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O J Simpson wins parole on some of the robbery and kidnapping convictions that landed him a prejudicial sentence of nine to 33 years in prison

30 July 2013

Kathy

By Kathy Wray Coleman, editor-in-chief, Cleveland Urban News.Com and The Kathy Wray Coleman Online News Blog.Com, Ohio's No 1 and No 2 online Black news venues (www.clevelandurbannews.com) Reach Cleveland Urban News.Com by email at editor@clevelandurbannews.com and by phone at 216-659-0473

LAS VEGAS, Nevada-Legendary former pro football player O.J. Simpson won a reprieve on Tuesday gaining parole on some of the robbery and kidnapping charges that got him a prejudicial nine to 33 year prison sentence nearly five years ago. But he must serve at least four more years on the charges that remain, including robbery and kidnapping with a gun, though he had no gun but was found guilty of arranging the ordeal.

Simpson, 65, took the stand in a Nevada courtroom earlier this year after not doing so by his former attorney's advice during his trial in 2008 and said that Miami attorney Yale Galanter knew that he did not know that two companions had guns in a 2007 confrontation with memorabilia dealers that he says were scamming him. He testified that Galanter advised him to "go get his stuff" and that the attorney did not tell him of a plea deal.

And Simpson, who is Black, reminded a prejudicial public that 33 years in the slammer is a bit much since he did not have a gun and "nobody got hurt."

Galanter contradicted much of Simpson's allegations during his testimony but could not produce anything in writing confirming that he told his client of a plea deal.

As legal pundits predicted, he told the judge that Simpson got a raw deal but that Simpson allegedly knew guns would be involved.

Simpson's current attorneys accused Galanter of ineffective assistance of counsel at trial, and on appeal, and argued that all he wanted was O.J.'s money in exchange for selling him out.

The Black community is divided on the issue, some admitting that O.J. is still a target by the White establishment for beating criminal charges in 1995 that he murdered ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman, both White. Other Blacks say that even after standing behind him in that case, O.J. continued to run around with White women and thumbed his nose at being Black.

Simpson won his celebrated capital murder case, one handed down by a majority Black jury that divided America along racial lines, with the late Johnny Cochran as his lawyer and a legal team subsequently dubbed "the dream team."

The brilliant Cochran, famous for winning record breaking excessive force and police brutality lawsuits against Las Angeles police, died of of a brain tumor in 2005.

Last Updated on Thursday, 01 August 2013 08:01

Ariel Castro to be sentenced to life in prison August 1 for kidnapping raping and holding Gina DeJesus, Amanda Berry and Michelle Knight captive in his Cleveland, Ohio home for more than nine years

29 July 2013

Kathy

CLEVELAND, Ohio- Serial rapist and kidnapper Ariel Castro, 52, who held Gina DeJesus, Amanda Berry and Michelle Knight captive at his west side home on Seymour Avenue in Cleveland, Oh. for more than nine years. will be sentenced to life in prison plus one thousand years without the possibility of parole on August 1. He is expected to speak as is one of his victims, all three of whom were fed only one meal a day and allowed two to three showers a week, court documents reveal.

Kidnapper and Serial Rapist Ariel Castro

DeJesus was 14 when Castro kidnapped her, Berry's was nearly 17 and Knight, who is disabled, was 21. All three were lured into his van and DeJesus was a friend of Castro's daughter, who has disowned him. Her mother died during the captivity period and was allegedly a victim of his domestic violence.

Berry has a daughter by Castro, who has asked to see her as part of his life-in-prison plea deal.

DeJesus was held captive for nine years, Berry 10 and Knight 11 years.

A next door neighbor, Charles Ramsey, who is Black and now dubbed a hero, said he heard women screaming at the home. He then broke in the house with another man and freed at least Berry who went with him to his home and called 911.

"'I heard this girl screaming and she's going nuts," Ramsey told reporters." I came to the front door and looked at her and she said my name is Amanda Berry, please get me out of the house. And she said that there were two more."

Last Updated on Friday, 02 August 2013 09:38

CNN covers 400 persons Imperial Women violence against women rally, activists call on Obama to bring in National Guard to find missing women, State Senator Turner criticizes Governor Kasich at rally, family members of victims of serial killer attend

27 July 2013

Kathy

Pictured is CNN Anchor Anderson Cooper

From the Metro Desk of Cleveland Urban News.Com

, Ohio's most read online Black newspaper. (www.kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com) and (www.clevelandurbannews.com). Reach Cleveland Urban News.Com by phone at 216-659-0473 and by email at editor@clevelandurbannews.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio- A stop the violence against women rally that drew nearly 400 people on July 24 near the intersection of Shaw and Hayden Avenues in East Cleveland in the area where the decomposed bodies of 3 Black women were found wrapped in plastic bags last week in vacant buildings in the majority Black impoverished suburb of Cleveland, Oh. will air this week on Cable News Network (CNN) beginning on Thursday, July 25, 2013 during the Anderson Cooper 360 Show. The popular show runs daily, at least, at 8 pm, 11 pm, and 3 am eastern time.

The rally was the largest in the greater Cleveland Black community in recent years, and was organized by the grassroots groups Imperial Women and the Oppressed People's Nation in conjunction with a host of other community activists organizations.

Suspected serial killer Michael Madison, 35, is in custody on a $6 million bond. He was charged earlier this week with 3 counts each of kidnapping and murder. He told police to look for more bodies in Cleveland, East Cleveland and Mansfield, Oh, but gave no further specifics, law enforcement authorities said.

"We appreciate what CNN does and we thank the producers and reporters that were in town to bring more needed attention to the epidemic of violence against women, which is a universal problem that disproportionately impacts women of color," said Imperial Women Leader Kathy Wray Coleman, who led the well attended rally.

Other participating grassroots groups include the Carl Stokes Brigade, Revolution Books, Peace in the Hood, the Greater Cleveland Immigrant Support Network, the Fairfax Business Association, Ohio Family Rights, the Audacity of Hope Foundation, the Task Force for Community Mobilization, Organize Ohio, the Northeast Ohio Poor People's Economic Rights Campaign, the National Organization for Parental Equality, Stop Targeting Ohio's Poor, Survivors/ Victims of Tragedy, the Cleveland Chapter of the New Black Panther Party, and Black on Black Crime Inc.

The rally drew a host of community activists, Black elected officials, and the family members of the 3 dead women, namely Angela Deskins, 38, Shetisha Sheeley, 28, and Shirellda Terry, 18, whose bodies were uncovered last week, two of whom were strangled, and the remains of Terry too decomposed to access the extent of the damage.

The segment, which airs on basic cable television on the CNN 24-hour channel, ends with a call by Coleman, on behalf of community activists and the Black community, for outside help to find missing women, even if it requires going into thousands of vacant and abandoned buildings in both Cleveland and East Cleveland.

"We call on the president [Barack Obama]to bring in the national guard to find these missing women," said Coleman during the rally, as reflected during the CNN segment, which runs repeatedly all week.

CNN Anchor Wolf Blitzer stood in for Cooper.

The CNN segment also features activists, led by Art McKoy, climbing in and out of vacant and abandoned buildings in East Cleveland to search for missing women, and the Terry and Sheeley families were featured, as well as Community Activist Ernest Smith of the Oppressed People's Nation.

East Cleveland Mayor Gary Norton told CNN that he and Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson lack the resources to comb through vacant and abandon homes in Cleveland and East Cleveland to find a score of missing persons.

Black elected officials on hand for the rally include Mayor Norton, state Sen Nina Turner (D-25), state Rep. Bill Patmon (D-10), state Rep. John Barnes Jr (D-12), Cleveland Ward 2 Councilman Zack Reed, Cleveland Ward 6 Councilwoman Mamie Mitchell,and East Cleveland City Council members Nate Martin, Chantelle C. Lewis, Mansell Baker, and Dr. Joy Jordan, who is president of East Cleveland City Council.

"I grew up poor and I am not a criminal," said state Sen. Nina Turner at the rally, taking aim at Republican Ohio Gov. John Kasich and his public comment earlier this week that the recent serial murders at issue are the by-product of poverty.

Yvonne Pointer, who works for the city of Cleveland communications department, spoke also. Her 14-year-old daughter was raped and murdered on her way home from school decades ago.

East Cleveland has now joined the ranks of some other cities nationwide where serial killers are staking their prey, including Cleveland, a largely Black major metropolitan city where the remains of 11 Black women were uncovered at the home of serial killer Anthony Sowell in 2009. Just two and a half months ago three women, Gina DeJesus, Amanda Berry and Michelle Knight, were freed from captivity after being held kidnapped for over nine years by Arial Castro on Cleveland's majority White west side. Castro took a plea deal on July 26 that guarantees life in prison.

Since March of this year, the raped and murdered bodies of several more women on Cleveland's predominantly Black east side were uncovered and include Christine Malone, 43, Ashley Leszyeski, 21, and Jazmine Trotter, 20.

The killers of both Malone and Leszyeski are still at large, law enforcement authorities have said.

"This violence against women has got to stop and we need more resources to find their killers," said Angelique Malone, a daughter of Christine Malone who spoke at the rally.

Last Updated on Monday, 29 July 2013 05:52

Plain Dealer article on upcoming Violence Against Women rally of July 24, sponsored by Imperial Women Oppressed People's Nation, community activists

25 July 2013

Kathy

Violence Against Women rally to be held Wednesday evening in East Cleveland

By Pat Galbincea, The Plain Dealer

Email the author

on July 23, 2013 at 9:30 PM, updated July 23, 2013 at 9:50 PM

Last Updated on Friday, 26 July 2013 15:33

Stop violence against women rally around serial killings of 3 Black women in E. Cleveland wrapped in plastic and Cleveland murdered, raped women is Wednesday, July 24, 5 pm, intersection of Shaw and Hayden Avenues in E. Cleveland

23 July 2013

Kathy

Pictured is accused East Cleveland, Ohio serial killer Michael Madison, who was arrested last week and charged on July 22 with 3 counts each of rape and murder of 3 Black women whose bodies were found last week in a fetal position wrapped in plastic bags inside and outside of vacant buildings in East Cleveland. Also pictured is convicted serial killer Anthony Sowell (in eye glasses), who strangled and murdered 11 Black women at his home on Imperial Ave in Cleveland, Ohio between 2008 and 2009. East Cleveland is a neighboring predominantly Black impoverished suburb of Cleveland, a largely Black major American city.

From the Metro Desk of Cleveland Urban News.Com, Ohio's most read online Black newspaper. (www.kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com) and (www.clevelandurbannews.com). Reach Cleveland Urban News.Com by phone at 216-659-0473 and by email at editor@clevelandurbannews.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio- Community activists, family members of victims of rape and murder in greater Cleveland, and Black elected officials will hold a "Stop Violence Against Women and Find the Missing Rally, Vigil and March" at 5 pm on Wednesday July 24, 2013 at the southwest corner of the intersection of Shaw and Hayden Avenues in East Cleveland near where the bodies of 3 Black women were found last week by police in a fetal position and in plastic bags both inside and outside of vacant buildings. Suspected serial killer Michael Madison, 35, is in police custody and has reportedly said that more missing Black women are his alleged victims.

Only one of the 3 Black women found murdered has been publicly identified by law enforcement authorities and she is Angela Deskins of Cleveland.

For contacts for the rally, vigil, and march call Imperial Women Leader Kathy Wray Coleman at 216-659-0473, Oppressed People's Nation Chairman Ernest Smith at 216-682-5268, Black on Black Crime Founder Art McKoy at 216-253-4070 and Peace in the Hood President Khalid Samad 216-538-4043.

Rally speakers include family members of greater Cleveland rape and murder victims, State Rep. Bill Patmon (D-10), East Cleveland City Councilwoman Chantelle C. Lewis, East Cleveland School Board Candidate Tiffany Fisher, Cleveland Ward 6 Councilwoman Mamie Mitchell , Cleveland Ward 10 City Council Candidate Donna Walker Brown, Betty Mahone of the Federation of Women and owner of The Chateau Mansion, and Community Activists Kathy Wray Coleman of Imperial Women, Judy Martin of Survivors and Victims of Tragedy, Ernest Smith of Oppressed People's Nation, Mary Seawright of Imperial Women, Art McKoy of Black on Black Crime Inc., Khalid Samad of Peace in the Hood, Abdul Qahhar of the Cleveland Chapter of the New Black Panther Party, Don Bryant of the People's Forum and the Greater Cleveland Immigrant Support Network and Al Porter of Black of Black Crime Inc.

Madison remains in jail on a $ 6 million bond. He was taken into custody on Friday after a police standoff at his mother's home several miles away on Chickasaw Ave. where he reportedly lived. Today the alleged serial killer was charged with 3 counts each of rape and murder of the dead Black women.

East Cleveland Police Chief Ralph Spots called the murders a "worst case scenario."

Police began searching abandoned and vacant buildings and other places for more missing women, and with the help of community activists and volunteers.

"We have been out here helping," said Khalid Samad , president of Peace in the Hood.

Community Activist Ernest Smith, who leads the Oppressed People's Nation of young Black community activists, told Cleveland Urban News.Com. that his grassroots group out of East Cleveland has also been walking the streets with police to find the women.

Longtime East Cleveland Community Activist Art McKoy, founder of Black on Black Crime and the executive producer of The Art McCoy University Show on WERE 1490 AM Radio in Cleveland, said the killings are heartbreaking and troubling, and that he will participate in Wednesday's rally.

East Cleveland is a neighboring predominantly Black and impoverished suburb of Cleveland, a largely Black major metropolitan city where the remains of 11 Black women were uncovered at the home of serial killer Anthony Sowell in 2009. And just two and a half months ago three women, Gina DeJesus, Amanda Berry and Michelle Knight, were freed from captivity after being held kidnapped for over nine years by Arial Castro on Cleveland's majority White west side. Castro is in jail awaiting trial on numerous counts, including multiple counts of rape and kidnapping.

East Cleveland Mayor Gary Norton told reporters that Madison, a registered sex offender who spent four years behind bars, allegedly said that he was imitating Sowell, who sits on death row while is aggravated murder and other convictions are on appeal before the Ohio Supreme Court.

Since March, more women have been found raped and murdered on Cleveland's majority Black east side of town, including Christine Malone, 43, Jazmine Trotter, 20, and Ashley Leszynski, 21.

Last Updated on Tuesday, 23 July 2013 03:54

300 Clevelanders rally for Trayvon Martin as part of Rev Al Sharpton and NAN's 100 Cities Vigil and Rally for "Justice for Trayvon," groups join Sharpton in calling for Florida boycott, federal charges against Zimmerman, Rev. Dr. Otis Moss Jr. keynotes

22 July 2013

Kathy

Pictured are National Action Network (NAN) President The Rev. Al Sharpton, Greater Cleveland NAN President Marcia McCoy, the Rev. Dr. Otis Moss Jr., Cleveland NAACP President The Rev. Hilton Smith and Cleveland Mayoral Candidate Ken Lanci

By CD Newton, General Assignment Reporter (www.clevelandurbannews.com)

Reach Cleveland Urban News.Com by phone at 216-659-0473 and by email at editor@clevelandurbannews.com. Reach CD Newton at newton@clevelandurbannews.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio-“No Justice, No Peace!” That familiar chant rose in crescendo in the courtyard of the Carl B. Stokes U.S. District Courthouse in Cleveland, Oh. on Saturday at noon as Civil Rights leaders, Black clergy , community activists and a host of others gathered as part of a 100 cities rally and vigil for "Justice for Trayvon Martin," a nationwide event sponsored by the Rev Al Sharpton , his National Action Network (NAN), and Sharpton's local chapter group.

The chants loomed large as a back drop for some 300 spirited people from all walks of life. The local architect of this call to action event was Marcia McCoy , the president of Greater Cleveland NAN.

"We are pushing a national boycott in Florida and for federal Civil Rights charges against George Zimmerman," McCoy told Cleveland Urban News.Com.

Cleveland stood up and was counted among 100 cities in the vigil and rally for justice for Martin. The unarmed 17-year old teenager was shot and killed by volunteer neighborhood watchman George Zimmerman in February 2012.

A backlash to Mr. Zimmerman’s acquittal last weekend by an all White jury has been like a bad knee jerk reaction felt across the nation. The familiar ache of denied justice and a sense of devaluation resonated deeply among members of the Black community.

The Rev. Dr Otis Moss Jr. , a giant in the Civil Rights crusade, was an imminent speaker at the rally. It was noted at the rally that Moss, a retired long time senior pastor of Olivet Institutional Baptist Church in Cleveland, was inducted into the Ohio Civil Rights Hall of Fame.

The sage reverend, who marched with the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., shared his very personal story of racial profiling and the crowd hung on his every word. The throngs were captivated by his elderly statesman manner. He left the audience with a rousing message for positive change saying that with “one pen, one book, and one ballot we can make a positive change and that's how we remember Trayvon Martin."

Surprisingly only a few of the local media were present for such a significant event. Furthermore strangely was that many elected officials were absent from the forum, prompting some community activists to ask if "they care about the unrest and current anxiety in the urban community they represent?"

Still, many Civil Rights groups, including the Cleveland NAACP and its president the Rev Hilton Smith , who also spoke at the rally, were represented and stood united with the local chapter of NAN. Other groups include the Carl Stokes Brigade, the Cleveland Chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, Black on Black Crime Inc, Delta Sigma Theta, the Cleveland Chapter of the New Black Panther Party, Revolution Books, Peace in the Hood, One Hundred Black Women, and Imperial Women.

Ken Lanci , a successful White businessman and a candidate this year for Cleveland mayor, made an impassioned plea for justice to the Black community.

“Dr. Martin Luther King’s dream is unfulfilled when so few aren't at the table to take advantage of opportunities," said Lanci. "How is it that 50 years later after King’s great speech we stand here? By the grace of god this has to end.”

Zimmerman's lawyers argued at trial that he killed Martin in self defense, though he stalked the teen even after police dispatchers told him to cease and desist. According to trial testimony, Martin was merely walking in the Florida gated community on the way back to the home of his father's girlfriend.

Many that spoke said that the Stand your Ground law in Florida and other states across the country must be repealed.

Before the event concluded some “salt of the earth” ordinary-type people took to the microphone to express their feelings on the verdict and the tragedy. From a well-spoken 17 year old young lady to a seasoned grandmother, all expressed their current dismay with the legal system and the fact that the lives of young Black males are so easily disposable.

The rally ended peacefully with its attendees saying they felt a renewed sense of unity, focus, and encouragement.

Last Updated on Monday, 22 July 2013 17:33

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O J Simpson wins parole on some of the robbery and kidnapping convictions that landed him a prejudicial sentence of nine to 33 years in prison

Ariel Castro to be sentenced to life in prison August 1 for kidnapping raping and holding Gina DeJesus, Amanda Berry and Michelle Knight captive in his Cleveland, Ohio home for more than nine years

CNN covers 400 persons Imperial Women violence against women rally, activists call on Obama to bring in National Guard to find missing women, State Senator Turner criticizes Governor Kasich at rally, family members of victims of serial killer attend

Plain Dealer article on upcoming Violence Against Women rally of July 24, sponsored by Imperial Women Oppressed People's Nation, community activists

Violence Against Women rally to be held Wednesday evening in East Cleveland

Stop violence against women rally around serial killings of 3 Black women in E. Cleveland wrapped in plastic and Cleveland murdered, raped women is Wednesday, July 24, 5 pm, intersection of Shaw and Hayden Avenues in E. Cleveland

300 Clevelanders rally for Trayvon Martin as part of Rev Al Sharpton and NAN's 100 Cities Vigil and Rally for "Justice for Trayvon," groups join Sharpton in calling for Florida boycott, federal charges against Zimmerman, Rev. Dr. Otis Moss Jr. keynotes

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