Newspaper Page Text
City manager confirms ‘black book’ existence
By MELDE RUTLEDGE
Special to the NNPA
GREENSBORO, N.C.
(NNPA) - David Waray
retired as this city’s police chief.
But his quitting left many
unanswered questions. Greens
boro City Council made a
responsive move to help reduce
the community’s apprehension
over events that led to the resig
nation of Wray. In their first
meeting of the vear, City
Councfi~ went into a dosed ses
sion for more than an hour
betore unanimously voting 1o
release some of the information
involving Wray for public view
— in an atempt o “restore and
maintin pubfic confidence.”
The most noteworthy part ot
Barry’s: Ex-mayor fields questions
Continued from page 2A
pending in the case of Mr.
Marion Barry,” said Dick
Carelli, spokesman tor the
administrative ofhice of the
U.S. District courts.
Barry has undergone treat
ment for high blood pressure
tor over 20 vears. Dr. Robin
son has been his physician of
record for the last 12 years
according to Barry. Upon his
Taser
Continued from page 3A
“We need options,” Applin
old the audience. “We d‘um
want to hurt anvone. We dont
want to kill anvone. We just
want to do our jobs.”
Applin said no one has died
as a result of Taser use by the
Fulton County Sheriff’s
Department, and thar his ofh
cers apply their own judgment
in adtsition to the guidelines set
forth by the company on how
to use the weapons.
Adanta Police Lt. Joe Litde
said their department has also
reported no serious injuries as
result of Taser gun use, and that
the only unit using the weapon
on the force is the SWAT team,
which Litde commands.
He cited as a recent success
the use of a Taser to subdue
Carl Edward Roland, who
dimbed a construction crane
and held Adanta law enforce
ment at bay for 56 hours in July
until he was lured dose enough
for officers to stun him and |
bring him down to the ground. |
: "\}i"c d;) not go o;u ‘fix)king
or people 1o use this equip
nlcnifc‘))lt," Litde said.
An estimated 170,000 tasers |
are being used by more than
8,000 agendes in 43 countries, |
according to the company,
which has long argued that its |
stun gun is u.t%:
That much of the research on |
Tasers comes from the compa- |
ny is part of the problem, |
underlining the need for more |
independendy verifiable infor- |
mation, argued Jared Feuer, a
spokesman for Amnesty Inter- |
national. ‘
He said the company is|
encouraging a mindset among |
those using Tasers that the |
weapon is t&s dangerous andl
should not be cons,i‘!c’lcrcd a last |
resort. |
“It’s being used in situations
where a firearm would never be
used,” Feuer said. “If you use
gis”wmpon. someobdy might
The use of Tasers has been
discontinued ?' authorities in
some areas, induding Birming
ham, Ala. But many law
enforcement offidals say the
Tasers are a safer and less lethal
way of subduing combative
PeggLLC President Charles
Steele |r. said the group has doc
umented more than 150 deaths
nationwide that they attribute
to the use of Tasers — which
;;I‘ddircr charges of up to 50,000
the city nnur.l?_:er's report con
sisted of Chiet Wrays involve
ment with a secret “black
book.”
Mitchell Johnson has not
actually seen the “black book,”
but said thar the police depart
ments Special Intelligence Sec
ton utilized it. The actual color
of the book is not black, but
consisted entrely of the names
and profiles of African-Ameri
can police officers.
Approximately 19 ofticers with
their pictures are in the book,
.lCL‘Ul’j)ing to the city manager.
As stated in the report, the
book was created to and used in
response to the complaints
about those ofhcers from
Greensboro residents.
Chiet Wray didnt ceate the
discharge his blood pressure
was 123/62. “He can go
back 1o work tomorrow, if
he likes.” said Dr. Williams.
“1 teel great. God blessed me
to have a good brain. | sufter
trom some of the same ail
ments that many African
Americans do. But every
time | vy to ke care of
myself as we ask other peo
ple to do, the press tries to
make a spcctac[c out of it,”
said Barrv.
SWann: ‘Every ethnic group supports their own except blacks
Continued from page 24
ing the community for grant
ed. “Of all the positions in his
cabinet, we know of only one
black appointment.”
Afmcan-Americans in atten
dance at Swanns candidacy
announcement in the Senator
John Heinz Pitsburgh Region
al History Center last week
were similarly impressed. For
mer Steelers free safety and
Swann reammate Mel Blount
told supporters, “It’s important
that we have representation in
all parties and Lynn Swann is a
good representative for black
men because he stands up for
moral values.”
Ophelia “Cookie™ Coleman
of East Liberty is a believer, say
ing of Swann; “he’s on point—
hes saying every thing we
African-Americans, we hard
working folk have been saying a
long time.”
FBI: Target of threats
Continued from page 4A
advisory to the targets of
threats, and expliady confined
FBI notice to bfircrifl’ Clark and
other local authonties of dubi
ous protective value.” Hoover
detested King and resented
King’s suggestion that the FBI
did not aggressively investigate
the murfi?rers of civil riFth
activists. Hoover would later
describe King as the “the most
notorious’ har in America.
Branch writes, “...Richard
Harwood disdosed in the
Washington lost that FBI offi
cials had offered to reporters
tape-recorded evidence of
‘moral turpitude’ on KinF,'s
part. No other news outlet
would touch the cryptic revela
tion, whidl;l |l“larwood buried
among equally sensitive sugges
tons éxgq:esioovcr hactih bficomc
a tyrant with homo
il Nt ncs.
Perhaps the most disgusting
act in a series of disgusting acts,
the FBI tried to gc?br %ng to
commit suicide. An anony
mous ;hrmtcning'dl'cttcr and
copy of tape recordings were
mflcd tofing at hisgSSCLC
office in Adanta.
“There is but one way out for
you,” the letter said. “%’u better
take it before your fild:{;narl;;or
mal fraudulent self is to
the nation.” David Garrow
writes, “King and his aides had
litde doubt Ebout the origin of
the package: J. Edgar Hoover's
AUGUSTA FOCUS
book, but when qlmioned‘i?'
Mitchell Johnson about knowl
edge of the “black book,” Wray
denied existence of it.
“However, when the possible
existence of the book Eemme
known to the public, Chief
Whray instruaed a subordinate
to hide and secure the book
and did not inform his superior
of its true existence and actual
purpose,” said Mitchell John
son,
The aa of not reporting the
existence of the boR to the city
manager, led o much confu
sion in the city managers office
and among Greensboros resi
dents, Mitchell Johnson
explained.
The ongoing investigations
pertaining to the “blackfi‘xx)k".
Barry has had a series of
ailments that he has been
able to maintain such as dia
betes. Several weeks ago, he
underwent surgery for
cataracts. His right eye was
still red from healing. He is
also a survivor of prostate
cancer after his successful
surgery about 10 years ago.
“What about the baseball
stadium? Do you still have
the votes?” another reporter
asked. Barry mumbled, “I
“White males have always
had preferential treatment,”
continued Coleman. “Their
athrmative action is their lega
cv—their private dubs and
their laws. They sit in a seat of
sower and change legislation to
Lu'p us out of power. An exam
ple of this is the proposed gov
emor and lieutenant governor
bill to have candidates run in
tandem instead of independ
enty to make it harder 10 elect
us.”
“We need to support our
own when we are qualified,”
Coleman continued. “Atorney
Byrd Brown ran for mayor
against Sophie Masloff, who
had a high school education,
and she won—beating a
prominent black attomey! We
act like we're going to hell in a
hand basket it we support
someone that looks like us.
They cant conquer and divide
us anymore. We cant do that
any more. Every ethnic group
FBI. The material on the tape -
dinty jokes and bawdy remarks
King had made a year earlier at
\X’afilingtonk Willard Hortel,
plus the sounds of people
engaging in sex — had obvious
ly been acquired by bugging
King's Lotel rooms.
Garrow recalls a conversation
between King, his wife, Coret
ta, and acivist Dorothy Cot
ton.
“Quiet at first, Martin sud
denly spoke up, his wife
remembered. ‘l've told you all
that | dont expect to survive
this revolution; this sodety is
too sick.” And of course
Dorothy said, ‘Oh, Martin,
dont say that’ And he said,
‘Well, I'm just being realistic.
Coretta recalled that she ‘had
heard him say it several times
bfc”fow'}f;;anc had an awarehncss‘
0 could happen to him,
and he ... .was not able to forget
abour it because he lived with
this constandy.” Dr. King also
lived with the constant harass
ment of his own government.
e E. Curry is editor-in
dng:? the NNPA News Service
and BlackPressUSA.com. He
appears on National Public
Radio (NPR) three times a week
as part of “News and Notes with
Ed Gordon.” To contact Curry or
w book him for a iél;z'ng
engagement, go to his Web site,
www. georgecurry.com.
the actions of the Special Intel
ligence Section and Wray's
withholding of information has
cost the aty $70,000 and
1,100 hours of staft time. The
investigations also include assis
mno:ug;)m investigators inde
pendent of the Greensboro
Police Department. As assis
tant city manger, Mitchell
Johnson headed the selec
tion committee that chose
Wray as police chief in August
2003.
“I deeply regret that we have
had to take these actions,” the
aty manager said before read
ing aloud the five-page report
to the press, “and wh'fie what |
am going to share with you is
disappointing, | feel that [ must
remind everyone that Chief
am not answering those
questions today. | just got
out of the hospital.”
While reporters kept ask
ing questions that Barry
retused to answer, passersby
let Barry know he was still
their idol. “We love you. We
need vou. Dont let them
take you down. We don't
want the sadium. Ics all
about the stadium. Save
D.C., Marion,” the crowd
cheered.
supports their own except us.”
Government affairs consult
ant Floyd Titus, also in atten
dance, said there needs to be a
change. A recent Republican
convert, he pondered a choice
between Scranton and Swann.
“If Swann is elected, there will
be a change.”
ATALIA,
& FEMA ALERT
ave s
. Y
An Important Message
. .
v
Jor Individuals Affected by
* L] . .
Y
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita...
[ you were displaced by the hurricanes and are sull iving in a hotel
or motel. it is important to understand that FEMA will end Its direct-billing
program for hotel and motel rooms on February 7. 2000, unless you contact
FEMA by January 30, 2006.
For FEMA to continue to pay for your hotel room beyond February 7, 2006,
vou must contact FEMA no later than January 30 to receive an
authorization code to provide to your hotel. Any evacucee changing hotels or
checking into a hotel between now and January 30 must also have
a FEMA authornization code.
If you haven't done so already, register for help from FEMA today
You can also get help locating housing through FEMA
To register or request authorization for FEMA to continue to pay for your
room beyond February 7. call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or for TTY callers,
1-800-462-7585 as soon as possible. but no later than January 30, and
provide this authorization code to your hotel.
If you were displaced from a low income housing unit funded by the
government, or you were homeless before the storm, the Department of
Housing and Urban Development can help you find housing options.
Call 1-866-373-9509 (TTY 1-800-877-8339). Lines are open 24 hours a day.
In addition to temporary housing assistance, there are a number of grant
programs that you may be eligible for. You do not need to
complete a loan application with the Small Business Administration
to be considered for FEMA's temporary housing assistance
or funds for certain other disaster related needs you may have.
More than 700,000 families have already been helped with rental assistance
to pay for long-term housing. Join them and move on to a better housing option today.
Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, sex,
religion, national origin, age, disability, or economic status. If you or
someone you know has been discriminated against, you should call FEMA
at 800-621-3362 or contact your State Office of Equal Rights.
Wray served this community
with distinction for many
years.” Wray gained attention
last June with 3: suspension of
Lt. James Hinson.
In early June, Hinson
accused the police department’s
Special Intelligence Unit of
unjustly targeting him.
He had noticed officers fol
lowing him during his work
shift. Later it was confirmed
that he had a wacker on his
vehide. Wray failed to notify
the city manager-at any point
during Hinson’s investiga
tion 51;1( Hinson had already
been deared of any criminal lia
bility in 2003, and deared by
Internal ~ Affairs in 2004.
Hinson retumed to duty and
has been deared of anvy
vmefl'"'uflre your hemetown Enteriainmest Cester”
. formerly video oasis is under new ownership.
BRE i have ol the new release of VIS 0
. Viis; tapes, play stations games,
e )- Box games, and callular phone accessories.
BBt Business hours 12:00p.m. - B:p.m. Monday - Thursday.
7] ; ; . ;
e Fitayand Satitay- 200- 6903, |
= oo Located in New Ellenton, SC.
o (off Highway ;
s 19 South minutes from hikea Wal. fi
ma; .r'
i For more information please
ae ; '.7; call (8031 652-1371 or (863 979-0756 1
l_“..v T el - ;
January 19, 2006
wrong doing,
“The dedsion that was made
by Chief Wray is not support
ive of the core values of this
organization,” said Mitchell
Johnson, “and did not support
a tuthful representation of the
actions that had been made on
Lt. James Hinson and other
police officers.”
So far there are no criminal
charpes aginst Whay. Formaly the
assstant chief, Tim Bellamy is the
now the interim police chief
of the Greensboro Police
Department. The Halls
boro, N.C., native has
served in the department
since 1983.
9A