Bobby Bland, Mavis


Blues Fest Entertainer B4


Staples headline


Wine & Cheese Soiree benefits YMCA


Lifestyles B1 Pittsburgh Courier www.newpittsburghcourier.com NEW VOL. 103, NO. 28 Three Sections Published Weekly JULY 11-17, 2012 INSIDE $1.00


Female group fights for more women police


by Ashley Johnson Courier Staff Writer


As the AugustWilson Center for African Women of Excellence


Luncheon 2012 Special Section


State sued over voter registration


by Christian Morrow Courier Staff Writer


The Black Political Empowerment Pro-


ject has joined Action United, formerly ACORN, in filing suit against the heads of three Pennsylvania government depart- ments, claiming they are violating federal voting laws by not assisting their clients to register to vote. The lawsuit claims Secretary of the Com- mo nwe a l t h Carol Aichele, Secretary of Welfare Gary Alexander and Secretary of Health Dr. Eli Avila failed to provide voter registration forms and as- sisting their l ow- inc ome and Black clients with registration. This, the suit


TIM STEVENS


claims, vio- SEE SUED A4


Mentoring emphasized at solidarity CEA meet


by Rebecca Nuttall Courier Staff Writer


On June 23, the Community Empower-


ment Association held their Day of Black Male Day of Solidarity. Now in its sixth year, the annual event is meant to empower African-Ameri- can men and bring them to- gether to ad- dress societal is- sues in the Black commu- nity. This year’s


theme, “Unifica- tion of Purpose for Direct Ac- tion” addressed


RASHAD BYRDSONG SEEMENTORING A4 NEW


KIERRA KEEPS CARING—Foundation Founder Carla Gaines-Robinson leads the Third Annual Walk 4 Life through Schenley Park. (Photo by Gail Manker)


by Rebecca Nuttall Courier Staff


In August 2007, 19-year-old Jayla Brown


was killed outside of I.D.Labsmusic studio in Lawrencevillewhen a spray of 20 bullets rained down on the car she was sitting in. The aspiring writer had been enrolled in Community College of Allegheny County where she studied nursing. Two years later, inMay 2009, 18-year-old


Shavaughn Kierra Wallace, another inno- cent bystanderwho had just completed her freshman year at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, was shot and killed in the North Side.WhileWallace’s killer was con-


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victed this past February, no one has ever been charged in Brown’s death. These two women are the inspiration be-


hind Kierra Keeps Caring, a foundation started byWallace’s mother Carla Gaines- Robinson. Every year, the foundation gives out scholarships as a way of counteracting the youth violence plaguing the Black com- munity. “I give out scholarships each year to stu-


dents who pursue post secondary educa- tion,” Gaines-Robinson said. “I want to get themoff the streets and I want to get them into the right hands. I hope most people


SEE WALK A3 Ulish Carter says


Petra loses Imani...Be careful who you ask for help Forum A7


BETTING ON AMERICA—President Barack Obama waves to the crowd after concluding his campaign speech at Carnegie Mellon. (Photo by J.L. Martello)


Obama highlights record, downplays Romney in Pgh


by Rebecca Nuttall Courier Staff Writer


Amidst the sweltering heat,with temper-


atures that rose to the 90s, hundreds gath- ered on the lawn of Carnegie Mellon Uni- versity’s College of Fine Arts July 6 for a campaign speech by President Barack Obama.Despite the dozen or so peoplewho were taken away by ambulance after suc- cumbing to the effects of the heat, the crowd remained entirely energetic as Obama stepped to the podium. “Now, first of all, before we do anything


else, let’s also be clear that a very impor- tant situation has arisen. The White Sox and the Pirates are in first place. So we may be in the World Series together. We love each other; we can root for each other, until we get to the World Series. Then it’s every man for himself,” Obama said. “I know it’s hot. I know you guys have been waiting a while. So I want to, first of all, just say thank you to everybody for taking the time to be here.” While the president’s speech opened on a


SEE OBAMA A3 ‘Walk 4 Life’ fights for lives


American Culture’s “The Strength in the Struggle: Civil Rights and Bridge Builders” exhi- bition concluded in one room, the National Orga- nization of BlackWomen in Law Enforce- ment recog- nized several women for their strength, ac- complishments and contribu- tions to their ca- reers and com- munity in an- other at their Awards Brunch June 30. The organiza-


tion honored three women who have overcome adversity in one form or another.The honoreeswereWilkinsburg Police ChiefOphelia “Cookie”Coleman and Executive Deputy Secretary of the Penn- sylvania Department of Corrections ShirleyMoore Smeal, both for their contin-


OPHELIA COLEMAN SEE FEMALE A4


NAACP pursues answers in Brown shooting


by Ashley Johnson Courier Staff Writer


Almost two weeks after Odell Brown was


shot and killed by a sheriff’s deputy during a 90-minute standoff in East Liberty when he allegedly pointed what turned out to be a gun-like looking pellet gun at the deputy after he was instructed several times to put it down, a similar standoff occurred in the Brighton Heights area of Pittsburgh, that ended peacefully, but that has the Pittsburgh branch of the NAACP asking for answers to more questions and fair practices by the police. On June 26 police were called to a home


in the 400 block of Brandon Road, for a re- port of shots being fired into a tree.When they arrived the suspect,MarcVrane, a 40- year-old retired firefighter,had retreated to his home and reportedly threatened to harm himself and officers if they entered his home.After approximately three-hours of police demands to come out with his hands up and a recordedmessage fromhis mother, Vrane surrendered and was taken toWestern Psychiatric Institute and Clinic for an evaluation. Now Constance Parker, vice president of


thePittsburghNAACP, is once again asking for an investigation into the Brown incident and more transparency in police practices, with regards to the protocol for stand offs, and a breakdown by race on the results of stand offs in the city of Pittsburgh. “(The Vrane incident) is similar to the


Brown incident if not worse because he was actually shooting his gun,” said Parker. “There’s amessage we have to look at.Our bottomline seems to always end in death. We cannot just keep going on. We won’t bring Odell Brown back, but we can stop the way they (police) respond in our communities.” She added there are dispar-


SEE NAACP A4


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