Deaf News Briefs: CODA accused of gruesome murder in NYC; Mississippi lawmakers pass bill on ASL as foreign language
USAToday: Sheldon Johnson, Joe Rogan podcast guest, arrested after body parts found in freezer
Alex: Here are two Deaf News briefs.
The first is about a 48-year-old CODA man named Sheldon Johnson Jr. He was arrested last week in New York City on a murder charge.
Police accused Johnson of shooting a 44-year-old man named Collin Small in his apartment before dismembering the man.
Police said they made the discovery when they responded to a request to do a welfare check last Tuesday night at Small’s home after neighbors heard gunshots. There, police found a headless torso that was identified as Small.
When police searched Johnson’s apartment in New York City, they found Small’s arms, legs and head inside a freezer.
Police said surveillance video shows Johnson entering and exiting Small’s building wearing different disguises and carrying a large bin.
I read reports that explained Johnson knew Small because they were friends and spent time in the same prison.
A video shows that Johnson shouted, “I’m innocent” when he was led out of a police station after his arrest. He has pleaded not guilty to his charge of murder and other related charges.
USAToday and other reports explained that Johnson, in February, appeared on “The Joe Rogan Experience” podcast to talk about his previous experience of being in prison for over 20 years for attempted murder. He was released last year and was doing advocacy work to help at-risk youth.
Johnson explained to Rogan that he grew up in Harlem in a “completely deaf household.” Johnson said in the interview his father was incarcerated when he was young and that his grandfather was also incarcerated and that he wanted to free himself from that cycle.
The New York Post interviewed Johnson’s father, Sheldon Johnson Sr. He said he is surprised and shocked that his son was arrested. The father said he still thinks his son did a lot of good in his advocacy work but that he threw his life away. He said he doesn’t know what happened and that he lives in New Jersey and his son lives in New York. He said his son didn’t talk enough with the family.
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WLBT: Senate passes bill to allow sign language curriculum count toward high school foreign language requirement
The second story is a report from local news in Mississippi that the state senate passed a bill to allow sign language classes count toward the high school foreign language requirement.
Last week, the Mississippi Senate passed S.B. 2339, which would require the Mississippi Board of Education to develop a curriculum related to sign language and stipulating that those who take this course would get credit towards their foreign language requirements.
Sen. Rod Hickman, who presented the bill on the floor, said some of their schools already offer sign language as an elective and this bill would be like an upgrade.
This is interesting — another senator asked whether a deaf student would feel offended if sign language is categorized as a foreign language.
Sen. Hickman responded by saying the bill does not classify sign language as a foreign language, but only allows students to use the classes to fulfill a graduation requirement.
The bill has advanced to the House of Representatives.
There are many states that accept sign language as a foreign language, but apparently not in Mississippi.
That’s the two Deaf News briefs for today.
https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/08/us/sheldon-johnson-nyc-murder/index.html