No Struggle, No Progress
No Struggle, No Progress
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The recent acquittal of a White Louisiana State Trooper accused of beating a Black motorist while he was down on the ground shows Black America that nothing short of death may win a guilty verdict in a court of law. That is, perhaps, the saddest part about what it seems to take for the average Black American to receive justice stemming from incidents of brutality by police officers against Black citizens. It has only gotten worse, as we can see that Black people are being killed by the hands of...
Donald Trump has been indicted again by federal authorities, and there is also one more expected from the state of Georgia in a few weeks. What was once thought as unthinkable for a former president to face the kinds of legal troubles that are facing Trump should show us that everything has its limits. As they say in sports, Trump went “to the well one too many times” and it appears that he came up dry. In addition to Trump begging for money to pay his lawyers (we thought he was a billionaire), a trial is still a long way off, leaving him to...
Matthew Sims has gone through so much during the last nine years, but the last three years have been the worst for him, as he has been in and out of court 25 times over an incident that he says he is innocent of; Sims said that an incident with his second wife turned his life upside down. What was once just a misdemeanor charge has gotten worse over time. Sims was working for the city of Monroe when in 2014, he was arrested for alleged domestic abuse by his second wife. He was in jail for nine days. At his trial, Sims’ two stepchildren t...
Disclaimer: All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty. A local man is in serious trouble after he was taken into custody by Monroe police officers for allegedly breaking into the home of a woman he alleged he was in a relationship with; according to reports, recently, officers were called to the victim's residence in response to a domestic disturbance. The victim's ex-boyfriend, who was identified as Rawtivis Ignont, allegedly broke a bedroom window while the victim was bathing....
A community meeting was held on August 1, 2023, at the Marbles Community Center near Carroll High School in Monroe LA, where things like homecoming activities, witness statements about an ugly incident in Franklin Parish, and other issues were discussed. The school's football team will play the annual homecoming game Saturday, October 21, 2023, at 2:00 PM instead of the Friday before. The homecoming coronation will be at the Monroe Civic Center instead of Carroll Gym. There was some feedback on...
Disclaimer: All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty. High-speed police chases have become commonplace without regard to citizen safety. There are very few sidewalks in south Monroe, and other roadways have no shoulder space, which makes getting struck by vehicles extremely likely. Luckily, no pedestrians have been injured or killed by a high-speed vehicle chase. The risks are too great. Having a criminal record has been proven to keep some people held back from living productive lives, which should prompt the question - is it wort...
During its June 13 meeting, the Monroe City Council passed an ordinance to buy property from the Ouachita Parish Police Jury to be used as the new location for the city’s transit bus terminal. The current location on Catalpa St. will be moved to the adjacent property next to the Health Unit on Desiard Street. District 3 Councilwoman Juanita Woods inquired what it would cost the city to acquire the property. Woods also wanted to know the plans for the property once purchased. Marc Keenan, Director of Monroe Transit, asked the council to a...
Rumors have been swirling around lately that Carroll High School’s Head Football Coach Brandon Landers resigned. As of press time, no official word has come from the Monroe City School Board regarding Landers’ tenure, leading to speculation about what is happening behind the scenes. Landers’ questioned future with Carroll stems from an incident during a football game between Carroll and the Franklin Parish Patriots when an altercation between Franklin Parish Sheriff officers and Carroll's coaches suddenly happened. The sheriff of Frank...
If Florida’s Governor Ron DeSantis fails to capture the Republican presidential nomination next year, we know what will be seen as one of his failings. It won’t be his lack of charm or charisma; he is about as popular as stale bread regarding likeability. When that fails among the voters, it often falls on the shoulders of the spouse to put that “human, fuzzy” side on display just from the kind of relationship that the couple might have. As it stands now, no one is even remotely closed to catching up to Donald Trump despite the legal woes fa...
A local church has fallen into turmoil upon hearing word that the pastor has resigned his office as pastor of Locust Grove Baptist Church in Columbia, LA. The Monroe Dispatch was informed by a concerned individual of some alleged issues that the pastor and several deacons appeared to have had issues within the church that could not be resolved. According to sources, Pastor Troy Gaines was allegedly forced to resign after seven years of fighting with members of the church. The alleged dispute was said to be over “making changes” which was met...
Disclaimer: All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty. A local man who allegedly made threats to kill the mother of a woman with whom he was in a relationship was arrested recently. Monroe Police were summoned to a residence on Malvern St. in Monroe, LA, on July 23, 2023, regarding a possible hostage situation. Officers were also told that a shooting may have taken place at the residence. When officers arrived, they were advised by the mother of the daughter, who was thought to be...
Disclaimer: All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Another shooting has led to someone's life coming to an end. Monroe Police responded to a call around 3:30 PM, February 24, 2023, on Forest Ave., where they found an unidentified male at the scene who had been shot. The male's condition was unknown at arrival, as he was taken to an area hospital for treatment. Also at that time, police had no information as to who the shooter(s) may have been as they began their investigation. A...
Richwood Mayor Gerald Brown has gone on record “apologizing” for the town’s board of alderperson “treatment” of State Representative Pat Moore at its Thursday, July 20, 2023 meeting. In a Facebook post, Brown said that he publicly apologized to Moore for being denied an opportunity to address those present at the meeting on legislative updates. Moore was not on the meeting’s agenda, nor were board members aware that Moore was going to be at the meeting to address them for any purpose. Brown was also aware that according to the laws that govern...
When Critical Race Theory was talked about being taught in the nation’s public schools, conservative politicians and others cried that liberals were trying to “indoctrinate” young white kids into believing that they should “feel guilty” for the crimes of their ancestors. They, all of a sudden, started quoting the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. about not “judging people by the color of their skin” as if they suddenly saw the light of what Rev. King was saying. Guilt didn’t have anything to do with teaching CRT, but about teaching the tr...
Community centers are neighborhood outlets for the kids to go to engage in activities that help keep them out of trouble while at the same time helping them to build character as they grow older. They are also outlets for more senior members of society, as they give our mature citizens the opportunity to engage with one another in activities that help keep them in good physical and mental health. Community centers are also where many organizations meet, and families hold family celebrations like birthday parties and reunions. As we are told,...
Disclaimer: All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty. An hours-long attempt by Monroe Police at a Sherrouse St. residence in Monroe, LA, in an effort to apprehend a wanted suspect was unsuccessful. MPD went to the residence on Wednesday, July 19, 2023 believing that the wanted suspect was there to execute a search warrant for his capture. According to MPD, the suspect has three felony arrest warrants for Aggravated Assault with a Firearm and Domestic Abuse Battery. A crowd of onlookers gathered around the area that police had...
Disclaimer: All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty. An Ouachita Parish woman is suffering consequences for allegedly letting her emotions get the better of her. According to a report from the West Monroe Police Department, officers were called to Gulpha Drive in reference to a break-in in progress. While en route, officers were advised that the suspect was inside the residence. Upon arrival, a Black female wearing a white shirt and black shorts ran down the stairs. The subject ran...
Many people are buried in Richwood Memorial Garden Cemetery in Richwood, LA. Many families have entrusted the management of the cemetery to be there in their time of need and grief. The grounds are well kept, as family members often visit the final resting place of their loved ones. Still, over the years, there have been some unpleasant memories experienced by family members concerning the manner in which management at the cemetery has conducted themselves. Shirley Greer says she is angry at...
Disclaimer: All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty. On July 17, 2023, Monroe Police responded to a disturbance that started at a home on South 9th St. When officers arrived, the victim advised that she was at the address to visit her brother, and that was when her ex-boyfriend arrived at the residence. According to MPD, the victim said that the individual, later identified as Johnathan Williams, allegedly shattered her back windshield with a metal pipe and approached her with a...
America is an experiment that is failing…badly. The “melting pot” is melting. People who were once strangers in a new land are treating strangers as if they don’t belong here. The notion that God set aside this land called America for one particular race to dominate is, at its best, ludicrous. Yet, that is what we hear from political leaders to religious leaders, and none of them quote any scriptures to support those ideas. Nevertheless, that’s what the founders envisioned even, as we are told by some political leaders who talk as if they heard...
Golden K. Berry once had a promising career in law enforcement. He also had a brief career in politics. But that all changed when he made a decision to want to be treated just as equally as his White counterparts in law enforcement. According to court records from a lawsuit filed by Berry, he was hired by the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office in 2000 as a correctional officer. Berry attained the rank of Corporal in 2003 and maintained his position for thirteen years. Berry’s position as a Corporal required that he alternate working between day...
As we look at the Republicans who are vying to take Donald Trump’s place in the White House, as of right now, it is no contest. There are big names thrown in the hat, names that are easily recognizable in conservative politics. But alas, none of the last names are spelled T-R-U-M-P. And that to our conservative friends is gold in Republican circles. How else can one explain the tight grip that Trump wields over the Republican Party in Washington and across America, even as he is in the legal fight of his life his base is firmly supportive of wh...
Disclaimer: All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Holidays are events reserved for celebrations of just having a good time with family and friends. The last thing one would want is to have something happen that would otherwise put a damper on the celebration. Guns should never be in the equation whether one is celebrating or not. On July 4, 2023, Monroe Police were called to respond to a report of shots being fired in a southside neighborhood. When officers arrived at a...
Disclaimer: All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The so-called war on drugs continues in communities across the nation, and the city of Monroe is no exception. It may be worth it to some, but not at the expense of losing your freedom or perhaps your life. On June 29, 2023, around 7:40 PM, Monroe Police responded to reports of numerous shots fired in an area containing apartments on Bunch Circle in Monroe, LA. Upon arrival at the apartment complex, officers said an anonymous witness told them that alleged shooters ran into a re...
It was a decision that Louisiana Republicans didn’t want, but perhaps quietly acknowledged that there wasn’t anything that they could do about it. A decision by the U.S. Supreme Court requiring Louisiana legislators to redraw its congressional maps because the current one allegedly violates Voting Rights Act. Louisiana’s Black state legislators have been trying for years to have a second majority voting district in a state where the Afro-American population is one-third Black. But Republicans have resisted every attempt by Black leaders to ca...
Eleven years is a long time to wait for justice. That is like waiting a lifetime for someone to be in what seems to be limbo, waiting for that someone who has taken the life of an innocent to finally face justice. No, it is not about revenge. God will take care of that. It's been eleven years since one of God's angels left this world. It also has been eleven years of hurt and pain for a mother who misses her daughter so very much. Synkeva Latrice McGee left this world following a tragic...
Tragedy struck a Monroe neighborhood, as Monroe Police report that a 16-year-old youth is dead following a shooting. Homicide is the third leading cause of death for those between ages 12 and 17, behind accidents and suicide, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Homicide is now the leading cause of death among African American youth. MPD said the shooting happened around 4:16 PM on South McGuire Street in Monroe, LA. The victim's name has not been released, nor have any suspect(s) identified. As of press time, this...
A local family wants the community to know more of the facts concerning a recent media article about their loved one who was the subject of two alleged murders that happened in 2017 and 2019. Devonte Coleman was arrested, charged, and convicted on murder charges stemming from the deaths of Junius Benton in 2017 and Darrell Stevenson in 2019. Colem Through a series of legal maneuvers, Coleman would have his 2017 conviction on negligent homicide overturned by the Louisiana Supreme Court....
The regular school year may be over for many of our kids, but there are some that must attend summer school. Wherever a child attends summer school, the conditions must be the same in the classrooms and elsewhere on the campus. That includes the cafeteria area. The Monroe Dispatch has learned through sources that there appear to be alleged serious health concerns at Barkdull Faulk Elementary School in the school's cafeteria. Sources say that a recent inspection by the Louisiana Department of...
Disclaimer: All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty. According to local law enforcement, three individuals have been arrested on a variety of charges following a recent traffic stop. On Thursday, June 15, 2023, deputies of the Ouachita Parish Sheriff's Office SCAT team stopped a vehicle on Orange Street that was occupied by three individuals. The three individuals were identified as Oterrance Matthews, Stephyium Burks, and Tavarius Cooks. During the traffic stop Oterrance Matthews...
Disclaimer: All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Relationships, by and large, are what we make of them. Most if not all start out innocent enough as two people seem to enjoy being in each other’s company. But, as we all know, relationships can change at the drop of a dime. A local woman recently found out just how toxic and perhaps dangerous a relationship can be when the other party shows a side that can be frightening. On Wednesday, June 14, 2023, police officers were sent to check on the condition of an alleged victim. W...
A local woman is going through an experience that so many of those who rent an apartment or house have found all too common. For many that move, may start as “everything is going to be fine”. Nice pleasantries are exchanged, as the new tenant may feel that the place that they are about to move in, “is the one”. This particular woman said that she felt that way, but admitted that someone told her that she might be making a bad move. However, she felt confident that along with her dog, she made a good move. Everything, the woman said, was goi...
It is indeed a Juneteenth reason to celebrate. An American military installation just west of Alexandria has bestowed an honor on a Black soldier who was much more than a hero. For decades, Fort Polk has served as a military installation that has sent thousands, if not millions of Americans to distant lands to fight for freedom. It is home to the Joint Readiness Training Center and the Third Brigade Combat Team of the Tenth Mountain Division. Now the installation has a new name that opens a new chapter telling the world what this nation can do...
Disclaimer: All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty. A man alleged to have been involved in a 2017 shooting at the Parkview Apartments has been found guilty. Chadarrius Morehead was the lone suspect accused of shooting Kentarrius Webb at the apartment complex and was later identified as the shooter by a witness at the scene. Monroe Police also observed video evidence from the apartment complex, which showed Morehead allegedly committing the act. Webb died at a local hospital, as...
Disclaimer: All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty. As humans, we all have no say-so on how or when we come into this world. We are all the by-products of the actions of a man and a woman. After birth, we can't take care of ourselves, as our very survival depends on those who will care for us until we can walk, talk, feed ourselves, and adapt to our surroundings. As we grow older, our minds and bodies undergo an amazing transformation, but we still need those who brought us into...
A controversial resolution establishing purchasing and bidding procedures for the city of Monroe was again met with feedback from the community at Tuesday’s June 13, 2023 meeting, as the members of the city council brought the matter back for further discussion. When the resolution came up for the first time for council consideration, there was considerable backlash directed at council members and Mayor Friday Ellis. Before there was any discussion on the resolution, Council President Kema Dawson had Kurt Kelly from Purchasing address the m...
t was a decision that Republicans weren’t expecting. One that they probably felt was in the bank. After all, they had the U. S. Supreme on their side. Well, at least four of the justices. Black Alabamians were elated following the news that Republicans in the Alabama legislature will have to redraw voting districts in the state as the Supreme Court said it violated the 1965 Voting Rights Act. Lawmakers, according to the ruling, will have to draw new congressional maps that “reflect the growing Black population” in the state. The 5-4 decis...
The Alexandria Police Department is facing a federal lawsuit stemming from an incident where a Black woman died while in custody after two Alexandria police officers arrested her. The lawsuit was filed by the mother of Rose Marie Taylor, who was in the Rapides Parish Detention Center No. 1 on May 19, 2022, when she was found unresponsive in her cell, two days after she was arrested by Alexandria police officers Brian and Matthew Frost. The two officers are alleged to be father and son, with...
The shootings continue. The death toll keeps going up. When will it end? Only God knows. The next minute is not guaranteed to anyone. We are told to constantly be aware of our surroundings and to always be on guard But is that any way for people to live? Sadly, in this day and time, yes. A daily dose of reality reminds us. Just a few days ago, someone made the decision that they were going to end someone's life. On June 5, 2023, Monroe Police responded to a call around 10:14 PM about a shooting...
Former Monroe police officer Reggie Brown has had what one could call a "complicated" relationship with some within the city of Monroe as a police officer. He has held several positions within the department, going all the way to that of chief. Many will say that was because of his "relationship" with former mayor Jamie Mayo, that as long as Mayo was the mayor, Brown was the chief. That all changed with the changing of who sat behind the mayor's desk when the current mayor, Oliver "Friday"...
School’s out and the temperature is rising. Kids need to spend some time outside, no matter how hot it may get. It is in their nature. They also want to have some fun at the same time. One way for kids to have their cake and eat it too is to spend some fun time in a pool. The city is offering swimming lessons at two of the city’s community pools for the summer. The two community pools are at Henrietta Johnson Rec Center at 2238 Burg Jones Lane and Lillie Marbles Rec Center on Renwick Street next to Miller Funeral Home. Before the fun could beg...
Former Vice President of America Mike Pence is running to be president. That might have been breaking news at one time, something out of the ordinary, but it’s only Mike Pence. And it comes as no surprise that Pence finally decided to put his hat in the ring, as it would have been more of a surprise if he hadn’t. When one looks at the announced candidates already running, Pence, a former vice president, has the credentials to govern as a president. That doesn’t mean he would be a great president, as he didn’t have the “best example...
Disclaimer: All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty. We never know what is going to happen in the next second. It could be whether we are alone or with someone. In each scenario, it is best to be as calm as possible and think clearly if we can. That appeared to be the case for a local woman who became the victim of an alleged rape attempt by someone she knew. On May 30, 2023, Monroe police arrested the individual that the victim alleges tried to rape her. It all started back on February 23, 2023, when the victim was at the DeSiard...
Members of the Louisiana House of Representatives are quietly making things safer for Louisiana residents. Are there safer regulations when it comes to health? How about bringing down the high automobile insurance rates and enacting stricter alcohol-related injury laws? No; but if the average citizen wanted to purchase a firearm, the House just made it easier to walk around with one. The House, through legislation, last week passed HB 131, which would allow the possession of firearms without any required training or permits necessary. Why,...
Disclaimer: All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty. A suspect that Monroe Police have sought for a shooting incident that happened in January has been arrested. Malik Long had been identified and accused of firing at police officers and was also wanted on other charges. According to multiple reports from Monroe Police Department, Long has been associated with other alleged crimes in the area, including a shooting incident at a local Walmart in Monroe LA. In the incident...
Disclaimer: All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty. A Richwood man is in the Ouachita Correctional Center and facing charges after he was arrested after being involved in a fatal crash on Interstate 20. Louisiana State Police responded to the scene located at mile marker 123, on May 29 around 9:20 p.m., where they saw a vehicle described as a 2006 GMC Yukon on the north side of the roadway crashed into a line of trees. According to LSP, contact was made with the alleged driver...
So we have a deal. At least in principle. After what seems like an eternity, every time the issue of what is to be done concerning the nation’s debt ceiling grabs the attention, a deal gets done. That’s the word from the White House and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, as both entities seemed to have played a game of chicken, taking the deadline down to the wire. Perhaps what angers the majority of voters is why it takes Democrats and particularly Republicans to want to take hardline stances, the old my-way-or-the-highway attitude every time the d...
A female pedestrian who people that frequent the Ticheli/Standifer/Burg Jones Lane area, said that the individual was involved in a hit-run incident on 5/19/2023. According to sources, a call for emergency services was made at about 11:39 p.m. when the female’s body was discovered on Ticheli Road near Lynn Street in Monroe LA. According to witnesses, an ambulance soon arrived with officers from the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office to render aid. After rendering aid to the victim, witnesses said that Jackie M. Blanson was transported to a loc...
Disclaimer: All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Ouachita Parish Sheriff's Deputies responded to a morning call on Monday, May 22, 2023, about a stabling at the Town and Country apartment complex. When deputies arrived, they discovered a male victim who, from an updated report, was pronounced dead at the scene. The victim had not been identified until the next of kin could be notified. According to deputies, a person of interest was in their custody. Later in the afternoon,...
Disclaimer: All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty. In today's time, the old saying, "Shoppers beware" carries so much weight when one thinks about their personal safety. Often, there is so much on one's mind about what to buy that we can easily forget that something dangerous can happen in the next moment. That warning on being aware should be about being prepared for anything that could happen next. A recent shooting at a local Walmart must have had shoppers on edge, as Monroe...
