By SHAYA TAYEFE MOHAJER – 16 hours ago
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) —
Hundreds of people marched through the state capital on Saturday to urge prosecutors to add hate crime charges against six white people charged in the beating, torture and sexual assault of a 20-year-old black woman.
Authorities say the accused, three men and three women, held Megan Williams captive for days at a rural trailer — sexually assaulting her, beating her and forcing her to eat human and animal feces.
Police stopped traffic in downtown Charleston along the 2-mile route, as demonstrators held signs calling for the suspects to be charged with hate crimes. "Hate crimes are out of control in America," Malik Shabazz, a legal adviser to Williams and her family and a founder of Black Lawyers for Justice, told the group at a rally before the march. "Nooses are being hung and our women are being raped by white mobs. What happened to Megan Williams was a hate crime and we want this prosecuted as a hate crime."
Shabazz pointed to statements from suspect Frankie Brewster and her son, Bobby Brewster, that racial epithets were used every time Williams was stabbed.
Shabazz staged the rally despite a request by the city's black ministerial association and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People not to gather because it could harm the prosecution' s case.
Logan County Prosecutor Brian Abraham has not filed hate crime charges in the case saying the other charges already filed carried harsher penalties. A hate crime conviction carries up to 10 years in prison in West Virginia. All six face kidnapping and sexual assault charges. Kidnapping carries a possible life sentence.
Abraham, who urged Williams and her family not to talk about the case or attend the rally, has said it might be difficult to prove a hate crime charge because Williams had a "social relationship" with one of the suspects for at least several months before the alleged assaults.
Williams attended the rally wearing a T-shirt with the message "Protect the Black Woman." In a brief speech, she showed her appreciation to her supporters. The Associated Press generally does not identify suspected victims of sexual assault, but Williams and her mother agreed to release her name.
Joe Marchal said he drove three hours from Berea, Ky., with his wife and infant son to show his support for Williams. "If no one came out today, imagine how that would make Megan Williams feel," said Marchal. "We're here for her."
In addition to calling attention to hate crimes, organizers hoped the rally would help raise money for Williams' medical care and future educational expenses.
Zayid Muhammad, the national minister of culture for the New Black Panther Party, came to the rally from Newark, N.J. "As a father of a daughter and a child of African ancestry, the idea that I can sit by idly, (in) the face of one of the most violent and obscene acts committed against a black woman in my life, was too appalling," Muhammad said. "I had to come."
The Rev. Al Sharpton had been expected to participate but did not appear.
(This version CORRECTS a mispelled word in the Shabazz quote to 'mobs' instead of 'moms.')
Monday, November 12, 2007
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
A SCHOOL FOR BLACK BUSINESS OWNERS
CONTACT: Debra Langston
Black Solutions School Director
Los Angeles, CA (BlackNews.com) - Black Business Owners finally have a school that gives them the inside secrets to growing their business. They receive the support that they need to counter obstacles that are faced within the community. The Black community doesn't have the same allocated resources that their counterparts do, this dynamic school allows every entrepreneur the opportunity to build a business that will not only last, but have a phenomenal success record to go with it. These courses are convenient and they allow the student to receive a certificate of expertise upon completion. The instructors are African American professors who have real world experience and are in top positions throughout the world. This training camp is designed to allow students to enjoy practical knowledge and scientific expertise. "Black professionals and adults are usually missing the practical experience and hands on expertise after college, and some aren't given the opportunity of a traditional college, this program works for every African American who wants to become a millionaire, who wants to realize their goal of success as an African American Entrepreneur", Debra Langston explains. "This college has an age median of 30-65 years old. The population that attends this college is an adult community. Many of our students have been out in the workforce, or tried to run a successful business, and realized that they didn't have the skills to run it, maintain it, and grow their businesses like they should." Leslie Winfall shares, "I think we are finally realizing, as Black people, that we can't do everything on our own, that we do need to learn how to create businesses, and reading articles and just doing it by trial and error is no longer acceptable if we are to survive."
Black Consumers are more than likely going to hire someone that looks like them:
After completing one of the training courses, Black business owners or consultants can apply these skills in their urban community or environment. "It's a statistical fact that African American consumers feel more comfortable around African American business owners, they just don't have the trust that the business owners have all the resources that they need to provide the adequate services and products. This school gives the entrepreneurs and business owners the opportunity to present their products, services, skills, businesses with confidence that they need to win the trust of the Black consumer." Debra Langston reveals. Scott Miller chimes in, "Black people do hire Black business owners, we just need to truly know that the person has skills, this program allows our students to demonstrate that."
Graduates of the Black Solutions Training Program see a significant increase in their overall sales:
* Black Entrepreneurs have really commended us for helping them think outside the box and increase their bottom line.
This College Trains The Black Mind; we think differently and this program is conducive to our style of learning:
Always negotiate from a position of power, this training program allows our students to learn how to use power and become powerful:
* This school forces the students to obtain hands on experience, this program creates a very technical approach at the end of the course, the students can confidently state that they have mastered the course and the field that they have taken.
Attract Investors:
This course takes your Idea and helps you create the perfect business. Normally, Black Businesses, Mom and Pop Stores and Retail Outlets start without a plan. This does our community a disservice. Business Owners need a strategic plan to implement and create a successful business. This course is intended for those who have not created a business plan as well as for those who have already created a business plan but have not yet received a positive response from venture capitalists. This course can also be used for those who want to become expert Business Plan Writers.
Students will learn:
* How to write a Business Plan for themselves and other business owners.
Students can become:
* Certified Business Plan Writers and Consultants
Going From Word of Mouth To Mainstream: Create The Buzz:
This course helps you get the word out about your business, increasing your customer base by 50-70%. Black Business Owners have wonderful concepts, business ideas, but they do not strategically market their products like mainstream corporations do.
Normally, Black Business Owners do not take in consideration that beyond opening their businesses up, that they truly need to have strategic marketing plans in place. If they follow our experts' marketing advice they will see a noticeable change and transformation with their businesses.
Students will learn:
* What marketing is really about
Learning how to Lead, while being Black; Blacks were taught to cut off their innate leadership qualities, this course helps us restore our leader within:
This course helps Black people understand their power as leaders. Since slavery we were taught to be subservant. This course helps us break the psychological chains and be very powerful. This course allows community leaders to know the beginning of what it takes to be a leader of the Black community.
Students will learn:
We are now offering our successful training program online:Black Business Owners may check out our courses by going here: www.richblackgirls.com/chalkboard
Black Solutions School Director
CONTACT:
Debra Langston
Black Solutions School Director
www.richblackgirls.com/chalkboard
Los Angeles, CA (BlackNews.com) - Black Business Owners finally have a school that gives them the inside secrets to growing their business. They receive the support that they need to counter obstacles that are faced within the community. The Black community doesn't have the same allocated resources that their counterparts do, this dynamic school allows every entrepreneur the opportunity to build a business that will not only last, but have a phenomenal success record to go with it. These courses are convenient and they allow the student to receive a certificate of expertise upon completion. The instructors are African American professors who have real world experience and are in top positions throughout the world. This training camp is designed to allow students to enjoy practical knowledge and scientific expertise. "Black professionals and adults are usually missing the practical experience and hands on expertise after college, and some aren't given the opportunity of a traditional college, this program works for every African American who wants to become a millionaire, who wants to realize their goal of success as an African American Entrepreneur", Debra Langston explains. "This college has an age median of 30-65 years old. The population that attends this college is an adult community. Many of our students have been out in the workforce, or tried to run a successful business, and realized that they didn't have the skills to run it, maintain it, and grow their businesses like they should." Leslie Winfall shares, "I think we are finally realizing, as Black people, that we can't do everything on our own, that we do need to learn how to create businesses, and reading articles and just doing it by trial and error is no longer acceptable if we are to survive."
Black Consumers are more than likely going to hire someone that looks like them:
After completing one of the training courses, Black business owners or consultants can apply these skills in their urban community or environment. "It's a statistical fact that African American consumers feel more comfortable around African American business owners, they just don't have the trust that the business owners have all the resources that they need to provide the adequate services and products. This school gives the entrepreneurs and business owners the opportunity to present their products, services, skills, businesses with confidence that they need to win the trust of the Black consumer." Debra Langston reveals. Scott Miller chimes in, "Black people do hire Black business owners, we just need to truly know that the person has skills, this program allows our students to demonstrate that."
Graduates of the Black Solutions Training Program see a significant increase in their overall sales:
* Black Entrepreneurs have really commended us for helping them think outside the box and increase their bottom line.
* Black Business Owners are introduced to radical sales techniques, and are taught the science of sales that allow them to stay in business and become truly connected to the community.
* Black Business Owners learn how to turn their community and networking skills to actual profits.
This College Trains The Black Mind; we think differently and this program is conducive to our style of learning:
* Since slavery, Blacks didn't inherit power, our power was stripped, this program helps us tap into our inner power.
* Black graduates can't walk in the Fortune 500 company with the same attitude, they aren't the same after this program, the students literally walk in there ready to take over the place. This program changes the students minds totally, transforming them into leaders. They will never be the same after this training program.
Always negotiate from a position of power, this training program allows our students to learn how to use power and become powerful:
* This school forces the students to obtain hands on experience, this program creates a very technical approach at the end of the course, the students can confidently state that they have mastered the course and the field that they have taken.
* Only leaders can train future leaders. The professors that we have on board are already successful business owners, community leaders, entrepreneurs, so they give not only their knowledge but their personal advice to help future leaders come into their own, regardless of their age. The program has students who are 40, 50, 60 years old starting out and learning how to lead.
Attract Investors:
This course takes your Idea and helps you create the perfect business. Normally, Black Businesses, Mom and Pop Stores and Retail Outlets start without a plan. This does our community a disservice. Business Owners need a strategic plan to implement and create a successful business. This course is intended for those who have not created a business plan as well as for those who have already created a business plan but have not yet received a positive response from venture capitalists. This course can also be used for those who want to become expert Business Plan Writers.
Students will learn:
* How to write a Business Plan for themselves and other business owners.
* What financial experts look for when they review Business Plans.
* Business Plans will be judged and graded by experts.
* The secrets behind creating compelling and successful business plans that are sure to attract financial backers are revealed step-by-step in this invaluable class.
* Clear explanations of the guidelines that banks, venture capital firms, and the Small Business Administration (SBA) use to grant loans and other financial support to businesses, this class equips potential business owners with a wealth of knowledge on lending procedures.
* Experts provide useful ideas and strategies for developing, operating, marketing, and building a profitable business are included as are copious examples and resources for further study.
* At the end of the course students will be able to demonstrate how to make business plans uniquely suited to a particular endeavor—such as home-based businesses, sole proprietorships, and franchise operations—this class ensures that anyone can embark on a new business venture with confidence.
Students can become:
* Certified Business Plan Writers and Consultants
Going From Word of Mouth To Mainstream: Create The Buzz:
This course helps you get the word out about your business, increasing your customer base by 50-70%. Black Business Owners have wonderful concepts, business ideas, but they do not strategically market their products like mainstream corporations do.
Normally, Black Business Owners do not take in consideration that beyond opening their businesses up, that they truly need to have strategic marketing plans in place. If they follow our experts' marketing advice they will see a noticeable change and transformation with their businesses.
Students will learn:
* What marketing is really about
* Develop your customers imagination
* Find out about customer information
* Targeting your niche
* Watch your back: watch your competition
* Product Strategies
* How to price your products
* The Art of Branding
* Use Your Positioning Strategy to Craft your Ad Message
* Be a Publicity Hound
* The Skills that you need to sell
* Rainmaking* Building Your Marketing Plan
* Viral Marketing
* How to Get your products in the news and on television
* When and Where to Advertise
* How to Advertise in Print
* Direct Mail: A Controlled first step toward friends you haven't met
* Students will learn how to master marketing and the many strategic ways to create a phenomenal buzz.
Learning how to Lead, while being Black; Blacks were taught to cut off their innate leadership qualities, this course helps us restore our leader within:
This course helps Black people understand their power as leaders. Since slavery we were taught to be subservant. This course helps us break the psychological chains and be very powerful. This course allows community leaders to know the beginning of what it takes to be a leader of the Black community.
Students will learn:
* Learn how to influence - the most important aspect to leadership.
* Learn how to create appropriate priorities.
* Learn how leaders problem solve.
* Learn how to listen to your vision.
* Learn how to be self-disciplined.
* Learn how to create a personal brand.
* Learn on the job training real world practical training for leadership.
* Learn how to deal with different personality types.
* Learn how to develop the leader within.
We are now offering our successful training program online:Black Business Owners may check out our courses by going here: www.richblackgirls.com/chalkboard
-END-
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