Page 18 - Florida Sentinel 8-25-15 Edition

National News
American Heroes Who Helped Stop Train Attacker Awarded France’s Highest Honor
Black Families Nationwide To Stage First Ever Nationally Coordinated Baby “Lift UP”
French President Francois Hollande, left, poses for photographs with U.S. servicemen Alek Skarlatos (2nd left) and Spencer Stone (2nd right), U.S. student Anthony Sadler (right) and U.S. Ambassador to France Jane Hartley (center) after an honorary ceremony at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, August 24, 2015.
NEW YORK, NY — On August 29th at 3 p.m. EST, Black families across America will meet in pre-determined locations in key cities to lift their babies in unison as a sign of support and empowerment for babies. The first-ever National Baby “Lift Up” is part of the third annual Black Breastfeeding Week celebration, a highly anticipated week-long multi-media campaign to increase awareness and sup- port for breastfeeding among African American families.
The theme for BBW 2015 is Lift Every Baby, giving a cultural nod to the black national anthem, Lift Every Voice & Sing, at a time when the black community has been facing unprecedented unrest. We are seeing our children lives being undermined, undervalued and under attack by negative media stereotypes. As parents and ad- vocates we are excited to make this powerful, visual demonstration to the world that we lift up, support and cherish our babies,” says Kimberly Seals Allers, a co-founder of Black Breastfeeding Week and director of the First Food Friendly Community Initiative (3FCI). “If you can lift your baby, whether he is 8 months old or 8 years old, then we want to see you at the Lift Up.”
“Lift Ups” are already scheduled to occur in Charlotte, Detroit, Mil- waukee, Portland and Atlanta with more cities being added (See all location details at www.BlackBreastfeedingWeek.org).
PARIS, FRANCE ---- French President Francois Hollande awarded France's highest honor Monday to three Americans and a Briton who tackled a gunman on a train from Amsterdam to Paris.
Hollande presented the Legion d'Honneur to U.S. nationals Spencer Stone, 23, Alek Skarlatos, 22, An-
thony Sadler, 23, and British citizen, Chris Norman, 61.
A French citizen who also tackled the man in the incident Friday and who wishes to re- main anonymous and a French-American named by Hollande as Mark Moo- galian, 51, will also receive the Legion d'Honneur at a later date. Moogalian, who
was shot, remains in a hospi- tal.
"'You risked your lives to de- fend an idea, an idea of liberty, of freedom," Hollande told the men at the ceremony at the Elysee Palace in Paris. Since Friday, the entire world ad- mires your courage, your sangfroid, your spirit of soli- darity," he said.
Fathers Incorporated Partners With Omega Psi Phi Fraternity To Encourage 20,000 Black Fathers To Join Campaign For 20th Anniversary Million Man March
KENNETH BRASWELL Executive Director of Fathers Incorporated
ATLANTA, GA — Current trends are showing that Black fathers in America are spend- ing more time day-to-day with their children than any other segment of the popula- tion. While no one thing can take credit for the shift in be- havior or exposing more clar- ity on existing behavior, the news is something to be rec- ognized and be celebrated.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the historic Million Man March of Octo- ber 1995. It’s a perfect occa- sion to highlight the positive trends of Black fathers. “What better partnership to have than one with one of the most respected fraternities in the country; Omega Psi Phi,” says Kenneth Braswell, Executive Director of Fathers Incorporated. “The momen- tum is building for our Hon- orable Man campaign. In just a few short weeks the cam- paign has signed black fa- thers from more than 86 U.S. cities.”
Omega Psi Phi represents
over 750 undergraduate and graduate chapters, both na- tionally and internationally. “The Men of Omega firmly believe that the family nor the community will ever be com- plete without the contribu- tion of the father or a Black male father figure. The lives of those in our communities will be better when our young Black Men are given the chance to live to their full po- tential and contribute their talents and skills to society. We are committed to help make this happen,” says An- tonio F. Knox Sr., Grand Basileus, Omega Psi Phi Fra- ternity, Inc.
Up until the march, the At- lanta based not-for-profit and its partners will encour- age at least 20,000 Black fa- thers across the nation to sign “the HONORABLE man” pledge on its website www.millionblackfathers.co m) in order to represent the new 21st Century dad at the October 10th, twentieth an- niversary celebration of the
Justice or Else Million Man March in Washington, DC.
“As a member of the “Tal- ented Tenth” we have a duty to be actively involved in working with our fathers through highlighting the im- portance of their being in- volved in the lives of their children. As we face these most difficult times the fam- ily structure with the father present provides a strong support element to insure survival. We are committed to working to this end in every possible way,” contin- ues, Robert W. Fairchild, Chair, Omega Psi Phi Frater- nity Fatherhood and Mentor- ing Initiative.
For more information to support or promote the campaign, send an email to info@millionblackfa- thers.com. You can also join them on Twitter @million- blkdads, Facebook at www.facebook.com/million- blackfathers and our website at www.millionblackfathers.c om.
Jury Deadlocked In Trial Where Cop Fatally Shoots Former FAMU Football Player
N.C. Officer Randall Kerrick shot Johnathan Ferrell 10 times.
CHARLOTTE, N. C. --- After four days of deliberation, a jury deadlocked in the trial of former Charlotte-Mecklenburg, N.C., Police Officer Randall Ker- rick, 27, who was charged with voluntary manslaughter in the 2013 shooting death of 24-year- old former Florida A&M football player Jonathan Ferrell.
The 12-member jury—con- sisting of eight women (two African American, two Hispanic) and four men (three white, one African American)—deadlocked at 8-4, leading Superior Court Judge Robert Ervin to declare a mistrial.
Closing arguments began Aug. 18 at 9:30 a.m. and ended around 12:15 p.m. The jury was handed the case at approxi- mately 1 p.m. that day and strug- gled to come to a consensus on whether or not Kerrick killed Ferrell in self-defense.
Kerrick faced up to 11 years in prison.
On the night of Sept. 14, 2013, Ferrell, who was un- armed, was seeking help after a severe car accident when he
knocked on the door of Sarah McCartney, who was home alone with her 1-year-old child.
Instead of helping him, Mc- Cartney slammed the door in Ferrell’s face and called 911 to report that someone was forcibly breaking into her home.
Kerrick was one of several officers who responded. Once they arrived on the scene, police dash-cam footage shows Ferrell calmly approaching them before suddenly attempting to run around them at approximately the 10:09 mark.
Prosecutors argued that Fer- rell ran once he saw a Taser pointed at his chest. At that point, no command for Ferrell to stop can be heard on the footage, and the police had not identified themselves. Once he runs, shouts of “Get on the ground!” can be heard before the first shots ring out at the 10:14 mark.
Kerrick shot at Ferrell 12 times—with 10 bullets piercing his body—and at least eight of those shots were fired while Fer- rell was crawling on the ground.
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