St. LouiS AmericAnCOMPLIMENTARY

CAC AuditedJANUARY 15 – 21, 2015

stlamerican.comVol. 85 No. 41

The

MLK Special Section

Section D

A calendar and previews of events for the national holiday, plus historic speeches

By Bridjes O’Neil Of The St. Louis American

Members of the Missouri Legislative Black Caucus met with activists from the Organization for Black Struggle on Friday, January 9 at Greater St. Marks Family Church in Ferguson. They

discussed legislative strategy for the upcoming session and ways to incorporate the organization’s Quality Policing Initiative into legislation at the state, county and local levels.

Organization for Black Struggle (OBS) organizer Kayla Reed

spoke of a shift in the Ferguson protest movement – from identifying problems to finding solutions.

“Protesting is not a solution,” she said. “It’s a tactic to force a solution.”

OBS members hand-delivered the Quality Policing Initiative policy proposal to legislators in Jefferson City on Wednesday, January 7, along with an invite to attend Friday’s meeting. They had also disrupted the opening ceremony in the Senate chamber by chanting and dropping

See KEYNOTE, A6

A diverse group of 20 accomplished African-American professionals under age 40 has been selected as the 2015 class of Salute to Young Leader Award recipients.

Chosen by their peers, all of the awardees will be profiled in the February 19 edition of The St. Louis

American and will be honored at the St. Louis American Foundation’s fifth annual Salute to Young Leaders

Networking Awards Reception on Thursday, February 19 at the Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis. Wells Fargo Advisors is supporting the 2015 Young Leaders event as the presenting sponsor.

This year’s impressive class of Young

Young Leaders chosen

By Kenya VaughnOf The St. Louis American

“Many of us come to this event every year – every single year – but this year feels different, and we all know why,” state Rep. Michael Butler said as he addressed the crowd at the 29th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Statewide Celebration Kickoff program held on Saturday, January 10 at Harris-

Connecting Ferguson to Birmingham

Photo by Lawrence Bryant

See TRAINING, A7

By Rebecca RivasOf The St. Louis American

Darryl George, a 33-year-old resident of Jennings, said he knows how to “get by” and support his two daughters by working temporary labor jobs. But he wants a full-time, stable position so he can save for his

daughters’ futures and be a role model for his five-year-old nephew, who doesn’t have a father figure in his life.

“I have a lot of friends my age who didn’t make it to my age,” he said. “They either passed away, are in jail or let drugs get the best of them. I’ve learned a lot from those mistakes and have made my own. I’m trying to

Urban League launches job training programSave Our Sons initiative in North County inspired by Ferguson protests

See OBS, A7

A rally in support of law enforcement officers held at the Ferguson Police Department on Sunday, January 11 also drew protestors who have been calling attention to fatal police shootings of unarmed African Americans since the police shooting of Michael Brown Jr. in Ferguson on August 9.

be a positive role model.”

On Monday, January 12, George went to his first class in the Save Our Sons program, a job-training initiative created by the

Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis in response to the Ferguson unrest. The classes

Hrabowski gives keynote at MLK kick-off at Harris-Stowe

OBS meets with MO Black CaucusFerguson protestors move toward legislative solutions

See LEADERS, A6

Freeman Hrabowski III, president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, provided the keynote speech on Saturday, January 10 at Harris-Stowe State University.

To be honored at Feb. 19 networking reception

n “The unrest in Ferguson is deeply rooted within the economic situation.”

– Jaime Dennis

Protestors spoil pro-police rally

Burroughs grad leads

Buckeyes to glory

Page B3

From COCA to

AIley to COCA

SPORTS LIVING IT

Antonio Douthit-Boyd leaves world stage to lead dance program in STL

Page B1

Ezekiel Elliott rushed for 246 yards on 36 carries and scored four touchdowns in the Buckeyes’ 42-20 rout of Oregon.

Benjamin Ola. Akande competes against Mallinckrodt CEO Mark Trudeau and St. Louis City Treasurer Tishaura Jones on Jan. 24.

Webster business dean

dances for charity

Page B1

BUSINESS

n “Protesting is not a solution. It’s a tactic to force a solution.”

– Kayla Reed

Stowe State University.Many Ferguson protestors would

argue that what they have experienced is comparable to the turbulent times Dr. King and others weathered during the Civil Rights Movement. Starting on August 9, they have taken to the streets to protest the death of unarmed teenager Michael Brown Jr. and a string

n Chosen by their peers, all of the awardees will be profiled in the February 19 edition of The St. Louis American.

Photo by Wiley Price