Dreams deferred
Hopewell brothers jailed 72 days until charges dropped
At first, the story seems all too familiar. Two Hopewell teenagers rob two pedestrians at gunpoint near a private school, but are quickly caught when responding police officers scour the area and arrest them a few minutes later as they are buying sodas and pastries at a nearby convenience store. With police boasting about having strong evidence, the teenage brothers are kept in jail for two and a half months — twice refused bond because they are charged with a crime of violence involving a weapon. But just as suddenly, the case evaporates. The evidence does not stand up, and the brothers are freed to resume their lives.
Movie screening to raise money for Sudan refugees
Virginia Commonwealth University is hosting a screening of the movie “The Good Lie” 4 p.m. Saturday, March 21, at the VCU Commons Theater. The goal is to raise money to aid Sudanese refugees living in camps across the Sudan border in Gambela, Ethiopia, according to Manyang Reath Kher, founder and CEO of the Henrico County-based Humanity Helping Sudan Project. The group is organizing the fundraiser. An estimated 200,000 Sudanese now live in such refugee camps, Mr. Kher said.
Sen. McEachin to speak at Garland Ave. Men’s Day
Fresh from serving as chairman of the Senate Democratic Caucus in the recently adjourned Virginia General Assembly’s 2015 legislative session, Sen. A. Donald McEachin, D-Henrico County, will wear his ministerial hat at a North Side church’s Men’s Day celebration this weekend.
Personality: Samantha Thompson
Spotlight on founder and president of Esteem Teens
Samantha Thompson tries to pass along to youngsters one of the most valuable lessons she learned growing up in the Fairfield Court public housing community in Richmond’s East End. That lesson: “It doesn’t matter where you come from. Anyone can overcome those obstacles to succeed.” She founded Esteem Teens, a nonprofit mentoring group, in 2008 to impart that uplifting message to youths living in disadvantaged communities in the city. “We share our stories with the kids to do and be more than their physical address,” says Ms. Thompson, who serves as president of the organization.
Ferguson’s double message
U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder’s Ferguson investigation offers plenty for both sides of this dispute to hate. Seven months after the shooting of unarmed black teen Michael Brown by former white Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson sparked national protests and a #BlackLivesMatter movement, U.S. Justice Department sleuths found enough evidence to let the cop off the hook but indicted the criminal justice system in which he worked. That’s enraging to Michael Brown’s family and many protesters nationwide who wanted to see Mr. Wilson prosecuted. But the evidence kept pointing the other way, said Mr. Holder, who would hardly be called an apologist for police abuse or racial profilers.
The Arena brings back memories
Re “Hoop Dreams: Playing at The Arena was ‘big time,’” Feb. 26-28 edition: Kudos to the Richmond Free Press for its article by Fred Jeter. It was a jewel!
Little similarity seen in today’s immigrants
The executive action President Obama was pressured into last fall was nothing short of a third amnesty for illegal immigrants. Ordinarily, it wouldn’t be a sound policy, but it was politically savvy for advocates to compare the unjust treatment against black Americans to help elevate public interest.
Selma
Excerpts from President Obama’s speech at the 50th anniversary of the Selma marches
There are places and moments in America where this nation’s destiny has been decided. Selma is such a place. In one afternoon 50 years ago, so much of our turbulent history — the stain of slavery and anguish of civil war; the yoke of segregation and tyranny of Jim Crow; the death of four little girls in Birmingham; and the dream of a Baptist preacher — all that history met on this bridge. It was not a clash of armies, but a clash of wills; a contest to determine the true meaning of America. And because of men and women like John Lewis, Joseph Lowery, Hosea Williams, Amelia Boynton, Diane Nash, Ralph Abernathy, C.T. Vivian, Andrew Young, Fred Shuttlesworth, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and so many others, the idea of a just America and a fair America, an inclusive America, and a generous America — that idea ultimately triumphed.
Horace Fisher III, 66, longtime music teacher
Horace Fisher III was raised with an abiding love of music. “He told me his mother, Gertrude Anderson Fisher, would play music as she cleaned the house on Saturdays and they would sing to the music,” said his wife, Brenda C. Fisher. “And his father, Horace Fisher Jr., liked classical music.” Her husband, Mrs. Fisher said, also loved old musicals. Drawing from his deep affection for music, Mr. Fisher taught band and chorus in Richmond Public Schools for 35 years. He also acted locally and nationally in theater productions for three decades.
Activist to speak on faith, politics
Activist and author the Rev. Osagyefo Uhuru Sekou will share his experience protesting in Ferguson, Mo., and the role of faith in political activism 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 19, at Good Shepherd Baptist Church, 1127 N. 28th St. in Richmond. Rev. Sekou, a 2014 visiting scholar at the Martin Luther King Jr. Research and Education Institute at Stanford University, is the author of “urbansouls,” a collection of essays about at-risk youths in St. Louis, and “God, Gays, and Guns: Essays on Religion and the Future of Democracy.”
CIAA teams face tough competition in NCAA play
The CIAA men’s and women’s basketball champions have drawn daunting assignments for their NCAA Division II first round games in the Atlantic Region. Virginia State University’s women’s basketball team is seeded eighth — and last — and will play at first seed California University of Pennsylvania on Friday, March 13. Livingstone College’s men’s basketball team, also seeded eighth, will play Saturday, March 14, at top seed West Liberty University in Wheeling, W.Va.
Churches battling Selma’s ongoing problem — poverty
The world’s eyes were again on this small Alabama city, the epicenter of the voting rights battle 50 years ago. However, the crippling poverty that faith and community leaders grapple with daily was largely overlooked amid the commemoration of the long ago fight to end the exclusion of black people from the ballot box. For those who live here, the big march and the powerful words of President Obama were a passing moment with little impact on conditions. As Pastor Reginald Wells put it in considering the spotlight that Selma has been in, “We’re not benefiting. Oprah (Winfrey) was just here. They just filmed the movie ‘Selma’ here and the world is enjoying Selma” this weekend.
Concert kicks off church’s centennial
Founded in 1915, Thirty-first Street Baptist Church is kicking off its centennial celebration with a “Living Legends Concert.” The evening of music is scheduled for 5 p.m. Saturday, March 14, at the church at 823 N. 31st St. in the East End, the church’s pastor, Dr. Morris Henderson, has announced.
Male choruses perform this weekend
Soul-stirring gospel music will fill the air at Hood Temple A.M.E. Zion Church in Jackson Ward this weekend. The church, led by the Rev. Tony D. Henderson, will celebrate the 57th anniversary of the Hood Temple Male Chorus 4 p.m. Sunday, March 15, with performances by the church’s and other visiting choruses.
Varina church hosts men’s conference
A Virginia state senator, a former field director for the Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr.’s Rainbow PUSH Coalition and a former executive director at the Virginia State Conference NAACP are among a diverse array of speakers slated for Antioch Baptist Church’s men’s conference this weekend. The conference is free. Sessions will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, March 13; 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 14; and 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, March 15.
NCCU favored in MEAC tourney
North Carolina Central University is the heavy favorite to repeat as the MEAC basketball champion Saturday at the Norfolk Scope. The final game of the 13-school event is set for 1 p.m., with live ESPN2 coverage.
VCU opens March 12 in Atlantic 10 Tournament
The chase is on as Virginia Commonwealth University heads to Brooklyn, N.Y. VCU is trying to run down its first Atlantic 10 basketball title, while Rams senior Treveon Graham remains in pursuit of the university’s all-time scoring record. The more the Rams win, the greater Graham’s chances. VCU, 22-9, opens A-10 tournament play 2:30 p.m. Thursday, March 12, against the play-in survivor between George Mason and Fordham universities.
Morrissey to endorse ex-mayor for delegate
Delegate Joseph D. “Joe” Morrissey is once again a free man, and he’s busy with political plans. The first Virginia legislator to serve while in jail, he turned in his ankle bracelet and ended his term at the Henrico County Jail-East in New Kent County at 6 a.m. Tuesday, according to Sheriff Michael Wade. He had been serving a six-month sentence on his misdemeanor conviction of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, but jail rules cut that to 90 days. He spent his nights in jails, but was able to serve at the General Assembly and practice law during the day while on work release.
3 receive scholarships in Jail-VCU program
Three current and former inmates at the Richmond Justice Center have won the first scholarships awarded through the city jail’s unique college programs. Christian Brackett, Pinetta Fleming and William “Billy” Scruggs were awarded scholarships for a class at Virginia Commonwealth University, which partners with the jail in a college-level program called Open Minds.
RRHA reviewing new sites to relocate Fay Towers
The Frederic A. Fay Towers once again seem to be upholding the city housing authority’s reputation for slow-moving development projects. Instead of breaking ground last summer as promised, the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority is still struggling to determine the site where it will build a replacement for the aging high-rise in Gilpin Court, just north of Downtown.
