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Gov. asked to investigate youth’s death Page 1 VOLUME 14 NUMBER 35 B MR I T*' V IB ■- 1 Jr f If Safe / 119 ■ _ ,z ‘ US V DANCE THEATRE OF HARLEM—Karen Brown and Keith Saunders Ala. governor asked to investigate youth ’5 death TALLADEGA —The Southern Christian Leadership Conference is calling on the U.S. Justice Department and Alabama Gover nor George Wallace to investigate the death of a 15-year old Black youth who was shot and killed by police in the town of Childersburg on Dec. 28. SCLC President Joseph Lowery, said SCI C was asked bv the family of Michael Jerome Johnson to use its influence to demand a full in vestigation. In addition to contac ting the Justice Department and the Governor’s office. SCLC has arranged tor a second autopsy on Johnson’s body. District attorn- Stye Augusta Nnus-Iteuteui Jessye Norman ey, Robert Rumsey, said a grand jury will review the circumstances of the shooting of Johnson, who was apparently unarmed. Police report that Johnson was driving a van that had been stolen from the driveway of a home in Munford. The van was spotted at a Chevron station near Childer sburg on U.S. 280. According to closely guarded police reports, after police surrounded the van, Johnson and 20-year old Kimble Wayne Moore of Alpine, Ala. reportedly jumped from the van and started running. Moore was caught and pinned to the ground but Johnson escaped, Protestors at inauguration target jobs, racism Page 3 Augustans brave zero weather, S3O seats to see Jessye Norman and Karen Brown In spite of record temperatures hovering just above zero, Augustans greeted Metropolitan Opera star Jessye Norman and Karen Brown of the Dance Theatre of Harlem —both Augusta natives— with a standing-room only evening of repeated ovations in the Gilbert-Lambuth Chapel at Paine College. Ms. Norman suggested to Paine officials that the Dance Theatre of Harlem be a part of the concert kicking off the sll million fun draising drive —Campaign For Excellence— which is expected to result in a Library-Theatre Lear ning Resources Complex. She ser ves as honorary chairperson for the campaign. After performing several selec- running behind an adjoining con venience store and leaping a fence into a ditch. Childersburg police officers, Tim Unger and Charles Brown, said they chased Johnson and fired several shots, Johnson was found wounded in the ditch. He died on the way to Birmingham HospiaL Rev. John Nettled, Anniston, Ala. SCLC State President said Johnson’s mother, Vivian Ferguson of Jenifer, Ala., told him she found out her son was dead about an hour after the shooting. “All I know is that he was home for Christmas,’’ she said. Childersburg Police Chief, Ira Pilgr Io: college Page 3 | January 26, 1985 tions in German, she sang tour spirituals alone and four more with the Paine College Choir and the Morehouse Glee Club. It was obvious throughout that she enjoyed herself. Her mother was in the audience. So were her sister and brothers. They all had flown in earlier in the day from Washington, D.C. where Ms. Norman sang at President Reagan’s inauguration. Augusta- Chronicle Herald Publisher William S. Morris 111 —fearing the weather might delay flights from Washington, D.C.— dispatched his airplane for Ms. Norman and her family’s trip to Augusta. Paine College President William H. Harris read a letter from Mayor Charles A. DeVaney, who was out of town, offeMteg the first com muMtive medals cut for the City’s 250th anniversary in 1986 to the honorees. County Commissioner Henry Brigham gave them a plaque. Russell Brown, brother of Karen Brown, presented her with roses. Her parents, Dr. and Mrs. Allen Brown, were in the audience with their other children. Ms. Norman is a graduate of Howard University but said that she feels as much attached to Paine as to her own alma mater. Edwin Moses case puzzles supporters Olympic gold medalist Edwin Moses has not been charged with soliciting prostitution or possession of marijuana by the Los Angeles City Attorney’s office, a spolesman said l ast week. Despite Los Angeles police complaints that Moses allegedly solicited an undercover police of ficer who was posing as a prostitute in Hollywood early last week, and had a small quantity of marijuana in his car, City Attorney spolesman Alan Dahle said no charges had been filed against the international sports star. When asked why no charges had been filed despite the widely repor ted allegations, Dahle refused to make further comment. “As of now,” he said, “no charges have been filed against Edwin Moses. In the interest of avoiding complications and misunderstandings, I really can’t say anything else.” Earlier, Moses told reporters at tending a news conference in the Finn, said his officers had received an earner radio broadcast from the Talladega County Sheriff’s Depar tment warning that the stolen van was occupied by “heavily armed” Black males who had taken a white man captive. The report was tran smitted through official police channels and appeared on police teletypes, Finn said. No weapons were found either in the van or on Johnson or Moore. SCLC wants the Justice Depar tment anu tne governor’s office to investigate the shooting and the my sterious circumstances surrounding the false report of arms and the sub sequent kiiing of the unarmed youth. I Fdwin Moses puzzles ipporters | Page 1 Less than 75 percent Advertising Thomas McCain named county administrator by Nita Wiggins Dr. Thomas C. McCain this month began a two-year term as Edgefield’s first Black county ad ministrator since Reconstruction. The former Paine College professor, who “somehow got fascinated about the problems (of government) and how to find solutions,” last year won a U.S. Supreme Court case that led to the overthrow of the at-large voting system in Edgefield County and the election of three Blacks to the five member county council. The councilmen appointed McCain county administrator. He is rep sonsible for the operations of daily government. McCain said that he is not disturbed that the council members voted along racial lines (3-2) selec ting him over the other applicants. “I would like to have seen a unanimous vote,” he said, and later added, “I hope the vote to rehire me will be unanimous. “1 am looking forward to the challenges (of the county ad ministrator’s job) and 1 don’t have any reservations about my qualificaions,” said McCain, who is also chairman of the Edgefield County Democratic Party. The 44 year-old Ph.D. from Ohio State University feels his computer science knowledge will be valuable as the county converts from paper to a computerized system of bookkeeping. McCain filed a class action suit in 1974 to protest the at-large voting procedure of Edgefield’s District II after his unsuccessful bid for a council seat. He won three times in his district, but was defeated each time at-large. i»MI J 1 I * i WB9 Edwin Moses Airport Hilton Hotel that he was “very sorry for any discomfort he has caused” his wife, friends, and supporters. Moses, who has vowed to “fight” the charges, said he would comment further following a “full investigation of responsible authorities.” “I do not want to suggest that anyone is at fault,” Moses added. Accompanying him at the news conference were his wife Myrella, and his attorney, Harold Lipton. “Due to the advice of my attor neys,” 1 Moses continued, “I can not say any more. We do not wish to try this case in the press. That’s all I have to say.” Moses then left the room and refused to answer any questions. John Naber, an Olympic gold medalist in swimming, told repor ters afterwards, “I honestly feel Edwin is telling the truth. “Edwin is a friend of mine. I find the charges against him hard to believe.” Many other among Moses’ tnends, associates, ana supporters made similar statements. A gold medal winner in the 400- meter hurdles in the 1976 and 1984 T I Dr. Thomas C. McCain He argued that tne practice denied minority participation on the county council. Edgefield was the last majority-Black county in South Carolina with no Black elected of ficials. The county’s election plan required candidates to live in par ticular locations, but they were voted on at-large. The case reached the Supreme Court, which handed down a unanimous decision supporting McCain’s view. The high court’s ruling, which required the county districts to replace the at-large voting system, made possible the election of three Black councilmen this past November. McCain taught mathematics and computer science at Paine College for 15 years before deciding to pursue a doctorate in academic programming. Searching for administrative ex perience, he left Paine for a job at the Georgia Regional Hospital in 1983. “I went to the Georgia Regional Hospital as a means of trving to See McCain, Page 3 Olympics, and unbeaten in 109 consecutive races, Moses probably was/is the most highly respected track and field athlete in the world, world. But, as one tract and field auditor said, “This nebulous story could not have been treated more sensationally by some of the media if Edwin Moses had been Charlie Mason.” Naber said he was disturbed at the massive turnout for Tuesday’s news conference. He pointed out that Moses recently held a news conference in Los Angeles to promote the positive values of sports for young people which was poorly attended. Naber also said that he numerous awards Moses has received are undoubtedly respon sible for bringing on the attention his case is now receiving. “With all the good he’s done, I feel (he’s being treated like a) black marble in a white ocean.” According to reports, Moses, who lives in Laguna, had been staying at the Airport Hilton Hotel because he was in town for the purpose of taking care of some Olympic business. According to those reports, he was driving through Hollywood in his Mercedes-Benz automobile with personalized licensed plates when his attention was attracted by the woman who turned out to be an undecover policewoman. According to one source who asked that his name not be used, “At no time did Moses indicate that he wanted to buy sex. On the contrary, after this woman ap proached his car, he seemed to treat the incident jokingly. “If he hadn’t been Edwin Moses—a fact which was easily determined by running a check on the personalized license plate—in my opinion, he would not have been stopped. 30C