Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 14 October 2005 — Page 2

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THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2005

MORE ► Continued from Page 1 with all of our varied differences, can come together and direct our energy, not at each other, but at the condition of the reality of the suffering of our people,” Farrakhan said in a statement. Among the issues that will be addressed during the march and corresponding rally include unity among African Americans and other people of color, spiritual grounding, fairness in the criminal justice system, economic development, housing, health care disparities, cultural and artistic development and peace in Black neighborhoods. ‘Among all the issues we have prioritized, we have prioritized these,” said Ramona Edelin, co-chair of the issues agenda for the march. “These are, in our view, the critical levers for the advancement of our group in the 21st century.” Nation of Islam Mosque #74 in Indianapolis has been organizing buses for people interested in attending the march. The buses will be leaving on Friday at 4 p.m and par-

ticipants can ride round trip for $125. The Millions More Movement is being orchestrated by a coalition of national organizations including Farrakhan and the Nation of Islam, Dr. Dorothy Height and the National Council of Negro Women, Bruce Gordon and the NAACP, MarkMorial and the National Urban League, Russell Simmons and the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network, Dr. Charles Steele and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, Rev. Jesse Jackson and the National Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, the Rev. Al Sharpton and the National Action Network, and Congressman Mel Watt and the Congressional Black Caucus, among others. For more information about registration and bus service, call (317) 542-7720. For a speaker list and the weekend itinerary for the Millions More Movement, log on to www. millionsmoremovement. com.

Subject of taped police beating says he was sober

PLANNER ► Continued from Page 1 academic performance, lack of leadership and inadequate expertise among the staff. Though it has been reported that FHHLC did not have a principal on staff, the school hired Mike Guston on Aug. 29. With a background of 14 years in public education, Guston says given the chance he can turn the school around. “I agree there are some things we need to improve upon, one being the way we reported enrollment to the Department of Education and the level of responsibility we have to prove that our records are accurate,” he said. “I have great experience as an educator and an administrator, and I know the rules set forth by the DOE. I know the expectations and can deliver.” Nicole Morris, whose daughter attends FHHLC agrees that the school should

be given the opportunity to correct their mistakes, but according to Harris they’ve been given plenty. “We’ve given them opportunities to respondbefore we took this step,” he said. “The ISBA did a very thorough review of the records so it’s hard to anticipate what they would say at this point given all of the opportunities they’ve been given to respond.” On Monday FHHLC will present a proposal to the city, which Harris says they’ll review with “an open mind.” If closed, the city plans to transition students into other programs. They’re working with the adult education division at the DOE, Indianapolis Public Schools and other charter schools to make sure the students know their options. They are also planning to appoint someone whose responsibility will be able

to work with families of students to help them transition into other programs. “The problem is that the students in the school now are not getting a rigorous education,” Harris said. “Most of the students who have received diplomas don’t have diplomas that have met the requirements of either the charter or the law. The diplomas aren’t valid.” But parents say it’s the programs offered at FHHLC that are important, programs other schools don’t offer. “This isn’t a traditional school,” Morris said. “They’re reaching out to the part of the community that everyone else has pushed aside and said, ‘They’re going to be able to succeed.’ Yet, you have students who have dropped out of school and succeed at FHHLC. This school is needed.”

NEW ORLEANS (AP)—A retired elementary teacher who was repeatedly punched in the head by police in an incident caught on videotape said he was not drunk, put up no resistance and was baffled by what happened. Robert Davis said he had returned to New Orleans to check on property his family owns in the storm-ravaged city, and was out looking to buy cigarettes when he was beaten and arrested last Saturday night in the French Quarter. Police have alleged that the 64-year-old Davis was publicly intoxicated, a charge he strongly denied as he stood on the street corner where the incident played out. “I haven’t had a drink in 25 years,” Davis said. He had stitches beneath his left eye, a bandage on his left hand and complained of soreness in his back and aches in his left shoulder. A federal civil rights investigation was begun in the case. Davis is Black; the three citypolice officers seen on the tape are white. But Davis, his attorney and police spokesman Marlon Defillo all said they do not believe race was an issue. “He does not see it as a racial thing,” said Davis’ lawyer, Joseph Bruno. Two city officers accused in the beating, and a third officer accused of grabbing and shoving an Associated Press Television News producer who helped document the confrontation, pleaded not guilty to battery charges. Trial was setfor Jan. 11. Officers Lance Schilling, Robert Evangelist and S.M. Smith were released on bond. They left without commenting.

Police Superintendent Warren Riley said any misconduct would be dealt with swiftly. Davis said he had been walking in the French Quarter and approached a mounted police officer to ask about the curfew in the city when another officer interrupted. “This other guy interfered and I said he shouldn’t,” Davis said. “I started to cross the street and — bam — I got it.... All I know is this guy attacked me and said,' I will kick your ass,’ and they proceeded to do it.” He said he did not know why the punches were thrown. Davis was kneed and pushed to the sidewalk with blood streaming down his arm and into the gutter. The officers accused of striking Davis were identified as Schilling and Evangelist. During the arrest, another officer, identified as Smith, ordered APTN producer Rich Matthews and a cameraman to stop recording. When Matthews held up his credentials, the officer grabbed the producer, leaned him backward over a car, jabbed him in the stomach and unleashed a profanity-laced tirade.

Robert Davis shows some of his scrapes near the site where New Orleans police arrested him Saturday. (Photo/Mel Evans, AP)

Harry Belafonte Belafonte to speak at diversity summit Special to the Recorder Noted civil rights leader and entertainer Harry Belafonte will be one of many highlights at the first Supreme Court Commission on Race and Gender Fairness Diversity Summit, Chief Justice Randall Shepard said this week. “The Indiana Supreme Court Commission on Race and Gender Fairness is proud to host the 2005 Diversity Summit for attorneys, judges, law enforcement officials and other individuals interested in diversity issues affecting Indiana’s judicial system,” said former Supreme Court Justice Myra Selby, who chairs the commission along with Court of Appeals Judge Ezra Friedlander. The summit is this week at the Madame Walker Theatre and the Indiana University School of Law-Indianapolis. Belafonte will speak Oct. 15 from 12:45 to 1:45 p.m. at the Walker Theatre. Tickets for Belafonte’s speech are $25 and are available to the public. Tickets can be obtained by calling (317) 232-2542. Please mention the Diversity Summit. Since 1999, the commission has been working to develop ways to limit bias in Indiana’s legal system. Following extensive study that included random and targeted polls and several public hearings across Indiana, the commission released a wideranging report that will serve as a road map toward a more just society. Following a review by the Supreme Court, the commission has prioritized its tasks. The summit will serve as an energizing kickofftoward implementation of the report’s many recommendations. Specifically, the summit seeks to promote an understanding and awareness that inclusiveness and diversity are valued in the legal profession; emphasize that fairness and understanding of gender, race, and ethnicity issues are required in the justice system; and continue efforts to encourage diversity in the legal, judicial, and law enforcement professions in order to utilize the talents and experiences of various segments of society as well as to counter perceptions of bias that undermine confidence in the legal system.

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