Newspaper Page Text
lAJb 15th St.
Augusta, GA 30901
SjMWw l AN OPEN FORUM FOR PEOPLE WHO CARE APR 30 i
Vol. 6
Cite Unfair Representation
Black Groups Oppose Consolidation
The Augusta Congress of
Black Lawyers and Associates
held a Tuesday afternoon news
conference to express its
disapproval of the proposal to
consolidate Augusta and
Group Charges Police
Department with
James Adams’ Murder
The Augusta Welfare Rights
organization (WRO) last week
charged the Augusta police
department with the murder of
James Adams who died in the
city jail March 28 after he had
reportedly asked for medical
help.
In a written statement, the
WRO said, ‘“We, and the Black
community in. general, know
that Brother Adams asked for
medical aid when he was
arrested. Yet he was coldly
refused and, instead, thrown in
a cell block.
“We know the true reason
for such callous treatment was
because he was Black,” the
statement said.
President Ford Praises Roy Wilkins
“X tribute to Roy Wilkins is
a tribute to the best in
America.”
That’s what President Ford
said in his stirring message read
at the recent tribute to the civil
rights stalwart in the Nation's
capital.
“I welcome this opportunity
to applaud him and to express
Jimmy
Carter
Here
Saturday
Presidential candidate
Jimmy Carter will be in
Augusta to address a
fund-raising breakfast
Saturday, May 1, at 8:30 a.m.
at the Executive House
Convention Center, officials
for the CSRA Steering
Committee for the Jimmy
Carter Presidential Campaign
announced this week.
Tickets to hear the former
governor may be obtained by
calling Pierce Blanchard at
722-5311.
I
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CO-CHAIRMEN
The Rev. C.S. Hamilton and Dr. William Wiseman
(right), plant manager of Continental Can Corp., will
co-chair the 1976 United Negro College Fund (UNCF)
campaign in Augusta. The campaign kicks off May 17
and will run through June 14 with a goal of $15,000.
The 1975 drive raised more than SII,OOO. Paine College
annually receives $145,000 in unrestricted funds from
the UN€F:
P. O. Box 953
Richmond County
governments.
John Watkins, president of
the group, said “the provisions
of the charter do not assure
what services will be given to
“Once again the Augusta
Police Department proves itself
to be racist and against the best
interest of poor people. This
kind of action will not be
forgotten or ignored,” the
group warned.
The Augusta Human
Relations Committee decided
last Thursday to conduct its
own investigation into the
death in order to “remove
suspicion.”
However, HRC Chairman
Ret. Gen. Harley Moore said
that the group would not
condemn or reprimand anyone.
It will only recommend
“procedural changes”, he said.
gratitude during our
Bicentennial year for his role in
our national life,” the
President said in his message,
one of the highlights of the
5250-a-plate dinner honoring
Wilkins. Some 1500 business,
labor, and government leaders
from across the country
gathered at the Sheraton Park
Hotel to honor the 74-year-oid
statesman of civil rights. He is
retiring as executive secretary
of the National Association for
the Advancement of Colored
People at the end of this year.
“A tribute to Wilkins,” the
President said in his message,
“recognizes outstanding
leadership, courage, integrity
and perseverance. It evokes a
compelling story of
compassionate concern for the
underprivileged and of untiring
devotion to the well-being of
society.
“All thoughtful citizens,”
the President continued, “join
in the spirit of such a tribute.
All of us have been enriched by
his lasting achievements.”
President Ford, noting that
“we stand too close to the
living presence of this great
American leader to fully assess
the cumulative force of his life
and its effect on our times”,
said that “we look to posterity
the citizens of Richmond
County. And those who
drafted the charter cannot say
with any degree of certainty
what services will be destroyed
or extended nor can they say
with any degree of certainty to
what place or places those
services will be extended or
created.
“Nor have the people been
told of the tremendous
expense involved and what
possible tax burden will be
added to the great tax burden
we shoulder today.”
Watkins said he did not feel
Scuffles with Deputy
Man’s Body Found Near Olive Road
The body of an Augustan
man who was reportedly shot
after an altercation with a
sheriff’s deputy April 22, was
found Tuesday night in a
wooded area near Olive Road
and Wharton Drive.
The deceased, Jerry
to accord him his rightful place
in the dramatic unfolding of
some of the proudest chapters
in our Nation’s history.”
In his championship of civil
rights and freedom of
opportunity for all Americans,
Wilkins, according to the
President, “more than aided
those whose banner he carried
for so many years; he ennobled
the soul of our Nation and
ensured a brighter future for
our people. In that future lies
his greatest reward,” the
President concluded.
The dinner tribute raised
$300,000 for the NAACP, the
Nation’s oldest and largest civil
Apply Now For Absentee Ballot
Apply now for your
absentee ballot in order to vote
in the May 4th Presidential
Preference Primary'. The
League of Women Voters
White House Dinner Guest
II ( ' ->•
Heavyweight Boxing Champion Muhammad Ali is warmly greeted by Jordan’s
King Hussein while President Ford looks on, during a State Dinner at the White
House given by the President and Mrs. Ford. The Champion sat at the table with the
President and King Hussein and talked about a number of subjects and issues.
Ali will defend his heavyweight title Friday night when he meets Jimmy Young.
Augusta, Georgia
that Blacks would get fair
representation under the new
government. He was
particularly concerned that the
poor would be vulnerable.
“People who don’t have a lot
of money may have to go
without the services others will
receive. We don’t feel that is
right,” he said.
Attorney John R. Ruffin
serves as general counsel for
the attorneys.
BLACK SOCIAL
WORKERS AGAINST
CONSOLIDATION
At a recently held meeting,
Demmons of 1626 High St.,
was under surveillance for
selling drugs, according to
Eugene Staulcup of the
Richmond County Sheriff
Department.
Staulcup said he was trying
to arrest Demmons and
rights organization. A check
for that amount was presented
to Wilkins, Executive Director
of the NAACP since 1955, by
Thomas A. Murphy, chairman
of General Motors, the
Nation’s largest corporation.
Murphy headed the Roy
Wilkins Tribute Committee.
Among the speakers paying
tribute to Wilkins was
Transportation Secretary
William T. Coleman, who said,
“I know you made my life
better. I know you made my
childrens’ lives better. 1 know
you will make my
grandchildren’s lives better.
reminds you that both the
primary and the consolidation
charter are to be on the ballot
on this important election day
in Richmond County.
the Augusta Area Association
of Black Social Workers
(ABSW) took a stand in
opposition to the upcoming
referendum on consolidation
of the city and county
governments. It was cited that
while this bill has immediate
implications for all residents of
the Augusta area, it is clear
that it will only perpetuate the
system of unequal
representation. “Consolidation
would in essence would mean
the decentralization of the
potential power which Black
Augustans are beginning to
realize.”
another man for a drug sale
when Demmons jumped him
and tried to get his gun.
According to Staulcup, he and
Demmons fought for several
minutes, both had their hand
on the gun and both pulling
the trigger Several shots were
NANCY BOYD HETTY ROUSE
Valedictorian Salutatonan
Josey’s Top Seniors Named
Nancy Boyd, the daughter
of the Rev. and Mrs. Harvey
Deadlines are coming up fast
for absentee voters, so be sure
to call the Board of Elections
for further information. That’s
724-1831, Extension 281.
April 29, 1976 No. 4
“The Augusta Area
Association of Black Social
Workers strongly oppose any
form of consolidation for the
Augusta community because of
inherent discrepancies in the
bill and a great deal of
uncertainties which are
unanswered at this time.”
“Before citizens go to the
polls it is mandatory that they
be clear on all issues and
implications involved in the
consolidation referendum, said
Randy Gunter, an official of
the group.
discharged during the struggle,
he said. When Demmons
tripped Staulcup and ran,
Staulcup reportedly fired one
shot at the fleeing Demmons.
The case is still under
investigation.
Boyd, has been named
valedictorian of the 1976
graduating class of T.W. Josey
High School; and Betty Rouse,
the daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
Herbert Rouse Sr, is the
salutatorian.
Miss Boyd is a member of
the National Honor Society,
the advanced chorus, and the
tennis team. She is an active
member of Mann Memorial
United Methodist Church and
also serves as organist at St.
Augustine Episcopal Church.
She plans to attend Augusta
College and pursue her interest
in music and pharmacy.
Miss Rouse is a member of
the National Honor Society,
the band, the Student Council,
the science club, the basketball
and tennis teams, and the
All-City Band and Orchestra.
She has been selected to the
Society of Distinguished
American High School
Students and is listed in Who’s
Who Among Music Students in
America and Who’s Who
Among American High School
Students.
An active member of
Antioch Baptist Church, she is
also a member of the Mission
Board of Good Shepherd
Baptist Church and pianist for
the New Appling Grove Baptist
Church Junior Choir. She plans
to attend Mercer University to
further her interest in
pharmacy.
C.M.E.S Give
$5,000 To Paine
Bishop Joseph C. Coles, Jr.,
Presiding Bishop of the Sixth
Episcopal District of the
C.M.E. Church and a Trustee
of Paine College presented a
$5,000 grant to Paine at the
recent spring meeting of the
Board of Trustees.
31
■Sv ’ nGS
I)ianeßing(L)and Donna Fox were crowned Miss Black
New Ellington and Miss White New Ellington
respectively Friday night Twenty-three girls competed
for the crowns.
Runners-up for Miss Black New Ellington were Mary
and Vivian Bush. Runners-up for Miss White New
Ellington were Beth Porter and Linda Stacey.
Among the judges were Augusta Black Festival Queen
Andolyn Brown and News-Review Editor-publisher
Mallory K. Millender.
Editorial
It’s Midnight
The News-Review is totally opposed to the proposed
consolidation of Augusta and Richmond County governments.
And we urge voters to go to the polls Tuesday and defeat this bill
which we believe will be political death for Black people in
Augusta.
For a number of years now we have been faced by the
consolidation monster. Each time it has come up it has been
defeated. But the temporary “victories” have had a very
dangerous effect upon Black people. We have come to “expect”
consolidation to be defeated and have become so complacent that
we, in too many instances, don't go to out and vote. This is true
of Black people who have everything to lose in a consolidated
government.
If the last consolidation referendum had depended upon the
Black vote for its defeat, the bill would have passed because
Black people did not go to the polls and vote. It was the voters
outside the city limits who defeated consolidation, which at that
time, required a majority of both city and county voters for
passage. South August saved us then. But the rules have been
changed and only a simple majority of the voters of Richmond
County is required to pass the bill. Nobody can save us now
except ourselves or divine intervention.
Although we think the charter is intentionally vague, what it
will do to Black people is painfully clear. It will take a city which
has a majority Black population and reduce that majority to 30%.
It will take a city where Blacks have the political potential to lift
ourselves out of bondage and turn it into one in which we will be
forever enslaved by the would-be majority which has never seen
fit to allow us to reach our full potential.
It can be argued that the new government would save money
taxpayers. That facts would show, however, that even if this is
true, and we doubt it, money such as revenue sharing funds
rarely, if ever, get to the Black community.
As Dr. Martin Luther King said in one of his famous sermons;
“It’s midnight”. And if Black people fail to defeat consolidation
Tuesday, there will be no tomorrow.
Dawson To Lecture
In Germany
Illa
LEONARD DAWSON
Former Augustan Leonard
Dawson will go to Germany
May 12 to begin a four-week
lecturing tour.
He will visit Stuttgard and
Cologne and lecture at various
universities in those cities. He
will talk on how the U.S.
education system is structured
and particularly on the
This contribution, accepted
by Dr. Julius S. Scott Jr.,
president, is an unrestricted
grant which will support the
general operating budget of the
college. Such support from the
CME Church and also from the
United Methodist Church, the
education of minorities. He
was one of ten selected from
over 600 applicants for the
tour.
The tour is sponsored by
Sister Cities Internationales.
Dawson is director of the
Moton College srvice Bureau
in Washington D.C.
two founding bodies of Paine
College, plays a crucial role in
the strength of the college.
Yearly contributions in various
forms from both churches
comprise as much as 11% of the
operating income of Paine
College, a college official said.
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