Author: Carma Henry

The Westside Gazette Newspaper is looking for Junior Writers and Photographers to be apart of our Youth Photojournalism Program (Ages 10-16). Interested in being apart of our team? E-mail brhsr@thewestsidegazette.com

After many successful years in education, Janice became the Principal of Redan High School in Dekalb County, Georgia. Under her leadership, Redan continues to grow  academically with strong extra-curricular offerings for the students. Because of her hard work and dedication, she was awarded the Community and Five Point Thrust Award in the category of Education Development. at the “Grand Celebration by the Stone Mountain-Lithonia Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta, Inc.

Today, a group of prominent academics, lawyers, and activists published an open letter calling for the release of political prisoner Jalil Muntaqim (aka Anthony Bottom), the only remaining Black Panther incarcerated in New York. He was arrested 48 years ago, when he was 19-years-old, and is scheduled for his 11th parole hearing in September 2019. Signers include Professor Angela Davis of the University of California at Santa Cruz, Professor Cornel West of Harvard, actor and activist Danny Glover, musician and filmmaker Boots Riley, author Michelle Alexander, and co-founder of Black Lives Matter Patrisse Cullors.

On May 14, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced that Russian hackers gained access to voter databases in two counties in the state before the 2016 presidential election. DeSantis added that the hackers didn’t manipulate any data and the results of the election were not changed. He provided no proof that was the case.

Amber Thompson of North Lauderdale, a 10th grader at Nova High School in Davie, will be a Delegate to the Congress of Future Medical Leaders in Lowell, Mass., June 23-25, 2019.

MISTAKES WILL BE MADE Just Do It Anyway

     For Morehouse College graduate Keith Anderson, the surprise announcement by billionaire tech investor Robert F. Smith to pay off his entire class’ student-loan debts was nothing short of extraordinary.

     There have been prayer vigils, balloon releases, news conferences, community-wide searches in the area where she was staying, but there has still been no sign of missing 4-year-old Maleah Davis.  The disappearance of little Maleah has members of the Greater Houston community outraged, as well as fervently searching for answers as to what actually happened to her.

Petty Officer 1st Class Emenson Exilus, a native of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, always wanted to join the Navy. He had the opportunity ten years ago to join the military and decided it was time to join and serve his country.

“Let’s pause here to give a little credit where credit is due. Freeing 17 prisoners – all of whom were serving life sentences without parole – is impressive and commendable and the result of a campaign – 90 Days of Freedom – launched by Kardashian’s attorney, Brittany K. Barnett, a Black woman,” Anne Branigin wrote for The Grapevine.  The Decarceration Collective’s MiAngel Cody, another Black female lawyer, also collaborated on the project. “If we wanted to go back even further, it’s worth knowing the viral Mic video on Alice Marie Johnson that moved Kardashian to act was facilitated by – you guessed it – a Black woman, Topeka Sam,” Branigin said.