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Showing posts from June, 2013

Press Release: Family members, community to hold memorial to remember Daniel Ficker and to raise money for his 2 surviving children on Sunday, June 30 from 1 pm-5 pm at Coe Lake behind Berea Commons in Berea, Ohio

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Daniel Ficker By Kathy Wray Coleman, editor-in-chief,  Cleveland Urban News.Com and The Kathy Wray Coleman Online News Blog.Com, Ohio's No 1 and No 2 online Black newspapers  ( www.clevelandurbannews.com ).  Reach Cleveland Urban News.Com by email at editor@clevelandurbannews.com and by phone at 216-659-0473 CLEVELAND, Ohio- The family and friends of slain 27-year-old Daniel Ficker, who left behind two young children and a fiance, will host a fundraiser for his children and a memorial to remember him as the second anniversary of his July 4, 2011 death by Cleveland police that occurred outside of his home in Parma, Oh. nears. Parma is a middle-class suburb of Cuyahoga County that is some 15 miles south of Cleveland.  The event will be held on Sunday, June 30, 2013 at Coe Lake behind Berea Commons from 1:00 pm-5:00 pm in Berea, Ohio, a suburb some 20 miles south of Cleveland.  Tickets for the fundraiser for Ficker's two small children are $10 and the Breakfast Club 

U.S. Supreme Court upholds same-sex marriage in two cases, striking down the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in one case and upholding same-sex marriage in California in the other case, gay rights activists, President Obama , Senator Sherrod Brown, Congresswomen Fudge, Beatty, Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald applaud landmark decisions,.... decisions come on heels of support of gay marriage by Obama, Cleveland NAACP, 5-4 split decisions in high profile U.S. Supreme Court cases are becoming routine

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By Kathy Wray Coleman, editor-in-chief,  Cleveland Urban News.Com and The Kathy Wray Coleman Online News Blog.Com, Ohio's No 1 and No 2 online Black newspapers  ( www.clevelandurbannews.com ).  Reach Cleveland Urban News.Com by email at editor@clevelandurbannews.com and by phone at 216-659-0473 WASHINGTON, D.C-The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday issued two celebrated rulings to bolster the gay rights movement, historical decisions that come on the heels last year of President Obama's announcement of his support of gay marriage, and the echoing of that posture by the NAACP, the nations' oldest and most respected Civil Rights organization. One case gives federal benefits to spouses of same-sex marriage and the other in essence struck down Proposition 8   through the court's refusal to hear the appeal of a lower court ruling that invalidated it.  Adopted by California voters in 2008 that outlawed gay marriage, the defeat of Proposition 8 became a baby of the gay rig

Obama, Rep. Fudge, Congressional Black Caucus members say U.S. Supreme Court decision to weaken Voting Rights Act hurts Blacks, poor people, is egregious, ..Ohio state Rep. Barnes Jr, Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald comment against it too,.... a state lawmaker calls Justice Clarence Thomas an "Uncle Tom" around 5-4 ruling that strikes down provisional requirement under the Voting Rights Act for 15 states, including Ohio, to get federal approval to change state voting laws,... Fudge targets Republican Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted as reason for needing the provision,.... Ohio Gov. John Kasich is quiet on controversial issue

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Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge of Ohio (D-11), a Warrensville Hts.  Democrat  who also chairs the  Congressional  Black Caucus, speaks during a press conference with CBC members following the U.S. Supreme Court decision handed down on Tuesday  that   weakens  the Voting Rights Act, a federal law  enacted  in the 1960s to address   egregious  racial discrimination in voting. Pictured  behind  Fudge is seasoned Rep. John Conyers of Michigan. By Kathy Wray Coleman, editor-in-chief,  Cleveland Urban News.Com and The Kathy Wray Coleman Online News Blog.Com, Ohio's No 1 and No 2 online Black newspapers  ( www.clevelandurbannews.com ).  Reach Cleveland Urban News.Com by email at editor@clevelandurbannews.com and by phone at 216-659-0473 President Barack Obama WASHINGTON, D.C.-The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday struck down a key provision of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, a 5-4 ruling that President Obama and congressional Black Democrats, including U.S. Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-11

Ohio State Senator Shirley Smith is first Black, first female to formally announce run in 2014 for Cuyahoga County Executive, has support from state Rep. Patmon, Cleveland, East Cleveland City Council members, other Black leaders... county council president C. Ellen Connally likely not running,....Smith faces to date a Democratic primary against Democrats state Rep. Armond Budish and former county sheriff Bob Reid, whom county executive Ed FitzGerald fired earlier this year, ....Congresswoman Fudge, Mayor Jackson quiet on whom they will endorse for county executive

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Ohio State Sen. Shirley Smith (D-21), a Cleveland Democrat and the first Black and first female to formally  announce  that she will run for Cuyahoga County Executive next year. To date Smith faces a 2014 Democratic primary against state Rep. Armond Budish (D-9), and former county sheriff Bob Reid, whom county executive Ed FitzGerald  fired  earlier this year. From The Metro Desk Of Cleveland Urban News.Com and The Kathy Wray Coleman Online News Blog.Com, Ohio's No 1 and No 2 online Black newspapers  ( www.clevelandurbannews.com )  Reach Cleveland Urban News.Com by email at editor@clevelandurbannews.com and by phone at 216-659-0473 CLEVELAND, Ohio – Ohio state Sen. Shirley Smith (D-21), a Cleveland Democrat who this month formally announced her candidacy for Cuyahoga County Executive, a seat held now by 2014 Democratic gubernatorial candidate Ed FitzGerald, would be the first Black and first female to hold the post if she wins the 2014 Democratic primary and goes on to

Cleveland Mayoral Candidate Ken Lanci kicks off campaign with support from some community activists, Lanci and Community Activist Art McKoy will distribute food, other goods to Imperial Ave. residents in Cleveland, who live on the street were serial killer Anthony Sowell murdered 11 Black women at his home, at 5 pm on Tuesday, June 25

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Cleveland Mayoral Candidate Ken Lanci From The Metro Desk Of Cleveland Urban News.Com and The Kathy Wray Coleman Online News Blog.Com, Ohio's No 1 and No 2 online Black newspapers  ( www.clevelandurbannews.com ).  Reach Cleveland Urban News.Com by email at editor@clevelandurbannews.com and by phone at 216-659-0473 CLEVELAND, Ohio-Democratic Cleveland Mayoral Candidate Ken Lanci kicked off his campaign for mayor in hopes of unseating popular two term Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson before a crowd of some 150 supporters at the Embassy Suites in Independence on Tuesday evening. (Editor's Note: Lanci will distribute food and other goods to residents on Imperial Ave in Cleveland with Community Activist Art McKoy and others at 5 pm on Tuesday, June 25. Imperial Ave. is infamous internationally and across the country where 11 Black women were found murdered on the street on the city's largely Black east side in the home of since convicted serial killer Anthony Sowell, who sit

Ken Lanci files petitions with county board of elections to run for mayor of Cleveland, will hold appreciation dinner this evening for supporters at Embassy Suites in Independence

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Cleveland Mayoral Candidate Ken Lanci From The Metro Desk Of Cleveland Urban News.Com and The Kathy Wray Coleman Online News Blog.Com, Ohio's No 1 and No 2 online Black newspapers  ( www.clevelandurbannews.com )  Reach Cleveland Urban News.Com by email at editor@clevelandurbannews.com and by phone at 216-659-0473 CLEVELAND, Ohio- Democratic Cleveland Mayoral Candidate Ken Lanci will host an appreciation dinner at 5 pm this evening at Embassy Suites in Independence on Rockside Woods Blvd. for those community activists and others that support his candidacy and that helped him collect petition signatures to get on the ballot. For more information contact the Lanci for Cleveland Mayor Campaign   east side coordinator at 216-501-7368. "We filed petitions last week, the campaign is gaining momentum, and the event this evening is to show appreciation for campaign supporters, including people that helped collect petition signatures" said Vernon Bryant, Lanci's east si

Congresswoman Fudge, her staff to reschedule June 17 meeting with Imperial Women, activists, family members of deadly shooting victims by Cleveland police and family members of loved ones murdered and raped in Cleveland

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Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge (D-11) From The Metro Desk Of Cleveland Urban News.Com and The Kathy Wray Coleman Online News Blog.Com, Ohio's No 1 and No 2 online Black newspapers  ( www.clevelandurbannews.com )  Reach Cleveland Urban News.Com by email at editor@clevelandurbannews.com and by phone at 216-659-0473 CLEVELAND, Ohio-The Imperial Women, other community activists groups, Black elected officials and family members of victims of deadly force by Cleveland police and whose love ones have been raped and murdered this year in Cleveland will not meet with Ohio 11th Congressional District  Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge, her district executive director John Hairston, and district office affiliate Linda Matthews on Monday, June 17 as planned and the meeting will be rescheduled. According to her office staff, the congresswoman had a death in the family and had to cancel. She is in Cleveland today to bury a first cousin, who was like a brother to her, sources say.   Topics

Cleveland Councilman Zack Reed gives pepper spray to women constituents in his east side ward, compliments of Walmart, as Black women found raped, murdered on city's east side, and Ariel Castro is arraigned on 329 counts including charges of kidnapping and rape of Berry, DeJesus and Knight at his home on Cleveland's west side

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Cleveland Ward 2 Councilman Zack Reed, who has been speaking out about violence against women in recent months shortly before the rescue last month from capture of Gina DeJesus, Amanda Berry, and Michelle Knight, and following the unrelated rapes and murders of Black women in his east side ward in March of this year.  Earlier this week Reed announced pepper spray, compliments of Walmart, for his women constituents, an act applauded by women's groups such as the Imperial Women, who also call for more resources for city, state and federal authorities to help eradicate violence against women.  From The Metro Desk Of Cleveland Urban News.Com and The Kathy Wray Coleman Online News Blog.Com, Ohio's No 1 and No 2 online Black newspapers  ( www.clevelandurbannews.com )  Reach Cleveland Urban News.Com by email at editor@clevelandurbannews.com and by phone at 216-659-0473 CLEVELAND, Ohio- As Ariel Castro was arraigned this week in the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas on a n

Congresswoman Fudge to receive President's Award at Cleveland NAACP Freedom Fund Dinner tonight, Arnold Pinkney, Shayla King and Delon White to get awards too, keynote speaker is Dr. William Pickard, Cleveland NAACP President The Rev. Hilton Smith says local chapter is moving in new direction

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Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge (D-11) By Kathy Wray Coleman, editor-in-chief,  Cleveland Urban News.Com and The Kathy Wray Coleman Online News Blog.Com, Ohio's No 1 and No 2 online Black newspapers  ( www.clevelandurbannews.com )  Reach Cleveland Urban News.Com by email at editor@clevelandurbannews.com and by phone at 216-659-0473 CLEVELAND, Ohio- Ohio 11th Congressional District Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge, a Warrensville Hts. Democrat who also chairs the Congressional Black Caucus, will receive the President's Award from the Cleveland Chapter NAACP at its 54th Annual Freedom Fund Dinner on Friday, June 14 at the Renaissance Hotel in downtown Cleveland. (For tickets call 216-231-6260) Other award recipients are political guru Arnold Pinkney, Shayla King, and Delon White. The theme for the event is "Turning The Pages of History," and the keynote speaker is Dr. William Pickard, an entrepreneur and former executive director of the local branch. 

Mayor Frank Jackson fires, demotes Cleveland police supervisors over deadly 137 bullets police shooting of unarmed Blacks Malissa Williams and Tim Russell,.... activists at war with Councilmen Johnson and Conwell over deadly shooting, traffic cameras that target Black community, ....FEDS, U.S. District Attorney Steve Dettlelbach meet with Black community at Olivet church on shooting, ....activists say Councilman Johnson has fogotten that they supported him when he got in trouble as a state senator

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Malissa Williams and Timothy Russell By Kathy Wray Coleman, editor-in-chief,  Cleveland Urban News.Com and The Kathy Wray Coleman Online News Blog.Com, Ohio's No 1 and No 2 online Black newspapers  ( www.clevelandurbannews.com )  Reach Cleveland Urban News.Com by email at editor@clevelandurbannews.com and by phone at 216-659-0473 Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson CLEVELAND, Ohio- Racial unrest continues to mount in Cleveland's Black community with Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson firing a police sergeant, demoting two other supervisors, and suspending a handful of other mid-level police managers on Monday following the gangsta-style deadly 137 bullets shooting late last year of unarmed Blacks Malissa Williams and Timothy Russell by a group of  13 Cleveland police officers, 12 White and one Hispanic.  And some Cleveland City Council members, mainly Ward 9 Councilman Kevin Conwell and Ward 8 Councilman Jeff Johnson, both outspoken and Black, are in an all out war w

Call and Post Associate Publisher and Editor Connie Harper receives business trailblazer award from Christian Business League

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Connie Harper By Call and Post reporters CLEVELAND, Ohio –  Nationally recognized associate publisher and editor of the Cleveland based Call & Post Newspaper, Constance D. Harper, has received the   Business Trailblazer Tribute, which was recently  presented by the Christian Business League at the “Faith and Finance” breakfast  at the Greenmont Party Center in greater Cleveland.  The  Business Trailblazer Tribute  recognizes individuals who are senior in their career for their outstanding and unique business contributions.   Harper is a graduate of Central State University and began her professional career as an elementary school teacher in the Cleveland Public School District, now the Cleveland Municipal School District Later she became the women’s editor and city editor for the Call & Post. She was once selected as one of two journalists to complete a fellowship in urban studies at the University of Chicago. Additional career highlights took her to New York Ci

Fox 8 News Reporter Kevin Freeman covers vigil by community activists and family of Ashley Leszynski, a third woman raped and murdered on Cleveland's east side, click here to watch the video at Fox8.Com, Ashley's funeral is today at 6 pm at the Corrigan-Deighton Funeral Home in Euclid, Ohio, 21900 Euclid Ave.

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Fox 8 News Reporter Kevin Freeman CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO WATCH THE VIDEO COVERAGE AT FOX 8.COM (IMPERIAL WOMEN ACTIVISTS ARE IN THE VIDEO AND CALL FOR MORE RESOURCES FROM CITY AND COUNTY OFFICIALS AND OTHER AUTHORITIES OF CLEVELAND AND CUYAHOGA COUNTY TO FIND THE KILLERS OF RAPED AND  MURDERED  WOMEN ACROSS RACIAL LINES, AND TO PROTECT WOMEN FROM ABDUCTION, RAPE AND MURDER. ASHLEY LYSZINZKI (PICTURED BELOW)  WAS RAPED AND MURDERED LAST WEEK ON CLEVELAND'S MAJORITY BLACK EAST SIDE, THE THIRD SUCH VICTIM IN THE LAST THREE MONTHS FOUND IN THE SAME AREA AT EAST 93RD ST. AND ANDERSON AVE. ASHLEY WAS 22-YEARS-OLD. HER FUNERAL IS TODAY AT 6 PM AT CORRIGAN-DEIGHTON FUNERAL HOME IN EUCLID OHIO, 21900 EUCLID AVE.). Vigil Held for Young Mother Found Dead fox8.com CLEVELAND -- Relatives are demanding justice for a mother of two, whose body was found in some brush last week on Cleveland’s eastside. Police are still trying to find the young woman’s killer, mea...