Topic: Civil Rights

In honor of Reverend Martin Luther King Jr.

By Debbie Boen | January 22, 2008 |

Yesterday several hundred people of all ages filled Burt School’s auditorium and classrooms for workshops and  seminars before the annual NAACP Martin Luther King Day march. Children worked on projects and learned more about the civil rights movement and Rev Martin Luther King Jr.   Director of Schools Michael Harris spoke to adults about their children’s education. Vanderbilt University Professor Wanda Snead addressed issues of  domestic violence, and Valerie Hunter-Kelly of Keller Williams Realty spoke about mortgages and personal finances.

Several elected officials attended today’s event, including State Representative Joe Pitts, County Commissioner Lettie Kendall, and City Council members Barbara Johnson and Marc Harris. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: News | 3 Comments

LBJ vs. MLK flap misses the point

By Nell Levin | January 21, 2008 |

Did Hillary Clinton mean to discount Martin Luther King, Jr. with her remark that it was Lyndon Johnson who actually pushed through the Civil Rights Bill of 1964? Having heard Hillary’s remarks in their full context, I don’t think she meant to take away credit from the leadership of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Yes, it took LBJ’s arm-twisting political talents to get the Civil Rights Act passed. Yes, it also took MLK’s tireless, dedicated leadership and oratorical skills to focus the nation’s attention on the heinous injustice of segregation.

That being said, Hillary and the other pundits and political operatives, have missed the point. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Politics | 1 Comment »

Martin Luther King Jr. Day events

By Jimmie Garland, Sr. | January 18, 2008 |

The Clarksville Branch of the NAACP #5582 will host its annual Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. commemorative celebration starting with a Sunday January 20th worship service, which will be held 5:00 pm, at Greater Missionary Baptist Church.

The guest speaker will be Chaplain Alvin Miller, Pastor of the South Chapel located on the Fort Campbell, KY military base. Both churches’ choirs will be combined for this occasion in order to perform the music for the service. Refreshments will be served.

On Monday January 21st from 9am-noon will feature a poster contest, educational classes, and informative seminars for all ages, starting at 9am at Burt Elementary School located in downtown Clarksville. These programs are sponsored by local sororities and other civic organizations.

The annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day commemorative march through the city will leave Burt School around noon.

The NAACP extends an open invitation to everyone regardless of their ethnicity to participate in these events.

The mission of the NAACP is to ensure the political, educational, social and economic equality of rights of all persons and eliminate racial hatred and racial discrimination. For questions or more information please call Elder Frank E. Washington at (931) 980-1918.

Sections: Events | No Comments

Park cameras should come with oversight

January 18, 2008 |

Graffiti and vandalism are problems in our city, and steps should be taken to halt it.

We see no issues with the city purchasing a couple of mobile surveillance camera systems to be used in parks and other areas for which a documented history of problems can be shown, such as at the train station. Clarksville Online believes that both the park rangers and city police department should have their own mobile systems with which to target crime hot spots.

These systems which can run from a few thousand to a over a hundred thousand dollars. The park rangers preferred system has a price tag of $9,600.

The cost of these systems can be more than paid for by their preventing additional acts of wanton destruction. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Opinion | No Comments

MLK Day: A day we should celebrate all year

By Scott Beasley | January 16, 2008 |

January 21st is Dr. Martin Luther King Day,

Dr. King was an American leader, not solely a leader for African-Americans. He taught us to fight racism and bigotry with intelligence, knowledge, and education, not violence. He wanted people of every color to have the same rights and opportunities, and tremendous progress has been made in those arenas for which he is directly responsible.

Sadly, we still have a long way to go and I’m not sure some will ever view others as equals because of their skin color. Skin color is a descriptive characteristic holding no more importance than eye color or height. Unfortunately, no matter how people are viewed, some only see the differences among ourselves in a negative way. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Opinion | No Comments

Unconstitutional Acts to Protect the President from Protestors

January 15, 2008 |

In the waning days of this administration’s tenure, President Bush’s lack of interest in opinions contrary to his own is as striking as ever.  Most recently in New Mexico, a group of peaceful demonstrators was removed from the president’s sight, continuing the administration’s long-held tradition that dissenters should be neither seen nor heard.  Sound undemocratic? Indeed.

Last August, President Bush attended an exclusive, high-priced fundraiser for New Mexico Senator Pete Domenici.  Local activists opposed to the president’s policies were, of course, not invited.  To let the president know that not everyone agreed with him, they planned to stand along his motorcade route holding up signs expressing their views, especially their opposition to the war in Iraq.

The peaceful demonstrators’ attempt at free speech was quickly squashed when police officers forced them to stay at least 150 yards away from the motorcade route, walling them off by placing numerous police cars and officers on horseback between the protesters and the president.  Meanwhile, a group of Bush supporters was allowed to stand right along the motorcade route, where their “God Bless George Bush!  We pray for you!” sign was in plain view of both Bush and the journalists accompanying him. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Issues | No Comments

DDP redevelopment meeting canceled; Piper to recommend amendment

By Christine Anne Piesyk | January 9, 2008 |

Failure to use due diligence, failure to follow state law cited…tumbles “blight” ordinance…

Coalition group to meet 6 p.m. today in APSU’s Clement Auditorium, in lieu of the previously planned city meeting…City Council members invited to attend…

Clarksville Mayor Johnny Piper, has taken a bold step and reversed direction on the “blight” ordinance. He has decided to cancel a community meeting that was scheduled for Thursday evening at Austin Peay State University, where members of the Downtown District Partnership were to review the Clarksville Center Redevelopment Plan. The meeting was planned to allow the DDP the opportunity to inform property owners in the redevelopment area about the plan that they developed and recommended to the City Council.

“I have great concerns about how this was handled and presented to the City Council by the DDP,” Mayor Piper

The Mayor’s office has received many phone calls and comments from concerned residents over the past few weeks on this issue. In addition, the formation of the Clarksville Property Rights Coalition (CPRC), fueled by angry residents of the downtown area, and two standing room-only grassroots public meetings, provided a highly visible evidence of public discontent with the ordinance and the way it was developed and presented. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Issues | No Comments

Voters concerned about electronic ballots flock to UnCounted screening

By Christine Anne Piesyk | December 8, 2007 |

The Clarksville screening of UnCounted, a film targeting issues in electronic voting, drew fifty people to the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Friday evening, filling the screening room to capacity for this special event. The film’s producer, Patricia Earnhardt, and activist Bernie Ellis, addressed the group and fielded questions about the film and the increasing controversy over the accuracy and security of electronic voting machines.

Bernie Ellis introduces “UnCounted”

Producers describe UnCounted as “an explosive documentary that shows how the election fraud that changed the outcome of the 2004 election led to even greater fraud in 2006 — and now looms as an unbridled threat to the outcome of the 2008 election. This controversial film examines…how easy it is to change election outcomes and undermine election integrity…” «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Issues, News | 1 Comment »