Mark_Allen's Blog

Contact: Mark S. Allen @ 773-392-0165

FUNERAL SERVICES FOR MORGAN D. CARTER II                                         
                                                      
              
                                                       

            "It is hard to lose such a good friend..I feel sadness for you. But Chicago has lost a wonderful and dedicated servant of the people." Warner Saunders, NBC 5 Chicago    

Funeral services for Morgan D. Carter II,  61, best known as “The World’s Conversation Starter,” will be held Saturday, November 22, 2008 at the House of Prayer Church, 3535 W. Roosevelt Rd.

 The wake for Carter will be held Saturday, November 22, 2008 at the House of Prayer Church, 3535 W. Roosevelt Road with the viewing at 10:00 AM and funeral services following at 11:00 AM. Burial will be held at the Mount Hope Cemetery, 11500 So. Fairfield Ave. , Chicago , IL.  

Morgan Carter's long running TV Talk Shows on Chicago Cable Access TV, "Omnibus Roundtable" and "The Morgan Memo" will resume taping on Friday and Morgan's wife Wanda and the shows Executive Producer has selected Mark Allen to serve as Primary Host.

Morgan D. Carter "The World's Conversation Starter" Died Sunday, November 16th. He was released Friday from Ingall's Hospital after being treated for chest pains.  

"The Worlds Conversation Starter" Morgan D. Carter II Motivational Speaker Radio/TV/Internet Host, Producer, Voiceover Professional and Spokesperson. Morgan Carter is known as The Worlds Conversation Starter because he is a black talk radio & TV host having had shows on WVON-AM, WGCI-FM, V103-FM, WSSD-FM, WBEE-AM. WGCR Web Satellite Radio, WCFJ 1470AM and WBGX 1570AM.   During his tenure, Morgan also hosted many other radio and cable TV programs including the Chicago Media Connection on channel 19 and special features. He helped to assemble the first all black male audience for the Phil Donahue Show in the late 70's. Mr. Carter was a part of a television marketing team which placed positive images of African Americans, Hispanics, Natives, and Asian Americans throughout the nation on TV and cable networks serving over 20 million households. Morgan Carter has received a number of honors and citations including a nomination in Who's & Who in America.  

He's frequently sought after as a Motivational Speaker, Professional and Personal Development Facilitator also and a Humorous Master of Ceremonies. The Worlds Conversation Starter served as a Media Counsel for the Chicago Local Organizing Committee of the Million Man March and since he performed in that capacity beginning in September of 1995, he has handled over 550 inquiries, interviews and debates regarding the October 16, 1995 Million Man March. Morgan Carter has provided Media, Public, Political and Government relations counsel and assistance to many entrepreneurs, news personalities, entertainment, professional athletes, local, national, international, politicians, and statesmen through a variety of network services and venues including channel Straight Talk Program.  

The Morgan Memos hosts a series of forums and functions which will increase client visibility amongst media, business outlets, representatives, politicians, religious leaders, community advocates, social service agencies as well as consumers. Carter is a rare breed who's seen, heard and read about on local cable TV, regular TV, radio, newspapers as well as the Internet. Morgan developed The Morgan Memos on the World Wide Web to provide media advisories and briefings to more than 40 media outlets and to many key VIP's and business executives. The Worlds Conversation Starter ensures that important news, views, and trends concerning African Americans are disseminated across the nation and around the world.  Morgan Carter was married to Wanda Armstrong Carter, who produced all of Morgan's TV programs. *******************************************************

 

Friends, my head still hurts just trying to imagine what happened to Morgan after we had about an hour long telephone conversation, hanging up about 6:00 PM on early Saturday evening, and last thing I said to him was "lets talk later, get you some rest."  

Most of you know that Morgan and I have been personal friends for over 20 years. We met on the radio when Morgan was doing the night time talk show on WVON and I was traveling with Rev. Jesse Jackson's '88 Presidential Campaign and I was calling in from the road giving the WVON listeners reports on the campaign that mainstream media was not covering.   We finally met in person and became friends. I helped him produce his various shows on WVON, and later he had me as his regular guest and co host when he was doing the 4:00 AM shift.

Many times we would spend the night after finishing the nighttime show at midnight and waking up to do the 4:00 AM shift. Thanks to the old WVON engineer named "Uncle Ned" Jouse who'd wake us up. I later ended up with my own Wednesday Night slot on WVON and of course Morgan was right there helping me produce my show.   Over 20 years later, we worked closely on too many projects to mention, but I guess the most notable would be helping him start his ACES Business network, which is still going after 14 years, and his Omnibus Roundtable and Morgan Memo TV shows on Cable Access TV. 

 I went from being a periodic guest, to regular Urban Analyst and a co-host. And that was the last of our telephone conversation Saturday.   Because of his schedule and health concerns, his wife Wanda and other members of the crew asked me to help take on more responsibilities to help ease Morgan's schedule. That was a hell of a task for he would let up, even when he was being hospitalized, he would call and ask for regular updates on current issues, and even scheduled me guests to interview from his hospital bed.  

After an hour long telephone conversation catching up and planning, Morgan was still wanting to talk more. To ease his travel schedule we agreed to do more tapings from his new house to keep him from having to go back and forth to the TV Studio. He was just beginning to tell how was enjoying being stretched out on the bed and listening to workers installing a new heating system in the house. That's when I said that we'd done enough talking for the day. He said you're right, and I said "get you some rest."

He sounded so well. That was 6:00 PM Saturday.   So getting the news of his death on Sunday, less than 24 hours after we talked on Saturday is truly hard to absorb. So thank you all for allowing me to exhale with you all for a bit on my friend I met at WVON, Morgan Carter "The World's Conversation Starter." The challenge for all of us now is how to help his wife Wanda get through the difficult challenges that await her and to help see her through.   I needed to get this out, so thanks again for your attention.   Mark S. Allen    

Morgan D. Carter "The World's Conversation Starter" Died Sunday, November 16th. He was released Friday from Ingall's Hospital after being treated for chest pains.  

"The Worlds Conversation Starter" Morgan D. Carter II Motivational Speaker Radio/TV/Internet Host, Producer, Voiceover Professional and Spokesperson. Morgan Carter is known as The Worlds Conversation Starter because he is a black talk radio & TV host having had shows on WVON-AM, WGCI-FM, V103-FM, WSSD-FM, WBEE-AM. WGCR Web Satellite Radio, WCFJ 1470AM and WBGX 1570AM.   During his tenure, Morgan also hosted many other radio and cable TV programs including the Chicago Media Connection on channel 19 and special features. He helped to assemble the first all black male audience for the Phil Donahue Show in the late 70's. Mr. Carter was a part of a television marketing team which placed positive images of African Americans, Hispanics, Natives, and Asian Americans throughout the nation on TV and cable networks serving over 20 million households. Morgan Carter has received a number of honors and citations including a nomination in Who's & Who in America.  

He's frequently sought after as a Motivational Speaker, Professional and Personal Development Facilitator also and a Humorous Master of Ceremonies. The Worlds Conversation Starter served as a Media Counsel for the Chicago Local Organizing Committee of the Million Man March and since he performed in that capacity beginning in September of 1995, he has handled over 550 inquiries, interviews and debates regarding the October 16, 1995 Million Man March. Morgan Carter has provided Media, Public, Political and Government relations counsel and assistance to many entrepreneurs, news personalities, entertainment, professional athletes, local, national, international, politicians, and statesmen through a variety of network services and venues including channel Straight Talk Program.  

The Morgan Memos hosts a series of forums and functions which will increase client visibility amongst media, business outlets, representatives, politicians, religious leaders, community advocates, social service agencies as well as consumers. Carter is a rare breed who's seen, heard and read about on local cable TV, regular TV, radio, newspapers as well as the Internet. Morgan developed The Morgan Memos on the World Wide Web to provide media advisories and briefings to more than 40 media outlets and to many key VIP's and business executives. The Worlds Conversation Starter ensures that important news, views, and trends concerning African Americans are disseminated across the nation and around the world.  Morgan Carter was married to Wanda Armstrong Carter, who produced all of Morgan's TV programs. *******************************************************

 

Friends, my head still hurts just trying to imagine what happened to Morgan after we had about an hour long telephone conversation, hanging up about 6:00 PM on early Saturday evening, and last thing I said to him was "lets talk later, get you some rest."  

Most of you know that Morgan and I have been personal friends for over 20 years. We met on the radio when Morgan was doing the night time talk show on WVON and I was traveling with Rev. Jesse Jackson's '88 Presidential Campaign and I was calling in from the road giving the WVON listeners reports on the campaign that mainstream media was not covering.   We finally met in person and became friends. I helped him produce his various shows on WVON, and later he had me as his regular guest and co host when he was doing the 4:00 AM shift.

Many times we would spend the night after finishing the nighttime show at midnight and waking up to do the 4:00 AM shift. Thanks to the old WVON engineer named "Uncle Ned" Jouse who'd wake us up. I later ended up with my own Wednesday Night slot on WVON and of course Morgan was right there helping me produce my show.   Over 20 years later, we worked closely on too many projects to mention, but I guess the most notable would be helping him start his ACES Business network, which is still going after 14 years, and his Omnibus Roundtable and Morgan Memo TV shows on Cable Access TV. 

 I went from being a periodic guest, to regular Urban Analyst and a co-host. And that was the last of our telephone conversation Saturday.   Because of his schedule and health concerns, his wife Wanda and other members of the crew asked me to help take on more responsibilities to help ease Morgan's schedule. That was a hell of a task for he would let up, even when he was being hospitalized, he would call and ask for regular updates on current issues, and even scheduled me guests to interview from his hospital bed.  

After an hour long telephone conversation catching up and planning, Morgan was still wanting to talk more. To ease his travel schedule we agreed to do more tapings from his new house to keep him from having to go back and forth to the TV Studio. He was just beginning to tell how was enjoying being stretched out on the bed and listening to workers installing a new heating system in the house. That's when I said that we'd done enough talking for the day. He said you're right, and I said "get you some rest."

He sounded so well. That was 6:00 PM Saturday.   So getting the news of his death on Sunday, less than 24 hours after we talked on Saturday is truly hard to absorb. So thank you all for allowing me to exhale with you all for a bit on my friend I met at WVON, Morgan Carter "The World's Conversation Starter." The challenge for all of us now is how to help his wife Wanda get through the difficult challenges that await her and to help see her through.   I needed to get this out, so thanks again for your attention.   Mark S. Allen    

"I value your opinions on matters which impact the public good." Warner Saunders, NBC5    

Today's headlines ---- 3 shot in separate Hamilton Park shootings   My Response Is The Same  

 Chicago is proud to be the murder capital of the world.

Why have we just adjusted to death versus bringing back the proven programs that successfully  reduced homicides in every area where shootings and homicides are continually rising?  

Chicago is proud to be the murder capital of the world. The Mayor, Police Chief, political, religious, media, business, civic, and ALL of our collective leadership played their roles in ensuring that Chicago become the murder capital of the world. And we the people have adjusted to crime and death to the point that almost no one responds to the calls for "A State Of Emergency."  

There was a time when former Police Chiefs Phil Cline and Dana Starks would personally return various activists calls and insist that you keep them informed of all the crime prevention and intervention activities that they could personally participate in. Today's new Police Chief picks and chooses which groups he will been in public with and does not publicly inform residents that these community based crime intervention and prevention groups are a real source to help decrease crime. 

Former police chiefs Cline and Starks publicly acknowledged the work of groups like CeaseFire as the reasons why crime was decreasing during their terms. Today's police chief Weiss and our collective leadership refuses to acknowledge that the increase in inner-city murders are a direct result of groups like CeaseFire no longer having their full time crime intervention and prevention workers in the very areas where the murders are happening.   There was a time when all major media made a major issue out of the fact that groups like CeaseFire had their funding cut and could no longer provide their proven ability to reduce murders and other acts of senseless violence in Chicago's Urban communities.

The major media and our collective leadership has watched groups like CeaseFire become relegated to doing marches and prayer vigils AFTER people are hurt and killed versus being able to prevent and intervene in these potential acts of violence and murders.   There was a time when our leaders and activists would march to advocate for funding for grassroots groups like CeaseFire's proven prevention and intervention, now some of them only march AFTER a child is shot and killed. Some of the same sources that raise money for reward funds AFTER people are killed did not respond to fundraising calls for the prevention and intervention work.

Today, hundreds are in the Englewood community in response to the triple homicide of Jennifer Hudson's family, BUT where were these same people when activists were lobbying for support to create a new CeaseFire operation in the same Englewood community? How have we adjusted to mobilize large numbers AFTER people are killed but not to support efforts to prevent violence and murders.?   The major media used to provide coverage of the events that promoted the successes of groups like CeaseFires proven crime prevention efforts.

Today, the major media, The Mayor's Office, The Police Chief's media contacts, and leaders from across the city gets regular e-mail press releases that show that in every area where Black youth are killed are the exact same areas where there used to be full time CeaseFire programs. Yet, CeaseFire's funding that was approved months ago is STILL going through bureaucratic challenges while Black youth are continuing to die each week in the CeaseFire areas waiting to be covered again.

Our leaders responded to resolving the financial crisis faster than funding the proven programs that could prevent Chicago from becoming the murder capital of the world. Why, because we want to be the murder capital of the world.   There was a time when our collective leadership agreed that we must address the mindset of the people who hurt and kill, whether it was with a gun, knife, bat, golf club, or their fists, but now that has shifted to legislative advocacy while the state of consciousness now goes unaddressed.

It is for that reason that crime and homicides CONTINUE  to rise no matter how many marches, legislative advocacy, new police deployment, increased SWAT power etc. Recently there was a killing at the same area where the Mayor, Police Chief had just marched!   The major media recently provided coverage of a scientific study that clearly showed the hundreds of successful cases of crime intervention and prevention from CeaseFire, but provide no coverage of the many releases that followed regarding their continuing funding problems.

Why would the media report how good CeaseFire was, but not follow it up with stories that could generate support for them getting their programs restored in the community? Because it's better news to report about all the dynamics of increased crime and death.!   When the media and our collective leadership absolutely knows how many lives were saved when CeaseFire was fully funded versus how high crime and homicides went up when they weren't, and won't actively support their immediate restoral, simply means that we all enjoy watching the crime and homicides increase.

When the Police Chief's answer to increased homicides is SWAT Fire versus CeaseFire, that because SWAT fire creates more shootings and death and CeaseFire means life. The Police Chief chose SWAT fire versus CeaseFire.!   So as I continue my one man community activist crusade to lobby officials for the funding to finally reach Chicago CeaseFire offices that includes funding for a new Englewood office, here's to the media and our collective leadership whose actions continue to make it possible for Chicago to maintain it's title of Murder Capital of The World.!

And here's to CeaseFire and others who will certainly be marching again soon for the death of another Chicago youth killed in an area where they used to have full time prevention and intervention workers.   We have so adjusted to death that there is no State of Emergency call regarding Chicago being The Murder Capital of the World. Too bad for our inner city youth or "Urban Street" who are not as important of saving then the people on "Wall Street."  Chicago is Murder Capital Of The World because our collective leadership earned it and approved it's message. ******************************************************

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Mark S. Allen,  Associate Editor The South Street Journal Newspaper *Veteran Political activist with over 30 "straight years in public service on local, state and national levels, including 7 years as a national staff member to the Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr *Former talk show host on the legendary Black/News Talk Station WVON *Who's Who Among African Americans *Who's Who In Black Chicago 773-392-0165    

  The New Black Independent Media Coalition Cofounders, Morgan Carter, Omnibus TV, Chicago Communicater News @773-443-7510 Mark S. Allen, Associate Editor, The South Street Journal Newspaper @ 773-392-0165  

Over 200 people attended the Get-Out-The-Vote (GOTV) "Party With A Purpose" Event at The new Gentle Persuasion Entertainment Center at 89th & Ashland hosted by veteran political activist Mark Allen. The crowd cheered special guests Tony Peraica, Republican Candidate for Cook County States Attorney, Chairman Fred Hampton, Jr, Lamont Watts, Program Director of WVON, Bill "Dock" Walls, Maurice Perkins from The Swift Mansion/Inner City Youth Foundation, Captain Mark Stevenson from The Chicago Computer Club, and Larry Rogers, Jr, Commissioner of Cook County Board of Tax Appeals. And of course the entire crowd was UNITED FOR BARACK OBAMA !!   Thanks to Eat & Run Restaurant's and Reggio's Pizza for providing the good food. Keep supporting the businesses that support the empowerment of our people!  

UPCOMING EVENT- GOTV FOR OBAMA HOUSE PARTY WITH FARLEY   Join Mark Allen and a number of local party promoters for a Get-Out-The-Vote (GOTV) for Barack Obama "House" Party featuring legendary DJ Farley Jackmaster Funk, "The King of House Music" on election eve, Monday Night November 3rd at the newly remodeled Gentle Persuasion Entertainment Center, located at 8959 South Ashland. 6:00 PM until Midnight. Admission $5.00    

Rainbow/PUSH Coalition Seeking Volunteers For Election Central   Personal appeal from Mark S. Allen, Former Field Director for The Rainbow/PUSH Coalition  

The Rainbow/PUSH Coalition needs more volunteers for Election Day at PUSH Headquarters at 50th & Drexel  They need help for the Phone Bank; They need drivers to provide rides for people to the polls; They are calling all the new registered voters to remind them of their polling place; They will be taking calls of any election complaints and will have attorneys available to help. And they need people who can provide food to feed the volunteers who will be working throughout the day.  There is something for everybody to do on this historic day.    Call 773-373-3366  

No Blacks Considered To Replace Warner Saunders at NBC?

Where will Warner's faithful Black audience go?  

 Wonder why none of the longtime Black reporters and anchors at NBC5 in Chicago were elevated to replace Warner Saunders as 10PM News Anchor? Has the Black community just adjusted to these type announcements without the Black leadership raising its voice of concern? I guess gone are the days when Black community leaders and Black community media were consulted when stations were going to make major decisions that may affect Black viewership.   

I guess that whichever Black reporter or anchor at Channel 5 who could have replaced Warner Saunders won't speak up since it appears that the Black community does not care. And I guess after Black reporters saw how former Channel 2 reporter/anchor John Davis was fired and how the Black community did not rally in a major way for Davis who gave his all to the community, that its better to adjust and remain silent when its clear that Black leadership will not respond.  

I guess the only good news is for Cheryle Burton, Allison Payne, Robin Robinson who will inherit Warner Saunder's loyal Black community viewers. We got the power to get a Black man elected President of The United States, but no power to sustain a Black anchor for the 10 PM news at NBC5.  

   The New Black Independent Media Coalition Cofounders,       Morgan Carter, Chicago Communicator News @ 773-443-7510   Mark Allen, South Street Journal Newspaper @ 773-392-0165  

Thursday, October 23, 2008  

Mayor Daley Attacks The Legacy of Black Leadership on Burge

It wasn't just his fault as States Attorney   

 How will Black leadership, Black media, and the Black community respond to Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley who stopped short of saying that Jon Burge would not have been an issue for him when he was States Attorney had it not been for Blacks in power. Daley said  "I was not the Mayor or Police Chief while Burge was being promoted during these tortue years," CLEARLY pointing the finger at Black Mayor's Harold Washington and Eugene Sawyer and Black Police Chiefs, Fred Rice, Leroy Martin and Terry Hillard.  And the Chicago Reader report ALSO CLEARLY points them out as not working UNDER Burge but they were Burge's Supervisors.  Is the Mayor right?  


 

  Police & School Leaders Arrogance & Swollen Egos Will Get Kids Killed  

Contact Mark S. Allen @ 773-392-0165  

The new safety initiatives for Chicago Public Schools reflects the swollen egos and arrogance of police and school officials not to use exiting programs that worked successfully versus continually trying to prove that they can prevent more school violence and killings without going back to the program that worked. Programs that used to have the active and systematic public support of the Mayor, Cardinal George, former Chicago Police Chiefs Cline and Starks, and the majority of major media outlets. Despite many personal and public appeals to these officials to return to support the programs and relationships that worked, they continue to try to do it without them while our children CONTINUE to die!!. How or why do we allow the arrogance and swollen egos of these officials to take precedent over the lives of our children? Let our children continue to be killed while police and school officials continue to try new initiatives and absolutely REFUSE to go back and embrace the partnerships that used to work when shootings and violent crimes WERE DOWN !!  

A visit to the website of Ceasefire (www.ceasefireillinois.org) clearly verifies how school violence and killings were down when this group and others were fully funded to provide crime prevention and intervention in EVERY area where Chicago Public School students have been victims of killings and other violent crimes. With this kind of public documentation, the Mayor, school, new police chief have done everything BUT go back and help restore those former partnerships. The Mayor has raised more money for the future Olympics versus "right now" monies for helping to restore successful crime intervention and prevention of the group Ceasefire and others. Then they unfairly place the funding blame on the State alone when these kids are being hurt and killed in multiple legislative jurisdictions. While the Governor has tried to restore some levels of funding from the State, there has been no new funding from the City, State, County, Federal levels of government and other private funding outlets including major media charities.  

 It was irresponsible for the police Chief to allow a public school student to be publicly displayed for all to see as an official point person (AND target) for when someone is turned in to police with this new text messaging project, as if the recent downfall of Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick did not make it clear that there is no such thing as confidential text messaging. When crime was down, school kids and others had ongoing relationships with "Violence Interrupters" who were street-wise individuals from these high crime neighborhoods who were then able to use their connections to actively mediate conflicts and prevent shootings and other acts of violence. Why now put kids in harms way by having their faces shown on all major media outlets. God forbid that something harmful should happen to the students publicly identified, but the City has out itself in line for a major lawsuit if any threats or harm comes to any student they allowed to be publicly shown as a source of whomever may be turned in through this new text messaging process to police.  

The former major media editorials, the former public partnerships and participation of the Mayor and former Police Chiefs Cline and Starks and their public testimonies and the lives of our children are ALL reasons why groups like Ceasefire and others MUST have their full time intervention and prevention efforts immediately restored in all the areas where they used to successfully help prevent acts of violence and killings. Unfortunately, these groups have almost been relegated to organizing marches and vigils after acts of violence and deaths versus their hands-on abilities to mediate conflicts and prevent violence and killings.  

School and Police officials are going to have to explain to the next victims of violence and shootings why these deaths are in part their "own fault" for CONTINUING NOT to work to restore the existing and new funding for groups like Ceasefire and others,again, who used to successfully stop the violence and killings in EVERY area where Chicago Public School students are currently being hurt and killed. While it may not stop EVERY death, restoring the former relationship and partnership with Ceasefire and others will certainly save more of our children's lives than these current efforts of schools and police are doing now. And didn't Arne Duncan and other just get through saying how NOT to use students in these "Adult" responsibilities and then allow students to be in a press conference that clearly makes them a target? *******************************************************

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Recently included in the 2007-08 edition of Who's Who In Black Chicago, and listed in Who's Who Among African Americans.  Mark S. Allen is a veteran community/political activist with over 32 years of public service on local, state, and national levels, including 7 years as a national staff member to the Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. Allen is a former talk show host on the legendary news/talk station WVON-AM. He is currently the Associate Editor of The South Street Journal Newspaper.

As a community organizer for over 32 years, and one who worked directly with Barack Obama on what I think is his most significant work as a community organizer, your Sunday, September 7th editorial shows why it is easy for the GOP and others top down play the work of community organizers. The most significant accomplishment of Barack Obama as a community organizer was when he was the head of PROJECT VOTE (GOTV) that made political history in 1986 when that city-wide voter registration, education and Get-Out The vote campaign put over 100,000 new voters, that made it possible for the historic election of Carol Moseley Braun to the U.S. Senate, the 1987 reelection of Harold Washington as Chicago's 1st Black Mayor, and a new Chicago City Council.  

The GOP and others would have to rethink the challenge to the work and real leadership responsibilities of community organizers when they are clearly reminded of the historic nature of many of the campaigns of community organizers. Consumers of all kinds immediately check and rely on expiration dates on foods and other products, never making the connection to the work of community organizers that led to the laws being passed that required expiration dates on food. The core reason that there are more Democrats elected to office and States like Illinois and the U.S. Congress with Democratic control is because on the continuous work of community organizers and their voter registration, education and GOTV campaigns.  

New community development benefits for ordinary citizens to new legislation of all kinds start at the core with the work of community organizers who assess community based needs and work on those improvements to make peoples lives for the better.  Too many times when mentioning community organizers and their work, those major accomplishments are not noted, and thus today critics do note the 1986 community work and leadership of Barack Obama and other community organizers as historic and not worthy of how they try to downplay its significance.  

Mark S. Allen Community Organizer and Activist 773-392-0165  

Nationally Known Chicago Activist Seeks Help For Son Who Faces

Murder Charges in Tennessee

  Kwesi Ron Harris, prevention director of the Bobby E. Wright Health Center, is one of the nationally known anti-tobacco activists to remain vigilant in their efforts to stop tobacco companies from targeting young people for their products. Six months after being questioned and released by Tennessee police, Harris son, Lavaughn (graduate of Chicago's Simeon High School and Senior at Tennesse State University) was arrested for 1st Degree Murder and bond has been set at $750.000  

Click here Ravaugh Harris Support Page - Welcome and Thank You for your support!

  The Black Leadership Development Institute, BLDI 773-392-0165  

 Gang Members and Illegal Gun Dealers Admit How They Benefit From Gun Turn-Ins "I never thought that the Mayor and Preachers would make it this easy"  

"This weekend I am going to get me a new big plasma TV."  An alleged illegal gun dealer admitted that he has already received several thousand dollars in commitments from gang members who want to purchase new illegal guns with their $100 gift certificates that they are going to get from several Black churches this weekend.  One young man who called himself "Rudy" on 76th & Halsted said that he is going to St. Sabina Church and turn in an old 22 caliber gun that he bought for $30 and bag of weed, and use his $100 gift certificate to trade on a new $32 caliber gun from his local illegal gun contact.

Rudy says that his illegal gun contact will furnish his new apartment with the things he can buy after this weekend, collecting damn near $10,000 in $100 gift certificates from gang members turning in guns to various churches this weekend.   "Glen" on 83rd & Cottage Grove said "Its hard to believe that the Mayor and preachers would make it this easy. There has to be some undercover operation to this despite them saying no questions asked when turning in guns that they have used in unsolved shootings, and spending thousands of dollars from the gift certificates at local stores." 

A brother named "Cheat" from Gladys Street said that "just because the preachers said no questions asked doesn't mean that the police ain't asking, so gang members and gun dealers better be careful with eliminating finger prints and serial numbers from those guns and better not spend too much of those gift certificates at one time in one place, for the leaders cannot be making this so easy without some way of trying to track people."   "You mean to tell me that the people who just shot those people on the westside can now get away with those shootings cause they can go the local church this weekend, turn their guns in with no questions asked and get paid $100 for each gun and not have to think about going to jail?

If we are to believe the Mayor and these preachers, hundreds of unsolved shootings will never get prosecuted cause we can all turn our hot guns in with no questions asked and get rewarded with gift certificates and don't have to worry about being prosecuted. It's a trick, for it cannot be this easy without some sort of undercover police monitoring," said Cheat.   The major media reported last week that the buy-back program was challenged  by Dr. Carl Bell, a psychiatrist and president and CEO of Chicago's Community Mental Health Council, who said at a City Council hearing that the guns being turned in "don't work in the first damn place."

Mark S. Allen veteran community/political activist says that he continues to tell ministers each time that they have a gun turn in how you can hear people in the streets talk openly about how gang members and illegal gun dealers anxiously await the turn-ins so they can get money to buy better guns, and the thousand of dollars in profits they make from the gift certificates. "I respect  the Mayor and church leaders for what they think they are accomplishing, but I've got to continue to challenge them on how they are empowering the very people to better commit the shootings and killings they are fighting against. It would bother the hell out of me to know that I have preached the funeral of a kid who was killed by a gun they were able to buy with their gun turn-in gift certificates, or I just completely furnished some illegal gun dealers house with the thousands of dollars they made from using the gift certificates they exchanged with gang members who turned in their old guns to the church," said Allen.   

Allen said shootings and killings are continuing to rise despite these gun turn-ins and they are going to continue after the gun turn-ins, and the real funding for this gun buy-back program could have been better used by funding groups like Ceasefire and others who provide hands on prevention and intervention efforts in challenging peoples consciousness not to commit these senseless acts of violence whether its with a gun, knife, golf club, baseball bat, or fists.  

"Mark Allen is one of the best organizers of grassroots people in this country"

(U.S. Senator and U.S. Presidential Candidate Barack Obama; U.S. Congressman Jesse L. Jackson, Jr)  

MARK S. ALLEN, 46

Volunteer Activist/Organizer with Ceasefire  

Recently included in the 2007-08 edition of Who's Who In Black Chicago, and listed in Who's Who Among African Americans.  Mark S. Allen is a veteran community/political activist with over 32 years of public service on local, state, and national levels, including 7 years as a national staff member to the Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. Allen is a former talk show host on the legendary news/talk station WVON-AM. He is currently the Associate Editor of The South Street Journal Newspaper and Co-founder of The New Black Independent Media Coalition 773-392-0165

NO TO A CONGRESSMAN JACKSON CANDIDACY FOR ILLINOIS GOVERNOR  

The Sun Times Columnist Laura Washington wrote a column regarding the 2010 Illinois Governor's race and that one possible candidate could be Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr.  The campaign of Roland Burris put a bad taste in the mouths of any Black politician aspiring to be Governor. It was made clear that the majority White population abandoned Roland Burris who should have been Governor for he was the highest vote getter in EVERY part of the State when he was State Comptroller and Attorney General, but those same communities that elected him those prior positions did not vote for him for Governor. At this point I do not see another Black politician able to generate the kind of support that Roland Burris enjoyed when he was voted Comptroller and Attorney General.

Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr is in line to be the most powerful Black politician in Congress with a few more elections, for the majority of those in line for major political power in Congress will either be dead or gone from office, putting Jackson in a position to be the first Black to be Speaker of The House or Chairman of the powerful House Ways Means Committee with the ability to personally direct where federal dollars go and that can mean the most significant influx of dollars to Urban communities. We need NOT take Jackson out of that Seniority line.

Congressman Jackson will be able to help more people from the constituencies he is concerned about as The first Black Speaker of The House or Chairman of House Ways and Means than being the Governor of Illinois. I do not see another Black politician on the rise that has the ability to generate the Seniority in Congress that Congressman Jackson currently represents. Those of us who call ourselves politically astute need to recognize the points I am making and should be doing all they can to keep Congressman Jackson where he is for the much bigger picture than just the State of Illinois.

"Mark Allen is one of the best organizers of grassroots people in this country" (U.S. Senator and U.S. Presidential Candidate Barack Obama; U.S. Congressman Jesse L. Jackson, Jr)  

MARK S. ALLEN, 46   Recently included in the 2007-08 edition of Who's Who In Black Chicago, and listed in Who's Who Among African Americans.  Mark S. Allen has over 32 years of public service on local, state, and national levels, including 7 years as a national staff member to the Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. Allen is a former talk show host on the legendary news/talk station WVON-AM. He is currently the Associate Editor of The South Street Journal Newspaper and Co-founder of The New Black Independent Media Coalition. 773-392-0165

 

  The New Black Independent Media Coalition Cofounders, Mark S. Allen and Morgan D. Carter 773-392-0165 Saturday, May 24, 2008   NEWS BRIEFS  

Community Leaders and Residents Challenge Chicago Police Chief  

Veteran Community/Political activist Mark S. Allen helped lead a march against shootings in the Roseland community with the group CeaseFire. During his remarks to the crowd, Allen said the new Chicago Police Chief Jody Weis "must not provide his leadership from the suites, but in the streets, and should use CeaseFire versus SWAT fire" in addressing shootings. Allen said that former Police Chief Dana Starks was a regular supporter and participant in CeaseFire marches while the new Police Chief has yet to respond to any invitation to join various CeaseFire marches in various neighborhoods. "I keep Chicago Police media contact Monique Bond e-mailed on numerous community marches, but she has yet to indicate that the new Chief has any interest in continuing the popular practice of being visible in community marches life former Chief Dana Starks was truly committed," said Allen. "This is strange in that one of the first public statements from the new Chief Weis was that he wanted to build strong community relations in the Black community, but he can't lead where he doesn't go, so I will continue to publicly challenge the Chief to leave his suite and come to the streets, and help to increase the CeaseFire versus his planned SWAT fire." Allen was joined by 60 Roseland residents and the family of Derrick Allen Franklin who was recently shot to death in Roseland.    

Clinton Out Of Touch With Apology  

Hillary Clinton's apology proves how she and her campaign advisors are out of touch in not realizing how far her mentioning how Robert Kennedy as a Presidential candidate was assassinated impacted Barack Obama's base of supports in Chicago. The last public statement Kennedy made before being killed was that he was on his way to Chicago, which is the current home base of Presidential candidate Obama.   Just this past week, former Republican Presidential candidate, Mike Huckabee made a joke that a loud noise that came from behind the stage where was speaking was Barack Obama ducking gunfire. Huckabee later apologized for publicly suggesting that Barack Obama could be the subject of gun fire. Despite notification to Clinton's press office from angry Obama supporters, Clinton still only offered a public acknowledgement to Senator Ted Kennedy, who himself may be facing a life threatening cancer. Chicago's 24 hour Black news/talk radio station, WVON-AM 1690  had to alter it's regular program schedule for a few hours to accommodate the overwhelming number of callers outraged over Clinton's comments.   CNN Radio News updated their reports that while Senator Clinton was apologizing to the Kennedy family for mentioning the Robert Kennedy assassination, that many national blog sites were interpreting her comments as if she still had a chance of winning because Obama could be assassinated in June!!  

More Killings In Former CeaseFire Coverage Areas  

While local leaders pass the buck on restoring the funding for the group CeaseFire, and while other groups are now being funded to address unnecessary acts of violence and killings, two more people were killed in areas that used to be covered by CeaseFire intervention and prevention workers. It appears that people have just become adjusted to raising money for rewards, planning hospital visits, planning funerals, and holding press conferences with symbolic statements from leaders on how we must stop the killing. And we continue to watch our people get hurt and killed in every area where there used to be full time CeaseFire intervention and prevention workers. We'll continue to go through this "paralysis of analysis" on CeaseFire. Why can't our leaders hold press conferences on how they helped CeaseFire get back to work and save lives versus watching CeaseFire now relegated to marches and vigils after our people die.?   

Sad Memorial Day   

Our prayers to the veterans and the families of veterans who recognize the hypocrisy in many of the Memorial Day tributes. How do you celebrate when far too many of our veterans who died homeless, unemployed, drug addicted, mentally ill, lost access to healthcare, homes forceclosed on while serving this country and yet have to listen to leaders publicly say how proud they are of their service? Veterans should not have to want for anything. So our prayers to the families who have to endure these symbolic services, knowing how much suffering veterans had to go through, and continue to go through during and after their service to this country.