Page 3 - Florida Sentinel 1-10-17 Online Edition

Features
Talladega College President Tells Of Death Threats Because Band Is Marching In Trump’s Parade During Visit To Tampa
Firemen Battle Three House Fires Over Weekend
DR. BILLY C.
TALLADEGA COLLEGE MARCHING TORNADOES President
HAWKINS
BY KENYA WOODARD Sentinel Feature Writer
TAMPA – The controversy involving the band of Al- abama’s oldest, private, histor- ically Black college has taken an ugly turn.
Dr. Billy C. Hawkins,
president of Alabama’s Tal- ladega College, said he and Board of Trustees president, Harry Coaxum have received death threats in the wake of the school’s announcement that its Marching Tornadoes will par- ticipate in the upcoming inau- guration parade for President-elect Donald Trump.
“My life has been threat- ened,” Dr. Hawkins told a several Talladega graduates at a Tampa alumni chapter meet- ing held on Sunday. “The chair- man has received threats.”
Dr. Hawkins said such actions, however, have not moved him to consider can- celling the band’s appearance – yet.
“Don’t assume we’re not still looking at this,” he said. “I would say to you: stay tuned. Some things may change.”
Dr. Hawkins swung through Tampa after leaving a convention of the Council of Independent Colleges in Or- lando. At Sunday’s meeting, he addressed the band contro- versy before offering updates on the college’s construction projects and accreditation sta- tus, as he was scheduled to do.
In a separate interview with the Florida Sentinel Bulletin, Dr. Hawkins said student safety is his primary concern and is at the root of any deci- sion he makes.
The parade is less than two weeks away, but he said a dead- line to reach a final resolution does not loom over him.
“It’s a daily conversation,” he said. “My position is if it’s in the best interest of our stu- dents, I won’t send them to Washington, D.C.”
The band’s decision to ac- cept the invitation from Trump’s inauguration com- mittee has drawn outrage and invoked alumna Shirley Pratt Ferrill to start an online peti- tion on www.change.org ask- ing the band to withdraw from the parade.
Failing to do so would “give the appearance of supporting him,” Pratt Ferrill said on her webpage.
Opened in 1867, Talladega carries the distinction of being founded by former slaves. Most of the campus and many of its buildings are listed on the Na- tional Register of Historic Places as the Talladega Historic District.
One of those buildings, Sav- ery Library, houses the famed Amistad Mutiny murals painted during the Great De- pression by Black artist Hale Woodruff.
Dr. Hawkins – who was named Talladega’s president in 2009 – told Tampa alumni the murals could be housed in a proposed museum and be a part of the Alabama Civil Rights Trail if appropriations are approved when the state legislature convenes next month.
This development is one reason the college is avoiding politicizing its participation in the parade, he said.
“I’ve been very careful that the message is we are non-par- tisan,” he said.
Dr. Hawkins echoed the same sentiment in a statement released last Thursday, saying “...we feel the inauguration of a new president is not a political event, but a civil ceremony cel- ebrating the transfer of power.”
Some alumni have ex- pressed support for Hawkins and the band including Dollan Young, who also posted a pe- tition on www.change.org standing in agreement with the college’s decision.
Zenda Bowie, president of Talladega’s national alumni association, in a statement called the event a “once in a lifetime opportunity for our students” that was “not an en- dorsement of any candidate.”
Tampa alumni chapter president Rosalyn D. Earl said she doesn’t believe the band’s participation in the pa- rade equals support of Trump or his beliefs.
“I don’t have a negative feeling about the band going,” she said in an interview with the Florida Sentinel Bulletin.
Tampa alum Dr. Kevin Scott, however, said he feels differently.
After listening to Hawkins, Scott said he’s more sensitive to the college’s position, but remains opposed to band members’ participa- tion, he said.
“I still wish they wouldn’t go,” he said.
1801 E. 21st Avenue
1207 E. Osborne
Firemen responded to 1207 E. Osborne Avenue, at 1:57 a.m., Sunday. Firemen found smoke coming from the attic of the single story home. Firemen battled the blaze and brought it under control by 2:18 a.m.
There were no people in- side the home, however, two dogs died in the fire.
Fire investigators said the fire occurred because of a work light was lying on tow- els and rags, and ignited.
The home suffered about $35,000 in damages.
The Tampa Fire Depart- ment responded to three fires this weekend. All of the fires were located in East Tampa.
The first fire took place Saturday night at 2627 E. 31st Avenue. The firemen re- sponded to the location at 7:15 p.m., and found smoke and flames coming from the roof. The structure was va- cant and the windows were boarded up. The fire was brought under control by 7:23 p.m.
Investigators believe the fire was started by vagrants
trying to keep warm. There were no injuries and the fire was ruled accidental.
The second fire was re- ported at 1:23 a.m., Sunday and took place at 1801 E. 21st Avenue. When firemen ar- rived, they discovered smoke and flames coming from the roof of the wooden structure. This home was also vacant and had no electrical power. It was brought under control by 1:47 a.m.
Investigators also said va- grants entered the home and started the fire to keep warm.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2017 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 3