The National Black United Front: ‘We Are Family’
by Kuumba Chi Nia ST. LOUIS, Mo-The National Black United Front hosted the e Are Family?panel discussion on racial disparity in St. Louis March 8 at Life Victory Church International Business College. NBUF and local chairs from various cities in the U.S. also came to St. Louis for their Central Committee meeting.A panel group was assembled with local organizers representing Jena Six Committee of St. Louis, Justice Watch, Gerald Thornton, and the Black Alliance for Educational Options, master health practitioner Jose Sayeed-Fleming, NBUF Chair in Houston, Texas and the youth representative from the NBUF St. Louis chapter and moderator and chair of the NBUF, Dr. Conrad Worrill.The panel addressed several issues that point to racial biasness in the system and the prison complex represents one of the most upsetting institutions. Vera Thomas, founder of Justice Watch and parent of Reggie Clemons who is on death row in Missouri told the crowd that good legal representation is needed when it comes to fighting against an unjust penal institution. She also blasted Attorney General Jeremiah Jay Nixon for his support the death penal and under his watch innocent people have been executed. Nixon is running for the gubernatorial seat in Missouri. Justice Watch also advocates for a moratorium of the Death Penalty. Gerald Thornton, one of the brothers of Charles æ…ookie?Thornton said, Charles declared war on the City of Kirkwood last month, killing five and hospitalizing two one of whom was the mayor of Kirkwood. æŒe fulfilled his mission,?said Thornton whose mother and other family member was present. In referring to his brother, Horton said that Cookie was set up to fail and used as a pawn by Kirkwood, e took out the police, and elected official?feeling that his constitutional rights were vindicated by the actions, Thornton said. Family members of Darrell æœell?Lane presented their case of injustice. The Lane family has been fighting for two years to free their teenage family member from prison in Illinois. Rell was charged in the triple murder in Belleville in 2005. Michael Cooney, hairstylist and antique dealer, sisters Dorothy Bone and Doris Fischer were brutally stabbed to death in what looked like a lovers spat gone bad and two innocent patrons in the wrong place at the wrong time. Kathy Norful, sister of Rell said her brother finger print among many was found on the tan Nissan Pathfinder that appeared in Wellston first before reaching Sarah and Page. The van was owned by Cooney.However, without motive, Rell location on the day of the murder and no DNA match at the crime scene, Rell should not be in confinement. The initial and most probably suspect is Samuel L. Johnson who attempted burglary in 2003. According to the Belleville News Democrat June 2005 Johnson told Anna Hobbs a then fianc?of a relative of Johnsons?said æ‘ messed up.?nbsp; Johnson would also purchase a vehicle with $100. Johnson was not gainfully employed.Dr. Hose Sayeed-Fleming addressed health concerns and issues in the community. æƒig Parma?said Sayeed-Fleming does not want the public to know about less expensive and proven successful healing practices other than conventional wisdom. Doctors are either uninformed or in denial when a conscious patient raises questions about medial remedies.Dr. Sayeed-Fleming opposes vaccinations noting that they can trigger mental and emotional problems. Al Lumpkins who is a patient of Dr. Sayeed-Fleming is living proof of how alternative and ancient health healing combine with modern knowledge work. Lumpkins was diagnosed with advance prostate cancer, but after going through and maintaining Dr. Sayeed-Flemings?regiment Lumpkins is cancer free and is only one local case. In another health incident the Jena Six Committee of St. Louis, noted an anonymous case. A city resident is on dialysis once a week for 4-hours. The resident recently was admitted for surgery on the neck. A piece of metal was sewed in the neck. The patient was not told immediately and several days passed before the medical practitioners said anything. The patient was first encouraged to leave the metal in the neck. WOW!! The patient is on a waiting list for a kidney and feels that by pursuing legal council further problems could arise and compromise the patient relationship with the hospital. Bertha Gilkey Bond, founder of Jena Six Committee of St. Louis and Missouri Coordinator of Black Alliance for Educational Options called for a national Jena Six committee in the local areas that were represented from such cities as Chicago, Detroit, California, New York, Texas, Ohio, and Kansas City, Mo.–Kuumba Chi Nia is a Mathaba author.
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