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VOL. 103, NO. 30 Three Sections


Jordan Miles says he was beaten while handcuffed


by Rebecca Nuttall Courier Staff Writer


On July 19, dressed in a white blazer and


purple shirt, a reserved Jordan Miles took the stand to testify in a civil rights lawsuit against three Pittsburgh police officers who he says attacked him on Jan. 12, 2010. “It felt as if


I was being hit every- where in my body at the same time,” Miles said while being questioned by


his


lawyer, Ker- r i n g t o n Lewis. Miles’ civil


JORDAN MILES


suit is the result of a two year battle with R i c h a r d E w i n g , Michael Sal- dutte and David Sisak,


the three officers he says jumped out of a car on that snowy January night and pro- ceeded to ask him for “guns, money and drugs.” In May, Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala announced he would not be prosecuting the officers, but Miles’ suit accuses them of false arrest, beating and malicious prosecution. For many, the most startling testimony of


the day was when Miles revealed he was beaten after he had been handcuffed while kneeling in the snow. After trying several times to remove his face from the snow, in order to breathe, Miles said he was repeat- edly struck and pushed down by the three officers. “My heart was racing. I couldn’t catch my


breath. I was gasping for air,” Miles said. Along with a series of questions from the


officers’ defense attorneys aimed at poking holes in the accuracy of Miles’ memory and story, the defense’s cases revolves around the idea that Miles knew the men attack- ing him were plain clothes police officers. “Isn’t that the real reason you fought the


officers? Because you didn’t want to go to jail,” said Defense Attorney James


SEE JORDAN A3


Pittsburgh Courier Sanders gives 100K to AWC


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Black diabetes deaths double that of Whites


by Rebecca Nuttall Courier Staff Writer


Almost 19 percent of all African-Ameri-


cans in the country are living with dia- betes. Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the country, but twice as many African-Americans are dying as Whites. This disparity is closely linked to dispari-


ties in healthcare and also increased rates of obesity in the Black community. Nation- wide, 35.7 percent of African-Americans are obese while only 23.7 percent of Whites are obese. “The diabetes epidemic we’ve been seeing


BIG CHECK—Chuck Sanders, right, gives check to August Wilson Center for African American Cul- ture Board Chair Aaron Walton. (Photo by Rossano P. Stewart)


by Christian Morrow Courier Staff Writer


With the strains of soft jazz and the


aroma of the Savoy Lunch on Liberty en- trees wafting through the doors, the Au- gust Wilson African American Cultural Center Board Chairman Aaron Walton noted it was a beautiful day. It was made even better when he an-


nounced that philanthropist and en- trepreneur Chuck Sanders was underwrit- ing the center’s upcoming season of pro- gramming—all of it, with a donation of $100,000. “We don’t often get to share good news. So I’m very excited to announce very good


news today,” he said. “It represents the broad commitment to presenting outstand- ing programming we enjoy from the public, private and foundation community. Thank you. We look forward to a long and pros- perous relationship with Savoy and Chuck Sanders Charities.” Outgoing CEO Andre Kimo Stone Guess


thanked Sanders for helping the organiza- tion achieve its goals. “I came here a few years ago to share the


vision of a premier African American Cul- tural Center and I am proud to see the cen- ter continue to realize that vision,” he said. That vision will be reflected in a 2012-


SEE SANDERS A3 Schenley supporters still fighting


by Christian Morrow Courier Staff Writer


When the Pittsburgh Board of Education


voted to close the iconic Schenley High School in 2008, it claimed an extensive as- bestos problem would have cost nearly $100 million, making renovation of the structure economically infeasible. At the time, the New Pittsburgh Courier


reported that independent engineer Jet Lafean testified asbestos was a non-prob- lem, with 00.00 percent showing up in an- alyzed plaster samples. But with pending budget shortfalls, rising building overca- pacity costs and other looming expenses, the board believed its own reports saying asbestos was a major liability issue and


voted to shutter the 92-year-old building. Last month, the district admitted as-


bestos was not a problem, but said the clo- sure was justified to avoid drastic cuts to programming and staff in the worsening economy. That news did not sit well with alumni and Oakland residents who’d like to see the school, or at least its athletic fa- cilities used by the district. Several have attended a series of meet-


ings sponsored by City Councilman Bill Pe- duto to get public input on the future of Schenley. Cynthia Golden said she thought the district’s original plan was to sell the building, but the collapse of the real estate banking market shelved that idea, which


SEE SCHENLEY A4


is because people have been getting more and more obese and inactive,” said Mim Seidel, community based education and in- ternship coordinator at Chatham Univer- sity. At the University of Pittsburgh Center on Race and Social Problems’ Summer Insti-


SEE DIABETES A3


Pgh NAACP drives voter registration


by Ashley Johnson Courier Staff Writer


There is a lot at stake for the future of the


United States of America and the 2012 presidential election is a very important one. Recent polls are projecting that this will be a close race and every vote will count. One’s vote is their voice. In an effort to make sure that every voice is heard, the Pittsburgh branch, along with the state and national NAACP is in the midst of a major voter’s registration drive, not only to get individuals registered to vote, but also to educate them about the new Voter ID bill and assist in getting them one of the acceptable forms of identification. “It is critical that African-Americans are


relevant. And I think if we don’t vote, then we are considered irrelevant” and so are our issues, said Celeste Taylor, NAACP of Pennsylvania local civic engagement coor- dinator and consultant. “Voting is con-


SEE DRIVES A4 Pa. NAACP leads rally against Voter ID law


by Joby Brown For New Pittsburgh Courier


(Beaver County)—Beaver


County residents joined the Pennsylvania NAACP in Harrisburg rally to have the Voter ID Law repealed. The state Supreme Court starts its hearing July 25. Mike Turzai, the Republi-


can Majority Leader of the PA House of Representa- tives, stated after the Gen- eral Assembly passed the law, “Voter ID, which is going to allow Gov. Romney to win the state of Pennsyl- vania, done.” Hearings on the constitu-


tionality of the highly con- troversial law, signed into existence by Gov. Tom Cor- bett on March 14, are scheduled to begin July 25, with a decision ex- pected within 10 days. A


massive rally on the state capitol steps has been orga- nized by the NAACP, ACLU, AFL-CIO, League of Women Voters, SEIU, AFSME, AARP and others, to protest and hopefully in- fluence the court to over- turn the law, and was set for July 24. John W. Jordan, director of


Civic Engagement for the Pennsylvania NAACP, came to Beaver County and Pittsburgh to educate vot- ers on the significant as- pects of the law. He spoke at the Steelworkers’ Union (Local 8183) Hall in West Bridgewater. Jordan began by explaining why he came to a small place like Beaver County, stating, “I came to Beaver County because of the passion of people here toward guaranteeing vot- ers’ rights. The law disen-


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franchises many voters, who turned out in record numbers in 2008, senior cit- izens, women, 18-25 year olds and students. Despite heavy lobbying by the NAACP and other human rights organizations prior to the legislature’s vote, the bill still passed and was signed into law.” “The bill was strategic,


JOHN W. JORDAN speaks to Beaver County residents. (Photo by Joby Brown)


well funded and specifically targeted, but not well thought out,” Jordan said. “I have to remain as non-par- tisan as possible, since the NAACP is a non-partisan organization, but I’m not stupid, and neither are the people in this room. Women are the most transient group, especially African- American women; in other words, they often live with parents, friends or on cam- pus. The stipulation of the


Ulish Carter asks


Who and where are the Black contractors? Opinion A6


law that requires two proofs of residence is a pow- erful tool to make sure many are disenfranchised.” Another potential prob-


lem, according to the Bren- nan Report, is that women often don’t change the name on their IDs when they get married. Jordan said, “for whatever reason, they tend to hold on to their maiden names, so make the residency and matching name on the ID a require- ment. A good way to disen- franchise a large group.” Prior to this law, 18-year-


old high school students could show their student ID and vote. “The new law wipes out high school IDs as valid documents for vot- ers. Regarding college stu- dents, Jordan went on, “col-


SEE RALLY A4 AKA honors


Mountaineers Sports C4


Clarke emerges as leader for the


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