: World / Nation :
By S�an Lang nhennig
NEW ORLE S ( ) - A
monument which has been th
center of controversy for ye
flamed racial tensions again
Sunday as about 25 Black activ­
i ts reamed and picketed t a
commemoration for the statue ..
New Orleans police officers
tood guard behind barricades
a the activists protested the
r riends of the Liberty Monu­
ment's annual memorial to th
battle of Liberty Place. About. 75
supporters participated in th
memorial.
Former state repr entative
and Ku Klux Klan grand wizard
David Duke aid the Liber y
Monument is a symbol of free­
dom, p triotism and history. But
mem of Co or
Better Loui ia na, a l arguiy
Black civil rights group, said the
four-sided obelisk is nothing
more than a symbol of racism
and white supremacy.
"What we're trying to get th
public to understand is that
symbols mean a lot," said Black
activist John Moore. "This
monument symbolizes death
and racism. It shouldn't be out in
the public where it's a constant
reminder to people.'
BUT DUKE RECEIVED
cheering and applause from sup­
porters as he compared the
monument's historical signifi-
cance to whites to the Martin
NOI leader
draws
21,000 for
message
HOUSTON (AP) - Nation of
Islam leader Louis Farrakhan
used an MTV -like bill to help
lure more than 21,000 to a
speech on traditional family v l­
ues
With singers Stephanie Mills,
Johnny Gill and Ice Cube, Far­
rakhan launched his "Family
Day" me ge Sunday, th fi t
of several he plans to give acr
the nation.
Marriage has to regain i 10
respect, Farrakhan told follow­
ers at the Astrodome.
"You say that's old-time stuff.
But it's a new day," Farrkahan
said. "It's a rotten day. It's a day
when the family is d troyed. It's
a day when men ate confu ed
and don't lmow what a man'
anymore
W HI GTO ,D.C. (B ) - Despite a host of often bad new
about h lth, Americans are actually living longer liv - with
one exception: Black mal . The average life expectancy for
Black mal is declining. This is a phenomenon almost unheard
of in a modern, industrialized nation uch America. Among
Blacks and whites, the longevity frgu provided by the Na­
tional Center for Health Statistics are as follows
• White Femal ------- 79.6 years
• Black Females--------73.8 years
• White Males ---------72.9 y rs
• Black Males ---------64.6 years
Black male life expectancy reached its peak in 1985 when it
tood at 65.3 years.
�lack Richmond mayor
backs 'no parole' pl811
RICHMOND. VA. (NBNS) - Black Richmond, Virginia Mayor
Leonidas Young last week shocked and angered Black political
leaders by announcing his support for an anti-crime proposal
which many consider racist.
Young gave his endorsement to Proposal X - no parole for
persons convicted of violent crrm plan bein pushed by the
state's conservative Go rnor Oeorge All . u
that such plans overcrowd the nation's jails while having little
impact on crime. Another of the state's leading Black politi­
cians Representative Robert C. Scott has labeled Proposal X "a
political ploy and a waste of money."
Georgia Blacks charge
racism in wake of flood
ALBANY, GA. (NBNS) - During recent devastating floods did
city and county officials in Albany, Georgia intentionally divert
flood water from northern predominantly white and affluent
areas to predominantly Black areas in the southern part of the
city? That is the allegation being made by Blacks. But it is being
vehemently denied by county officials.
The debate has become so heated that the U. S. Justice
Department has begun an investigation at the urging of na­
tional Black political leader Jesse Jackson. During 8 visit a few
weeks ago Jackson had to be provided with special security
because of a series on threats on his life from angry whites.
NOI alleges conspiracy'
by Jewish group
WABIDNGTON. D.C. (NBNS) - During a special forum in
Washington, D.C. last week, a spokesman for 'the Nation of
Islam accused the Jewish Anti-Defamation League (ADL) of
having a long history of crimes and conspiracies against Afri-
. can Americans and their leaders. Abdul Alim Muhammad told
the gathering of about 300 people, "You can't think of a Black
leader who has not been destroyed or slandered by the ADL."
Muhammad also suggested that the ADL played a role in
the recent ouster of Benjamin Chavis as head of the NAACP.
The group had been highly critical of Chavis' overtu to
Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan.
A IE , a 26-y r-
old psychology student at Texas
Southern University said she
does not concentrate too much
on th Nation's Muslim teach-
ings. .
"Just like we had the civil
rights movemen , we n this
movement," she said of Farrak-
han's message. .
Ms. Fi,eld as one of 21,585
who attended th event.
y
Luth r King memorial's signifi­
cance to th African-American
he rita .
"The diffe nc tw n
and those people over th re is
that we're not trying to tear
down the Martin Luth r King
monument .. I would love to
it taken down" Duke aid. "He
d n't repr ent you and me ...
We hav the right to have our
poin of vi w h rd nd our his­
tory .preserved."
Liberty monument is a me­
morial to an �874 uprising by
whit agai t th . tate' po t
civil war r oonstructiv govern­
ment.
Conf er te fla whipped in
the i ippi Riv r b
Duke ddres ed t h
B ck 11 na�iWjl�"""
'1IIIII .. a..;:.. ....... �_
b , "The monu- k p i
m nt DlU t m down. Wh re'
your h t, David Duke."
The monument h n t.h
center of controversy for y rs.
Th city's Human ReI tions Ad­
visory Commit started pro-
ings in Jun 1993 to remo
th Lib rty Monument from i
po ition near the Mi is ippi
River on th edge of the historic
French Quarter.
THE P recommended
that the monument be relocated
to a museum. And in July 1993,
the City Council d ided that the
Liberty Monument fi its pub­
lic-nuisan ordinan and ap­
i removal.
Michigan Cttfzen
Published each Sunday by
NEW DAY ENTERPRISE
P.O. Box 03560, Highland Park, MI48203 (313) 869-0033
Benton Harbor Bureau, 175 M 'n Street
Benton Harbor, MI 49022 (616) 927-1527
Publi h r: Charles Kelly
Contributor : Bernice Brown
Mary Golliday
Allison JOAes - Jacquelyn Martin - Ron Seigel
Nathaniel Scott - Tureka Turk
Carolyn Warfield
Managing Editor: Kascene Barks
Type tter: Verell Larks
Adv rti ing R pr entativ: Ardella Thomas
/)�tMfll'� In' ,,/I __ �r , IS 12 1tn(I" T,.� prtpr to publicMiDf\ n.� for.JJ .J c ;" 12
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(ISSN 1072-2(41)
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