43rd District

By Julianne Malveaux

For as long as I have known her, Maxine Waters has been one of my sheroes, a sister I love, admire, and emulate. When she was in the California State Legislature, she was a relentless advocate for the least and the left out, and distinguished herself by divesting California state funds from companies doing business with South Africa in 1986. She was a loyal champion of Rev. Jesse Jackson's presidential campaign in 1984 and in 1988, and a whirlwind force for social and economic justice in California.

By Patrick McDonnell and Ruben Vives

People across Southern California took part in vigils, prayer services and other acts of remembrance Saturday as the region marked the ninth anniversary of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11.

"I just decided to drive up and make this my memorial celebration," said Rose Diaz, one of many who took a reflective interlude on the campus of Pepperdine University in Malibu, off Pacific Coast Highway.

by John North

Thousands of local Muslims marked the end of the holy month of Ramadan Friday, the same day word came from Florida that a pastor's threat to burn copies of the Koran has been called off.

Los Angeles Congresswoman Maxine Waters and a group of African American church leaders came together Friday to condemn the announcement by the Reverend Terry Jones that he would burn the Koran. Jones planned to do it on the ninth anniversary of September 11, 2001.

By Olu Alemoru

Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Los Angeles, who said she was "shocked and appalled" at the plan by a Florida pastor to publicly burn 1,000 copies of the Quran, joined area faith leaders Friday to call on him to keep his pledge to cancel the controversial event.

The group included First AME Church Senior Minister, the Rev. John J. Hunter and his wife Denise and political activist and college professor, Dr. Ron Karenga and his wife Tiamoya.

Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Los Angeles, and the pastor of the First AME Church today joined the chorus of outrage over a Florida minister's threat to burn the Quran on the anniversary of 9/11.

"America was created as a safe haven for religious freedoms,'' FAME Pastor John J. Hunter said during a news conference at the church. "At this time of remembrance of the 2,977 victims of the 2001 terrorist attacks, it is the role of the church to urge communities to come together across all races and religions and to respect and defend the diversity of faiths of our fellow man.

By Yussuf J. Simmonds