Our biases can be dangerous, even deadly — as we've seen in the cases of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, and Eric Garner, in Staten Island, New York. Diversity advocate Vernā Myers looks closely at some of the subconscious attitudes we hold toward out-groups. She makes a plea to all people: Acknowledge your biases. Then move toward, not away from, the groups that make you uncomfortable. In a funny, impassioned, important talk, she shows us how. A group of Ferguson protesters, part of the NAACP-organized “Journey for Justice” march, ran into a vocal counter-protest as they walked from Ferguson to Jefferson City, Missouri. From the Columbia Missourian: About 200 people met the marchers as they reached Rosebud around noon, activists said. A display of fried chicken, a melon and a 40-ounce beer bottle had been placed in the street. A Confederate flag flew. Counter-protestors shouted racial epithets. One of the counter-protesters was a young boy with a sign that said “go home.” Rosebud resident John Sharp told connectmidmissouri.com, “Rosebud is a very strong community. We believe that we should stand behind our law enforcement, stand behind our community and we don’t believe in supporting thugs.” Read more at http://www.eurweb.com/2014/12/racists-greet-ferguson-marchers-with-fried-chicken-melon-40-oz-watch/#D7iUvmYYifL4YTsP.99 Legal Community Morns Death of St. Louis' First African American Presiding Circuit Court Judge12/3/2014  This week, the legal community here mourned the loss of Judge Calvin, who died late Saturday (Nov. 29, 2014) of complications from surgery. He was 63. Judge Calvin’s death came as a shock to friends and family who had watched him bounce back with vigor from an operation earlier in November. In 1978, three years out of St. Louis University law school, Judge Calvin was elected magistrate judge. The following year, magistrates became associate circuit court judges under the nonpartisan court plan. In 1988, Judge Calvin became a circuit judge, and in 1999 he was elected by his colleagues as presiding judge, the first African-American in that position. He retired from the bench in 2008, then worked of counsel to Spencer Fane Britt & Browne, focusing on mediation and arbitration. Former colleagues said Judge Calvin’s time on the bench was marked by fairness and respect. “I think he was a model trial judge,” Circuit Court Judge Michael David said. “I believe people felt they always had a fair shake and he was as close to universally admired and respected and loved as anybody I’ve ever known.” Circuit Judge Jimmie Edwards called Judge Calvin as “an incredible person,” adding, “He was known on this bench as a diplomat. He will be missed.” Judge Calvin is survived by his wife, Vanessa, and sons Michael Jr. and Justin. His funeral will be held Saturday at All Saints Episcopal Church, 2831 North Kingshighway in St. Louis. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., with the service to follow. A scholarship is being set up in Judge Calvin’s name at his law school.  1) Candle Light Service: A candle light community service hosted at Eliot Chapel at 7 pm the night of the grand jury announcement. It will include Rev. Barbara H. Gadon, Maggie Duwe, David Bennett, Scott Stearmann, Ron Hodges, Jeffrey Croft and Terry McKee. 2) Safe Church: The Webster Groves Christian Church (Disciples) will be open 24 hours after the grand jury announcement as a quiet space for prayer, meditation, and listening support. If you would like to take a shift as a supportive presence, please sign up through their sign-up genius website.  November 21, 2014
In August attorneys for the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the County of St. Louis and the City of Ferguson signed an agreement with the American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri stating that protesters and the media had the right to record law enforcement officers. But, that agreement was disregarded many times in the last few months so the ACLU went back to court last Friday and filed a motion for a preliminary injunction. Today United States District Judge John A. Ross granted three court orders against the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the County of St. Louis and the City of Ferguson. “We are pleased that there are court orders requiring the police to respect the First Amendment rights of journalists,” said Tony Rothert, legal director of the ACLU of Missouri. “With court orders in place, immediate recourse will be available if the freedom of the press is violated.” The signed agreement , amended complaint and other documents related to this lawsuit, Mustafa Hussein v. County of Saint Louis, et. al can be found on the ACLU of Missouri website.  Remember how good you felt when Black History Month rolled around and you finally got to learn and talk about significant African American historical figures in school? Well, according to new research published in the Journal of Child Development, affirming a black child’s desire to learn about their race does more than just give them a personal boost, it helps them academically as well. The study, conducted by Ming-Te Wang and James P. Huguley of the University of Pittsburgh and Harvard University respectively, found that “racial socialization”—teaching kids about their culture and involving them in activities that promote racial pride and connection—helps to offset the discrimination and racial prejudices children face by the outside world. Wang explains: Wang’s study surveyed 630 adolescents from middle class backgrounds to explore how racial discrimination and prejudice in school affects their G.P.A., educational goals, and future aspirations. They found racial pride to be the single most important factor in guarding against racial discrimination, and discovered it had a direct impact on the students’ grades, future goals, and cognitive engagement. Despite fewer instances of multicultural and inclusive learning in school and the increased frequency in which black students are treated more harshly than their peers, Wang’s study shows that teaching kids, especially black children, to take pride in their culture is an integral part of their success. Wang sums it up: SOURCES: http://www.news.pitt.edu/Rac_Pride_black_teens http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1467-8624.2012.01808.x/abstract http://www.clutchmagonline.com/2013/01/new-study-black-students-who-are-taught-racial-pride-do-better-in-school/ 
A National Town Hall Special Taped with a Studio Audience in St. Louis Moderated by Gwen Ifill PBS NewsHour Co-Anchor and Managing Editor Tune in Friday, September 26 at 7:00 p.m. National leaders and prominent thinkers in law enforcement, race and civil rights, join government officials, faith leaders, youth and the public to help foster a national dialogue on issues being discussed in the wake of Michael Brown's death. For the first time PBS will incorporate live tweets during this broadcast. Viewers are encouraged to use the Twitter hashtag #AfterFergusonPBS to join in the conversation and to have their tweets considered for inclusion in the broadcast. 
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