Volume 118 No. 17 www.afro.com 75 CENTS
DECEMBER 5, 2009 - DECEMBER 11, 2009
Woodson Beats Ballou in
OPINION
Black Unemployment
Turkey Bowl B7
We Need Pathways Out of Poverty A10
Tops 35% A2
AIDS Activists
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to Obama:
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Keep Campaign
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Promises
Opposition Not Bacnulling Donull
Protests Highlight World AIDS Day
Bnull anullnulle Sernullara
Special to the AFRO
BnullDoronullnullRowlenull eradicate the spread
AFRO Staff Writer of HIV/AIDs in the
WASHINGTON — Despite the District of
United States within
Columbia City Council’s overwhelming approval of
With the White House five years.
a bill that would legalize same-sex marriage in the
serving as a fitting backdrop, Following
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District on Dec. 1, the opposition said it will continue
more than 300 activists from the White House
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to fight the measure.
as far away as New York demonstration, the
Bishop Harry Jackson, pastor of Hope Christian
participated this week in a procession, led by
Day, was demanded of Mayor “We came out today to Church in Beltsville and one of the most visible
mock funeral procession the Revs. Jeffrey Jordan-
Adrian Fenty. In Washington, demand that something be opponents of the bill, said it’s not over yet.
to send the message to Pickett of Philadelphia and
with 3 percent of the city’s done because 33 million “We’re going to the Hill,” Jackson said, suggesting that
President Barack Obama’s Carolyn Boyd of Washington,
adult population having people worldwide are living opponents would take the issue before Congress.
administration that millions spilled over to the Wilson
contracted HIV/AIDS, the with HIV/AIDS and 2.1 Jackson said he and Councilman Marion Barry of Ward 8,
more people will die unless Building where further action,
disease has been declared an million people died of the who was one of only two lawmakers who voted against the
it honors its pledge to help in recognition of World AIDS
epidemic. diseases last year,” Pickett bill, will continue to push for a citywide referendum, which the
told the AFRO. Now it’s minister claims would bring a different outcome.
Baltimore Manullor Convicted
being said that HIV/AIDS is “The thing that we are passionately advocating for is that
the No. 1 killer of women of the people need to have a vote,” Jackson said. “This is a big
reproductive age.” civil rights issue. The people were not represented. The bill
Jury finds Dixon guilty of misappropriation
Pickett, a member of the passed 11 to 2. That would mean that 85 percent of the people
advocacy group ACT UP are for same sex marriage and that is not at all the case.”
BnullMelanulle R. nullolmenull on the misdemeanor charge, and prosecutor Philadelphia, said although Councilwoman Yvette M. Alexander of Ward 7 also voted
AFRO Staff Writer Robert Rohrbaugh was literally red in the face the country is in a recession, against the legislation. Polls show Black voters are far more
after jurors acquitted Dixon of two counts
Continued on A8 Continued on A8
Neither the state nor the defense was of theft and one count of
pleased with Baltimore City Mayor misconduct in office.
Sheila A. Dixon’s conviction on Judge Dennis
Tuesday. On the seventh day of Sweeney declared a
Black Leaders vs. Black President
deliberations, the jury found mistrial on a second
Dixon guilty on one count of count of fraudulent
on Black Joblessness
fraudulent misappropriation misappropriation
by a fiduciary. A fiduciary by a fiduciary,
Bnullnullnullel Trnulle Enullenull leaders outlining specific situation, I would add that
is someone who is entrusted after the jury
Special to the AFRO recommendations for job double-digit unemployment
with property or power for failed to reach
creation as President Obama has been a reality for
the benefit of another. a unanimous
WASHINGTON prepares for a job summit this communities of color since
The typically decision.
(NNPA) – African-American week in the wake of national last summer – for African
charismatic defense Rohrbaugh will
unemployment – nearly unemployment numbers that Americans since August,
attorney Arnold Weiner decide how he
twice the national rate – is grew into double digits – 10.2 2008, and for Latinos since
turned soft-spoken once would like to
quickly becoming the first percent - in October. In his February, 2009,” he wrote.
the verdict was proceed with
showdown between “As President
rendered
AFRO File Photo
Continued on A5 Black leaders and and CEO of the
the nation’s first National Urban
INSERTS
nulloods nullined in
Black president. League, the nation’s
National Black and oldest and largest
• Home Depot
civil right leaders community-based
Snullpicionull Accident
increasingly are movement devoted to
raising their voices, empowering African
telling the Obama Americans to enter
Tiger
administration it’s the economic and
Woods
time to end the jobs social mainstream,
commanded
crisis in the Black I have firsthand
the news
community. knowledge of the
sphere in
“We’re sending tremendous obstacles
the past few
a strong message these families have
days—but
to the president and been facing, not
not for his
Congress that we just since national
golfing
need to step up. We unemployment
skills.
need immediate reached 10.2
A Nov.
jobs – not some [percent] in October,
27 crash,
time six, eight and but for over a year
which
10 months down now.”
left him
the road,” National Morial’s strongly
seriously
afro.com
Urban League worded letter came
injured
President Marc on the heels of a
and his
AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File
Courtesy Photo
Morial said in an Nov. 17 statement
2009 Cadillac Escalade smashed into a fire hydrant and his
interview with
Marc Mornulll, prenullnullnullnullanull CEnullof nulle
issued by leading
Your History • Your Community • Your News
neighbor’s tree, has spawned rumors of a domestic dispute
the NNPA News
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African-American
between him and his wife, Elin.
Service. “African-
Blacnullleanullrnullwnull are nullenullnullnullnull
civil right groups,
That the golf star chose to remain mum and did not talk to
American leaders
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the NAACP, headed
police further fueled the speculation, which originated from a
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0 4
are not just saying by Ben Jealous;
report by The National Enquirer that Tiger was having an affair
do something. We’re the Leadership
with former New York nightclub hostess, Rachel Uchitel.
offering solutions.” Conference on Civil
Florida police have since fined Woods for careless driving.
Morial has sent a letter letter, dated Nov. 24, Morial Rights, headed by Wade
to the Obama administration reminds the administration Henderson, and other major
See full story on B6.
and congressional that the Black community has civil rights organizations.
7 47105 21847 2
suffered double digit jobless “Despite an effective and
Black Friday
Dr. Cornel West
rates for well more than a bold recovery package we
year. are still facing a prolonged
Discusses
“While I applaud the period of high unemployment.
Administration for publicly Two years from now, absent
Join the AFRO on
Rebound acknowledging the gravity further action, we are likely
Twitter and Facebook
A12 Autobiography B2
of our nation’s employment
Continued on A4
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