BULK RATE U.S. POSTAGE PAID Benton Harbor Michigan 49022 • Permit No. 50 Add'ss Corr.R9Q'd ou, Granny!' Friend nd ell-wi hers gather-ed Saturday, Sept. 14, in Covert to honor life long civil righ fighter and leader Octavi Hawkins. The banner displayed above her head con­ vey th sentiments of tho e in attendance. (Kristin Hay photo) co • I USKEGON - City com­ mi ioner John H. Williams re thed igh of relief and picked up his life follo ing the re olution ofwhat has developed a pattern of treatment for Black elected official in estern ichigan. William had been under inv ti tion for allegations h had misused funds from th church h pastored, John 1 y A.M.E. Zion Church. Williams as relieved of his p torate by the presid­ ing bishop in June at the r que t of orne member of his congregation. Williams' ttorney, Douglas Hughes is ued a tatement following the announcement earlier this month by uskegon County Pro cutor Harold Closz, that no charges would be iled against Williams folIo ing four month inve tigation. H ughe said," Both John nd I commend the efforts of the uskegon County Pro­ cuter's office and the u­ egon Police Departl_!!en.!__ ego • loner for a thorough and complete investigation. Their conclu­ sion was anticipated by both John and myelf.Unfor­ tunately, the entire episode has been a tremendous emotional burden upon John and I would hope that the media will provide as much attention to his exoneration and continued good work as one of this city's commissioners as they did to the initial allegations of rongdoing." Black 2 t COMMON SE SE CURES CRIME: Confessions of a cop -See Page 13 DALLAS - Rainbow Coalit­ ion leader Rev. Je Jackson told a crowd of about 6 000 at the Convention Center Arena here today that there are enough Blac registered voters in Dallas to elect a Black' to Congre but the Black district is split due to gerrymandering. "The Voting Rights Act is not being enforced," he de­ clared. "In '65 we were legis­ at d t but in '85 e've been regulated out. We are freer but le equal." Jackson, addressing the 38th ational Convention of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority (the nation's single largest Black women's organization with me 125,000 college-trained women), called for a new "litmus test" in terms of political equity for Blacks. Stating the numbers of Black elected officials in no way keep pace with the numbers of Black registered voter, Jack­ son called on Blacks to mobilize against "gerrymandering and an­ nexing chemes," dual registra­ tion systems like that in Mis­ sissippi, and to hold the U.S. Justice Department accountable for enforcement of the historic 1965 act passed twenty years ago today. Jackson also called the roll of civil rights/equity etbac s in Black economic life and in the numbers of Blacks in higher education. omen to meet Concern d Black omen's Roundtable will be presenting a orkshop on Saturday, Septem­ ber 21, 1985 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., at orthwestem Junior High School, 176 limit Street, Battle Creek. The general theme for this or shop i "Survival of Black in the 21 Century." Conference reception will be held in Stouf­ fer' Hotel BaIlroon 50 Capital Avenue, S.W., on Friday evening September 20, from 7:00 to 9:00p.m. Delores Wharton, a Kellogg Company board member will deliver the keynote address during the opening ssion at 9:00 a.m. The conference registration fee is S10. Just to list a few of the peakers: Bernice Syndor, Tn Husband/W\fe Relationship: The Signing of the Marriage Vows Zeala Duncan, The Family Unit and Rearing Chil­ dren, Johnnie Burton, How I Educated y Children, Edna Warren, The Family and The Building of a Community, Delso Turner atson, "How My Fam­ ily Has Helped e" and Clita . Anderson, Summary. ., , e have freedom to drink soft drinks.