Peace meeting plans in Metro Atlanta

My Hero, Rev. Dr. Henry Bradford, Sr. dies

1957 photo from The Heritage, A&M's yearbook

Listen to obituary: https://obits.al.com/obituaries/huntsville/obituary.aspx?n=henry-bradford&pid=191869198&fhid=23832

The Rev. Dr. Henry Bradford, Jr., my former piano/voice teacher and mentor, has died. If anyone is listening to a heavenly choir and orchestra, he is!

Notes made by Rev. Bradford in my John Thompson Piano Course book

Rev. Bradford taught me how to play "Oh Danny Boy" on the piano and also accompanied me when I performed solos at beauty pageants. He was very patient with me, even though my fingers were small and I didn't like to practice.

The Bradfords were married over 70 years.

"Fingering" I needed to work on noted in red by Rev. Bradford

Bradford is survived by his wife, Nell, and they were married for over 70 years. They have two living children - Andrea and Hank, III. It has been reported that Bradford, 97, died days after being involved in a car accident in which his wife was also injured.

Family hour will be Friday night, and the funeral will be held  Saturday at 12 noon in Huntsville, Ala.

Rev. Bradford wrote the music for A&M's school song.

For more information on Rev. Bradford's life, go to:  http://www.aamu.edu/news/2011/Pages/AAMU-Mourns-Death-of-Icon.aspx?fbclid=IwAR0zO_0bRO3hbfNto9FvX_jeP3oRvQaSre_XPLCypsPkmprXFQNfKLs-pr0

Oh, Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling
From glen to glen, and down the mountain side.
The summer's gone, and all the roses falling,
It's you, it's you must go and I must bide.

But come ye back when summer's in the meadow,
Or when the valley's hushed and white with snow,
It's I'll be here in sunshine or in shadow,
Oh, Danny boy, oh Danny boy, I love you so!

But when ye come, and all the flowers are dying,
If I am dead, as dead I well may be,
You'll come and find the place where I am lying,
And kneel and say an Ave there for me.
And I shall hear, though soft you tread above me,
And all my grave will warmer, sweeter be,
For you will bend and tell me that you love me,
And I shall sleep in peace until you come to me!

Funeral: https://www.facebook.com/ucmbc.pastor.davis/videos/dr-henry-bradford-jr-funeral-23-march-2019/1367723656703680/

Muslim leader condemns attack in New Zealand

The World Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, the Fifth Khalifa (Caliph), His Holiness Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad has strongly condemned the terrorist attack that took place earlier in New Zealand.

Speaking from London, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:

“On behalf of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community worldwide, I express my deepest sympathies and condolences to all those affected by the barbaric terrorist attack that has taken place in Christchurch.

“Such heinous and utterly inhumane attacks must be condemned in the strongest possible terms. It is a grave tragedy that dozens of innocent Muslims have lost their lives whilst joining together for worship. All people, no matter their faith or belief, have the right to worship peacefully.

“This tragic event should serve as a lesson and warning to other countries of the developed world that we must join together to tackle all forms of racial, ethnic and religious hatred with wisdom and with a firm hand.

“Our heartfelt prayers are with the victims of these attacks and all those who have been affected. May the perpetrators of this evil act be promptly brought to justice.”

Additionally from a local member: "We are horrified and devastated by this attack. New Zealand is a peaceful and tolerant country and if this can happen there, it shows that no part of the world is safe from extremism or terrorism. 

"We offer our deepest sympathies and prayers all those affected by this tragedy. 

"Ahmadiyya Muslim Community has spoken out against extremism for many years. It is not the right time to apportion blame but certainly when the dust has settled we hope that authorities across the world will see how the perpetrator(s) were radicalized and what can be done to prevent such hatreds developing in future. Everyone has a role to play to fight extremism by promoting tolerance and speaking out against all forms of bigotry and prejudice."

Read the alleged killer's Manifesto here: 

https://katana17.wordpress.com/2019/03/15/the-great-replacement-manifesto-of-new-zealand-mosque-shooter-mar-2019/

"Healthcare Not Handcuffs" meeting with Georgia Legislators Tuesday

On behalf of local criminal justice reform organizations, you are invited to attend a teach-in and dialogue with Georgia legislators on how our state can reduce criminalization of mental illness and increase access to critical behavioral health services. 

To register, go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/healthcare-not-handcuffs-tickets-56670327475
Join local organizations, state legislators, impacted community members, and advocates to learn about the critical needs facing people in our state, and what the state legislature could do to move from punishment to healing, from locking people up to connecting them to care. 

AGENDA HIGHLIGHTS

• Impact of Lack of Mental Health Resources on People, Families and Communities
• Historical Perspective on Mental Health and Criminal Justice Reforms in Georgia
• Opportunities for reform:
  • Atlanta/Fulton County Pre-Arrest Diversion Initiative
  • Mental health care in local jails
  • No Health = No Justice community conversations report
• Legislator Panel and Discussion
• Hosted by the Southern Center for Human Rights • Legal Action Center  • Mental Health America of Georgia • National Incarceration Association •  Atlanta/Fulton County Pre-Arrest Diversion Initiative

Update on the Riverside Apartment crisis in South Cobb County, Ga.

This information was provided by Community Activist Monica DeLancy.

The attorney representing the three sister properties - Kingsley Village, Parkview Apartments and Hunter Grove Apartments - withdrew from the eviction cases on March 15th. All cases from those properties were dismissed, and residents who had counter claims were awarded their judgments. There were multiple judgments awarded -were $15000, $1500, $2950, $1200, and $1000.

On Monday, March 11th new property managers took over the property and stated that they are in the process of working maintenance orders and speaking with tenants to build relationships. The tenants who went to court for eviction were filed before the new management started on March 11th.

On March 12th, 30 residents from the South Cobb community went to the state Capitol to discuss HB346 with elected officials as well as education policies. HB 346 is the bill presented by Representative Sharon Cooper that stops landlords from retaliation if residents complain about living conditions on rental properties. The trip was organized by Monica DeLancy, We thrive in Riverside Renters Association in partnership with National Center on Learning Disabilities, and Word of Faith sponsored the transportation.

The three properties are still owned by the same investment group which has requested a jury trial for their 80 code violations. The date of the trial have not been set.

Opportunity to Thrive Community Pop Up will be at Parkview Apartments, 360 Riverside Parkway in Austell, Georgia on Thursday, March 21st 1:00p.m. to 4p.m. This will be an opportunity for residents to meet the new managers and receive fresh fruits and vegetables from Amerigroup. In addition there will be resource guides and keep Cobb Beautiful info table so residents can learn strategies to help keep their community clean. The Community Pop Up is in partnership with We Thrive in Riverside Renters Association.

For more information, contact Monica DeLancy at 770-369-6531.

For federal rental assistance, go to https://www.hud.gov/topics/rental_assistance.

Culture makes U.S. communities great!

International Night at McCleskey Middle School

Opinion: At the same time I have been reading Alain Locke’s "Race Contacts and Interracial Relations", our WingChun Kung fu School, Atlanta WingChun (http://www.iaw-atlanta.com), was invited to give a demonstration at Cobb County’s McCleskey Middle School for the PTA’s International Night.

Locke removed race from its biological basis and put it on a cultural foundation. The idea that we should harness and promote our many cultural strengths as a nation will lead us to truly make our communities better, for in “America”, all cultures are important; none should be placed in a vacuum, and none should be deemed supreme.

Martial arts training can be enjoyed by all.

At the event, a student of Chinese descent asked me what country I was representing. When I said China, she looked at me a little puzzled. “Do you speak Chinese?” she asked. “No, but my family teaches a martial arts style from China,” I told her.

Yes, African Americans do practice and teach kung fu! In our classes, we teach all races and sexes from different countries -  Mexico, England, Columbia, Ethiopia, etc. Kung fu is an art that can be enjoyed by all, and our Grandmaster is German!

When one of our highest leaders proclaimed that “We speak English here,” he made a lying mockery of our cultural strengths. Doesn’t his wife speak four or five languages? Aren’t polyglots some of the most advanced people in the universe which could mean the more languages you speak, the more folks you can relate to?

Expand your mind, and never limit your learning.