Auus 2-31,205 rs ery' FeePrss- ag Thousands to March Saturday, Aug. 27" in Houston to Save ife of Woman on Death Row The name Frances Newton might not mean anything to you, and this may be the first time that you have heard it, but last year public outcry, with the support of Amnesty International, won her a reprieve from execution on December 1"t, in Texas. Amnesty International declared that Mrs. Newton was "convicted on circumstantial evidence" and cited "the inadequacy of her prior legal represent- tation." Her court-appointed trial attorney Ron Mock has been sanctioned by the State Bar of Texas many times. She is scheduled to be executed on the 14th of September. Until a night of horror in 1987, Frances Newton was a wife and the mother of two children. Her husband and two small children were murdered execution-style. She was convicted for the murders, according to reports, largely on the results of ballistic testing conducted by the now-discredited Houston Police Department crime lab, which said that it was her gun that was used to murder her family. The evidence disclosed that there was no blood found on Mrs. Newton's clothing, gun, hands or car, despite the fact that the victims had been shot at close range. No gunpowder residue was found on her hands or sweater. There was also no evidence that someone had undertaken a cleanup at the home. A witness signed an affidavit expanding on her trial testimony that described Frances Newton's shock and horror at finding the bodies of her family, which was confirmed by police at the scene). The witness, Sondra Nelms said that "I know in my heart that after watching the reaction of Frances on discovering her husband and children, there is absolutely no way she had any involvement in their deaths." ASALH 10m Anniversary Membership Luncheon Set for September 10O The James Weldon Johnson branch of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), founded by Dr. Carter G. Woodson, invites you to attend the third annual ASALH Membership Luncheon at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 10, 2005, at the Bethelight Conference Center, 5865 Arlington Express- way, near corer of University Blvd. The luncheon will also celebrate the 100"' Anniversary of The Niagra Movement. Founded in 1905, The Niagara Movement led to the founding of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Come and learn more about the history of African American life in Jacksonville. Clemson University Professor of History and Black Studies, Dr. Abel Bartley, will be the luncheon speaker. Dr. Abel will focus on the Niagara Movement's impact on our local history. For reservations and ticket information, call (904)765- 8239. Transportation Reservations Now Available for 10th Anniversary Million Man March- OCT. 15 JACKSONVILLE Don't miss the bus! Don't wait until the last minute to make your reservation to attend the "Millions More Move- ment" 10th Anniversary Celebration of the "Million Man March" to be held in Washington, DC, Saturday, October 15, 2005. We must combine our wisdom, knowledge, understanding and have a willingness to grow as Black people. This is an opportunity for all to come together. For transportation information, please call (904)768-2778, 768-3322 or 610-7668. EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES RETIRED TEACHER OR COLLEGE STUDENT P/T Astute reader, with excellent spelling ability, flexible hours on Monday and Tuesday, only. Please call leave, name, and other information, including daytime phone number: (904) 764-6278. ADMINISTRATIVE ASST. P/T, able to greet people, be congenial; follow instructions, good handwriting; typing, an added plus; become part of team, could become full time. Call leave name, other information, including daytime phone number: (904) 764-6278. Frances Elaine Newton, 38, could become the first African American woman executed in modern Texas history, despite resounding questions of whether she is guilty, and whether she received a fair trial. Almost half of those on Texas' death row are African Americans, yet African Americans are only 12 percent of the population. Even the police chief and a state senator have asked the governor to halt executions from Harris County, Texas because the Houston Police Crime Lab has botched so many cases. Statistically, Texas accounts for 336 of the 944 executions carried out in the United States since 1977, 81 of whom were prosecuted in Harris County (Houston). Amnesty International opposes the death penalty in all cases, regardless of guilt or innocence. Since 1973, 117 people have been released from U. S. death rows after evidence of their innocence emerged. Others have gone to their deaths despite serious doubts about their guilt." You can help save the life of Frances Newton. Visit www.freefrances.org, and send an e-postcard to the office of Governor Perry demanding to stop the execution on the basis of new evidence. For more information contact: Gloria Rubac of the Texas Death Penalty Abolitionist Movement at (713) 266-7251; David Dow, director of the Innocence Project at (713) 743-2171; or Houston talk show hostess Hitaji Aziz peacemaker(evl.net or (713)266-7251. If there is question in your mind, remember, it will be better to stop the execution of a guilty person, than to allow an innocent person to be executed, without trying to save an innocent life. Multi-denominational Prolesinil Seminars to Open in February'06 An extension of the Gordon- Divinity (M.Div.) degree, begin- Conwell Theological Seminary in ning with the Foundations of South Hamilton, Mass., will being Leadership in Ministry and Church offering classes in Jacksonville in History, in February. February 2006, pending final Gordon-Conwell was founded in approval by accrediting agencies. 1969, and offers degrees at the The seminary is an evangelical, Masters and Doctoral levels. The multi-denominational Prostest gra- Seminary has gained an Interna- duate school, currently with camp- tional reputation for leading faculty in the areas of Biblical Studies, The seminary is an evangelical, Ministry and Theology. It is known multi-denominational Prostest gra- for its classical education and duate school, currently with camp- rigorous academic standards that uses in South Hampton and Boston, include biblical language require- Massachusetts; and Charlotte, NC. ments in many of the degree It is the fifth largest seminary in programs. Its students represent North America. 107 denominations and 48 foreign Students can pursue either the countries. Master of Theological Studies For admissions information, call (MTS) degree, or the Master (704) 940-5810. Prince Albert II of Monaco Declares Son, Making Him Heir to Fortune Prince Albert II of Monaco is the prince's heir under French recently officially acknowledged law. It has been reported that the that the young son of former Air prince has deeded a $2.5 million France stewardess, Black French- home in the South of France to the Togolese Nicole Coste, is his son. Although Alexandre is the The child, Alexandre is now Prince's legal heir, he has no right twenty-three months old. The to the throne of Monaco. Monaco's Prince spends quality time with his constitution states that only "direct son, and recently posed with him in and legitimate descendants can a photograph that appeared in the assume the throne, however, the current issue Jet magazine, family could decide to declare the The prince said on French son of the Prince, an heir, if they television that the child will never felt it was in their best interest. The want for anything, and that he is successor to Prince Albert II is the "totally part of his private life." He Princess Caroline. EXPERIENCED CHURCH MIfSICIAN NEEDED Pianist/Organist needed for Church with full musical agenda, including rehearsals. Must read music, and be familiar with Old Time Gospel, Modern Gospel, as well as Cantata and Concert program. If qualified, please call (904) 764-9257. Law Office of: Reese Marshall, P.A. Accidents - S* Worker's Compensation Personal Injury Wrongful Death Probate :1 Wills and Estates 214 East Ashley Street Jacksonville, Florida 32202 904-354-8429 Over 30 years experience of professional and courteous service to clients Tuskegee airman Roscoe Brown chats with the media at the Tuskegee Airmen's annual convention. The group is trying to make sure their history as U.S. military pioneers isn't forgotten and that today's young blacks can have the opportunity to be pilots, too. ORLANDO, Fla. Even though they were treated like second-class citizens as black pilots in a segre- gated military during World War II, the Tuskegee Airmen proved their mettle in the skies. The airmen never lost a plane under escort to enemy fighters, developing such a reputa- tion that some German pilots stopped pursuing American planes they knew would be escorted by the scrappy airmen. Sixty years later, few are still alive. About 80 airmen gathered in Orlando last week for the group's 34th annual convention, which unites the decorated soldiers with each other and younger black military pilots for a week of story-swapping and revelry. The Tuskegee Airmen were the first group of black fighter pilots Ilowed into the U.S. Army Air :orps. Even after they were admit- :d, though, many commanders still didn't believe they had the intelli- ,ence or dexterity to become pilots. "Failure was not an option. If the experiment had failed, it would have proven their point," said 85- year-old 1st Lt. Wilson Eagleson, one of the airmen. The airmen were cho- sen some without even knowing it be- cause they scored well on military tests, and most had already taken at least a few years of college. They were given poor equipment and the most dangerous bomber protection as- signments by preju- diced overseas com- manders. And yet they built a proud, storied squadron that ran circles around other crews above Europe in shiny gray planes with red tails. Now their faces a lined with age, their voices weaker. But the airmen re- main humble and proud of their decorated past Eagle- son has two Purple Hearts - and the brotherhood they share. No one knows exactly how many Tuskegee Airmen are left, but military officials esti- mate about 200 of the 1,000 or so men who won their wings at the Alabama air base are still alive, along with countless aircraft maintenance men and other ground crew. Some of the pilots turned out to be career servicemen despite continued discrimina- tion, while others went into business or got law degrees after the war ended. "They don't see themselves heroes. They simply did what needed to be done," said retired Col. Le Nevels, who heads the committee that organized the convention "Because these guys are so mode about what they did, a lot of people don't even acknowledge it." Convention attendance has dropped steadily each year as more airmen succumb to age or illness. However, the pilots are doing what they can to preserve the group's leg- acy, such as offering scholarships and writing books to document their lives. The airmen talk to kids in schools and offer airplane rides to get them interested in flying. They also meet with young, wide-eyed black pilots who fly the military's planes today - a proud sight for any old soldier. If asked, the airmen will talk about the racism and bigotry they faced in the military, and how no one thought they were worth anything before they proved they could fly a plane or pack a parachute. Mostly, though, the accidental celebrities count blessings for what they have achieved. Eagleson was one of the officers who closed the Tuskegee base after Tuskegee airman Boykin Gartrell as President Truman outlawed segrega- ed tion in the U.S. military in 1948. an "By that time, most of the pilots ee in the service knew what we could n. do and what we had done," Eagleson st said. "That was tremendous." Tuskegee Airmen Hold 34th Annual Reunion in Orlando GROCERY WAREHOUSE 1wiarakeuu-ihs & mari i- i el prices tfective: August 25th through August 30th, 2005 Open6am until Minight. ~' l wuauAct SAM lt (.dd hours. I Fri. Sat. Sun. Mon. Tues Ope am tl M ht s lyAccp A. 25 26 27 28 129 30 7M4DaysaWek, SaeRite proudly offers Hallmark Cards JACKSONVILLE LOCATIONS: 1012 N. Edgewood Ave., Tel. 904-786-2421 5134 Firestone Road, Tel. 904-771-0426 201 W. 48th St., Tel. 904-764-6178 August 25-31, 2005 Mrs._Perry's Free Press Page 7