The battle against police brutality raged on over the weekend when the newly formed Alliance for Police Accountability held a rally calling for justice for Jordan Miles at Freedom Corner in the Hill District.

Miles, a soon-to-be graduate of the Pittsburgh Public High School for Creative and Performing Arts, was allegedly beaten by three undercover police officers in January.

JUSTICE FOR JORDAN—Organizers march in Downtown Pittsburgh on their way to the City-County building.

“We as a people need to do something about police brutality,” said Raenelle Dixon, whose father Charles Dixon was killed in 2002 by a Wilkinsburg police officer.

The rally on June 12 featured a number of speakers, including Tim Stevens of the Black Political Empowerment Project; activist rapper Jasiri X; community activist Paradise Gray; Green Party congressional candidate Ed Bortz; Bret Grote of the activist group HRC-Fed Up, and Miles’ mother and grandmother and some friends from CAPA.

A true celebration of the past, present and the future is the only way to describe the Pittsburgh Black Media Federation’s 27th Annual Robert L. Vann awards reception that took place June 10 at the William Pitt Student Union of the University of Pittsburgh.

GROUP OF WINNERS—From left: Ashley G. Woodson, Debbie Norrell, Rebecca Nuttall, Ulish Carter, Rod Doss, Ashley Johnson, LaMont Jones and J.L. Martello, members of the New Pittsburgh Courier, display their awards for various categories.

“The reception was outstanding. Every year we have a great turnout. It was so nice to see the television coverage,” said Tonita Davidson, president of the PBMF. “Sometimes our stories get hidden within the ‘regular’ media and our journalists do not get the recognition, like they should (and the Robert L. Vann awards does that). It encourages journalists and shows it (their stories) do matter.”

Six months after Indiana University of Pennsylvania President Anthony Atwater received a vote of no confidence from the university’s faculty union, he has announced his resignation.

TONY ATWATER

“From the faculty perspective, we actually welcome Dr. Atwater’s departure. From our vote of no confidence last year we were very unsatisfied with his performance. There are decisions that have been made by Atwater that have compromised the university economically,” said Francisco Alarcón, vice president of IUP’s Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties. “I think although some of the administration and the board of governors have indicated they were pleased with his performance, I think it’s no coincidence his contract wasn’t renewed.”

Byrdsong apologized in advance for his comments prior to the start of the June 9 board meeting, then charged the authority had shafted him—mainly because there were no Blacks in high management positions since Mulu Birru left as director. He said Homewood has been ignored to the point where the business corridor “looks like 1968.”

RASHAD BYRDSONG