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fciH-Slrnjem ijnVilA THE PEOPLE’S PAPER (i2oe)) IkIMUKW NATIONAL BLACK NEWS SERVICE \\ JJ MEMBER Vol. 3 Civil Service Commission Refuses To Reinstate Black Officer Who Says Police Chief Forced Him To Resign Paul Collier, one of eleven Black officers to file a discrimination suit against the Augusta Police Department, the Civil Service Commission and the City of Augusta, told the Civil Service Commission Tuesday that the police Chief, James G. Beck, had forced him to resign. The Commission denied his request to be reinstated. Collier’s attorney, John H. Ruffin, said he did not like some of the working conditions imposed upon him and as a result was absent without leave. Police Chief Judge Clears Wife In Husband’s Death Mrs. William P. Heath of 612 East Cedar Street,was cleared in the shooting death of her husband during a preliminary hearing Tuesday. Mrs. Heath told Richmond Hill First Black On Board Os Regents (from Attanta Inquirer) By Ernest M. Pharr Three months ago, a committee of Southern Christian Leadership Conference officials in an audience with Governor Jimmy Carter emphatically stated the state was “moving too slow” in eliminating racial discrimination and that the Governor’s leadership was not “as vigorous and couragious as it need be.” Governor Carter has since answered some of the six major demands presented by Reverends J.E. Lowery, Ralph D. Abernathy and J.D. Grier with a “hot memo to department heads urging an end to bias in state hiring and the appointment of the first black to the prestigious State Board of Regents. In what was nearly a surprise move, Carter last week named black businessman and Inquirer president Jesse Hill, Jr. to an unexpired term on the board of Regents. Hill, praised by Carter as “one of the most effective businessmen in Georgia,” will serve until January 1, 1978, filling the term of Attorney Philip H. Alston who resigned in order to devote more time to his law practice ■ RIGHT DIRECTION Lowery told the Inquirer this week that he thinks the Governor has taken “one or two steps” in the right direction to correct past inequities and that the Governor is to be “highly commended for the appointment of a black to the Board of Regents. ‘‘l’m sure Mr. Hill will arrange his busy schedule to give adequate time and thought to this important James Beck asked that all of his police gear and uniforms be returned The only way Collier could get his check was to return the equipment. And after two weeks he, in need of money, withdrew his retirement. Chief Beck disagreed with Ruffin’s account of the events and said, “On March 31, Collier reported to work and said his pants were torn and went home to change them. Three hours later Collier called back stating that his wife could not repair the pants and his other uniform was in the cleaners. County Deputies her husband threatened her and her children with bodily harm during an argument late Sunday night. Deputies received a call from Mrs. Heath Sunday and upon * JESSE HILL, JR. responsibility. Mr. Hill deserves this kind of recognition and he is able to do a creditable job,” said Lowery. Hill, Vice-President - Actuary of the Atlanta Life Insurance Company and an officer and member of the executive committee of the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, has already indicated he plans a “sharp cutback” in his activities in order to serve on the Regents Board. Lowery said the Carter memo to department heads is “another commendable step” and that efforts are underway to develop a systematic study of the state prision system “but we still want him to strenghten the Human Relations Council to be more sensitive to social services especially with respect ot revenue sharing.” SCLC CONCERNS The naming of a black to a state board, improvements in the prison system and strengthening of the Human Relations Council, headed by a P.O. Box 953 Collier did not report to work on April 1-5. Beck said Collier called in April asking for his check and was told that he was suspended for being absent without leave. A letter stating the charges and the suspension was taken to Collier’s home. Collier said he didn’t read it and refused to sign it. Lieutenant Al Scott, who delivered the letter quoted Collier as saying he was quitting anyway because that’s the way the chief wants it. Collier told the Commission, “This is what the Chief really wants, for me to quit, but I arrival at her house found the husband lying in the grass next to the driveway of their home with a bullet in his chest. He was pronounced dead on arrival at University Hospital. black, were three of the six areas the SCLC committee of three met with the governor about. Other areas included revenue sharing, capital punishment and black-owned financial institutions in the January 30 meeting. Carter, at the time, promised he would name a black to a State Board when the first vacancy occurred but indicated he would not commit himself to hiring black for every vacancy that occurs. Carter’s personal notes to department heads sent out on February 10 after a report documented the state’s dismal performance in ending hiring policies as they regarded blacks. Some areas of the report showed the Governor’s office itself “suffered from tokenism.” Since Carter took office, blacks have been placed on 23 state boards as opposed to only two of the 120-odd state boards having blacks when he became governor. Today, there are at least 47 blacks on permanent state board positions. Some racial barriers, however, were tumbled in the Maddox administration who hired the first black state trooper and named Graham Jackson to the Board of Corrections. HILL A SYMBOL In announcing Hill’s appointment, Carter said Hill “has become a symbol of enlighted, reasoned leadership in Atlanta. He has demonstrated an ability to contribute to problem-solving at the highest levels with thoughtful, deliberate and yet highly progressive advice and counsel.” didn’t quit. I want my job, I love my job. But 1 don’t see why just because we (11 Black officers) signed the complaint that we have to be treated so much different than anyone else who did not sign the complaint or who took their names off the complaint.” Immediately after the eleven Black officers filed the complaint against the police department, Collier said, “We were called in, officers S.D. Jackson, L.E. Allen and myself were the main three called trouble-makers....got this thing started. We had eleven Mrs. Heath had been charged with murder, and was held in the Richmond County Jail in connection with the shooting. However, during a preliminary held Tuesday in civil Court, Judge L.W. Cooper ruled the incident justifiable homicide. Bank Exec Urges Blacks To Go The "Extra Mile’ BRYCE NEWMAN Bryce Newman Executive Vice-president of the Citizens and Southern National Bank told members of the CSRA Business League that the secret to success in business lies in “extra effort, going the extra mile.” He urged the Black businessmen to plan well, establish a sound base and put out 110% effort. With all the advances made by Blacks, Newman said, “the surface has not yet been scratched.” Asked what a bank looks for when a minority business man applies for a loan Newman said, “The capacity to repay, integrity, willingness to succeed, and collateral.” Normal credit criteria do not suffice when making loans to minority businesses, Newman added. The CSRA Business League assists minority businesses in packaging loans, and offers management and technical assistance. ASJKFHJKAF people to read and sign the statement and they agreed.” Beck, according to Collier, asked him if he liked the detail he worked on and Collier responded, “I love it”. He said Beck replied, “Well, you won’t love it no more because I‘m going to split you up because you’re nothing but trouble makers.’’ Collier said Sgt. Lewis Trout told him that Blacks who didn’t remove their names from the complaint would be walked until they quit. “Chief Beck also knew that I had a problem with my feet and also between my legs NOTICE TO OCR READERS We are asking your co-operation in meeting our news deadline. All news items must be received in our office by noon Tuesday or they will have to be held until the following week. We want to be able to get all of your news printed while its still news. Please co-operate with us on this matter. Former Haile Selassie Body Gaurd Completes Studies At Paine K A FISAHA ASFAW The Paine College fall quarter deans list carried the name Fisaha Asfaw. The name may not ring a bell, but it does in Ethiopia. Fisaha is one of the youngest military advisors in the world today. He, at present is a senior student at Paine, with a scholastic average of 3.5, however, at home (Ethiopia), he is an assistant advisor to the “Armed Jorces Chief of Staff.” Asfaw was the youngest officer in the history of his country to be appointed to the post at the age of twenty three. Upon graduation from the Haile .‘Selassie Secondary School, he was chosen to go to that country’s equivalent to West Point, as he was on of the ten top students in the country. Following two nad one-half years in Military school, Fisaha joined the military Police in Charge of security. He was selected to come to the United States for further training and spent thirteen months at the Fort Gordon Military Police School-Criminal Investigation Division. After his tour with the Military here, Asfaw returned to his homeland and stressed his desire to further his education here. The twenty six year old advisor said he chose Paine Augusta, Georgia (Thighs rub together). But that didn’t matter, he wanted me to continue to walk or else go home and turn my stuff in. After 1 was taken out of the patrol car I never rode in another patrol car until I went home,” beginning the AWOL period. When he asked Sgt. Trout why they were getting this kind of treatment, Collier continued, “The only thing Sgt. Trout said was they got orders to walk us until we quit.” Beck denied this stating, “I don’t have to give him (Collier) College over schools in England and the United States. He said, “I chose Paine because I thought, I would be pleased-and 1 am very, very pleased with the education I am receiving, in and out of class.” He went on to say, “They tried to knock Paine because it is a black school, but I did not listen or let them sway my mind-I am very pleased.” Fisaha wants to earn a doctorate degree in Sociology at the University of North Carolina. Asfaw, who is unmarried, has one sister , Tsega Asfaw. Hoyt Paine College Baccalaureate Speaker Hr aB K DR. THOMAS HOYT, JR. The Reverend Dr. Thomas Hoyt, Jr., will speak at the Paine College Baccalaureate Service on May 20, at 11 A.M., in the Gilbert-Lambuth Memorial Chapel. Dr. Hoyt is Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Assistant Professor of Biblical Studies at the Interdenomi- a reason for assigning him any place. He was assigned to a walking detail because none of the men wanted to work with him, or the other two that he is speaking of (Jackson and Allen) nobody wanted to ride with him, they couldn't trust him; this is the attitude of 70% of the department. 1 have a responsibility to the whole department, not just a few people. This is why they were isolated by themselves. Beck said the two uniforms returned by Collier were thrown away because they were filthy. Collier said he could prove by the men who have worked EDITORIAL The Mustache Danger Black fireman M. F. Williams was suspended from the Augusta Fire Department on April 30 for refusing to cut his mustache. The fireman s code 7 states in part that | a fireman must be “neat in person, clean-shaven and ' shoes shined.” W illiams was neat, his shoes shining, and clean-shaven, but he refused to cut his mustache. And the fire chief ruled that “clean-shaven” means no mustache. When Williams refused to part with his mustache, he was taken off duly. The Civil Service Commission ordered him to work on 3 of his off days for failing to obey. Williams wrote a letter to the Civil Service Commission stating that he was not guilty of violating rule seven and requested a hearing before the Commission for a ruling. At the hearing Tuesday, Williams staled “clean-shaven” means different things to different people. “The military, other fire departments and even our own police department are clean shaved, but their men do wear mustaches. I’d like to get a ruling (from the Commission) on whether it can be changed. “Most Black men do wear a mustache,” Williams asserted. Os the four Black men present at the Civil Service Commission meeting -- former policeman Paul Collier, Attorney John Ruffin, Civil Service Commission Chairman H. R. Scott, and this editor editor, Mallory Millender - all wore a mustache. If we accept that clean-shaven means no mustache, then we would have to conclude that the Commission’s chairman was not clean-shaven as he presided over the Commission meeting. The Commission upheld the fire chief’s interpretation, pointing out that a mustache could represent a FIRE HAZZARD. If this be true, then it seems that there should be a ruling requiring that the firemen shave their eyebrows, clip their eyelashes, shave their sideburns (everybody knows that sideburns will burn or why else would they be called sideburns) and certainly if the mustache will burn, the hair on one’s head must present a major hazard during a fire. Os course firemen do wear sideburns, eyelashes, eyebrows and hair, and no one raises a question as to whether they are clean-shaven or the danger this represents. Then why the concern about the mustache. We think that it is a question of values. Most Black men do wear a mustache. Most white inen don’t. And since there are only 5 Black firemen out of 135, it is clear that Augusta’s Fire Department is a white man’s job. And since the Civil Service Commission which governs the Fire Department has oidy 1 Black out of 5, it is clear that the Civil Service Commission will reflect white values. And the. irony of this is that the majority of the population in Augusta is Black and we have to accept the value judgements of the minority (white) community. This will stop oidy when Blacks see the importance of registering and voting, and governing ourselves. national Theological Center in Atlanta, Georgia, and is an ordained minister in the Christian Methodist Episcopal (CME) Church. He was graduated from Lane College with a B.A. degree May 17, 1973 No. 9 with him and his immediate lieutenant that “1 do not show no fear. My record will speak for itself, when I was in that patrol car, I did a job.” Ruffin asked that Collier be reinsated because the Commission acted upon a resignation at its last meeting, and Collier maintains he did not resign but was forced to do so. The reinstatement plea was denied. The Commission said Collier was no longer a policeman, but could re-apply and the application would be considered, along with other applications, without prejudice. Magna Cum Laude in 1962 and received his B.D. from the Interdenominational Theological Center in 1965, also Magna Cum Laude. In SEE REV. HOYT Page 3