Page 25 - Florida Sentinel 1-20-17 Edition

Features
Some Residents Will Follow National Lead And Boycott Inauguration
MRS. BONNYE CREWS
HOWARD HARRIS
ROSS ANDERSON
RALPH SMITH
ATTORNEY RODERICK FORD
Doretha Edgecomb To Be Honored At YMCA Signature Event
Former Hillsborough County School Board Mem- ber Doretha Edgecomb will receive the Tampa Met- ropolitan Area YMCA’s 2017 Community Impact Award on Thursday, Feb. 16th at 6 p. m. The Regions Community Impact Dinner will be em- ceed by 10News WTSP News Anchor Reginald Roundtree at the TPepin’s Hospitality Centre, 4121 N. 50th St., Tampa.
Nearly 500 guests will enjoy dinner, awards presen- tations and videos showcas- ing the Tampa YMCA’s real impact on community mem- bers.
The Tampa YMCA recog- nizes and thanks Mrs. Edgecomb for her dedica- tion and positive impact on
Tampa Bay residents. Previ- ous recipients of the Commu- nity Impact Award include Richard Gonzmart, Tampa Mayor Bob Buck- horn, Hillsborough County Commissioners Ken Hagan and Sandra Murman, for- mer Florida CFO Alex Sink, former Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio and former Hillsbor- ough County Superintendent MaryEllen Elia.
Also during the event, Tampa Y Governance Board Vice-Chair Jennifer Mur- phy will receive the Red Tri- angle Award, given to volunteers whose leadership, dedicated service and devo- tion to the mission have made significant and lasting impact on the Tampa Y. In addition, 15 Center Volun-
teers of the Year will be rec- ognized.
Special dignitaries will be in attendance, including elected officials from Hills- borough and Pasco counties. To make a donation and RSVP for the Regions Com- munity Impact Dinner, contact virginia.liddell@tam- paymca.org or 813.224.9622 ext. 1281.
MS. DORETHA EDGECOMB
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
On Friday, January 20th, the 45th President of the United States will be sworn into office. Unlike any previ- ous Inaugurations, contro- versy continues to swirl around President-Elect Don- ald Trump. There is a na- tional movement to boycott the Inauguration by not at- tending it in person and not watching it on television. Some Tampa residents shared their decision as to whether or not they will participate in the boycott.
Mrs. Bonnye Crews said, “Like Rep. John Lewis, I be- lieve that Russian's targeted interference in America's 2016 presidential election discredits the legitimacy of the "win- ner". Therefore, I will support the television boycott by watching programs on any station not airing inauguration events.”
Danny Green said, “Yes, I will boycott inauguration on Friday. I will not watch it or have my TV on. I was planning on going to the inauguration if Hillary Clinton would have won. I'm so happy I did not make plans like I did when President Obama won I made plans months ahead.
“There are a lot of artists and stars who are not participating in the inauguration. I'm still upset that he won with the Russian hacking. In my opin- ion, I think the country’s going to be in bad shape the next four years. We need to stay prayed up.”
Howard Harris said, “Martin Luther King Jr,. taught us to be nice to ad- versaries and to get to know them, their plans, fears, weak- nesses, and capabilities.
“History shows the impor- tance of this lesson. Rev. King exposed to the world Birmingham's Bull Conners’ weakness of meanness to Blacks. Bull was shown on TV proudly in charge of water hosing, beating and siccing dogs on Black school children.
“Therefore, by exploiting knowledge of his adversary, Rev. King was able to achieve a major victory for civil rights by forcing Americans to see the evils of segregation.
“Now, America has Trump, who is a Bull Conner in a suit higher up the political
chain In the words of Langston Hughes from ‘I, too, sing America,’ we need to laugh, eat well, and grow strong for the battle ahead. So, "Yes", I will watch the inauguration and the ac- companying protests to better understand the buffoon who will become our president. Knowledge is power! “
Ralph Smith said, “Yes, I am aware of the boycott and yes, I will boycott. I am so proud of our public officials that are standing up and mak- ing their voices heard by phys- ically boycotting the Inauguration. They will need our support to continue to hold strong and resist normal- izing the behavior of Trump and his new administration.
“Trump needs to make it clear that he understands that he is to be the President for all the people, not just the ones that he thinks voted for him and supported him. As Presi- dent, he must understand that he is a servant to “we the peo- ple.”
“We will need our Senators and Congressmen and women to continue to resist allowing people like Stephen Ban- non and Jeff Sessions to serve in the White House and in the Cabinet. I am very proud of those that are stand- ing up and saying, no, this is not normal and cannot be tol- erated.”
Attorney Roderick Ford
said, “I am troubled with our national public discourse overall. Martin Luther King, III, met with Donald Trump and reached this same conclusion. We have got to find a way to work with, and to speak to, each other without being undignified and disre- spectful. Otherwise, our na- tion is lost.”
Ross Anderson said, “I did hear about the boycott and have no plans to participate in it. Also, I will watch at least a few minutes of the inaugura- tion.
“President Elect Donald Trump is the 45th Presi- dent of the United States whether we like it or not! The real issue should be on local and state elected officials.
“We need to make sure they stand firm on the platform they ran on when it comes to OUR community, education, unemployment, crime rate, af- fordable houses, etc...”
PAGE 2-B FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2017