Special Meeting Held For Hawkins Case:
Officers Down 8 –Year- Old, Citizens Outraged Over Lack Of Sensitivity

The Grand Rapids Times
6-27-2008
BY Michele Smith

Scores of concerned members from the African American community met with Grand Rapids Police Chief, Kevin Belk, Deputy Chief James Farris and Lt. Ralph Mason for a special meeting on an incident that community members referred to as a “delicate and unfortunate event”.

While Ivan Hawkins was playing at a neighbor’s home, Sunday, June 15, Grand Rapids police were responding to a domestic dispute call on his street.

The police saw Ivan hiding in the bushes and approached him, thinking he was the assailant. They realized he was not the person they were looking for, but they still were close enough to command him to the ground at gunpoint.

According to reports, it was not until officers ordered Hawkins to the ground that they realized he is a child. That is when they lowered their weapons and walked away.

After the incident, the officers did not escort Hawkins home to his mother and did not offer any apology.
Aina Clark, Hawkins’ mother, and the boy himself also attended the community meeting.

“I just don’t understand how they could get my son mixed up with a grown man when he isn’t even 5-feet tall,” Clark said.

The citizens are concerned that the issue was not so much a case of mistaken identity as it was the lack of concern or care from the officers and the fact that they knew they were approaching the wrong person, but went further anyway.

Police Chief Kevin Belk continued to explain throughout the meeting that until the point that the officers found out Hawkins was a child, they were following protocol.

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Page 8 of the Grand Rapids Times Print Edition

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Registration Deadline Near For August Primary
Residents Can Register To Vote By Mail Or In Person

The Grand Rapids Times
6-27-2008

Lansing – Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land reminds residents that Monday, July 7 is the last day to register to vote in the Aug. 5 primary election.

“Both local and state offices may be on your primary ballot, including legislative and Congressional seats, and judicial races,” said Land, the state’s chief election officer. “If you are not yet registered to vote in Michigan, I encourage you to do so as soon as possible. It’s fast and easy. You can find a registration form online, at a branch office or at your local clerk’s office.”

To register, people must be at least 18 years old by Election Day and be U.S. citizens. They must also be residents of Michigan and of the city or township in which they wish to register.

Voters may register in person or by mail. The mail in form is on the Department of State Web site at www.Michigan.gov/sos. First time voters who register by mail must vote in person in their first election, unless they hand deliver the application to their local clerk, are 60 years old or older, are disabled, or are overseas.

To check their registration status, voters may visit the Michigan Voter Information Center at www.Michigan.gov/vote. Residents will be able to find information on voting by absentee ballot, using voting equipment and contacting their local clerk. They can also find a map to their local polling place.

Voters are again reminded of the identification requirement. They will be asked to present photo ID at the polls, such as a Michigan driver’s license or identification card.

Voters who don’t have a Michigan driver’s license or identification card can show the following forms of photo ID:

• Driver’s license or personal identification card issued by another state

• Federal or state government issued photo identification

• U.S. passport

• Military identification card with photo

• Student identification with photo from a high school or an accredited institution of higher education, such as a college or university

• Tribal identification card with photo.

Anyone who does not have an acceptable form of photo ID or is not carrying one can still vote.
They will sign a brief form stating that they’re not in possession of a photo ID. Their ballots will be included with all others and counted on Election Day.

Voters who qualify may choose to vote by absentee ballot on Election Day. As a registered voter, you may obtain an absentee voter ballot if you are: Age 60 years old or older unable to vote without assistance at the polls

• expecting to be out of town on election day in jail awaiting arraignment or trial

• unable to attend the polls due to religious reasons

• appointed to work as an election inspector in a precinct outside of your precinct of residence.

Additional information is available on the Department of State Web site at www.Michigan.gov/sos.

Ruth Lumpkins JJ’s New Executive Director

The Jubilee Jobs Board of Directors has selected Ruth Lumpkins as the new Executive Director for Jubilee Jobs.

Her appointment to the position formerly held by Chana Edmond Verley became official earlier this month.

Mrs. Lumpkins has been an employee of the organization for the last six years as the Education Director and the Employability Skills and GED Instructor.

“This position gives me a chance to put some of the puzzle pieces together, and allows me to look at how this organization serves this community from a different angle. I like to think of it as broadening my horizons,” says Lumpkins.

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BET Awards

‘A Mother’s Cry’
Local Community Ready To Take Back The Streets

“A Mother’s Cry” Peace Rally, took place earlier this week at Joe Taylor Park on Baxter SE to raise awareness and to put an end to the violent acts that seem to be plaguing the community.

Approximately 70 women and men came together, Tuesday, June 24.

There were people from mothers, to fiancées, to friends of loved ones that have been taken due to violent acts. They feel it is time to come together, solve this problem now, before it escalates and becomes worse. Speakers gave testimony to what is going on in the community and talked about how everyone can do their part to make the neighborhoods safe again.

“It’s time to wake up and make a change,” said Jerline Riley, a mother who lost her son Jeff Owens to violence 14 years ago. “People have gone back to sleep. It’s a never healing wound. Everytime I turn around some other mother or family is getting the phone call. It’s been going on way too long. We just need to see some kind of peace.”

The lament of the evening was, “I’m tired!”

“People are just tired and angry, ready to fight back, get their community back and feel safe in their own neighborhood again,” said Theresa Farrow, mistress of ceremonies and one of the organizers for the rally.

One speaker said that violence is not a black thing, or an inner city thing, it is a concern for everyone.

The consensus was that communities need to come together as one, become closer, look out for one another and help stop the violence.

“Women are doing the best they can to raise their children, especially young men; but these young men are in need of positive male role models,” said Robert Grady. “Men need to step up.”

At the rally, Reynard Ross called the men out.

“I challenge you to step up. Do your part to help the community become safer,” Ross stated.

He invited them to participate in patrolling the neighborhoods, under the auspices of a new group called Peacemakers that is coming together to make a difference.

They are trying to rally a group of men to patrol the city streets and keep them calmer.

The purpose of the neighborhood patrol is to be a physical and visible deterrent to crime.

Organizers are hoping it is a way to keep the neighborhoods safe for children to play and for people to be comfortable.

They are going to start with one block that the group and police have determined is a heavy area and expand from there.

“We are not coming in to judge anyone,” one speaker said, “no slaps on the wrist or fingers pointed.”

“We believe if people are shown a better way, given an alternative, they will seek better ways,” said another citizen at the rally who wants to remain anonymous.

Approximately 20 men right now are volunteering but more are needed.

Ross said more men are needed to help out with this cause.

Anyone interested is asked to call 616.633.3596 or e-mail grmmmloc@comcast.net

Anyone that would like to donate to this cause can make a check or money order payable to Peacemakers and send to P.O Box 150384, Grand Rapids, MI 49515.

Rev. Arthur L. Pearson
To Be Installed at Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church

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Teens Put On Notice

Secretary Land Restricts Cell Phone Use By Teen Drivers If It Factors In Violation

The Grand Rapids Times
6-27-2008

Lansing – Teen drivers need to be made aware of the probationary licensing restriction announced, June 19, 2008, by Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land.

The message is that “probationary teen drivers whose cell phone use contributes to a traffic crash or ticket may be prohibited from using a phone behind the wheel.”

“Most drivers understand the responsibility of getting behind the wheel and avoid risky distractions like cell phone use,” Land said. “Unfortunately, not everyone gets the message. Many traffic mishaps involving inexperienced drivers also involve cell phones. Education and parental involvement remain the most effective means for impressing good driving skills upon teens. However, this optional licensing restriction is one more tool that reinforces the importance of safe, courteous driving.”

The restriction may be imposed on teens when it is determined that cell phone use played a role in a negligent crash or a traffic violation.

It applies to probationary drivers who are 14 years and 9 months old to age 19.

Teen drivers under probation who have tickets or crashes on their records face a re examination, which could result in a license restriction, suspension or both action would delay the teen’s advancement in the Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) program. Re examinations are personal reviews with the driver conducted by Department of State examiners.

All new drivers, including teens in GDL, are on probation for at least three years.
 
The probationary period allows the department to monitor driving performance and impose any necessary licensing controls to promote safe driving habits.

During the last 10 months of probation, any tickets, at fault crashes or license suspensions extend the probationary period until the teen completes 10 consecutive months of violation free driving.

Young drivers with unsatisfactory records will continue to be under probation until they demonstrate safe skills, even if they no longer are in GDL.

Nearly 12,900 probationary drivers were scheduled for re examination in 2007, though Land pointed out that number is a small percentage of Michigan’s 7.1 million licensed drivers.

Visit www.Michigan.gov/sos for more information on driver education and traffic safety.

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