b'WALKING WHILE BLACK CAN BE DEADLY IN AURORABY BLACKMAINSTREET.com the trial of two officers charged in the 2021 death of her son.Imdisappointedbecause,despite A fter leaving anAurora conve- alltheevidenceinfrontoftheir niencestore,ElijahMcClainface, they still played the race card, was described by one male caller toMcClainsaidinaninterviewwitha police as sketchy. local television reporter after the ver-Police jumped on McClain, 23, whodict was read.was 5 foot 7 inches and weighed 145Right is right, and wrong is wrong. pounds,andbeathim.AparamedicAndwhenyoucontinuetoallowthe later injected McClain with ketamine.type of injustice that happened to my He died three days later in a local hos- son, there is so much to work on.pital. SheneenMcClainmovedherchil-JurorsconvictedaColoradopolicedren to Colorado to escape gang vio-officerinmid-Octobberbutalsolence, but the police gangs are much acquittedaformercopofchargesmore brutal.inthe2019deathofMcClain.RoedemaandRosenblattwerethe InearlyNovember,asecondjuryfirsttwooffivepoliceofficersand acquuited acquitted Nathan Woodyardparamedics to stand trial over charges onchargesofrecklessmanslaughterlinkedtoMcClainsdeath,which and criminally negligent homicide. gained renewed attention amid nation-Woodyard was the first police officerwide protests following the murder of on the scene in August 2019 and putGeorge Floyd in Minneapolis in 2020.McClain in a carotid hold. A local prosecutor initially declined to Aurora police officer Randy Roedema,bring criminal charges over McClains 41,wasfoundguiltyofcriminallydeath partly because of an inconclu-negligenthomicideandthird-degreesiveinitialautopsyreport,butthe assault. The 12-person jury found theofficers involved were indicted in 2021 otherofficer,JasonRosenblatt,34,afterColoradoAttorneyGeneralPhil who was fired in 2020, not guilty onWeiser launched a grand jury investi-all charges. gation. and federal law through racially biased ThiswasnotahappyoutcomeforAuroraagreedtopay$15millionpolicing, use of excessive force, failing McClainsmother,butinaway,shetosettleafederalcivilrightslawsuitto record community interactions, and said she expected the decision becausebrought by McClains parents in 2021. unlawfully administering ketamine.her son was Black. Also, in 2021, a civil rights investi- Thetwoparamedicsaresched-SheneenMcClainsaidthatsheisgation into the Aurora police and fireuledtostandtrialinNov.27. disappointed after the split verdict indepartments found they violated state ABOUT JOHN BAILEY first-hand the world of a small business owner. For several years John was the President and owner of a small sports-wear business and currently owns The Bailey Consulting Network,acommunityconsultingbusinessemphasizing organizationaloutreachforcorporate,politicalandcom-John Bailey, the subject of Body of Christ News first magazine cover,munity programs. John also knows youth. His commitment is the leader of the Colorado Black Rountable , which just completed utsand guidance to Joint Effort Youth Foundation, (a youth annual Summit (see page 6) and is beginning a monthly series of Meet anddevelopment sports and education program) he founded for Greets (see page 2). Learn a bit more about this influentaial leader here:Colorado and Denver metro youth, is known throughout the state and nation for its positive impact on young people and J ohn T. Bailey was born and raised in Danville, Virginia.student-athletes. John has assisted over 3,000 young peo-He attended public schools in Princeton, New Jersey andple secure scholarships and/or financial support to college.graduated from South Brunswick High School in MonmouthOver the past 40 years, his community service involve-Junction,NewJersey.Aftergraduation,Baileyattendedment has included volunteering for the YMCA, numerous WagnerCollegeonanathleticscholarship.JohnBaileycity programs and recreation centers (Glenarm, St. Charles, enteredthe1971ABASpecialCircumstancesBasketballSkyland,Montbello,CookPark,LaAlma,FordWarren DraftandwasassignedtotheVirginiaSquires.In1973Library,FivePointsBusinessAssociation,Groff/Tanner wasacommunityorganizerandeventuallybecametheCommunityOffice,UrbanLeague,DaddyBruce,Regular Executive Director of the Princeton Youth Center. Fellows Social Club, etc). In addition, he has been devoted to In1976,JohnmovedhisfamilytoDenverwherehescores of youth programs and activities as well as support-became the head of the CU student government and playeding the efforts of many other neighborhood groups, church-a significant role in a number of other national and locales, sororities, fraternities, and organizations which provide campaigns as a political consultant. In addition, he knowsCONTINUTED ONBOCNEWS.COM4 11/23 bocnews.com'