The Oklahoma Eagle (Tulsa, Okla.), Vol. 82, No. 22, Ed. 1 Thursday, May 22, 2003 Page: 5 of 12
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blacks, gays, Latinos
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House Majority Leader Tom DeLay.
have
Georgia flag officially flies
Tj
f
r
I
I he
LOW
V
L
HOMELAND SECURITY
ADVISORY SYSTEM
SitiNintiANT Risk or
Tiunnwinr AltACKfl
thev want to. It s a gixxl day for
me, mv daughter and some lost
sanity in Georgia.
A flag raised in 2001, hailed
tor its political brilliance when it
replaced a divisive banner dom-
inated bv the Confederate battle
cross, received a swift backlash
I he 2001 flag was a compromise
that shrank the Confederate em-
blem and incorporated it in an
assortment of previous state
flags
In no wav am I sad that
flag is being retired, said Rep
LOW Risk Or
Tknuoriwt Attacks
Burris recently represented
family members of Donald Ven-
erable, an African American
man fatally shot bv Sacramento
a
domestic violence call. Officers
said they believed Venerable
w as holding a gun when he was
Sacramento County Sher-
iff's Department spokesman
Sgt. Lou Fatur said he could not
comment on the case because of
the pending lawsuit.
The Associated Press re-
ported in 2002 that Sheriff's
spokesman Sgt. James Lewis
said Vontoure died at Kaiser
Permanente Medical Center
At no point did officers
ever strike him, nor did thev use
the time He added that Ven-
tolin* was on the ground being
restrained by three civilians as
he veiled that men in green
masks were coming to get him.
Lewis told AP that two
deputies responded to a Mil call
at an apartment around 4:00
a.m. The caller, he said, was
holding down a friend who was
bipolar and being violent
At the press conference
both Emma and Michael Von-
toure Sr. denied their son suf-
fered from the disorder.
A
By Kevin J. Shay
Special to the NNPA from tne
Dallas Examiner
By Gm Barrow
Special to the NNPA from the
Sacramento Observer
Rimk o»
TumwiBT Attackb
1
Tyrone Bnxiks (D), who led the
charge to adopt it two years ago
It's not exactly, you know, any-
body's dream flag.
Georgia voters will still get
a chance to chtxrse between the
flags next vear in a statewide
referendum Few expect the
2001 flag to return
I've never seen anybody
flying it, you never seen it on a
boat, you never seen it at a fix't-
ball game, nobody flies this
thing Rep Larry Walker told
tvporters
DALLAS (NNPA)—The
State Commission on Judicial
Conduct has recommended
that Dallas County Justice of
the Peace Charles Rose be re-
moved from office for w illful
misconduct" that included
failing to collect and record
fines.
I he matter moves to a tri-
bunal of appellate judges that
will be appointed bv the Texas
Supreme Court in the next tew
months. The case could take as
long as six months before it is
heard, said Henry Ackels,
Rose's attorney.
We re quite disappointed
We think (the recommenda-
tion] was improper," Ackels
said. We had a two-week trial
with 26 witnesses [last fall].
The judge [then] ruled that
Judge Rose was not at fault
and that the fault lied with in-
sufficient staffing
may be linked to a so-called
dirty bomb plot in which
American lose Padilla has
been accused, thev said.
I he FBI said El Shukri-
jumah s whereabouts are un-
known, but it is believed that
he was in the United States
shortly after the Sept. II, 2001,
terror attacks. The bureau is
trying to trace his movements
since then. At one point, he
lived in South Florida near
some of the 9/11 hijackers, of-
WASHINGTON (AFP) -
Hoping to counter their image
as the party of straight, white
Americans, the Republican
party is reaching out to blacks,
Latinos, gays and other minori-
ties in the hunt tor votes.
With campaigning tor next
year's presidential and Con-
gress elections already under
way, it is demographics that
weighs heavily on the minds of
President George W Bush and
his advisors.
Population growth among
blacks and Hispanics -- who
tend to vote overw helminglv
Democratic -- is outpacing that
of whites, and political ob-
servers say the Republican
party must broaden its base to
maintain control of the White
I louse and L'S Congress
With demographic reali-
ties being what thev are, you
can sit still for a decade and the
Demixrats will begin to take
over again," said political ana-
lyst Ron Walters of the Univer-
sity of Maryland
The efforts have become
evident in recent days. White
House officials and Congres-
sional Republicans held meet-
ings with members of the I og
Cabin Republicans a national
conservative gay and lesbian
organization, at the weekend.
The attention to the homo-
sexual vote comes after years
of marginalization by the party,
said the groups spokesman
Mark Mead, who said that
under the Bush administration,
being a gay Republican no
longer feels like an oxymoron.
(Special to the NNPA)—
The State of Georgia has raised
its third flag in as many years in
an attempt pacify a dispute that
inflamed race relations through-
out the state.
List week, Gov. Sonny Per-
due signed the controversial bill
that replaced the two-year-old
state flag with a design that does
not include the Confederate bat
tie emblem.
"The flag the General As-
sembly adopted honors Geor-
gia's past," Perdue told
reporters. "It is also a flag that
will allow us to move forward
together." The new flag was re-
cently raised over the State
Capitol for the first time shortly
after Purdue signed the bill I he
new design bears a close resem-
blance to the Confederate de-
sign but without the infamous
Dixie cross of stars.
The words 'In God We
Trust" are inscribed on a blue
field in the top left comer.
"This is a historic day in
Georgia and I didn't want mv
daughter to miss out on it said
Lateshia Jackson, an African-
American who brought her six
yeai old Nikki to the flag
raising. "The process worked
and these redneck holdouts can
carry all the signs and boo all
face, head and body. Plaintiffs Police officers responding to
allege that defendant officers
used excessive and unreason-
able force against decedent
Plaintiffs further allege that de- actually holding a cell phone,
fendant Officer Wetzel and/or
defendant Officer Saunders as-
phyxiated decedent Anthony
Vontoure bv use of a chokehold
on his neck or bv some other
means of restricting his ability to
breathe."
The suit also alleges the of-
ficers failed to call for needed
medical assistance until after
they determined Vontoure was
already deceased.
In order to get answers the any control holds, Lewis said at
family had an independent au-
topsy performed.
That allowed us in many
wavs to compare what the coro-
ner said happened with what
we believed happened, Burns
said.
The lack of information
that has been forthcoming
aniund the death of .Anthony
caused tremendous emotional
pain and turmoil, Burris slid.
We re hoping this law suit will
assist in their receiving some
satisfaction, understanding and
T
I
sive force by the sheriff's
deputies killed him
An excerpt from the lawsuit
reads. Plaintiffs further allege
on information and belief that
during the struggle w ith An-
i
Larry Mulkey, left, with the Georgia Capitol police, with the
Georgia Building Authority, raise the new Georgia state flag.
Thursday. May 8. 2003, over the Capitol in Atlanta.
(AP Photo Rich Addicks. Pool)
—ii
Emma Vontoure. mother of 22 year old Anthony Vontoure (in
photo) says police were responsible for son's death.
' 2 2. < -1 K X
Bcvtjh: or
TrwurjAtwr ATTACKS
&
$
plicants.
The progress that has
been made is collecting the
names and resumes of those
that want to work here, House
Majority Leader Tom DeLay
told a recent press briefing
We are an open and inclu-
sive party to anyone that be-
lieves in the same things that
we believe in, DeLay said.
comfort in knowing what did
happen to Anthony."
Michael Vontoure, Sr. says
his son was living w ith him in
South Sacramento but moved to
the residence where the alterca-
tion tix>k place in order to be
i loser to the football facilities at
(. alifornia State University,
Sicramento I he younger Von-
toure was a product of Con-
cord's powerhouse Ik1 Li Salk*
High Schixil. He also partici
patixi in the Rose* Bow l as an
athlete at University of Wash-
ington His father said that
w hile he was pursuing a career
in professional football, he ex-
pressed a desire to btxome a
teacher.
Tie was a very bright
young man. I le was very hum-
ble about his accomplishments,
his father said.
Anthony's mother agrees.
My son was friendly. He
was outgoing, always noting
tor the underdog He was ven
patient and very kind He was
always willing to share his talent
and his ability to help bring oth-
ers along, said Emma Vontoure,
who lives in Concord.
The Vontoures are seeking
$55 million in damages.
It is our hope and desire
that as this lawsuit pnxeeds we
will be in the position to un-
cover the true facts that hap-
thony Vontoure defendant Offi- pened," Burris said.
cer Wetzel or his trainee,
defendant Officer Saunders, as-
saulted and battened Anthony
Vontoure, causing injuries to his
ficials believe.
"El Shukrijumah is
possibly involved with
al Qaeda terrorist activ-
ities and, if true, poses a
serious threat to U.S.
citizens and interests
worldwide," the FBI
said in its alert.
El Shukrijumah
was born in Saudi Ara-
bia and is thought to be
a terror operative on
the level of Atta, the
lead hijacker in the
Sept. 11 attacks, sources
said. One source de-
scribed him as a "real
bad guy." He is de-
scribed as 5-fix»t-3 to 5-
foot-5, 132 pounds,
with a Mediterranean
complexion, black hair
and black eyes. He oc-
casionally wears a
beard. He does not
have a pilot's license
registered with the Fed-
eral Aviation Adminis-
tration, but that does
not mean he is not a trained
pilot. He is believed to have
trained at a flight school in
Florida.
Many of the Sept. 11 hi-
jackers also got flight training
in the state. 1 le has a Guyanan
passport, but may try to enter
the United States with a pass-
port from Saudi Arabia,
Canada or Trinidad, the FBI
said in the alert sent to thou-
sands of law enforcement
agencies.
’ SEVERE
1g
h\ *1
ft
more than $230,000 in funds
that had not been deposited
from Rose's court.
Rose has said that matter
stemmed from the chief clerk
being ill and not informing
him, and that all funds were
eventually deposited.
Commissioners
eliminated Rose's office and
two others in redistricting. His
term is scheduled to end on
Dec 31,3 I
Rose, who has been a jus-
tice of the peace since 1989, is
not facing criminal charges,
lustices ot the peace primarily
handle misdemeanor traffic
tickets, small-claims civil law -
suits, eviction cases and wed-
dings
During the hearing last
tall, numerous local officials,
including U.S. Rep Eddie Ber-
nice Johnson, state Sen. Royce
West, Dallas Citv Council
member Maxine Thornton-
Reese, and several fellow jus-
tices of the peace, testified in
support of Rose.
The heightened
security around the
country includes a
massive campaign
to interview poten-
tial terror suspects
and informants, and
quick responses to
all possible reports
of threats — includ-
ing word that the
largest nuclear
power plant in the
nation may have
been targeted.
The FBI issued
a "be on the look-
out” alert for Adnan
G. El Shukrijumah,
asking all law en-
forcement person-
nel to notify the
bureau immediately
if he is located.
Sources described
El Shukrijumah as
an al Qaeda field
commander who
trained under al-
leged terror finan-
cier Ramzi Binalshibh.
27-year-old lived for years in
Florida, and was identified by
captured al Qaeda attack plan-
ner Khalid Shaikh Mo-
hammed. Binalshibh and
Mohammed are both in U.S.
custody in undisclosed loca-
tions.
Mohammed also said that
El Shukrijumah had been sent
to the United States to carry
out an operation, probably via
Canada, sources said. He also
Texas judicial panel wants
Black judge removed
Terrorist alert raised to orange
level High; security increased
':’i g^Ma
- mI
x—HIM
White House courtship of gays
an incredible breakthrough.
There appears to be no
such breakthrough as vet with
racial minorities, however, al-
though Republican lawmakers
insist it's not for lack of trying.
The president has said he Republican leaders have begun
has wanted to take the heart- a recruitment drive for more
burn out of the party over this minority staff, for exampie, but
issue, said Mead, calling the so tar there have been tew ap-
SACRAMENTO, Calif.
(NNPA)—On Mac 30, 2002 An
thony Vontoure s nximmates
thought he needed medical as-
sistance and calk'd for help In-
stead of an ambulance, officers
with the Sacramento County
Sheriff's Department arrived
What happened next is the
subject of a wrongful death law
suit, filed by renowned civil
rights attorney John Burris on
behalf of Vontoure's family
Named in the suit are the
County’ of Sacramento, Sheriff
Lou Blanas, an Officer I Wetzel,
and an Officer G. Saunders
"The reason for filing is to
find out what happened,' said
/Anthony's father, Michael Von-
toure, Sr.
"We couldn't and didn't get
any information from any offi-
cials. So we asked Mr. Burris to
look into it and see what infor-
mation he could get concerning
what actually happened We
didn't get a chance to see his
body, we didn't get a chance to
see the police report. Vontoure
said.
The Sacramento Coroner's
Office ruled that the 22-vear-old
Anthony Vontoure s death was
caused by acute axaine intoxi-
cation. While the Vontoure's
concede that a trace amount ot
cocaine was present in their
son's body at the time ot his
death, thev maintain that exces-
The Austin commission,
w hich made the ruling in late
April, said there were more
than a thousand instances' of
uncollected or unrecorded
fines in Rose's court. Ackels
disputed that, saving that all
funds were collected and ac-
counted for by Rose.
Rose, 57, an African-
American representing
Precinct 1A, which covers
parts of South Dallas and Lan-
caster, referred calls to Ackels
He has said that the prob-
lems stemmed from insuffi-
cient staffing and equipment
and a personal dispute with
Dallas County Commissioner
John Wiley Price. Price has de-
nied that the situation was
personal, saving the matter
was strictly about court opera-
tions.
Dallas County commis-
sioners filed a complaint with
the judicial commission in
February 2001 after auditors
found about 22,000 un-
processed traffic cases and
Terrorist AirACKS
STATE AND NATION__________________________________________________Thursday may22 2003 ■ Till OKI AHQMA EAGLE ■ A5
Dead man’s parents file Republicans court us
wrongful death suit blacks, gays. Latinos
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The Oklahoma Eagle (Tulsa, Okla.), Vol. 82, No. 22, Ed. 1 Thursday, May 22, 2003, newspaper, May 22, 2003; Tulsa, Oklahoma. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc1807810/m1/5/?q=music: accessed July 18, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.