PUSH LEADER URGES BOYCOTT

Howell Wants Federal Funds Cut From Local Law Enforcement

Threats of boycotts and picketing came from the pulpit of New Revival
Christian Center on Monday as Rainbow PUSH of Columbus president
William B. Howell said he is tired of the lack of disclosure of law
enforcement proceedings, especially as it deals with the Kenneth B.
Walker shooting.

"We are sick and tired of being kicked around, and abused and being
talked about and treated like a slave in this 21st century," Howell
said.

Walker was fatally shot Dec. 10 by a Muscogee County sheriff's deputy
during the stop of a vehicle suspected of carrying armed drug
traffickers from Miami. Walker and three other local men were pulled
from the vehicle. No drugs or weapons were found. The name of the
deputy who shot Walker has not been released. The Sheriff's Department
has refused to release a videotape of the stop.

Howell said the shooting was relevant because of black
history.

"We have a tremendous history as a black people," Howell said. "As we
enter into the 21st century, 2004 to be exact, we must not let their
intimidation, agitation and aggravation cause us to retrogress with
our history."

He said Muscogee County Sheriff Ralph Johnson was "arrogant" for not
being more open with the investigation.

"He's wrong and he knows he's wrong," Howell said.

The organization, along with the local NAACP and National Action
Network chapters, is planning to picket in front of the Government
Center next week. At Monday's rally, a petition was circulated calling
for Johnson's resignation.

Howell is also asking that federal funds be cut from all local law
enforcement agencies "until they get their house in order." Howell
also asked those in the community to stop attending events at the
Civic Center, Columbus Convention & Trade Center and other city-owned
venues.

"This is really going to hurt," Howell said. "We just ain't fooling.
We intend to do everything we say we are going to do."

The New Revival gospel choir sang praise and worship songs before
Howell spoke to about 100 people attending the rally. Other speakers
included attorney Dwayne L. Brown, who is representing the three other
men who were in the car with Walker, and John Cole Vodicka, director
of the Prison and Jail Project, headquartered in Americus, Ga.

Howell is also pushing for the recent events in Columbus to receive
national attention.

"The Walker case is the biggest secret in the whole world," Howell
said before the rally Monday.

He said that the organization is calling chapters across the Southeast
for assistance in bringing the case to more people's attention. He has
also extended an invitation to the Rev. Jesse Jackson, national PUSH
president, and talked to one of Jackson's aides Monday about the
prospect of a visit. According to the organization's Web site, Jackson
is in South Carolina dealing with racial reconciliation and voter
registration.

The organization is "real concerned" about the Walker case, said
Janice Mathis, vice president of Rainbow PUSH in Atlanta. Jackson is
aware of the situation and will consider visiting Columbus, she said.

"If Rev. Howell wants us there, we are going to try to find the time
to come down," Mathis said.

Jackson has a commitment in Columbia, S.C., on Feb. 3, and is trying
to work it in his schedule to come down to Columbus at that time,
Mathis said.

Citizens' Review Commission

Edward DuBose, the Columbus Branch NAACP president, is on the agenda
for tonight's city council meeting and is planning on "aggressively"
seeking the creation of a citizens' review commission to investigate
claims of law enforcement misconduct. DuBose, who speaks for about
1,000 local NAACP members, said that he first started asking for a
review board four years ago.

"We've already allowed for one tragedy to happen. We need to prevent
another one from occurring," DuBose said. "There needs to be something
in place for check and balances."

He said he is bringing it before the council because it is the
governing body, and that he also plans to talk with Columbus Police
Chief Willie Dozier.

"I want them to commit one way or another," DuBose said. "Four years
have passed. I want to let them see time is of the essence."

A group of black and minority elected officials who held a news
conference Friday are also pushing for the creation of a citizens'
review commission.

"Through this commission, citizens will work with officers to
investigate allegations of misconduct and recommend findings to the
head of the law enforcement agency," State Rep. Calvin Smyre said on
Friday. "Ultimately, the commission will help insure both the openness
and fairness of reviews of law enforcement agencies'
procedures."

Four city councilors -- Julius Hunter, Evelyn Turner Pugh, Nathan
Suber and Mimi Woodson -- stood behind Smyre as he read the statement.

The Investigation

Special Agent in Charge Chris Hosey of the Greenville office of the
Georgia Bureau of Investigation said Monday the agency is attempting
to finish up interviews. He said he hopes to complete them by the end
of the week. After that, the GBI will turn the case over to the
district attorney. It is difficult to determine when that information
will be ready, Hosey said, because the documentation must all be
correct and in legalese.

"There is nothing to report. The case is still pending," said FBI
Special Agent Steve Lazarus. Muscogee County Sheriff Department Capt.
J. McCrea said the Sheriff's Department also has nothing to report.

Today Columbus Mayor Bob Poydasheff will hold a media briefing "for
the purpose of explaining the process involved in the
investigation."