Jefferson City NAACP President Speaks about MU and #Concernedstudent1950

http://kwos.com/2015/11/jc-naacp-president-rod-chapel-on-open-air-2/

Jefferson City NAACP promotes hotline for reporting discrimination | News Tribune

Jefferson City NAACP promotes hotline for reporting discrimination | News Tribune

Jefferson City Opens Hotline For Discrimination in Wake of Race Based Threats

NAACP Press Release

Jefferson City NAACP Celebrates Courage of #ConcerenedStudent1950 and MO Bd of Curators and Offers Support to Students, Faculty, Staff and Individuals Hurt by or Threatened 

Jefferson City, MO – “The courage to stand for equality and justice when others have ignored your concerns is commendable.” said Nimrod Chapel, Jr., President of the Jefferson City Unit of the NAACP. “The same can be said for the MU football team, Coach Gary Pinkle and Athletic Director Rhoades MU faculty and staff, and the Missouri Board of Curators.” Chapel went on to say, “It is not unexpected that there are going to be individuals in the university system and the community at large who are not going to like the actions led by #ConcernedStudent1950. If you look at the history of the Civil Rights Movement, when concessions are made for equality and respect for human dignity, there have always been individuals who feel as though their liberty is being stifled. Here, we have reported threats of violence and reprisals in retaliation for the conduct of students, faculty, staff and the Curators in their efforts to make the University of Missouri a better place for everyone by taking measures to reduce discrimination and address it where it is found.”

The NAACP is a hundred-year-old organization dedicated to promoting and protecting civil rights and dignity for everyone. The organization apologizes that it did not take swift action with regards to the events that transpired but is inspired by the actions of others in the quest to cure injustice. “As the oldest civil rights organization in the United States, it is unfortunate we were not at the forefront of this issue, but the students and concerned members of the University of Missouri have given us all a wake up call – EQUALITY IS FOR EVERYONE AND THE TIME FOR IT IS NOW!”

The NAACP is a leader in addressing and redressing discrimination and harassment. A hotline is being established to report discrimination and harassment.  Call 844-NAACPHELP (844-622-2743) if you or someone you know has been or becomes the target of harassment and discrimination or retaliation or reprisal related to the events at MU, we are ready to help. Equality and justice know no color and all are entitled to the help of the organization. For more information, visit www.naacp.org.

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Contact: Nimrod Chapel, Jr., President Jefferson City Unit of the NAACP - 844-NAACPHELP; www.jcnaacp.blogspot.com; and jcnaacp@gmail.com.

Have a Friend or Family Member Die in Custody? SUE

http://www.nj.com/union/index.ssf/2015/10/union_county_pays_200k_settlement_for_death_of_inm.html

Don't Sit on Your Hands While MISSOURI Kills Another Man In the System They All Admit Is Busted

From: Fellowship of Reconciliation-Mid-MO chapter [mailto:jstack@formissouri.org] 
 Resist the planned Nov. 3 Execution of Ernest Lee Johnson, a man who is intellectually disabled (ID)— in violation of Missouri law, US Supreme Court decisions and human decency. There are several ways to do so…

- Tomorrow: Tuesday, Oct. 27, Join a “Gathering for Life” from 12-1:00 pm in front of Columbia’s City Hall at Broadway and 8th St. Scroll done for more info on means to resist the execution. 

- Friday: Hear Sr. Helen Prejean speak in Kansas City, 7:00 pm., Unity Temple, 707 w. 47th St.
Car-pool from Columbia: Meet at 4:30 pm, Parking Lot of AMF Bowling Alley, 1508 N. Providence (just south of I-70).
Sr. Helen, perhaps the best known advocate in the world for ending the death penalty, is author of the best-selling books, Dead Man Walking and the Death of Innocents.  The former was of course made into movie nominated for an Oscar award.  To help cover costs and raise funds for efforts to promote alternatives to the death penalty, admission will be $5 for students and $10 for everyone else.  For info about joining the Columbia caravan, call 573-449-4585. For more on the event itself and Sr. Helen, log onto http://www.madpmo.org/.

 - Contact Gov. Nixon.  Call 573-751-3222; write a letter, mail it to Room 216, State Capitol, Jefferson City MO 65101, fax 573-751-1495 or via e-mail, type into your internet browser the reduced url: http://tinyurl.com/qgrkenb

- Urge Attorney General Chris Koster to cease pushing for executions, including that of Ernest Lee Johnson.

Call 573-751-3321 or write: PO Box 899, Jefferson City MO 652101.
Attend Vigils for Life on Tuesday Nov. 3--if the execution has not been halted
* Jefferson City: 12 pm – 1 PM outside Governor's office, Room 216, State Capitol Building; car-pool from Columbia, 11:10 am, Clover’s Parking Lot, East Broadway, near Old Hwy 63

*Vigil across the street from the Missouri Supreme Court Bldg. on West High St. 5-6 PM

* Columbia:  5-6 pm, Boone County Courthouse, in front of the columns, Walnut and 8th streets
. Background on life of Earnest Lee Johnson – from Mo. Catholic Conference letter to Gov. Jay Nixon

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Mr. Johnson suffers from lifelong developmental disabilities (formerly referred to as mental retardation).

In 2001, the Missouri General Assembly passed, and Governor Bob Holden signed, legislation that would prevent the execution of persons with intellectual disabilities. 

According to Missouri statute, “mental retardation” is defined as significantly sub-average intellectual functioning with continual extensive related deficits and limitations in two or more adaptive behaviors such as communication, self-care, home living, social skills, community use, self-direction, health and safety, functional academics, leisure and work, which conditions are manifested and documented before eighteen years of age. 

A year later the U.S. Supreme Court issued Atkins v Virginia, a landmark ruling that banned the execution of persons with intellectual disabilities because such executions violate the Eighth Amendment ban on cruel and unusual punishment.

In 2014, the U.S. Supreme Court in Hall v Florida further affirmed Eighth Amendment protections against the execution of the intellectually disabled when it noted that “no legitimate penological purpose is served by executing a person with intellectual disabilities.”

It is thus apparent by both Missouri statute and Supreme Court rulings, that the execution of a person with developmental disabilities violates our society’s standard of decency.

It is equally apparent from numerous experts who have evaluated Earnest Lee Johnson that he is intellectually disabled under current Missouri law and thus should be spared execution.

Throughout the course of his life Mr. Johnson has had seven IQ tests administered to him. All but one of the tests has found scores in the intellectually disabled range. In fact his IQ score at age eight (66.3) is almost identical to the last test (66.4) taken in 1997. A diagnosis of intellectual disability requires an IQ below 70-75, which is considered “significantly sub average intellectual functioning.”

Mr. Johnson’s academic history also shows significant intellectual deficits. He was retained three times during his school years, twice in elementary school and once in high school. In addition he was either in “ungraded” or Special Education classes for his entire academic career. By the ninth grade his reading level was still on the second grade level. He dropped out of school in the 9^th grade when he was 16.  

Mr. Johnson has also shown lifelong limitations in adaptive behaviors. He was delayed in talking and walking and as he grew he was not able to carry on normal conversations. He lacked socialization skills and had no close friends in school and was often teased by other students. He was easily influenced by others. He was very impulsive and often did things without thinking of the consequences. He had no successful work history, and had difficulty performing menial jobs. He was never able to live independently and even in his twenties was only able to survive by staying with other relatives or friends.

Mr. Johnson suffers from brain damage due to Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS), head injuries and substance abuse.

Several of the doctors who have evaluated Mr. Johnson have concluded that his brain functioning is within the brain damaged range. This damage could arise from several sources. Mr. Johnson’s mother, Jean Ann Patton, was a chronic alcoholic who abused both alcohol and other drugs, even when she was pregnant with Mr. Johnson. Subsequently, he was born prematurely, was underweight and small in size throughout childhood, and suffered numerous physical ailments early in life. He also had developmental delays, socialization problems and poor communications skills, all of which are symptoms of FAS.

Mr. Johnson has also experienced head injury: at eight years of age he fell off a cotton wagon and lost consciousness when he hit the concrete pavement. In 1989 he was struck in the head by a metal folding chair, lost consciousness again, and was treated at a hospital.

Mr. Johnson also has a substantial history of substance dependence. With the approval of his mother, he began drinking alcohol around age 12 and by 17 was drinking up to twelve beers and some gin on a daily basis. By age 32 he was drinking a case of beer daily and suffering from black-outs and signs of withdrawal. He began smoking marijuana at age 15 and was smoking crack cocaine by his late 20s. Like his alcohol intake, his use of crack cocaine increased with time.

The consequences of Mr. Johnson’s history of FAS, head injury and substance dependence impacted his ability to concentrate, think clearly and to problem solve. His impaired judgement affected his ability to make good choices and to fully understand the criminality of his conduct.

Mr. Johnson had an impoverished, abusive childhood.

Mr. Johnson’s mother, Jean Ann Patton, married his father, Bobby Johnson, Sr., when she was just a teenager. The couple had three children together. They eventually separated. Jean Ann Patton, who began drinking as early as age 10, was a chronic alcoholic and drug user who also had a history of depression. She had great difficulty carrying out the responsibilities of being a mother and exposed her children to many vices. 

When Mr. Johnson was eleven his mother began prostituting herself to support her drug and alcohol additions. Her sexual encounters often took place when the children were present. Her children also witnessed her stealing items from these men. Before long Jean Ann had involved her children in prostitution and would reward them for their compliance with alcohol and drugs. After being teased by other children for their poor attire and circumstances, Johnson and his siblings began to steal food and clothing for the family. By the time he was fifteen, Johnson was basically unsupervised.

Around that time Jean Ann had married Albert Patton and had two children with him. By all accounts Mr. Patton physically and sexually abused all the children, including Ernest. It is little surprise that after being sexualized and prostituted by this mother in his early teens, then sexually abused by his step-father in his mid-teens that Johnson, who was incarcerated for his first felony offense at age 18, would also be sexually assaulted by several inmates in prison.

Throughout his childhood Ernest Johnson lacked the structure and support needed for a healthy upbringing. His role models on both sides of the family abused substances and could become violent when under the influence. Combined with his increasing use of drugs and alcohol and his limited intellectual abilities and coping skills, Earnest Johnson continued on a downward spiral.

This is a story of utmost tragedy. It is a tragedy that Mary Bratcher, Fred Jones and Mabel Scruggs lost their lives in such a senseless, brutal crime. Our thoughts and prayers are with their families at this difficult time. 

Yet it also is a societal tragedy that Ernest Lee Johnson was not provided a more safe, secure environment and upbringing that would have allowed him to develop to the best of his capabilities. For a society to execute a person with such limited mental capacity and brain damage is a travesty of justice and violates our modern standards of decency. We urge you to consider mercy in this case and commute Johnson’s sentence to life without parole.

Beyond the aspects of this particular case, as civic and religious leaders, we are concerned that the use of the death penalty promotes revenge as a principle of justice. The death penalty simply promotes vengeance as a means of resolving social problems. It appears that the very violence that frightens us so much is making us proponents of violence.

We continue to be deeply concerned about the accelerated rate at which the state is carrying out these executions (eighteen in the last 23 months) and the secrecy shrouding this process. The death sentences that the Missouri Supreme Court is now ordering executed reflect jury behavior of past generations rather than what death-qualified juries and elected prosecutors are doing today.

A stay of all executions would allow us to find more effective ways to promote justice and accountability in our society. Considering this state has the current option of life without parole, there are other methods that could be employed that would promote “real justice” for victims and our society.

We believe that it is in the interest of the common good of the people of our state that this cycle of violence be broken. The common good of the people of Missouri would be better served by the commutation of this death sentence.

For the above stated reasons, we request that you commute the death sentence of Ernest Lee Johnson to life without parole, or in the alternative, grant a stay of execution and appoint a board of inquiry to investigate the claims raised in this correspondence.

What Picture Do you Post on Your Blog When a Man is About to Be Executed?

June 9 TODAY - Execution Set for Richard Strong

ACT TODAY – SEE ACTIONS BELOW

Richard Strong’s execution date is set for June 9, 2015, and is based on  his conviction in the homicides of his girlfriend, Eva Washington and her two-year old daughter Zandrea Thomas.  His capital sentence arose as a result of the work of incompetent trial counsel, as well as behavior driven by mental illness and extreme childhood trauma.  He has been diagnosed with Major (Recurrent) Depression,  PTSD and Schizotypal Personality Disorder. 

Horrific childhood trauma:  Due to the incompetence of mitigation counsel, the trial jury never learned of Strong’s horrific childhood and history of mental illness.  Richard Strong’s father abandoned him soon after conception and was incarcerated when he was born.  Richard grew up “extremely poor, often not having anything to eat” and without basic necessities.  His mother lived with a series of abusive boyfriends throughout his childhood, at 26 different places, most all were “derelict apartments in violent” St. Louis neighborhoods, many of them were rat and roach-infested often without electricity.

As a child, Strong experienced a turbulent environment where his mother gambled and sold herself to support the family.  He also lived through a number of traumatic events.  He saw a friend get shot in the back and found his best friend’s mother dead.   He and his siblings were also forced to listen to their mother’s screams as she was being raped.  He and brothers were frequently beaten by his mother’s many boyfriends.  A babysitter sexually abused Strong when he was five, as did a stranger when he was 12.

Low intellectual functioning and mental illness:  Richard had to repeat first grade.  Because of his chaotic living arrangements, he would often miss school and only graduated from high school with a 1.8 GPA.  An evaluation at the Potosi Correctional Center determined he has an IQ of 74, reads at a 3^rdgrade level and spells like a 2^nd grader.  Other mental health specialists determined he suffers from Major (Recurrent) Depression, PTSD and Schizotypal Personality Disorder among other conditions.

Woefully inadequate legal counsel:   Richard’s trial lawyers were paid $15,000 to represent him, a fraction of the cost needed for a robust fight against the death penalty.  In violation of the ABA standards for representation in death penalty cases, the attorney overseeing the sentencing phase of trial had just finished law school the previous year and had never tried a criminal case, much less a capital case.  He had no experience with presenting a mitigation defense and only began interviewing relatives as the jury was being selected.  He and the lead counsel chose to stress during the sentencing trial that Strong was “a good and loving person” with a “faith in God.”  Jurors, and his own trial attorneys, had no clue about Mr. Strong’s brutal childhood and psychological issues.  It was only when post-conviction attorneys did a thorough investigation that these issues came to light.

Another St. Louis County case.  Mr. Strong is the 4^th African-American man set for execution this year in cases coming from St. Louis County (fortunately two of those executions were stayed.)  The county has been responsible for the 9^th most executions of any US jurisdiction.  Ten of the 32 current inmates living under a death sentence is Missouri were convicted by St. Louis County prosecutors.

TAKE ACTION NOW – 

·     CONTACT Gov. Jay Nixon.  Urge him to commute his death sentence.  Call 573-751-3222; send a letter, by mail: Rm 216, State Capitol, Jefferson City MO 65101; fax: 573-751-1495 or e-mail: www.governor.mo.gov.

·       CONTACT Attorney General Chris Koster. Urge him to cease pushing for executions, including Mr. Strong’s. Call 573-751-3321, write: PO Box 899, Jefferson City MO 652101 or e-mail www.ago.mo.gov. 

MADP
6320 Brookside Plaza Suite 185
Kansas City, MO 64113

info@madpmo.org

WE ARE NOW COUNTING POLICE KILLINGS ON THE LOCAL LEVEL

http://mic.com/articles/106392/congress-just-passed-a-bill-addressing-police-killings-while-no-one-was-looking

Lets just hope that some elected leader can do more with this federally mandated local police killing data than Missouri has done with over a decade of racial profiling data.  So far we are 0-1 for civil rights and data reporting.

CALL A STATE REP and tell them not to vote for Right to Work is a lie - its a ticket to be poor!

Legendary Civil Rights leader CT Vivian with Rev. Susan McCann in Kansas City

Greetings!  

On July 16,  Mayor James and the Kansas City Council proved that they are among the few elected officials in the country with the moral courage to challenge the sin of poverty wages. This decision to raise the minimum wage made by City Council is now in question and it's time we act.  We can sit by and do nothing or we can stand together as a faith community. It's our sacred duty to respond. 

With one week to go until Veto Session, we are in a close fight to maintain the veto of House Bill 722 with a "NO" vote and stand by the principle that the residents of each community understand their needs and deserve a voice!  This means local control of decision-making in Missouri. 

HERE'S WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW!

Click here to send a message to your representative and senators to support Governor Nixon's veto of this legislation.

RSVP here to make phone calls with us in Kansas City on Monday or Tuesday next week (11am or 5:30pm) to encourage others to call their Senators.  RSVP HERE. 

Thank you for acting now as a faith community. 

Best,

Theresa A. Garza, MPA

Communities Creating Opportunity

P.S. - This is our last chance to make sure we keep local control in Missouri. Please contact your legislators ASAP to voice your opposition to House Bill 722.

PS: Follow CCO on Twitter (or on Facebook) to see some of our latest updates, including new photos and images.

Your support is vital. Chip in $5 today to help fuel our efforts to move human dignity to the center of public life. 

Please take a moment to donate online:

https://secure.qgiv.com/for/comcreopp 

Want to Make Jefferson City Better Place to Live?

Want to make Jefferson City a better place to live?

CAMPO wishes to invite you to our next Advisory/Steering Committee meeting on:

Thursday, September 17, 2015

10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Police Classroom

Jefferson City Police Department, 401 Monroe St

Jefferson City, MO 65101

St. Louis-based Bicycle and Pedestrian advocates Trailnet will assist us in our goal-setting activity for the Pedestrian and Bicycle Plan. We have provided Trailnet with background information gathered from our previous meetings and open house. Trailnet will be assisting us in one session, which is why there is more time budgeted than in previous meetings, which typically run only two hours.

We really anticipate to be done prior to 3:00 p.m. and will be providing lunch, but have reserved the facility in case we need the extra time. We understand if you can't stay for the entire activity, but are welcome anyway.

The displays and comments from our June open house and other information gathered from our meetings and survey results are available on our website for you review.

We will be providing a working lunch so please RSVP to Alex Rotenberry or 573-634-6525 so that we can plan on having the appropriate amount of food.

Please make plans to join us!

Please note the change of venue.

NAACP FREEDOM FUND DINNER OCT 3, 2015 at 6 PM at Capital Plaza

Contact Nimrod Chapel, Jr., JC NAACP President Telephone  (855) 9 WORKER Email jcnaacp@gmail.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 9, 2015

Jefferson City NAACP 52^nd Freedom fund Dinner Fundraiser

Jefferson City, Missouri, September 10, 2015–

The Jefferson City, Missouri NAACP hosts the 52^nd  Annual Freedom Fund Dinner with speaker Rueben Shelton. This year’s theme is “Justice & Mercy Now.”

The dinner is Saturday, October 3, 2015 at the Capital Plaza Hotel, Jefferson City, MO.  An auction will be held before the dinner at 6 pm. The dinner starts at 7 pm. The organization is now accepting table purchases and ticket purchases. Tickets are $50.00 per person. Table purchases are a minimum of $550. 

The JC NAACP is also accepting donations for the auction. Items that have been donated and auctioned in the past include electronics, sports memorabilia, etc. Please contact Glenn Bonner at glennmbonner@gmail.com, or (573) 690-1097, for table/ticket purchases, and to make donations.  Jefferson City, MO NAACP P.O. Box 104221, Jefferson City, MO 65110-4221

“Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend.  The issues faced in Missouri over the last 14 months have made the state an example - an example of what is still being determined.  We are part of the solution and we at the NAACP encourage you to join us in ensuring that Jefferson City is on the right side of discussions about justice and equality,” said NAACP president, Atty. Nimrod Chapel, Jr. in discussing the event. “We welcome everyone to the dinner.”

The mission of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate race-based discrimination.

# # #

If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Nimrod Chapel, Jr., JC NAACP President at  (855) 9 WORKER or email at jcnaacp@gmail.com.

Free

Cole County Health Flu Clinic

The CCHD will again offer a flu clinics in Jefferson City. If you have questions about the clinics please call the CCHD at 636.2181.

Want Changes to Law Enforcement? Tell the Governor in a public meeting on 9/17 in Jefferson City or 9/24 in St. Louis

Contact:          Mike O’Connell, (573) 751-4819

                        mike.oconnell@dps.mo.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Sept. 8, 2015

Missouri POST Commission announces details on next two public meetings to gather suggestions on changes to law enforcement officer training standards

JEFFERSON CITY – The Department of Public Safety today announced details of the next two Missouri Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission public meetings in Jefferson City and the St. Louis area to gather suggestions for changes to law enforcement officer training requirements. Please note the date of the St. Louis meeting has been rescheduled from the original date announced on Aug. 26.

Jefferson City Meeting, 1:45 p.m. Sept. 17

Lincoln University

Scruggs Student Center – 2^nd Floor Ballroom

820 Chestnut Street

Jefferson City, MO 65101

St. Louis Meeting, 1 p.m. Sept. 24*

St. Louis Community College – Florissant Valley Campus

Student Center – Multipurpose Room

3400 Pershall Road

Ferguson, MO 63135

*Rescheduled from original date

The first POST Commission public meeting was held at Ozarks Technical Community College in Springfield on Sept. 1. Fifteen speakers addressed the representatives of the POST Commission and the Department of Public Safety.

The POST Commission met in Jefferson City on Aug. 21 and voted to hold the public meetings in response to Gov. Jay Nixon’s Aug. 6 directive to the commission and the Department of Public Safety to update and enhance law enforcement training standards in Missouri. The Governor’s directive included holding public meetings around the state to gather input from Missourians, including law enforcement agencies, advocacy groups and other stakeholders.

The Governor has directed the POST Commission and DPS to put forward by Dec. 1 new rules to improve access to effective and ongoing training in the key areas of tactical training, fair and impartial policing, and the health and well-being of officers. 

                                                                                                         

Additional public hearings will be held in Sikeston, Sept. 29; Kansas City, Oct. 7; and Kirksville, Oct. 14. Meeting locations and times will be released as arrangements are finalized. 

Written comments from the public can be emailed to POST@dps.mo.gov through Oct. 15.

Established by state statute, the POST Commission is responsible for the curriculum for law enforcement officer basic training and continuing education in Missouri. More information about the commission and Missouri’s Peace Officer Standards and Training Program is available here. 

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Complaints of state discrimination must be addressed.

Please send complaints of discrimination to your local NAACP unit.  

Here is what is happening after the NAACP in Washington got a bunch of complaints.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/aug/25/naacp-conducting-delaware-government-discriminatio/

What is Labor Day?

Labor Day 2015 Statement and Resources

In this year's Labor Day statement, Archbishop Thomas Wenski, chairman of the USCCB Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, focuses on creating sufficient, decent work that honors the dignity of families.

"We must not resign ourselves to a 'new normal' with an economy that does not provide stable work at a living wage for too many men and women," Archbishop Wenski said. "We are in need of a profound conversion of heart at all levels of our lives." Archbishop Wenski challenged Catholics to "recommit ourselves to our brothers and sisters around the world in the human family, and build systems and structures that nurture family formation and stability in our own homes and neighborhoods."

Archbishop Wenski noted that even though work is meant for the sake of family, "Wage stagnation has increased pressures on families, as the costs of food, housing, transportation, and education continue to pile up." He added that "the violation of human dignity is evident in exploited workers, trafficked women and children, and a broken immigration system that fails people and families desperate for decent work and a better life."

Archbishop Wenski said that, in Laudato Si', Pope Francis challenges people to see the connections between human labor, care for creation, and honoring the dignity of the "universal family, a sublime communion which fills us with a sacred, affectionate and humble respect."
The full text of the 2015 Labor Day statement is available online. English | Spanish