VOL. 60, No. 47


Illinois court frees Dwain Kyles of blame


in fatal fire Son of Memphis civil rights icon sees conviction overturned


by Jason Palmer Special to the Tri-State Defender


in Memphis, was the part owner of the E2 nightclub in February 2003 when security guards released pepper spray into a crowd to break up a fight. The chemical irritant instead got into the club’s ventilation system and caused hundreds of partygoers to rush towards the doors in an effort to es- cape. During the stampede, 21 people lost their lives due to asphyxia when they became trapped in a narrow, steep stairwell. In all, 12 women and nine men, be-


tween the ages of 21 and 43 died in those early morning hours and dozens of others were injured. City of Chicago officials said the


of civil rights icon the Rev. Samuel “Billy” Kyles, won a major legal vic- tory Wednesday (Nov. 16) afternoon when the Illinois Appellate Court overturned his conviction in connec- tion with the deaths of 21 people in a Chicago nightclub. Kyles, 55, who was born and raised


Pitching in for kids…


Mayor A C Wharton Jr. hoists a bicycle destined to part of the city-wide toy drive sponsored by Olympic Tax Service LLC, along with MAPCO Express. There will be collection boxes at 51 MAPCO convenience store locations in the Memphis area. The company will also partner with several nonprofits to identify families in need. Memphians are encouraged to leave new, unwrapped toys at par- ticipating locations. Toys will be collected until Dec. 15 and distributed on Dec. 17. Since the official launch of the drive on Nov. 1, Pepsi has donated 28 bicycles to the campaign. (Photo by Isaac Singleton.)


club should have never been open that fateful night due to a failed inspection in the months prior. One of the viola- tions, which played a key role in the tragedy, was that the glass doors at the bottom of the stairwell opened in- ward, thus trapping those who could only see their escape to safety feet away. Reached Wednesday night, Kyles,


ple died in that unfortunate situation, primarily because the city completely blew the rescue. They did not know what to do,” Kyles said. “And as the facts come out it will


become clear where the fault lies.” City attorneys contend Kyles and


Hollins intentionally ignored the housing court’s order not to open the club until the 11 violations were fixed. The club was opened for a party


SEE KYLES ON PAGE 3 - INSIDE -


• Why owners will win the NBA lockout battle. See Opinion, page 4.


• Five things your mama never told you about money. See Business, page 6.


• Patterson elected National Treasurer of COGIC. See Re- ligion, page 10.


• Tigers are out the gate and kicking up a fuss. See Sports, page 15.


MEMPHIS WEEKEND FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY


who graduated from Central High School in Memphis, said he was happy with the ruling, making his first public comments in years about the case. He blamed city firefighters and police for their response to the inci- dent on the night of Feb. 17, 2003, and believes he and his business part- ner, Calvin Hollins, 61, were made to take the fall because in an incident like this “someone has to take the fall.” “The fact of the matter is those peo-


Actor Danny Glover and myriad local, regional and national stars and celebrities were in town last week for the 2011 Freedom Awards and the National Civil Rights Museumʼs 20th anniver- sary. (Photo by Tyrone P. Easley)


Freedom Awards plus 20-year run equals Civil Rights museum blast


by Dorothy Bracy Alston Special to the Tri-State Defender


At the Cannon Center for the Per-


forming Arts last Saturday (Nov. 12), Hollywood came to mind but it was all about Memphis, where red carpet glitz and glam brought out an impressive group of both local and national celebrities. It was a historic occasion, leaving


several thousand guests with cher- ished memories, as the National Civil Rights Museum celebrated its 2011 Freedom Awards and 20 years


in existence. Fittingly, museum founding


members D’Army Bailey and Chuck Scruggs and their spouses strolled the red carpet, along with an impressive group of CEO’s, cor- porate sponsors, politicians, celebs and 19 honorees. In 1991, the first National Free-


dom Awards were handed out to three iconic national civil rights he- roes: Coretta Scott King, widow of Dr. Martin Luther King, who worked behind the scenes until her husband’s death; Rosa Parks, a pre- viously unknown seamstress in


Soon to be open – again – after Horn Lake flap


by Tony Jones Special to the Tri-State Defender


H-59o Sunny - L-44o H-67o


REGIONAL TEMPS LITTLE ROCK NASHVILLE


JACKSON, MS Mostly Cloudy


Friday H-60 L-45 H-58 L-40 H-65 L-45


- L-59o Scat. T-Storms


Saturday H-68 L-60 H-64 L-55 H-73 L-61


Sunday H-69 L-59 H-68 L-56 H-78 L-61


H-67o - L-58o


Muhammad was gratified and “cau- tiously optimistic” Tuesday night after learning that the city’s Board of Aldermen had voted 6 to 1 to allow him to reopen his Cut and Shine Barbershop and Auto Detail- ing business that had been shut down soon after its first 30 days of operation. The issue blew up last month


Horn Lake businessman Tedarral


when Muhammad sent a news re- lease to local media claiming that the booming Memphis suburb’s governing body had a “Klu Klux Klan” mentality and a “good ole’ boy network” behind the scenes calling shots against him.


said the city made a mistake in issu- ing Cut and Shine a permit to oper- ate. In an earlier appearance before the board of alderman, Baker ob- jected to Muhammad’s letter and said the city would work with Muhammad to try to solve the prob-


SEE HORN LAKE ON PAGE 2


ner of Your Enterprise, the investors group that owns the Cut and Shine Auto Detailing Center at 2400 Goodman Road. After passing the city’s requirements – so the in- vestors thought – the car wash opened and quickly brought in traf- fic. A barbershop is to be the main business at the location. Muhammad is the lease owner, subletting the rear space for the car wash. Horn Lake Mayor Nat Baker has


Unwrapping the past…


New Tri-State Defender President/ Publisher Bernal E. Smith II (right) and Deborah Powell Alexander, vice president of sales and marketing, unveil a painting reflecting the TSDʼs 60 years of impact on Greater Memphis. See Arts & Leisure, page 11. (Photo by Warren Roseborough)


Muhammad is the managing part-


Montgomery, Ala., ascribed as start- ing the civil rights movement when she refused to give up her bus seat to a white passenger; and James Farmer, founder of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), and mem- ber of the “Big Four,” which King, NAACP chief Roy Wilkins and Urban League head Whitney Young. There has been an impressive list


of local, national and international awardees every since. During this commemorative year, 17 individu-


SEE FREEDOMON PAGE 8


Real pain from real people as NBA rift hardens


by Kelley Evans Special to the Tri-State Defender


compensation and contracts are re- verberating at gut level for elements of the general public, with some dub- bing the fight “The Billionaires vs. The Millionaires.” With the NBA disturbingly close to


Protracted negotiations over NBA


are losing millions as the NBA stale- mate drags on with the season in tow. Meanwhile, businesses in downtown Memphis have lost significant rev- enue and stand to lose even more. Players have declined the offer that NBA Commissioner David Stern said would be his final and they have now disbanded their union. Where is the meaning in it all? Well, it means bars will not host


NBA nights. There will be no “meeting-up” at


Main Street will not see the likes of NBA players and fans that have din- ner there after games. Sushi bistro Blue Fin’s hostesses


SEE NBA ON PAGE 3


canceling the entire season, the popu- lation teetering in harm’s way is the “dollarnaires” – business owners and their employees who count on every dollar they earn to thrive in a declin- ing economy, and NBA patrons. For sure, NBA players and owners


CHICAGO – Dwain Kyles, the son


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November 17 - 23, 2011


www.tristatedefender.com 75 Cents


Bleu Restaurant in the Westin Hotel directly across the street from the FedExForum. Spindini, a popular restaurant on


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