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Hillsborough Alliance Of Black School Educators Achievers’ Award Ceremony Is May 7th
Letter To The Editor
Will The New Chief Protect the People?
The Hillsborough Alliance of Black School Educators (HABSE) has invited students of African-American descent with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher to its 22nd An- nual African-American Achievers Award Ceremony on Thursday, May 7, 2015, 7 p. m. at the Fairground Entertain- ment Center.
Invitations were sent to stu- dents attending Hillsborough County High Schools. Stu- dents have an opportunity to apply for book stipend awards and/or FAMU scholarships. Students do not have to apply for an award to come to the event. All invited students are welcome to come, and bring their families and friends to witness this celebration.
For questions, please call Mary Dance, President at 907-6801 ext. 235 or by email at mary.dance@sdhc.k12.fl.us, please reference HABSE Awards Ceremony.
Hillsborough Alliance of Black School Educators is an organization founded by 34 educators for support and col- laboration. The founding members vision was to create excellence and academic achievement for educators and students.
MARY DANCE ...HABSE President
Today the group has the same goals, in addition to be- coming politically active in today’s pertinent issues that affect African-American stu- dent achievement. This added focus was inspired by the be- lief that, when one has diffi- culty, it is up to all to create avenues for success.
The organization is open to all retired or working, univer- sity, collegiate, secondary and primary educators. The goal is to get a membership of at least 1,000.
For a membership applica- tion, contact Emanuel Burch, financial secretary at emanuel.burch@sdhc.k12.fl.u sor Mary Dance, president, at mary.dance@sdhc.k12.fl.us.
On this past Thursday, history was again made in Tampa by the decision of Mayor Bob Buckhorn to appoint Eric Ward as Chief of Police. Several years ago Bennie Holder made history when then Mayor Sandy Freedman appointed him the first Black Chief of Police for the City of Tampa.
I have personally had the opportunity to meet Chief Ward, who is a native born product of our Belmont Heights/Jackson Heights community. Also, after I met him, I took the time to notice that he is well qual- ified for the position as Chief by reason of his long-term service and the variety of his high level as- signments.
Unfortunately, the swearing in of Chief Ward just happens to coincide with the very recent public discovery that the Tampa Police Department (“TPD”), for the last sev- eral years, has been tar- geting poor, Black neighborhoods and using minor bicycle violations as an excuse to stop, question and search almost any
Black person riding a bicy- cle – as reported in an in- depth article by the Tampa Bay Times that docu- mented: “How riding your bike can land you in trou- ble with the cops – if you’re black”.
Well, Chief Castor is now gone and it is time that this policy of targeting poor, Black neighbor- hoods using minor bicycle violations as an excuse to stop, question and search almost any Black person riding a bicycle, should also be gone. No matter who he or she is, there simply is no reason why a new Chief should continue this policy that has every appearance of being a bla- tant denial of equal justice under law.
It is also important to remember that the ulti- mate Chief for the City of Tampa is the Mayor. Like- wise, don’t forget that the City Council has confirma- tion power over the Mayor’s decision to ap- point a Chief of Police. That is to say that the Mayor, acting alone, could utilize his power to elimi- nate this policy; or the new
Chief could eliminate this abuse of people in our community; or the City Council, in the exercise of its power of confirmation, could refuse to confirm a new Chief who is unwilling to stop targeting our peo- ple.
On the one hand, the decision to invite the U. S. Justice Department to re- view this policy and to evaluate how it is being applied was and is a good move. Credit Council Chairman Frank Reddick for the original idea.
On the other hand, the Justice Department is very busy these days and it could take a long time be- fore the Department is able to conclude its work regarding the TPD policy.
In the interim, it is very necessary to immediately stop the suffering. The question presented is who, in this instance, the Mayor, the new Chief of Police or the City Council, will act to protect the peo- ple? Clearly, the people deserve to be protected.
WARREN HOPE DAWSON, Esquire
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