June 20th to June 26th: Edgar Ray Killen to Serve 60 Years
Forty-one years, to the day, after conspiring to kill, 80-year-old Edgar Ray Killen was found guilty and sentenced to three consecutive 20-year terms, the maximum allowed under law, for his part in the killing of three civil rights workers in Neshoba County, Mississippi on June 21, 1964.
During the summer of 1964, Michael Schemer, Andrew Goodman, both native New Yorkers, and James Chaney volunteered to help register black voters for the Freedom Summer civil rights campaign in Philadelphia, Mississippi. On their way to investigate the burning of a black church, the men were stopped by police and briefly held in custody for speeding. Upon release, they were abducted and shot to death by the Klu Klux Klan, under the direction of Killen, also a Baptist preacher. Their bodies were found 44 days later in an earthen dam.
A southern Baptist preacher who also happens to be a member of the KKK… hmmm, lets ponder, shall we?
Moving on, the motto of the week could have been that oh so familiar jingle, “gotta go, gotta go, gotta go right now…,” except without the bladder problem the commercial suggests, of course. The famous, or infamous depending on perspective, made it a point to be seen this week on the streets of good ole’ New York. From movie premieres to talk show guest appearances, from press conferences to simply standing in the middle of the street, waiting for cameras to flash and snap, the stars 
made their presence known. And yes- I am talking about Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes better known as TomKat. But while Cruise and the paparazzi seemed like a match made in tabloid heaven, there were many other stars who vied with vigor for the New York spotlight.
Kimora Lee Simmons, the self-proclaimed, “hardest working woman in the business,” attempted to live up to her title. On Monday, She and husband, Russell Simmons showed up at The Wayuu Taya Foundation’s 3rd Annual Gala. The Wayúu Tayá Foundation, founded by Venezuelan model and actress Patricia Velásquez, provides services to Latin-American indigenous people, improving their lives while maintaining and respecting their traditions, culture and beliefs. Other celebrities spotted in the crowd were Wilmer Valderama and Iman. Simmons then found time to make an appearance at Mattel’s launch party for the new Barbie Loves Benetton Collection the same day. Later in the week she showed up at the American Women in Radio & Television’s 30th Annual Gracie Allen Awards where she may have bumped into other attendees such as Gayle King, Susan Lucci and Paula Zahn at the Marriott Marquis.
Beyoncé Knowles never likes to be outdone. So she made her week in New York not 
only paparazzi friendly but also financially beneficial in the most charitable of ways. She hosted the Beyond the Red Carpet charity auction to benefit the VH1 Save the Music Foundation. The event was sponsored by her new clothing line, House of Deréon and was held at The Museum of Television and Radio. In addition, Knowles scheduled time for a number of guest appearances around town with and without her Destiny’s Child band mates. She was also on hand to celebrate with her man Jay-Z at his 2nd Anniversary Party for the 40/40 Club.
Victoria’s Secret model Jessica White also left her mark on the New York social scene this week. Among the laundry list of events she attended, was the iStar Financial’s 3rd Annual Charity Shootout benefiting the Robin Hood Foundation and Human Rights First, where she got to hang with former New York Knicks player, John Starks. Later in the week she was spotted at Quo for The Game’s sneaker launch party before heading off to her own birthday party where she celebrated with friends.
Also This Week in NYC:
- The Apollo Theatre holds their 2005 Spring Benefit on Monday.
Written by Admin @ 10:57 PM
<< Home