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Diana Ross concert ends in youth violence Page 1 Augusta Ams -iteutm Volume 13 Number 17 $2,500—5100,000 Ex-chemical workers urged to refuse settlement offers About 50 former employees of re Augusta Chemical Co. who 'ere exposed to a known cancer kusing agent were urged at a leeting at Bethlehem Center last hursday night not to accept set ements of less than SIOO,OOO. ome of them have already accep xi settlements of $2,500. “What’s a cancer worth? asked t. William Johnson, a former jpresentative of the National In itute for Occupational Safety and lealth (NIOSH). “Legally, I don’t know. But I link it’s at least worth six gures,” he told the Betanap lylamine victims and their unilies. “What’s $2,500 worth on day's market to the doctor and ring followed up for the rest of Diana Ross concert ends in youth violence NEW YORK—A sultry Diana Loss electrified 350,000 fans in a ree Central Park concert, but the jmmer serenade turned violent as jving gangs of youths snatched old chains from people leaving le park and stormed an elegant ark restaurant. One youth was stabbed while ssisting a robbery and his ssailant was shot by a detective, olicesaid. About 350,000 Diana Ross fans unmed the park’s great lawn for re second night in a row as the >rmer lead singer of the Supremes erformed for free in what she died her gift to New York City. "The world is watching us ... it good the sun is shining," Miss oss said over a loudspeaker 'stem from backstage shortly jfore showtime. The star then walked onstage J / will! wwLfr -a I wa| '<«■ *"• •■* ', v ■■••- • HgSB;. Jest "'cW" Diana Ross Eldridge Cleaver backs Reagan, hits Jesse Jackson Page 1 your life?’’ he asked. Wilbert Allen, president of the Committee of Concerned Citizens, said SIOO,OOO would be an inadequate settlement. Allen reasoned that a room in intensive care costs $lB5 per day and $5lO a day for minimum care, with the prices going up at 12 per cent per year. In the final stages of their illness, some of the men could be in intensive care for months, Allen said. Although the former chemical workers have health insurance, it is SIOO,OOO for 13 and a half years, when it goes up to $150,000, then back to SIOO,OOO after 27 years. “When the need is greatest, the insurance drops back to $100,000,” Allen said, noting that it sometimes takes decades for the wearing a purple leotard and bright red cape, singing "I’m coming out.” She ended the con cert with "For One and All.” “It was a benefit to New York. It met the needs of what the people need, bringing a sense of tran quility.” The tranquility was shattered, however, as gangs of youths descended on the departing fans and stormed through the elegant Tavern on the Green, located near the site of the concert in Central Park. "Fifty youths overran the place, terrorizing the patrons,” a police department spokesman said. A patron of the restaurant was carried out on a stretcher and taken to a hospital, but details about his injury were not im mediately known. An unidentified youth was stab- cancer to develop. Some victims said that they had been offered as much as SBO,OOO and turned it down. Allen complained that in most instances, the former workers were called in and found a check for $2,500 already made out to them. “If those were white workers, I think they would be asking much more, and would be getting much better settlement,” Allen said, ad ding that 17 of the men are known to have bladder cancer. The Augusta Chemical Co. pur chased or manufactured betanap thylamine, which causes bladder cancer, between 1949 and 1972. The company ceased production of the chemical in 1972 after an in vestigation by NIOSH, spurred by Ralph Nader. bed as he fought off a teenager who tried to steal his gold chain, police said. A Transit Authority detective ordered the teenager to drop his weapon, and when the youth refused, the officer shot him. The suspect was arrested and taken to St. Luke’s hospital where he was reported in stable con dition. The condition of the stab bing victim was not immediately available. Thirty-five people were arrested during the concert mostly for possession of marijuana. Six were charged with robbery and one with grand larceny. Authorities said 23 people were treated for minor injuries and seven were taken to area hospitals. The concert had been scheduled for the proceeding night, but a thunderous electrical storm sent fans scattering for cover and the show was postponed. More than 100 people were also injured that night, including one person who was stabbed and two pregnant women who went into labor, the emergency medical ser vice said. City refuses to reinstate bus driver City Council refused to reinstate a fired bus driver who was dismiss ed, he said, because he “misunder stood” a railroad flagman at 15 th Street and Railroad Avenue. W.C. Ravenell, 48, said that he had just discharged and picked up a passenger then crossed a set of railroad tracks to make a right turn and that he thought the flagman was signaling him on. However, city officials said that Ravenell was terminated for an al most identical incident in 1982, and was reinstated. In that instance he said through his attorney, Charles Wilkerson, that he had stopped for a railroad crossing, the lights were blinking, but there was no train. So he “pulled around,” Wilkerson said. Burglars ransack home, tai in mere Page 3 August 6.1983 AB I f J 4$ ''. j ' * I' W A a Jr h. w ' ■ < » Michael Jackson Cleaver raps Jesse Jackson PORTLAND, Ore.— Former Black Panther Eldridge Cleaver says that he is a supporter of President Reagan and believes putting the Rev. Jesse Jackson in the White House would be “catastrophic.” The one-time militant of the 1960’5, now 47 and with a scattering of gray hair, said a presiden tial campaign by Jackson could lead to a “sellout” of Blacks to the Democratic Party. “It would be catastrophic for the world in general and America in particular,” Cleaver said. “He is unqualified and not presidential in concept. “I think he is a prisoner of protest politics, he comes across to me as a bellicose and menacing. He’s not ad dressing America as a K X > ssss—Harvey Johnson smiles as city council approves funding. Less than 75 percent Advertising whole... He’s still trying to make a run around right end for the civil rights movement. I think this is a dead end for anybody with presidential ambitions.” Cleaver said many Black people are “ab solutely incensed” by people who turn out the Black vote for the Democratic Party in return for appropriations fortheir programs. He criticized “Black preachers who are nothing but political pimps. They delivered the Black vote to the Democratic Party since Roosevelt. They left Black politicians standing outside Tip O’Neil’s of fice with hat in hand and now Tip’s not able to give anything to them. “Jesse Jackson has stated his candidacy could result in registering | City fails Estate c 9a r y river i 2 Jackson to inaugurtate his suite LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla.- Rock star Michael Jackson is planning a return vacation to the Hotel Royal Plaza to dedicate the resort’s new “Michael Jackson Suite.” Jackson, who has stayed at the resort four times, once for five weeks, wants to be the first person to stay in “his” suite when it’s finished in September. “We couldn’t be more delighted,” said W. Garry Cross, general manager of the 400-room resort. According to Cross, the new Michael Jackson Suite will have a theatrical them. Color scheme will be grey, white and black, with dramatic touches such as black laquered mirrored furniture and Tivoli lights. A signed and framed Michael Jackson platinum record will hang in each of the suite’s three rooms—two bedrooms and living room —and the singer’s signature will be etched on the door. Daily rates through Dec. 16 for the new “Michael Jackson Suite” are $250 for one bedroom or $375 for two bedrooms. millions of more Black as Democrats,” Cleaver said. “If this is the result of his campaign, it would not fulfill the wishes and desires of the Black community but would fulfill the wishes and desires of the Democratic Party. “I think history demands a break with this tradition. I think there will be a strong reaction in the Black community to this trading in Black skin... The Democratic Party is in a position of buying Black votes through this campaign by Jesse Jackson. I think it’s a cruel hoax and set ting up the Black masses for another sellout and disappointment after a long history of being sold out and disappointed by Black preachers.” Cleaver said he is League to loan SIOO 000 The CSRA Business League Monday received $200,000 to help create new businesses within the city of Augusta and to expand existing ones. The city gave $150,000 and the state added $50,000. Half of the money will be used for operating capital and the remainder for the Revolving Loan Fund. Executive Director Harvey Johnson said that the league is par ticularly looking for franchises, dealerships and investment groups or existing businesses that have a good chance of becoming more viable and create some em ployment. “happy as a Black American” and believes that “when history books are written they will look back at the first and second terms of President Reagan as an era of great progress for Black people. He said he believes Reagan will win a second term. Cleaver, in town for a talk on the U.S. role in Central America, said if the United States fails to stop communism from taking over in El Salvador, “I believe it will open the door for a sweep through Central America and ultimately around the world.” As for his days as a Black Panther, “A lot of it is embarrassing,” he said, but “I do think there was a need for for ceful action to stop some of the things that were being done to us.” 30C