Drawn by a case tinged with one of the most hated symbols of Old South racism - a hangman's noose tied in an oak tree - thousands of protesters rallied yesterday in Jena, La. against what they see as a double standard of prosecution for blacks and whites.

The plight of the so-called Jena Six became a flashpoint for one the biggest civil-rights demonstrations in years. Five of the black teens were initially charged with attempted murder in the beating of a white classmate.

Old-guard lions like the Revs. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton joined scores of college students bused in from across the nation who said they wanted to make a stand for racial equality just as their parents did in the 1950s and '60s.   more »

If a preacher named Robert Toatley were alive today, he would have just come home after at least two days on the road. He would have been tired. His feet would have hurt, and his voice would have been hoarse.
He would have come from Jena, La., after marching for fair justice for all Americans, said his widow, Juanita.

"My husband didn't sit still when there was someone who needed him," Juanita Toatley said Friday. "He would have been in Louisiana, and he would have taken people with him from Rock Hill, too."

After he got home today, if he were alive, Robert Toatley likely would have put on a dark suit and blue tie to go with the snow-white shirt -- because his fraternity was blue and white -- and applauded as three teens just like he was so many years ago found out they had scholarship money to go to college.   more »

Granville police have arrested an employee of the Target store at University Town Centre on charged he embezzled more than $3,000 in merchandise over several months.

Target employees told the police they have surveillance video that shows Kenneth Toney, Jr. in the act.

Toney told the police he is a member of Omega Psi Phi, a fraternity at West Virginia University, and that he took the items as part of a pre-pledge process.

WVU says Toney is not enrolled as a student at the university and could not have joined a fraternity there.

A fraternity spokesman said he has talked to its attorney about the matter and says it will take appropriate action against anyone falsely claiming to be part of its organization.   more »

Daring.Innovative. Enticing. "Around The World in a Nanosecond" featured dramatic monologues and original poetry by Ivory "Xtrymytyz" (pronounced ehcks-trim-uh-teez)Townsel. This one woman show was one production that had audiences wanting more.

Greeted by a heartfelt welcome and surrounded by total darkness, Townsel entered the stage performing an interpretative dance to "Diamonds Are Forever." As she completed each piece she told different aspects of women's struggles through apparent but yet very different situations. From a hardcore gang banger to a suffering turned murderous wife, Townsel made sure audiences could connect with each of the performances and the characters that each presented.

Townsel used varied art forms in the production including dance,   more »

Enrollment on the rise at Xavier University

Educators from across the country joined with community leaders here on Friday for an education symposium aimed at closing the achievement gap among urban youth and tackling other critical issues affecting them.

"We believe it takes a village," said Dr. Louise A. Rice, national president of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., which hosted the three-day summit as part of its continued commitment to the rebuilding city. "We are so pleased that so many people have gathered for the same cause-the education of our children."

Rice said at least 300 people had registered for the conference, which concludsed on Sunday.   more »

Diversity means different things to different people. When it’s the focus of your life, job, and energies, the meaning of diversity takes on a particular significance.

In the case of Joelle Hayes, it took her to Travelers in Hartford where she is director of diversity.

Hayes, 33, a Middletown resident and mother of two was recently hired for the newly formed position that deals with components of human resources including recruitment and retention. It’s just the latest task she has undertaken involving diversity.

“I grew up on Long Island and back in the 80s, the thinking was that public schools were racially balanced when it was split half-and-half, black and white,” she said. “The diversity we see today is very different.”

Hayes graduated from Brown University with a degree in public policy and went on to receive a master’s in education from Harvard University. She has since received a second master’s degree from Syracuse University in communication management.

Joelle Hayes, director of diversity, The Travelers Cos. Inc.    more »

A Hattiesburg sorority teamed up with a blood supplier and a major retailer to help fight two debilitating diseases today.  Members of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority hosted a blood drive at the Wal-Mart near Highway 49 along with Mississippi Blood Services.  It was to help fight Sickle Cell Anemia and Leukemia.  Organizers hoped at least two dozen people would donate during the event.  September is National Sickle Cell Anemia Month.

This article was provided by: WDAM-TV

Naidra Walls was just searching for a gym where she could get in shape when the Western Michigan University student stumbled upon a June 20 newspaper article.

The story, featuring local amateur boxer Stacy Harrington and Curtis Isaac's Eastside Boxing Club, piqued her interest, and she went to check it out.

Three months later, a confident Walls is set to make her amateur debut in Isaac's ``Night at the Fights'' at Chenery Gymnasium on Saturday night.   more »

On a steamy night in Baltimore last week, Jordan Thomas drove his fraternity brothers through two-plus hours of running, calisthenics and dance. A videographer from ESPN followed their every move. Banter filled the air.

On a parking lot at Morgan State University, his squad -- Iota Phi Theta fraternity brothers from Morgan State and Coppin State universities -- was drilling for the Super Bowl of their sport.

It is hard to say what brought this unheralded group to the brink of   more »

If the merchants of downtown Moses Lake have their way, there will be a lot more people in their area Saturday.

The Moses Lake Business Association sponsors Stomp the Yard in Sinkiuse Square Saturday beginning at 11:30 a.m., and lasting through 3 p.m.

"A lot of the merchants realized between noon and 4 p.m., downtown is pretty dead on a weekend," Moses Lake business owner Angela Clay explained. "We thought we could   more »