, victims and victims family members of police brutality and Black elected officials will will hold a rally and candlelight vigil at 5 pm near Heritage Middle School in East Cleveland at 14410 Terrace Road on Thursday March 6, 2014 to call for a Cuyahoga County Grand Jury currently hearing evidence from County Prosecutor Tim McGinty to issue a criminal indictment against the 13 all non-Black Cleveland cops that gunned down unarmed Blacks Malissa Williams, 31, and Timothy Russell, 43. Both were killed with a hail of 137 Cleveland police bullets on November 29, 2012 following a police car chase without reasonable suspicion or probable cause that began in downtown Cleveland and ended at Heritage Middle School in neighboring East Cleveland, a largely Black impoverished suburb of Cleveland.(The rally and vigil will be at the intersection of Lee and Terrace Roads in East Cleveland near Heritage Middle School. From downtown Cleveland take Euclid Avenue to Lee Road, turn right onto Lee Road and go two blocks to Terrace Road).
Organizers and contacts for the rally and vigil include Oppressed People's Nation Chairman Ernie Smith at 216-778-0998, Imperial Women Activists Group President Kathy Wray Coleman at 216-659-0473, Black on Black Crime Founder Art McKoy at 216-253-4070, and Khalid Samad of Peace in the Hood, who also leads the grassroots group The Task Force for Community Mobilization, at 216-538-4043.
"We will be there," said, Dorothy Sigelmier, a close aunt of Malissa Williams.
"I am pleased to help lead the rally and the police should be indicted," said Ernest Smith, an East Cleveland Community Activist who leads the grassroots group The Oppressed People's Nation.
"We will be there," said both Community Activists Khalid Samad and Art McKoy.
"The 13 police officers that did the shooting should be charged at least with negligent homicide," said Cleveland Attorney Terry Gilbert, during a previous interview with Cleveland Urban News.Com, Ohio's most read online Black newspaper."
A Civil Rights and criminal defense lawyer, Gilbert represents the estate of Russell, who left behind a 17-year-old son.
The officers at issue have not yet been punished and Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Tim McGinty, who is White and an ally to police in greater Cleveland, had refused to push for an indictment before a Cuyahoga County Grand Jury of the all non-Black 13 police officers that did the shooting. But now McGinty is presenting evidence to a grand jury.
Rally speakers include members of the Russell and Williams family, Black clergy, community activists, family members of victims of police brutality, and Black elected officials.
The deadly car chase that ultimately included 104 Cleveland and other police ended with the car Russell was driving and Williams as a passenger shot at with 137 rounds of ammunition, gangster -style.
One of the police officers , who is still on the job like the other 12 officers, jumped aboard the hood of Russell's 1979 Chevy Malibu Classic and fired 49 rounds through the front windshield.
Participating activists groups include The Oppressed People's Nation, Black on Black Crime Inc, The Imperial Women Activists Group, The Carl Stokes Brigade, Peace in the Hood, The Task Force for Community Mobilization, The People's Forum, Revolution Books, Survivors/Victims of Tragedy, The Greater Cleveland Immigrant Support Network, Sister to Sister, Stop Targeting Ohio's Poor, People for the Imperial Act, The Joaquin Hicks Real People's Movement, The Cleveland Chapter of the New Black Panther Party, Ohio Family Rights, and The Fairfax Business Association .www.clevelandurbannews.com) / (www.kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com)
'12 Years a Slave' wins Oscar for best picture, Steve McQueen is first Black director to win Oscar for best picture, Lupita Nyong'o, also Black, wins Oscar for best supporting actress in the film, Actor Brad Pitt produced the film
- 04 March 2014
- Kathy
LOS ANGELES, California — The brutal historical drama '12 Years a Slave' won best picture at the 86th annual Academy Awards Sunday night.
Steve McQueen’s slavery odyssey, based on Solomon Northup’s 1853 memoir, out did best picture nominees Gravity, Captain Phillips, Philomena, The Wolf of Wall Street, Her, and the The Dallas Buyers Club.
McQueen (pictured), the first Black director to win the Oscar for best picture, dedicated the honor to those who suffered slavery and “the 21 million who still endure slavery today.”
“Everyone deserves not just to survive, but to live,” said McQueen.
And Lupita Nyong'o (pictured), 31, also Black, won the Oscar for best supporting actress for the film, which was produced by actor Brad Pitt.
Nyong'o of African descent said during her acceptance speech that the opportunity to act in the movie as a role model for young Black women and the accompanying Oscar represent "the joy of my life."
John Ridley, also Black, captured the Oscar for best adapted screenplay in "12 Years a Slave."
More Articles...
- As the Ohio governor's race looms, and Hillary is set to run for president, the Ohio Democratic Party is to sue Governor Kasich over 3 voter restriction laws he signed into law last month, Plain Dealer editorial says the laws are voter suppression
- Congresswoman Fudge applauds the reallocation of federal funds for land bank monies for demolition to tackle blight in Cuyahoga, Summit counties in Ohio caused by foreclosures, abandoned homes, Fudge says monies will help restore property values
- Ohio Governor John Kasich delivers State of the State address, gives Courage metals to Ariel Castro victims, promotes JobsOhio and the Cleveland schools transformation plan, says Ohio has a balanced budget but has not done enough for minorities
- Former Cleveland NAACP President George Forbes bought homes for cheap stolen by former county sheriffs through illegal foreclosures, NAACP affiliates Attorneys James Hardiman, Michael Nelson are shielding judges, police and others hurting Blacks
