Posted on May 14, 2012 by Admin
By Evan F. Moore
Chicago will be the host city to The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Summit that is taking place May 20 –21 at the McCormick Place. Here is a quick question and answer session about NATO. Hopefully this will answer any questions you may have.
Q: What does NATO stand for?
A: North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Q: What is it and what does it do?
A: NATO is an alliance that consists of 28 independent member countries. Leaders from NATO member countries are scheduled to attend. These heads of state and government will meet to discuss security and stability in member nations.
Q: Who is coming to the NATO summit?
A: The summit is expected to bring in 10,000 people to the near south side. This includes more than 7,000 delegates and staff, along with about 2,000 journalists from foreign countries.
Q: Will there be protesters?
A: Yes. Several thousand protesters will be on hand to voice their disapproval with NATO and its member countries. Civil rights groups, Unions, gay rights activists, environmentalists, and members of the Occupy movement will be among the protesters in attendance.
Q: How will all of this affect me?
A: A security and transportation plan was developed to provide general orders for road closures, public transportations, pedestrian’s routes, and restricted areas for vehicles by the Chicago Police Department, the Federal Aviation Administration, U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Secret Service. Traffic delays and temporary closures of highways throughout the downtown areas for the duration of the summit. These restrictions went into effect on yesterday morning at 6am.
Q: Which roads will be closed?
A: I-90 East & West (Kennedy Expressway) between O’Hare International Airport and downtown
* Ohio Street from I-90/94 to Fairbanks Court/Columbus Drive
* Ontario Street from Fairbanks Court/Columbus Drive to I-90/94
* I-90/94 East and West between downtown and I-55
* Roosevelt Road, 18th Street, and Canalport Avenue access from I-94 West (Dan Ryan Expressway outbound)
The Museum campus, which includes the Adler Planetarium, Field Museum and Shedd Aquarium, are scheduled to be open for business with limited parking on Saturday, May 19. Parking lots open on Saturday include the top three floors of Soldier Field North Lot and the Adler Planetarium parking lot. All parking lots will close at 5:30 p.m. following the closure of museums. If vehicles are still in lots they will be towed from the campus to an off-site city lot.
A: What does Mayor Emanuel have to say about this?
“Hosting the NATO Summit is a tremendous opportunity to showcase Chicago to the world and the world to Chicago and we are proud to host the 50 heads of state, foreign and defense ministers from the NATO and ISAF countries in our great city.”
Posted on May 10, 2012 by Admin
 
By Evan F. Moore
Lev. 18:22, “You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination.”
Lev. 20:13, “If there is a man who lies with a male as those who lie with a woman, both of them have committed a detestable act; they shall surely be put to death. Their bloodguiltness is upon them”
The Bible quotes I posted are the most referenced by people who believe that being a homosexual is “abomination.”
I believe that the voters of the state of North Carolina did the wrong thing. Amendment One was voted into law this week. This amendment outlaws same-sex marriage and civil union in the state of North Carolina.
When will people realize that things are changing?
Even President Obama, who has always supported gay rights (not politically) issued a statement in support of gay rights.
The writing is on the wall folks!
I guess some of you will have to be dragged out of the dark ages kicking and screaming.
I understand that gay people seem to creep some of you out. Having said that, there’s a reason why church and state are separate. This whole debate is about people who deserve to buy property, see loved ones in the hospital, add loved ones on to health insurance etc. things we take for granted. I am for people being able to do whatever they like as long as they are not hurting anyone.
People who deny the rights of one group while they are still fighting for inclusion themselves is the very definition of hypocrisy.
Some will say that it’s not the same as civil rights. At the root it is. Way back when, blacks weren’t considered people, couldn’t get married, etc. Religious law and constitutional law are two different things. People use the bible to justify almost anything. Case in point: The Mormon church used would say that black people could be Mormons but not go to heaven.
You may not like gay people but you should respect someone’s right to have the life you would want for yourself.
This Sunday, your pastor will probably quote the aforementioned Bible passages. Make sure they do not forget about this one:
“For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected”- Timothy 4:4
Let’s see how many of you choose between your pastor and the President.
Posted in Perri Small, WVON
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Tagged African-Americans, Amendment One, Gay marriage, Gay rights, Mormons, North Carolina, Perri Small, President Obama, The Holy Bible, The Perri Small show
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Posted on May 7, 2012 by Admin
Journalism- /ˈdʒəːn(ə)lɪz(ə)m/ (noun) The activity or profession of writing for newspapers or magazines or of broadcasting news on radio or television.
Apparently Beyonce is a better writer that all of us in the journalism field.
Over the weekend, I saw that singer Beyonce Knowles won an award from the National Association of Black Journalists for an article she wrote that was in Essence Magazine called “Eat, Play, Love.” Click here.
Beyonce is no more a journalist that I am a singer. Does she even own a copy of the Associated Press Stylebook?? Probably not
As a member of National Association of Black Journalists’ Facebook group, I was completely shocked and appalled that this was allowed to happen. Giving an award to someone who does not work in this field sends the wrong message to all journalists out there.
Basically, it is a slap in the face to all journalists.
The question I have is this: Was this done for publicity?
Journalists who weighed in on the matter left several posts on the National Association of Black Journalists’ Facebook page.
“This was not a PR move. The previous board sent the submissions to the Dallas chapter to be judged. Essence submitted Beyonce and the chapter seemed her writing to be the best in the category.” A board member of the National Association of Black Journalists stated on the organization’s Facebook page.
Another member of the group shot back: “We’d be fooling ourselves not to believe that celebrity has some influence.”
As a journalist, this is extremely disheartening. Some of you out there may that think that I am a “hater.” My rebuttal to that notion is this: If someone in your chosen profession got an award for doing what you do despite the fact that they has never honed their craft like you did how would you feel?
Ask a Chicago Police Officer how they felt when their superintendent (Jody Weis) had no experience in being a police officer.
Ask a teacher how they felt when Ron Huberman became CEO of the Chicago Public Schools even though he had never been a teacher.
Maybe this definition can explain what is going on here:
Yellow journalism. n. Journalism that exploits, distorts, or exaggerates the news to create sensations and attract readers.
Posted in Perri Small, WVON
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Tagged African-Americans, Beyonce, Eat, Essence Magazine, Facebook, Journalism, Love, National Association of Black Journalists, Perri Small, Play, The Perri Small show, WVON, Yellow Journalism
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Posted on May 4, 2012 by Admin
By Evan F. Moore
The band culture at Historically black colleges and universities (HBCU) is something that most of the country knows very little about. They might have seen the movie Drumline but other than they knew very little until the situation at Florida A&M came to light. When the general public knows about hazing they may have seen in movies like School Daze and Animal House.
According Merriam-Webster’s dictionary the definition of hazing is to force (a new or potential recruit to the military, a college fraternity, etc.) to perform strenuous, humiliating, or dangerous tasks.
Florida A&M University drum major Robert Champion participated in a hazing ritual called “Crossing Bus C.” Champion died from the injuries he suffered during the ritual.
Champion was beaten so badly that he had internal bleeding, which caused him to go into shock and die.
Five months later, prosecutors filed charges against 13 Florida A&M band members who are accused of taking part in the ritual than eventually killed Robert Champion. Of the 13 defendants, 11 face felony hazing charges.
In most places whether it is college or at your job, there is a process that the “new guy” or the “rookie” has to go through. But when this process ends up getting someone killed that reflects badly on people who are members of fraternities and sororities.
People may or may not want to hear this but as much press this unfortunate incident has gotten not much will change. Obviously something should change. The fact of the matter is that Champion was killed by a culture that doesn’t take kindly to change.
Posted in Perri Small, WVON
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Tagged African-Americans, Animal House, Drumline, Florida A&M University, Hazing, HBCU, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Marching band, Robert Champion, School Daze
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Posted on April 30, 2012 by Admin
 
So it has been 20 years since the L.A. Riots, which stemmed from the acquittal from the Rodney King beating. At WVON on Friday, a taped interview with Rodney King was played over the air. Since King was beaten then these events have happened:
- O.J Simpson (from the ford bronco incident to the civil suit)
- Countless number of police brutality cases
- The treatment of Arab-Americans after 9/11
- The slow response to Hurricane Katrina
- Racially charged language towards the sitting President
- Trayvon Martin
- A Black hockey player being racially lambasted on Twitter
I could name more events but I don’t want to sound redundant.
After President Obama was elected, people started to say that we live a post-racial society.” Due to the fact that the country elected a black president many thought that racism was going to put in the rear view mirror. No one I know is that naïve.
Racism is alive and well. We see it and we feel it whether it is at our jobs or anywhere else. Like most people, we want to be judged on our laurels alone. Too bad that is not the case.
Rodney King famously asked “ Can we all get along?” Well due to the aforementioned events..No Rodney! We can’t! The powers that be prefer it that way.
Posted on April 27, 2012 by Admin
By Evan F. Moore
“If we don’t believe in freedom of expression for people we despise, we don’t believe in it at all.” -Noam Chomsky
“I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”-Voltaire
In any other circumstance, I would defend someone right to free speech. Even if I do not agree with you.
Gary Stein, A Marine sergeant who criticized President Obama on the social media website Facebook is fighting to keep his position in the military after he was told that he is being dismissed from the service with an other-than-honorable discharge. On his Facebook postings, Stein had called President Obama a coward and an enemy, vowed not to salute him, declared he would not follow orders from Obama that he considered illegal, and urged the president’s electoral defeat according to the Los Angeles Times’ website.
Stein, will be demoted to lance corporal, and his discharge status will make him ineligible for most federal veterans benefits.
You may ask yourself Isn’t this guy covered by the first amendment? Apparently not.
According the Uniform Code of Military Justice Article 88 of the UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. 888, makes it a crime for a commissioned military officer to use contemptuous words against the President and Congress, among others. The Department of Defense has also expanded this rule to include all military enlisted personnel (DOD Directive 1344.10).
Two enlisted members of the military were punished for using e-mails to mock President Clinton during the Monica Lewinsky scandal. President Obama is not the first Commander-In-Chief to be involved in something like this. Presidents Lincoln, Truman, Carter, Bush removed high-ranking officers for public statement that undermine or disobey presidential policy.
This is a lesson to all of us who think that we can say whatever we want. Learn this lesson: Watch what you say on social media websites like Facebook and Twitter.
Posted in Perri Small, WVON
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Tagged Barack Obama, City of Chicago, Facebook, Gary Stein, Noam Chomsky, Perri Small, President Obama, The Perri Small show, Twitter, United States Marine Corps, United States of America, Voltaire, WVON
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Posted on April 23, 2012 by Admin
 By Evan F.Moore
Every time a social movement is started, someone along the way believes that they should take matters into their own hands. They want to put a personal stamp on things. To some, this is a way to say, “I got involved.” This young man got involved in the worst way possible.
This past Friday, an 18-year-man was charged with a hate crime in Oak Park when he and another person assaulted a 19-year-old man. When arrested, this person told police he was so upset about the Trayvon Martin case that he beat up a man because he was white.
There is something seriously wrong with this picture.
The majority of people in this country are outraged about the events that took place after the death of Trayvon Martin. There are constructive ways to voice displeasure with the criminal justice system without doing something stupid. Finding the nearest white man to rob and beat up is not the way to do it. This type of foolishness makes all of us look bad. This kid has single-handedly justified the thoughts of every racist in the country.
A self-serving agenda is the worst thing for all involved. Trayvon Martin’s family does not need that type of help. Someone who engaged a person who had nothing to do with anything has now stirred up something he may not be able set right.
Do you see what is going on here folks?? This is what they want us to do. This kid is doing the Klan’s work. Violence begets violence.
Posted on December 8, 2011 by Admin
In the last two years Chicagoans witnessed the persecution, I meant prosecution of several political power players. The prosecution stems from an ATTEMPT to sell President Obama’s senate seat in 2008.
Federal agents arrested former Governor Rod Blagojevich on corruption charges at his home at six in the morning. From that one arrest trials piled of Blago’s associates who were hunted and knocked off one by one. The convictions of Blago’s cronies go back to a former Chicago real estate developer and fast-food entrepreneur, Tony Rezko. After that, the dominos began a sequential fall. Rezko had been in custody for 3 1/2 years when U.S. District Judge Amy St. Eve handed down a 10½ year jail sentence crediting Rezko with time already served. Rezko was convicted in 2008 of fraud, money laundering and plotting to squeeze $7 million in kickbacks from firms that wanted to do business with the state during Blagojevich’s tenure. Blago was arrested six months later and convicted this year on charges that included trying to sell or trade an appointment to President Barack Obama’s old Senate seat. Blago’s sentencing was postponed as the same judge presided over another related trial.
The trial of William Cellini, a power broker and millionaire businessman was found guilty on two of four counts. He was convicted of conspiracy to commit extortion, and aiding and abetting in the solicitation of a bribe. Cellini’s trial is one of the final chapters of the legal saga tied to Blagojevich. Cellini awaits sentencing and faces a maximum of 30 years in prison.
The man at the helm of these convictions is Judge James Zagel. The irony of these character assassinations is that the presiding judge plays the same political games of those whom he convicted. Zagel received the nomination to the United States district court for the Northern District of Illinois by former President Reagan in 1987, with implications that Zagel did not get the nomination without pay to play. With no exception, no person gets to high positions without playing politics. In addition, Zagel has made a career of presiding over high profile cases to make a name for himself. The judicial system, at its best, criminalized Blago and his gang for playing politics; that is not out of the ordinary. The thing of it is is that Blago obviously said no to the wrong people and suffered the consequences of the wrong pay to play. Zagel’s decision to postpone the lives of Blago and Cellini and indirectly Rezko has created a boomerang effect which will impact his future aspirations.
The end is nowhere in sight as The House Ethics Committee announced Friday that it will investigate allegations into U.S. Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. The committee will determine whether Congressman Jackson or someone acting on his behalf offered to raise campaign cash for Blagojevich in exchange for the 2008 Senate appointment. The committee reportedly has “probable cause” to continue the investigation. So, next on the chopping block is Jackson and the question beg to be asked, will Zagel oversee this trial too?
Posted on December 6, 2011 by Admin
One of my colleagues, news anchor Debra Johnson, recently blogged about the redistricting and remapping of Chicago and it’s implications of African Americans residing in Illinois. As one who has had a front row seat of city, county and state politics for the past three decades, I think I can, with certainity, say this: African American political capitol is bankrupt in this state and every other racial and ethic group knows it; and is exploiting this fact. It is a very sorry time for black people.
Unfortunately, blacks contributed to their own demise with a lack of leadership, education of the new political environment, and some of the worst black elected officials in the city, county and state’s history.
Politicial Chicago Sun-Times staff writer Fran Spielman recent article, “The Eye of the Storm: Ald. Richard Mell facing racially charged political battle and an emotional family crisis,” tells the story of a very arrogant and powerful man. He is so powerful, or either so stupid, he is the man that drew attention of state and federal investigators with his charge that in 2005, the governor’s chief fundraiser had traded prime state appoinments for $50,000 donations to Blagojevich. Be damned that the governor is his son-in-law and father of his grandchildren. Dick just didn’t like Rod, and I imagine vice versa. Think about it. So if Mell would treat a close relative like this, how do you think he would look at the future of his black colleagues in the City Council. For those of you too young to remember Council Wars, Mell could be characterized as one of its highest ranking soldiers, just behind Aldermen Edward Vrdolyak (10th) and Ed Burke (14th) who attempted to maintain control of the council in the wake of Washington’s election. But at that time, Blacks had a lot of political capitol. There were city, county and statewide African American elected officials that were powerbrokers not for themselves, but for the Black community. There was a ward remap fight that maintained black and and supermajority wards. Black elected officials (BEO) stood together slating candidates, protecting the interests of the late Mayor Harold Washington’s vision for the city and state, and the affairs of the black community-at-large. And suddenly, these men and women became greedy and self serving, and then after federal probes like Operation Greylord and Silver Shovel, they served prison terms. Suddenly BEO had a different meaning and the group splintered until it ceased to exist. And though many of their white colleagues were jailed, they at least had something to show for it. I believe that those same white counterparts viewed the blacks as not to bright to go to prison for so little. I’m sure Mell, Burke and Vrdolyak had a few chuckles seeing how they acquired great wealth as public servants and were, by some grace of God, above the law. Vrdolyak got a slap on the wrist, a 10 month sentence after an overturned probation for some infractions that would put away an elected official for the type of time Blago is expected to get.
So it does not surprise me that Mell is using his political clout in the city council to disrespect the black alderman. According to Spielman’s article, Mell and 34th Ward Ald. Carrie Austin got into a very racially charged argument during budget committee hearings where Austin accused Mell of treating the black alderman as “plantation niggers.” You see, it is reported that Mell was calling the black aldermen into his office one at a time and telling them “You’re in, You’re out. What do you want from me? No respect. But why should he?
The Black community lost their leverage when they lost 181,453 black residents in the 2010 U.S. Census. Then on top of that, other than Tony Preckwinckle, Cook County board president; Dorothy Brown, Cook County clerk, and Secretary of State Jesse White, where is the black political power? Where is it. The disrespect is going to snowball, but we have no one to blame but ourselves. There are more African Americans in Cook County than any other county in the country and we have yet to elect an African American state’s attorney. So buckle up, the Mellspeak will continue with louder and louder.
Posted on December 3, 2011 by Admin
Every ten years the U.S. conducts a census of the nation’s population with two main purposes. One purpose is to determine allocation of funds. These funds directly affect how billions of dollars gets distributed to communities for neighborhood improvements, public health, education, transportation and much more. The second determines the number of seats each state is allowed in the House of Representatives. Representation also impacts local populations as the redistricting of maps should reflect the citizenry.
A decline in population results in loss of political clout. As in the 2010 census reported a decline in the African-American community in Chicago. A decline in population determines the redistricting of local wards. Redistricting is the process of drawing United States electoral district boundaries, often in response to population changes determined by the results of the decennial census. As a result, Chicago aldermen continue to meet behind closed doors trying to negotiate a compromise on the 50 ward boundaries.
The aldermanic negotiations appear to cause a rift in the African-American and Hispanic Caucuses. The Black and Hispanic Caucuses clash on the goals of each community. The goal of the Black caucus is to maintain the maximum number of wards that the law would permit for African-American representation whereas, the goal of the Hispanic caucus is to obtain adequate and full representation.
In the last census black populations showed significant declines. Since 2000, the Hispanic population grew from 497,316 to 2.03 million. Over the same time span, the Black population fell by 23,228 to 1.83 million. Of the state’s 12.8 million residents, 14.3% are Black, down from 14.9% in 2000. Hispanics comprise 15.8% of Illinois’ population. In 2000, Hispanic residents were 12.3% of the population. Current map negotiations proposed would create three more wards with clear Hispanic majorities for a total of 13. The plan also would create at least two more wards with Hispanic populations near the 50 percent mark. To avoid a referendum, at least 41 aldermen would have to sign off on a map. A vote on the map is scheduled to happen on December 14.
In order to avoid a referendum in March and a costly legal battle one the groups will have to concede. The controversial surrounding the remapping of the wards may trigger action among black aldermen.
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