NEW YORK -- Inmates at the federal prison camp in Otisville, N.Y., were stunned at what they saw at the chapel library on Memorial Day: Hundreds of books disappeared from the shelves.
The removal of the books is occurring nationwide -- part of a long-delayed post-Sept. 11 federal directive designed to prevent radical religious texts, specifically Islamic ones, from falling into the hands of violent inmates.
Three inmates from Otisville filed a lawsuit over the policy, saying their Constitutional rights were violated. They say all religions were affected -- Islamic prayer books, Christian books, and ancient Jewish texts were among those removed.
"The set of books that have been taken out have been ones that we used to minister to new converts when they come in here," inmate John Okon, speaking on behalf of the prison's Christian population, told a judge last week.
Okon said it was unfortunate because "I have really seen religion turn around the life of some of these men, especially in the Christian community."

The Black Press of America's National Convention will be held in Seattle on June 20-24  hosted by The Skanner at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel. Save the dates! For full details go to http://www.nnpa.org

Read here a day-by-day diary of free community events to fill your week...

WASHINGTON D.C. –- Despite President Bush's win of a restriction-free $120 billion Iraqi War-funding bill, some Congressional Black Caucus members are trying to sweeten his defeat of the Democrats' war proposal by highlighting the victories for Hurricane Katrina, minimum wage and other domestic funds.
"I feel real good about what we've done. I think that we've changed direction as far as policy is concerned," said House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn, D-S.C..... Of the 40 voting members of the Congressional Black Caucus, only five joined Clyburn in voting for the final passage of the war-funding bill. Thirty-three voted against it. Two did not vote.

BALTIMORE — Parren J. Mitchell, an eloquent, but soft-spoken man who was a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus and a champion of civil rights, has died.
Mitchell, 85, had been in intensive care and died on Memorial Day. 
He had been living in a nursing home since suffering a series of strokes several years earlier and died of complications from pneumonia, according to his nephew, former state Sen. Michael Mitchell.
"He had a very good life," Mitchell said.

When you're competing at state, it doesn't matter that you've dominated your team all season long. It doesn't even matter that you're a contender for first place in your event. 
Here's what matters: one-half inch and a twisted ankle.
One half inch is all Dominique Harris needed to win the triple jump event at the state track and field meet on May 19.....

Darryl Miles surveys the room of young men and their families inside the Jefferson High cafeteria and grins. Soon, these faces will be familiar as the year begins.
The affable 45-year-old, ex-Enron executive is jumping into one of Portland's most novel educational experiments – the same-sex academies at Jefferson.
"My hope for this school is that we can affect positive change and show these young boys what it means to become productive men," Miles says. 

Nyela Richardson, 6, left, Abrianna Tatum, center, and two other Hawthorne Elementary School Rhythm Nation Dance Team members perform during the school's annual Multicultural Night, held Wednesday May 23. This year's "One World" event included merengue, African and Mexican dancers, and Vietnamese singers.

This past Memorial Day weekend honored not only those who have sacrificed their lives for their…

WASHINGTON D.C. — Rep. William Jefferson, D-La., was indicted today on federal charges of racketeering, soliciting bribes and money laundering in a long-running bribery investigation into business deals he tried to broker in Africa.
The indictment handed up in federal court in Alexandria, Va., is more than an inch thick and list 16 alleged violations of federal law that could keep Jefferson in prison for up to 200 years.
Almost two years ago, in August 2005, investigators raided Jefferson's home in Louisiana and found $90,000 in cash stuffed into a box in his freezer.