THE MinorityallLISTEN TOWOoOowW 1340 AMCla asihuliceWTOW 1320AMCivilization is a race between education and Catastrophe.-- H.G. WellsanklinHome DeliveryEASTERN NORTH CAROLINA TS MINORITY VOICE SINCE 1981 o]SSUE WEEK AUGUST 25-SEPTEMBER 7, 1998- THE MILLION YOUTH MARCH TO HARLEM IS ON...By Damaso Reyes, Special to the M-Voice NewspaperNEW YORK .- After over eighthours of dramatic court roombattles, the leaders of the MillionYouth March prevailed in theFederal District Court as JudgeLouis Kaplan granted an injunctionagainst the city of New York.The court battle was been thelatest step in a lengthy fight by theorganizers of the Million YouthMarch against New York Cityofficials and the PoliceDepartment. The focus of thefederal court case was the constitu-tionality of city officials denyingmarch organizers a permit tocongregate along Malcolm XBoulevard from 118th Street to147th Street in Harlem.The events taking place duringthat day of testimony were long anddrawn out as both the plaintiff andthe defendant presented their cases.Arguing on behalf of the New YorkCity Corporation Council, leadattorney Michael Hess broughtseveral city officials involved in thenegotiations to the stand, includingformer NYPD Chief of PatrolWilbur Chapman. The witnessestestified to the fact that they believedthat the particular stretch of MalcolmX Boulevard was not a suitable sitefor the Million Youth March."It creates a potential for con-frontation," said Wilbur Chapman,on the feasibility of closing off therally site if the march exceededcapacity.From early that morning to latethat afternoon, the history of themarch, which dates fromNovember 1997 when the originalpermit application was submitted,was rehashed and argued back andforth. The defendant, the city ofNew York, claimed that millionYouth March organizers were im-precise as to where and when theywanted the march to be held. Theyalso stated organizers had claimedthat upwards to one million people.would show up to the event, evenduring later negotiations.- Seemingly unconvinced by thedefendant's claims, the judge askedseveral questions as to the legiti-macy and constitutionality of thecity's case, leading those in thecourtroom to believe that he wouldrule in the plaintiffs favor.The air of the courtroom waschilly as spectators filed back intothe courtroom for the judge'sdecision. Ironically, members of thepress were seated in the jury box asthe judge came in and systemati-cally proceeded to dismantle thecity's case for denying the permit.Kaplan ruled on several aspects ofthe constitutionality of the city'sdecision. First, he ruled that theway in which the city grant streetactivity permits is far too broad andants too much power to a few cityeaucrats. Second, He said thatthe city has not met its burden of anoverriding concerning interest indenying the organizers their per-mit. he noted that organizers werewilling to and had already madeprovisions for an emergency vehi-cle lane along the length ofMalcolm X Boulevard and thatorganizers seemed willing to workthings out with the city. Perhapsmost importantly, the judge ruledthat the specific site of Malcolm XBoulevard in Harlem was relevantto the organizers T ability to conveytheir message."Clearly, Harlem is the mostappropriate venue," said JudgeKaplan in his verbal ruling fromthe bench. "Harlem is an interna-tional Mecca for the Black commu-nity," he added. Once the rulingwas made, the audience burst inapplause and began cheering, "TheMillion Youth March is on!"Outside of Federal District Courtin Manhattan, the march's organiz-ers and lawyers were ecstatic."This is a smashing win for theFirst Amendment," said NormanSiegal of the New York CivilLiberties Union."We want to tell the world thatthe march is on!" said nationalorganizer for the Million YouthMarch Malik Zulu Shabazz.Lawyers for the city said that they willseek an appeal to the judge's injunction.It is now clear that the MillionYouth March finally has gained thelegitimacy that its organizers havesought from the beginning.Regardless of what in the appealsprocess, it seem as though themarch will take place on MalcolmX Boulevard in Harlem onSeptember Sth. As the judge said inhis ruling, it is now incumbentupon both side to come to theWe Wo n 9 @6 ° 3 \that victory was theirs.| Erica Ford and Malik ZuluShabazz knew even last week(Bil! Moore photo) "_ oa || Kenya assesseseffect of blast on national psyche...By Adrian BlomfieldMembers of the Fairfax, Virginia, Search and Rescue Unit watch as theremains of a truck, suspected by investigators to have been used in thebombing of the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi, is removed from the scene. Thetruck was being taken to an area near the embassy for investigators toconduct tests. "AP PHOTO BY JOHN MCCONNICOThe Annual Down East Festival which took place last Saturday onthe Greenville Town Commons and featur1 recording artists Rev F.C. Barnes and the Red Budturing Debra Barnes, Luther Barnes and the SunsettraditionalGospel Choirperformances fromJubilees, The Fresh Anointing Choir, Dedrick Hadden, gospelLea soloist Ouintoo Ral01Aneinted Jackson § artists who also madea southern gospel uartet, emEvangelist a Jackson and theisters and a number of other well known 1ces before a capacity crowds HgRouse Photo Editorial - Page Two). Shown above are some of the festivalcoordinators and promoters: T. Anthony, D.J. Slide, Gwen Schaefferlocal area sales manKirkland. Also EmGreenville leadingfor KISS 10the show was WOOWAnnouncer. Hats off to Johnand KISS personality B.K T"s Price,ior and JonHarley (not we re and the rest of the team that made it happen. (Photoby Jim Rouse-Publisher)NAIROBI - As the last body waspulled out of the rubble onednesday, the people of Kenyabegan to turn their attention tohealing the mental wounds in-I flicted by the devastating bombattack on the capital.Rescue workers pulled out nearly100 crushed or mutilated corpses fromthe wreckage of an office blockvirtually flattened by the attack onthe US. embassy, while graphicimages of the dead and woundedwere broadcast on local televisionand shown in newspapers."Apart from grief and loss on apersonal basis there appears to begrief and loss on a national basis, �said Captain Erin Wilkinson, headof a U.S. Air Force combat stressteam which arrived in the countryon Monday."Even if a person wasn Tt in-volved, they could well suffer fromvicarious trauma and one wouldexpect the same symptoms as ifthey were there, � she said.The team has been flown in tofain ror pena who wilen help Kenyans cope with thestress caused by the blast in whichat least 247 people were killed andover 5,000 injured."Many people are still in shockand sometimes cannot be sure thatthis thing really happened. Thenwhen it dawns on them that it isreal, something can trigger in theirmind, � clinical "_ psychologistWaiyake Munyua said.ere is concern that manyle will not have access tocounselling or would chose toignore it if it were offered.from rural areas to look for familymembers and as they go back theytake their grief with them, �Wilkinson said.The Kenya Medical Associationhas launched an advertising cam-paign on radio and television to tryand counter the problem, but manypeople in rural areas do not haveaccess to either.The rescue workers will be morefortunate.Israeli army psychologist IlanSegal said that the 200 Israelisoldiers who worked day and nightsince Friday sifting through therubble in their desperate search forsurvivors would receive stress de-briefings when they returned toIsrael."At the end of the operation weare going to take everyone on asafari so that people do not onltake the images of the blast bacwith them, � Segal said.John Sparrow, regional informa-tion delegate for the Red Cross,said nurses treating the wounded atthe scene had been brought to thebrink of exhaustion."Our volunteers have been physi.cally very, very tired. | think alsothey are psychologically verytired, � Sparrow said.But it is unlikely that thepsychologists will ever answer theuestion of 28 year old Janegaragari, partially blinded andwith permanent facial scars fromthe bomb."We are not fighting a war sowhy have they done this bad thing »to us, � she asked.It is a question shared bymillions of Kenyans."Many people came to the cityadi away 8illion Youth" Marchesed for Labor DayTwo "Million Youth" events havebeen set for Labor Day week end -one in Atlanta, Ga. and one inHarlem, NY. Both events are beingheld in the spirit of the historicMillion Man and Million WomanMarch. Both are summoning for amillion youth participants.The Million Youth Movement inAtlanta (MYM-Atl) has been en-dorsed by a coalition of civil rightsleaders and anizations.Endorsers include the KweisiMfume and the NAACP; MinisterLouis Farrakkah and the Nation ofIslam, Rev. Jesse Jackson and theRainbow/Push Coalition, MartinLuther King, III and the SouthernChristian Leadership Conference,the National Council of NegroWomen, the United Church ofChrist the Coalition of Black TradeUnionists and various leaders andanizations."Sn Labor Day week-end, youthfrom all over the nation will be inAtlanta for 4 days of workshops,seminars and forums which willculminate on the last day with amarch down historic Sweet AuburnAvenue on Monday, yy sensi 7th.So far the city of Atlanta (whereBlack college students gather forthe controversial "Freaknik" eachyear) is welcoming the MillionYouth Movement with open arms.With the theme, "PreparingYouth for the new Millennium,"organizers of the MYM-ATI. saythat the march is the beginning ofa 10-year process to ensure that theforward motion and progress ofyoung people will continue into thenew millennium. Dennis Rogers,chairman of MYM-ATL says thatthe Nation's Youth are beingbrought together as a positive group.of people showing the world thatwe can make a difference. "In aneffort to lay a foundation foruniversal change and the develop-ment of youth and community wehave outlined five major areas to beaddressed: Spirituality, Political,Social, Economic and Education,"says Rogers.ile the Million YouthMovement has the support andpraise of many prominent leadersand organizations, there continuesto be a storm of controversysurrounding the Million YouthContinues on Page 4negotiating table and work out aplan which will protect both thecitizens of Harlem and attendees ofthe "March."by Kitty J. PopeCommunity QuestionsImpeachment Call...African American Leaders Suspect Political Motives...William Jefferson ClintonGREENVILLE - Many African-American leaders and communitycitizens, mostly Democrats believethat President Bill Clinton shouldnot face impeachment because ofhis alleged affair with formerWhite House intern, MonicaLewinsky. The Black Communityseems sympathetic toward thepresident after his recent publicapology and admission that he hadan inappropriate relationship withLewinsky.Many leaders believed that theentire controversy has been blownout of proportion in an effort todiscredit Clinton Ts overall job asPresident. Most people felt that it istime to move on because of moreserious business, domestic, andforeign matters facing the country.Bishop Ralph Love, Pitt Countyschool board member and ministerat Holy Trinity United Church saysthat Clinton should not be im-peached because he has not doneany more than many other USPresidents. oI feel that his personallife should not be the focus of thewhole country. This is probably theway the Republicans are trying togain control of the White Housefor year 2000, � says Bishop Love.Barbara Fenner, director of theWest Creenyille CommunityDevelopment Center agrees thatClinton is the victim of an effort bythe Republican Party to gain con-trol of the White House for the nextelection. oWhy should we try toimpeach him for aspects of hispersonal life when his term isalready almost out. It would be awaste of tax payers money, � sheexplains.Fanning Morning of Bethel saysthat the president Ts personal life isno one Ts business. oI feel thatmany people don Tt like Clintonbecause he has tried to help blacksand poor people, � says Morning.He Ts doing a good job of runningthe country and he need to be leftalone to continue doing his job, �explains Morning.Rocky Mount District attorneycandidate Charles Robinson saysthat moralistically the Presidenthas a responsibility to his wife andfamily and shouldn Tt have lied tothe public. He does believe, how-ever, that his personal life hasnothing to do with the politicalagenda.Pitt County Commissioner JeffSavage also believes that PresidentClinton should not be impeachedbecause the price that he has to payfor his transgressions is muchgreater than any punishment thatcould be rendered in a secularsetting if he is indeed guilty ofcommitting sin. oI believe that aright- wing conspiracy as eluded toby Ms. Clinton during a televisioninterview is quite plausible - givenhis unprecedented bridge buildingbetween White House and groupsthat are often left out of theprocess, � says Savage.Many African American citizensinterviewed expressed appreciationof what President Clinton has doneduring his administration and thatthe president Ts televised apologywas sufficient.Pictured (I-r) Bennie Rountree, Pitt County and North Carolina SCLCPresident is shown here with Commissioner Jeff Savage at a recent fo-rum,Jeff Savage, Pitt County Commissioner since 1992 has been named 2Vice President of the North Carolina Association of Black County officialswhich is an affiliate of the NC Association of County Commissioners. Healso serves on the National Association of County Energy Environmentand land use Steering Committee.