Monday, December 31, 2007
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Friday, December 21, 2007
Thursday, December 20, 2007
BBC NEWS | Africa | Ethiopia PM attacks UN on Somalia
"The UN now says persistent fighting between insurgents and Ethiopian-backed forces in Mogadishu has created Africa's worst humanitarian crisis."
The Congo and Darfur, Sudan notwithstanding."
The Congo and Darfur, Sudan notwithstanding."
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Africa and Cuba celebrate 30 years of Friendship Association
Cuba and Africa Mark 30th Anniversary of Friendship Association
Havana, Dec 17 (acn) The 30th anniversary of the creation of the
Cuba-Africa Friendship Association was commemorated last Saturday at
the venue of the Cuban Friendship Institute (ICAP) in Havana.
During the ceremony, the ambassador of Congo in Cuba, Pascal Onguembyi,
thanked the Cuban people and government for their permanent solidarity
with the African people in all sectors.
He stressed the Cuban contribution to the independence of countries
such as Angola, Ethiopia, Namibia, Guinea Bissau, South Africa and
Congo as well as the presence of Cuban internationalists in some of
those nations to fight against the discriminatory regime of the
Apartheid.
Onguembyi said that scientific cooperation has an important place in
this assistance. As a result, he noted, more than 5,850 people from
several African countries have received scientific and technical
training in various sectors on the island.
He added that sectors such as health, education, sports and agriculture
have also received the benefits of this cooperation.
The African diplomat recalled that Cuban doctors and other health
personnel making their contribution in Africa have performed more than
1.5 million operations and have treated more than 36 million patients
in that continent.
Monday, December 17, 2007
Giant rat found in 'lost world' - CNN.com
Anyone from Chi Town remember the "Super Rat" epidemic of like, 1978 -- to present for all I know. Weren't those bastards about this size on average?
Racial subtext surfaces in Iowa - Politics- msnbc.com
To all sheep: They stole your last two elections -- remember?
Or don't sheep have memory?
Or don't sheep have memory?
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Friday, December 14, 2007
Zimbabwe: Massive march supports a defiant government
Zimbabwe: Massive march supports a defiant government
Remember, the UN and the rest of the west slept while whites were given African land by their colonial masters. It is well and good that they be expelled permanently from Africa. That is the issue.
Remember, the UN and the rest of the west slept while whites were given African land by their colonial masters. It is well and good that they be expelled permanently from Africa. That is the issue.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Monday, December 10, 2007
Sexual Violence Legislative Watch and Alert Center
Urgent action alert!
The US HOuse of Representatives will vote on compromise year-end funding bill, including VAWA and VOCA funding, on Tuesday, December 11 -- Senate votes later in the week.
Call your elected representative regardless of how lame they most likely are.
The US HOuse of Representatives will vote on compromise year-end funding bill, including VAWA and VOCA funding, on Tuesday, December 11 -- Senate votes later in the week.
Call your elected representative regardless of how lame they most likely are.
Mumia Abu-Jamal Press Packet
Dear Anchors and Producers at The Today Show:
The letter by the Journalists for Mumia and other many groups supporting justice for Mumia is below. This is an excellent letter that presents truth and reality and provides informative links. However, there are a few additional issues I wish to address for your and Maureen Faulkner's consideration.
I have great sympathy for Maureen Faulkner losing her husband, especially to violence. I can only imagine her tragic suffering. Yet, I would hope that her suffering would motivate her to search for truth and reality. I would hope that her suffering would not blind her to the suffering of others who have endured injustice. I would hope that her suffering would enable her to reach into the deepest crevices of her soul and drive her to seek justice for all, including Mumia's family who have suffered greatly.
Unfortunately, Mrs. Faulkner seems content to dwell in a small world of self pity instead of searching for truth. The mainstream media seems only too willing to allow her to do this. This does her no good, and it does not serve the memory nor the honor of her deceased husband. Wouldn't her husband's wish be that she seek his true murderer? Wouldn't Mrs. Faulkner realize this if she truly wanted to see the real murderer punished? There is overwhelming evidence that Mumia did NOT kill her husband. Much of that evidence is mentioned in the letter below and is completely accessible to Mrs. Faulkner, as it is to you.
I can understand why Mrs. Faulkner might live in fear of her husband's fellow police officers and how they might have threatened her and/or manipulated her with deception and lies. The Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) is well known for its corruption and its violence. If you have done your research, you know this. There is some indication that Officer Faulkner was reporting FOP corruption to higher authorities. If that were true, the FOP would not be his friend, but his enemy--and a very formidable enemy. As Robert Wells reported in a Counterpunch article, September 30, 2006 (http://www.counterpunch.org/wells09302006 ):
"When Officer Daniel Faulkner was killed in 1981, three simultaneous FBI investigations into the Philadelphia police were taking place, one focused specifically on the Center City division. When the indictments came down, it was the biggest police corruption case in the history of the nation to that time. In the same year that Mumia was convicted more than thirty policemen from the Center City division went to prison, including a Deputy Commissioner, division commanders, Captains, Inspectors, Lieutenants, Sergeants, and rank-and-file officers. A third of these officers were involved in Mumia's arrest and prosecution. The Inspector who supervised Mumia's arrest was never called to testify at the trial; the day after Mumia was convicted he resigned from the department and was subsequently indicted and convicted for corruption."
Why are the FOP policemen so desperate that they have to threaten Mumia supporters? For example, last April 24, at a Free Mumia rally, the police used illegal threats against various important speakers and organizers? ( Betsey Piette http://www.itsabouttimebpp.com/Announcements/ATT00277.htm )
"Police first targeted the Clef Club-- an African-American jazz club that receives public funding-- and forced it to cancel its contract to host the Mumia event. However, the Third World Coalition at the American Friends Service Center stepped up and provided an alternative meeting space.
"The Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) put pressure on invited speakers, including actor/activist Danny Glover and Delacy Davis, founder of Black Cops Against Police Brutality, who told the rally he had received over 20 death threats from Philadelphia police officers in the last few weeks. Glover and Davis also spoke at a press conference prior to the evening rally.
"Pam Africa, head of International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal, says that when all this couldn't stop the rally from taking place, she was informed by the head of police Civil Affairs Unit that '400 plain-clothed police carrying weapons' would march on the Friends Center to 'confront' the rally."
Why would the FOP be so violently threatening? Why are they so afraid of the truth? Why is Maureen Faulker so afraid of the truth?
The letter by the Journalists for Mumia and other many groups supporting justice for Mumia is below. This is an excellent letter that presents truth and reality and provides informative links. However, there are a few additional issues I wish to address for your and Maureen Faulkner's consideration.
I have great sympathy for Maureen Faulkner losing her husband, especially to violence. I can only imagine her tragic suffering. Yet, I would hope that her suffering would motivate her to search for truth and reality. I would hope that her suffering would not blind her to the suffering of others who have endured injustice. I would hope that her suffering would enable her to reach into the deepest crevices of her soul and drive her to seek justice for all, including Mumia's family who have suffered greatly.
Unfortunately, Mrs. Faulkner seems content to dwell in a small world of self pity instead of searching for truth. The mainstream media seems only too willing to allow her to do this. This does her no good, and it does not serve the memory nor the honor of her deceased husband. Wouldn't her husband's wish be that she seek his true murderer? Wouldn't Mrs. Faulkner realize this if she truly wanted to see the real murderer punished? There is overwhelming evidence that Mumia did NOT kill her husband. Much of that evidence is mentioned in the letter below and is completely accessible to Mrs. Faulkner, as it is to you.
I can understand why Mrs. Faulkner might live in fear of her husband's fellow police officers and how they might have threatened her and/or manipulated her with deception and lies. The Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) is well known for its corruption and its violence. If you have done your research, you know this. There is some indication that Officer Faulkner was reporting FOP corruption to higher authorities. If that were true, the FOP would not be his friend, but his enemy--and a very formidable enemy. As Robert Wells reported in a Counterpunch article, September 30, 2006 (http://www.counterpunch.org
"When Officer Daniel Faulkner was killed in 1981, three simultaneous FBI investigations into the Philadelphia police were taking place, one focused specifically on the Center City division. When the indictments came down, it was the biggest police corruption case in the history of the nation to that time. In the same year that Mumia was convicted more than thirty policemen from the Center City division went to prison, including a Deputy Commissioner, division commanders, Captains, Inspectors, Lieutenants, Sergeants, and rank-and-file officers. A third of these officers were involved in Mumia's arrest and prosecution. The Inspector who supervised Mumia's arrest was never called to testify at the trial; the day after Mumia was convicted he resigned from the department and was subsequently indicted and convicted for corruption."
Why are the FOP policemen so desperate that they have to threaten Mumia supporters? For example, last April 24, at a Free Mumia rally, the police used illegal threats against various important speakers and organizers? ( Betsey Piette http://www.itsabouttimebpp.com
"Police first targeted the Clef Club-- an African-American jazz club that receives public funding-- and forced it to cancel its contract to host the Mumia event. However, the Third World Coalition at the American Friends Service Center stepped up and provided an alternative meeting space.
"The Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) put pressure on invited speakers, including actor/activist Danny Glover and Delacy Davis, founder of Black Cops Against Police Brutality, who told the rally he had received over 20 death threats from Philadelphia police officers in the last few weeks. Glover and Davis also spoke at a press conference prior to the evening rally.
"Pam Africa, head of International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal, says that when all this couldn't stop the rally from taking place, she was informed by the head of police Civil Affairs Unit that '400 plain-clothed police carrying weapons' would march on the Friends Center to 'confront' the rally."
Why would the FOP be so violently threatening? Why are they so afraid of the truth? Why is Maureen Faulker so afraid of the truth?
HUD Sends New Orleans Bulldozers and $400,000 Apartments for the Holidays
On the 12th day before Christmas, the US Department of Housing and
Urban Development (HUD) is planning to unleash teams of bulldozers to
demolish thousands of low-income apartments in New Orleans. Despite
Katrina causing the worst affordable housing crisis since the Civil
War, HUD is spending $762 million in taxpayer funds to tear down over
4,600 public housing subsidized apartments and replace them with 744
similarly subsidized units - an 82 percent reduction. HUD is in charge
and one HUD employee makes all the local housing authority decisions.
HUD took over the local housing authority years ago - all decisions are
made in Washington, DC. HUD plans to build an additional 1,000 market
rate and tax credit units - which will still result in a net loss of
2,700 apartments to New Orleans - the remaining new apartments will
cost an average of over $400,000 each!
Affordable housing is at a critical point along the Gulf Coast. Over
50,000 families still living in tiny FEMA trailers are being systematically
forced out. Over 90,000 homeowners in Louisiana are still waiting to receive
federal recovery funds from the Road Home. In New Orleans, hundreds of the
estimated 12,000 homeless have taken up residence in small tents across the
street from City Hall and under the I-10.
In Mississippi, poor and working people are being displaced along the
coast to allow casinos to expand and develop shipping and other commercial
activities. Two dozen ministers criticized the exclusion of renters and
low-income homeowners from post-Katrina assistance: "Sadly we must now bear
witness to the reality that our Recovery Effort has failed to include a
place at the table ... for our poor and vulnerable..."
Friday, December 07, 2007
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
Franz Fanon page
"To take part in the African revolution it is not enough to write a revolutionary song; you must fashion the revolution with the people. And if you fashion it with the people, the songs will come by themselves and of themselves."
Franz Fanon
Franz Fanon
Report probes New Orleans hospital deaths - CNN.com
Report probes New Orleans hospital deaths - CNN.com
This report proves that medical staff at Memorial Hospital committed homicide: far down in the article the deaths of three patients who were "alert and responsive" before being given lethal injections.
This report proves that medical staff at Memorial Hospital committed homicide: far down in the article the deaths of three patients who were "alert and responsive" before being given lethal injections.
Monday, December 03, 2007
wcco.com - 5 Mpls. Officers File Suit Against City, Chief
wcco.com - 5 Mpls. Officers File Suit Against City, Chief
The MPD has consistently, in my 13 years in Minneapolis, mirrored the state as a whole in its disdain for persons and leaders of color. Minnesota is only a 'blue state' during the winter months.
Put them in federal receivership!
The MPD has consistently, in my 13 years in Minneapolis, mirrored the state as a whole in its disdain for persons and leaders of color. Minnesota is only a 'blue state' during the winter months.
Put them in federal receivership!
Sunday, December 02, 2007
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Spirt of African Diaspora alive in Brazil
Brazil markets its African culture
| By Gary Duffy BBC News, Salvador |
Few places better represent the influence of Africa on Brazilian culture than the streets of Salvador in the state of Bahia.
And throughout November, when the community celebrates Black Consciousness, both the spirit of Africa and the traditional exuberance of Brazil have been on display.
The vast majority of people in Bahia are Brazilians of African descent, the legacy of a time when more than 40% of slaves brought to the New World were taken to Brazil.
Brazil abolished slavery in 1888, the last country in the Americas to do so.
The African influence is everywhere - in music, the dance, food and religion - sometimes preserved in a way that is no longer even true in Africa.
It includes Capoeira, a martial art passed down directly from slaves, and Candomble, an African-inspired religion.
That cultural heritage is now drawing African-American visitors from the US to Brazil.
'Familiar but different'
Among those watching the parade for Black Consciousness day in Salvador was Ky Adderley from Philadelphia.
"I have been very impressed thus far, just being here for 24 hours, just seeing how close everyone feels to their African heritage," he said.
His girlfriend Natasha Jane agreed: "Just in the place we are staying there is African art all over, and just travelling from place to place you see the culture everywhere, in the art, in the people, in the sound, in the food," she said.
Groups working in Brazil to promote understanding say Brazil offers African-Americans a unique opportunity.
Paul Johnson, executive director of Partners of America, says such cultural issues are discussed more openly in Brazil than in the US.
| | The black American population have a lot to teach us Domingos Leonelli Brazilian tourism official |
"I think all Brazilians whether they are black or not black acknowledge the contribution that African-Brazilians have made to the general culture.
"I think that is done to a lesser extent in the United States. There is more talk about samba and where it has come from, about Capoeira and where it has come from, about the food, the songs, about how much the national popular culture has adopted African-Brazilian culture."
Simone Manigo-Truell Dos Santos of Levantamos, which promotes Afro-Brazilian-American co-operation, says Brazil blends the idea of being an American whose origins are from Africa.
"People are still able to hold on to their African heritage, their African ties, unlike what we experience in the United States.
"So when you get here and get off the plane and hear the music, the drums, the food is from Africa, a lot of the religion is from Africa, it really all of a sudden makes you feel at home in a way you thought wasn't possible outside of Africa."
Tourist officials in Bahia are now targeting the African-American market, and they hope it will help Brazil as well as the visitors.
"The black north American population, and American society have developed much more financially than our black population here," Bahia Tourism Secretary Domingos Leonelli said. "In this way they have a lot to teach us. A black middle class has developed in the United States, a black business class, and a black political power, and that is still a long way off in Brazil."
Limited opportunities
Brazil was once held up by academics as a "racial democracy" but in recent years there has been a more heated debate in the country about the issue of race, equality and discrimination.
The use of quotas as a means to address lack of access by black students to universities has proved particularly controversial.
| | BRAZIL'S SLAVERY LEGACY 40% of slaves in New World were sent to Brazil Brazil was last country in Americas to abolish slavery, in 1888 Black Brazilians still lag behind whites on most indicators |
Most economic indicators show that black Brazilians are the poorest section of society, and the sprawling favelas or shanty towns that are found all around Salvador are just one indication of this.
As well as having the poorest jobs and housing, they also fare badly in terms of health and access to education, while black faces are rarely seen in the corridors of power in either business or politics.
A recent study showed that black residents of the state of Sao Paulo earn 44% less than their white counterparts, and that unemployment among backs is 18.1% compared with 13.2% for whites.
However the current government does at least have some black ministers, and a ministry to promote racial integration.
Brazilians of African descent have a cultural heritage that has much to offer to visitors from around the world, but as a community they still face many challenges in the years ahead, if they are to improve their position within their own society.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Monday, November 26, 2007
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Friday, November 23, 2007
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Monday, November 19, 2007
What we knew to be true long ago: US prison system a costly, racist failure
Another story that's actually old news, but treated as new news now.
Gary Gnu
Gary Gnu
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Crapping their (G-7) pants: when the rest of the world neither wants to be your 'nigga' or your 'b-yotch'.
Realigning the yuan: Resistance from G-20 - International Herald Tribune
US capitalism has failed -- in other words -- to become the tide that would lift all boats. Rampant, unchecked capitalism enslaves, usurps, and destroys, and can only prop itself up now through violence and Hollywood's propaganda machine. Other countries are voting themselves off the dollar, and we should applaud them for recognizing that the blood of the Beast is in fact green.
US capitalism has failed -- in other words -- to become the tide that would lift all boats. Rampant, unchecked capitalism enslaves, usurps, and destroys, and can only prop itself up now through violence and Hollywood's propaganda machine. Other countries are voting themselves off the dollar, and we should applaud them for recognizing that the blood of the Beast is in fact green.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Vets from Iraq reveal wars devestating effects on them
From Black Information Link -- a must read originally published 7/23/07
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Trilateralism
Bluprint for the new world order.
False civil rights 'leader' Andrew Young betrays his people and the movement with his membership and advocacy of this organization -- Trilateralism is 100 percent counter to the philosophy of MLK.
False civil rights 'leader' Andrew Young betrays his people and the movement with his membership and advocacy of this organization -- Trilateralism is 100 percent counter to the philosophy of MLK.
U.S. incomes reveal racial divide - CNN.com
Monday, November 12, 2007
A return to overt racism
I'm of the opinion that it never left, people just went into outright denial.
If racism is resurgent in the US, it is only because we as African Americans have been complicit it supporting the system -- falsely believing we could 'shame' the devil' and consume our way into the hearts of the American public. As a staunch Pan Africanist I can recall being shouted down or just categorically dismissed by fellow African Americans with now recognition of our people before slavery.
We live in the valley of the dry bones.
If racism is resurgent in the US, it is only because we as African Americans have been complicit it supporting the system -- falsely believing we could 'shame' the devil' and consume our way into the hearts of the American public. As a staunch Pan Africanist I can recall being shouted down or just categorically dismissed by fellow African Americans with now recognition of our people before slavery.
We live in the valley of the dry bones.
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Solidarity
We are living in extraordinarily dangerous times, when evil, rather than justice, prevails. The schoolyard is terrorized by thugs and punks with names like Bush, Cheney, Limbaugh, Robertson, Clinton, Rockefeller, Rice, Rumsfeld, Perle, Kristol and Giuliani—pedigreed people all.
In an inconspicuous corner of the schoolyard, the good people—and they are legion—keep to themselves, afraid. No one wants to be hurt; and the thugs and punks are dangerous, even criminally insane people. They have terrible weapons and criminal gangs who patrol the schoolyard to intimidate and terrorize, looking for those who talk to others; looking for signs of organization and resistance. The good people have witnessed their maiming and killing countless times. They have every reason to be afraid.
An aberration of nature, the blood of the punks and thugs is not red like ours; it is green, the color of money. They have an insatiable thirst for blood—our blood; the blood of all innocents. Blood money is their currency. Through some kind of strange alchemy, they are able to convert blood into money to own the world......
In an inconspicuous corner of the schoolyard, the good people—and they are legion—keep to themselves, afraid. No one wants to be hurt; and the thugs and punks are dangerous, even criminally insane people. They have terrible weapons and criminal gangs who patrol the schoolyard to intimidate and terrorize, looking for those who talk to others; looking for signs of organization and resistance. The good people have witnessed their maiming and killing countless times. They have every reason to be afraid.
An aberration of nature, the blood of the punks and thugs is not red like ours; it is green, the color of money. They have an insatiable thirst for blood—our blood; the blood of all innocents. Blood money is their currency. Through some kind of strange alchemy, they are able to convert blood into money to own the world......
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Thursday, November 08, 2007
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
Newsletter: Communities United Against Police Brutality
Communities United Against Police Brutality
EMAIL NEWSLETTER
November 6, 2007
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PASTA BAR FUNDRAISER FOR CRITICAL MASS ARRESTEESEMAIL NEWSLETTER
November 6, 2007
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(Vegan and Meat Choices Available)
Friday, November 9
6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Walker Church
3100 16th Ave S, Minneapolis
$7 for adults, $4 for children
We're throwing a little party to raise funds for the Critical Mass arrestees legal fund. Come get your fill of delicious pasta with your choice of sauces, salad, garlic bread and dessert, all for a great cause. So far, five of the arrestees have been charged, some with serious offenses. It appears that people with histories of activism are being most heavily targeted. In one case, the prosecution tried to get the arrestee to take a deal specifically not to protest the RNC, so the agenda behind these prosecutions is pretty clear. Stand up with these arrestees and have a great meal and a great time, too. If you aren't able to attend but still want to contribute, go to the new Donations page on our website at and designate Critical Mass Arrestees as the fund you want to donate to: http://www.charityadvantage
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GOT FREE SPEECH?If You Want to Keep It, Better Use It Soon
The Minneapolis City Council's so-called Free Speech Working Group will be meeting on Wednesday, November 14th at 11:00 a.m. in City Hall, room 333. At this meeting, the working group will be taking up a number of proposed ordinance changes that, while targeted at the RNC protests, will likely impact our ability to exercise free speech and redress the government for years. Previous proposals on the table included onerous permit processes and would have banned downtown protests from 7-9 a.m. and from 4-6 p.m. If you care about the right to protest, make it your business to be at that meeting.
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LOCAL TRUTH-TELLER COP MIKE QUINN HITS THE ROAD WITH HIS BOOKPolice Code of Silence Exposed
By ROBIN FITZGERALD
October 17, 2007
http://www.sunherald.com/201
That, according to Michael W. Quinn, is how officers build trust in their communities and spare themselves and their families the disgrace that comes with criminal convictions or firings over misconduct.
"A good cop doesn't cover for another officer," Quinn told 175 Gulfport police officers in an ethics class last week. "A good cop steps in and says 'stop' and doesn't try to cover anything up.
"No matter what, it's not OK to lie to get the job done."
Quinn, a retired Minneapolis police veteran, is an ethics trainer, community college instructor and author of a book on the code of silence, "Walking With the Devil: What Bad Cops Don't Want You to Know and Good Cops Won't Tell You."
The code of silence is unwritten but real, said Quinn in four-hour sessions that count toward the Gulfport officers' annual training requirements. Quinn said he hopes the lessons have a lasting positive impact.
Quinn said he realizes talk about the code of silence "strikes a raw nerve in Harrison County." He was referring to a former county jailer's recent conviction on a death under color of law and guilty pleas of nine others in a conspiracy to deprive inmates' civil and constitutional rights. All 10 will be sentenced next month.
"It was an aberration," said Quinn, noting he occasionally hears of similar cases, but seldom involving as many officers over a prolonged period.
"It's a blot on Mississippi. I'm not saying they were all bad (officers). Something should have been done to stop it when it started, but people let it go on."
Gulfport Police Chief Alan Weatherford read Quinn's book shortly after he was sworn in Feb. 6, 2006. That was the day Jessie Lee Williams Jr., arrested two days earlier by Gulfport police, died of injuries from an unprovoked assault by a booking officer at the jail. A Gulfport officer was among several officers and jailers who witnessed the beating. Federal prosecutors have said a pattern of abuse existed at the jail for at least five years.
Weatherford said Quinn's book had such a profound effect on him that he uses scenarios on the code of silence when he questions job applicants.
Weatherford said he has fired eight officers for various reasons since he's been chief. "It's something I lose sleep over," he said, "but I can't tolerate misconduct."
Quinn told the officers their job is "to protect and serve, not to arrest and incarcerate."
Afterward, Quinn said he was impressed with the Gulfport officers and their leaders.
"Only a small percentage of cops nationwide are accused of criminal acts," he said. "Cops make mistakes. They're human. But it's an important job. It can be dangerous. It's a job that calls for strength and honor. They deserve all the help they can get to do their best."
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JUSTICE DEPARTMENT RELEASES REPORT ON DEATHS DURING ARRESTOver 2000 People Killed Between 2003 and 2005
The U.S. Justice Department has confirmed what we already knew--death at the hands of police has become an epidemic. If you haven't already, you're going to want to download the just-released DOJ report Arrest-Related Deaths in the United States, 2003-2005. This report shows that 2002 people were killed by cops in that 3 year period, with 55% resulting from homicide by police officer. There is also an important section on deaths caused by Tasers. Bear in mind that this figure does not include deaths in jails and that the deaths may actually be underreported because of the way the DOJ found the reports.
The URL for a PDF version of the report itself is http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs
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ANOTHER STOLEN LIFE:MAN DIES IN RAMSEY CTY JAIL FROM LACK OF MEDICAL CARE
NOTE: This is the same jail that killed Maria Inamagua by denying her medical care and the same jail this organization has visited on a number of occasions to bring letters demanding medical attention for other inmates. This jail should be shut down and all administrators and employees associated with these deaths should be prosecuted.
Ramsey Co. inmates parents plan wrongful-death lawsuit
By Joy Powell, Star Tribune
November 01, 2007
Randy Gallmeyer was arrested on an alcohol-related charge the evening of Oct. 19. Within 36 hours, at 7 a.m. Sunday, Ramsey County jail guards found him unconscious in his cell and had him transported to Regions Hospital. He died Tuesday, Oct. 22.
Now, Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher said late Wednesday, the sheriff’s office is investigating how Gallmeyer, a diabetic, may have died and exactly how much jailers should have known about his medical needs. Also investigating, Fletcher said, is the Minnesota Health Department, which employs the nurses that work in the jail.
Gallmeyer, 46, of St. Paul, was booked into the Ramsey County jail just before 8 p.m. on suspicion of refusing to take a drunk-driving test when he was stopped while riding his scooter, jail records show.
His mother, Elenora Gallmeyer, told a Minneapolis television station that their son was diabetic and that family members had taken his medicine to the jail before he lapsed into a diabetic coma.
On Wednesday night, Fletcher said he was unaware of that until it was reported by FOX 9 News.
“The parents have not contacted my office regarding this matter, so that was the first I had heard of that allegation,” the sheriff said. “But we certainly hope to reach out to them and find out any information they have regarding the medication.
“He did see the nurses on Saturday,” Fletcher continued. “All of these issues will be part of our internal investigation as well. But at this point, the medical examiner has not determined the cause of death. It would be inappropriate for us to comment until one, we know the cause of death, and two, have had about a week’s worth of time to investigate the circumstances.”
The TV station reported that Gallmeyer’s parents, Bernie and Elenora, intend to file a wrongful-death suit.
“We’re taking it seriously,” Fletcher said. “We’ve begun an administrative investigation and we hope to be in contact with the family to determine some additional facts that we might now have.”
The Ramsey County medical examiner’s office said toxicology tests are pending.
“It’s too early for me to make any definitive comments,” Fletcher said. “We’ll have to have an investigation of our staff conduct, and the Health Department will need to investigate the nursing staff. And we’ll need to hear from the mother to determine what time it was that she allegedly alerted the deputies to the severity of his health issues.”
The sheriff said Gallmeyer was intoxicated when he came into the jail’s custody.
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Communities United Against Police Brutality
3100 16th Avenue S
Minneapolis, MN 55407
Hotline 612-874-STOP (7867)
Meetings: Every Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at Walker Church, 3104 16th Avenue South
http://www.CUAPB.org
Communities United Against Police Brutality
3100 16th Avenue S
Minneapolis, MN 55407
Hotline 612-874-STOP (7867)
Meetings: Every Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at Walker Church, 3104 16th Avenue South
http://www.CUAPB.org
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
Uganda's LRA rebels ask nation to forgive them
This is the same rebel group that notoriously kidnapped and forced children to do a large part of their killing. One recent documentary chronicles the plight of Ugandan children amidst this chaos. But it does, at first glance, appear that a sincere peace effort is afoot.
Monday, November 05, 2007
Sunday, November 04, 2007
The Raw Story | Times: Bush plans to keep Pakistan from being mockery of democracy 'fell apart spectacularly'
Times: Bush plans to keep Pakistan from being mockery of democracy 'fell apart spectacularly'
The Times is still looking to regain its credibility after exposing themselves as war mongering elitists during the run up to this war -- actually there's much they should be ashamed of, such as calling themselves 'the paper of record,' what a joke. Nonetheless, here's a half-decent editorial that touches the tip of the iceberg that is US acquiescence to the despot Musharaf's military rule.
The Times is still looking to regain its credibility after exposing themselves as war mongering elitists during the run up to this war -- actually there's much they should be ashamed of, such as calling themselves 'the paper of record,' what a joke. Nonetheless, here's a half-decent editorial that touches the tip of the iceberg that is US acquiescence to the despot Musharaf's military rule.
Saturday, November 03, 2007
Thursday, November 01, 2007
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Voting as political narcotic
With two stolen elections in the last eight years why do we pretend democracy is alive in the US?
Could it be that we know better, but go through the motions to legitimize a failed system of two-party dominance?
Could it be that we know better, but go through the motions to legitimize a failed system of two-party dominance?
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Monday, October 29, 2007
Vernon Bellacourt: In Memoriam
This is a beautiful tribute to the great AIM co-founder and Indian leader who passed last week in Minnesota. Mr. Bellacourt was a tireless fighter for the rights and dignity of his fellow Indians, and also contributed and worked with others for the human rights of all. I am still learning about him myself, albeit too late to say to him how much he was appreciated by ALL human rights fighters.
rz
From: Janice Denny <jdenny@fdltcc.edu>
Date: Oct 24, 2007 11:00 AM
Subject: Vernon Bellecourt
In Memoriam
On December 15, 1966 Walt Disney died of acute circulatory collapse,
caused by lung cancer, at age 65. Outside hanging on the wall in the
Intensive Care Unit at Abbot Northwestern Hospital where Vernon
Bellecourt was fighting for his life is a print of a lone microphone
spotlighted, and the cartoon characters standing aside that Disney
created, hanging their heads. I stood staring at the print for minutes
at a time while the doctors and nurses worked on Vernon day after day. I
was horrified that the print might reflect the end result here. On a
beautiful fall day in Minneapolis, it did.
The American Indian Movement Website and office received hundreds of
emails and phone messages from the four corners of the world after the
news spread about Vernon's passing into spirit. Tears flowed and
disbelief prevailed.
Vernon was so filled up with life and positive energy, and he infected
everybody around him with it. The hard reality that Vernon's life was
over affected everyone around him, and everyone who knew him with
profound sadness. Vernon was hardly ever sad except for when he lost
family members, and his dear friends, Jerry Roy, Dick LaGarde, and Kwame
Ture.
Vernon's agenda was always full speed ahead on the issue of the day, and
his unbending will in getting the job done was infamous. You had to
understand that in order to live around, and live with Vernon. His
passion was justice for Indian people everywhere, period. That passion
took him all over the world, and his last trip took him to Venezuela. He
came home full of happiness after meeting people from the Wayuu Tribe
there, and other Indigenous people throughout South America. He was not
well, but he was happy. He was worried too because there were a lot of
issues to deal with as usual. He worked until I finally took his cell
phone away from him in the hospital so he could rest.
The National Coalition on Racism in Sports in Media was organized to
combat racism. Vernon was at the head of the helm because he, like so
many Indian people, experienced racism very early in life. Vernon also
worked for his people in White Earth, and he never forgot his roots. His
work took him across Canada, throughout the U.S., into Central America,
and South America. He traveled to Africa, Europe, Aotearora (New
Zealand), and to the islands, Cuba, the Carribean, and so on. He raised
issues, consciousness, and hell.
Vern was selfless and candor. The love of family was solid. He would
have given them the world if he could. It was kind of hard to remember
his laughter last week, but now I do. His laughter was infectious too,
and his silly jokes. For 27 and a half years I laughed with him, worked
with him, and lived with him. I mean really lived with him.
He was always saying, he would not live to see 80. He did live to see
some change as a result of the American Indian Movement and the
International Indian Treaty Council. He will also live on through the
stories that we all have like, remember the time when Vern had the idea
to take his AIMster friends into the heart of "redneck" territory to a
farmhouse pancake breakfast...
Vernon had a mountain of friends, and they came to support him on his
final journey. I am eternally grateful for all of you, and deeply thank
you for everything. I was continually amazed how easy it was for him to
make friends, and converse with strangers. He gave a little of himself
to everyone he met.
He would hate that he caused so many tears, and made people so sad. He
would prefer that you raise a little hell like he did.
..Janice Denny
rz
From: Janice Denny <jdenny@fdltcc.edu>
Date: Oct 24, 2007 11:00 AM
Subject: Vernon Bellecourt
In Memoriam
On December 15, 1966 Walt Disney died of acute circulatory collapse,
caused by lung cancer, at age 65. Outside hanging on the wall in the
Intensive Care Unit at Abbot Northwestern Hospital where Vernon
Bellecourt was fighting for his life is a print of a lone microphone
spotlighted, and the cartoon characters standing aside that Disney
created, hanging their heads. I stood staring at the print for minutes
at a time while the doctors and nurses worked on Vernon day after day. I
was horrified that the print might reflect the end result here. On a
beautiful fall day in Minneapolis, it did.
The American Indian Movement Website and office received hundreds of
emails and phone messages from the four corners of the world after the
news spread about Vernon's passing into spirit. Tears flowed and
disbelief prevailed.
Vernon was so filled up with life and positive energy, and he infected
everybody around him with it. The hard reality that Vernon's life was
over affected everyone around him, and everyone who knew him with
profound sadness. Vernon was hardly ever sad except for when he lost
family members, and his dear friends, Jerry Roy, Dick LaGarde, and Kwame
Ture.
Vernon's agenda was always full speed ahead on the issue of the day, and
his unbending will in getting the job done was infamous. You had to
understand that in order to live around, and live with Vernon. His
passion was justice for Indian people everywhere, period. That passion
took him all over the world, and his last trip took him to Venezuela. He
came home full of happiness after meeting people from the Wayuu Tribe
there, and other Indigenous people throughout South America. He was not
well, but he was happy. He was worried too because there were a lot of
issues to deal with as usual. He worked until I finally took his cell
phone away from him in the hospital so he could rest.
The National Coalition on Racism in Sports in Media was organized to
combat racism. Vernon was at the head of the helm because he, like so
many Indian people, experienced racism very early in life. Vernon also
worked for his people in White Earth, and he never forgot his roots. His
work took him across Canada, throughout the U.S., into Central America,
and South America. He traveled to Africa, Europe, Aotearora (New
Zealand), and to the islands, Cuba, the Carribean, and so on. He raised
issues, consciousness, and hell.
Vern was selfless and candor. The love of family was solid. He would
have given them the world if he could. It was kind of hard to remember
his laughter last week, but now I do. His laughter was infectious too,
and his silly jokes. For 27 and a half years I laughed with him, worked
with him, and lived with him. I mean really lived with him.
He was always saying, he would not live to see 80. He did live to see
some change as a result of the American Indian Movement and the
International Indian Treaty Council. He will also live on through the
stories that we all have like, remember the time when Vern had the idea
to take his AIMster friends into the heart of "redneck" territory to a
farmhouse pancake breakfast...
Vernon had a mountain of friends, and they came to support him on his
final journey. I am eternally grateful for all of you, and deeply thank
you for everything. I was continually amazed how easy it was for him to
make friends, and converse with strangers. He gave a little of himself
to everyone he met.
He would hate that he caused so many tears, and made people so sad. He
would prefer that you raise a little hell like he did.
..Janice Denny
Friday, October 26, 2007
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Monday, October 22, 2007
Friday, October 19, 2007
Thursday, October 18, 2007
ABC News: Big, Buff and Bad: Police on Steroids
Big, Buff and Bad: Police on Steroids --
Sources here in the Twin Cities have, in the last year or year and a half, asked me to investigate rumors of the MPLS POLICE and steroids. It doesn't surprise me but thus far I have no real evidence beyond the extra-beefy, over-aggressive and violent behaviors.
But methinks there's something here. Policing is a copycat profession in this country, with every department in the nation trying to emulate the brutality of the Chicago, NY and LA PD departments.
Sources here in the Twin Cities have, in the last year or year and a half, asked me to investigate rumors of the MPLS POLICE and steroids. It doesn't surprise me but thus far I have no real evidence beyond the extra-beefy, over-aggressive and violent behaviors.
But methinks there's something here. Policing is a copycat profession in this country, with every department in the nation trying to emulate the brutality of the Chicago, NY and LA PD departments.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Akeelah actress told to be like Foxy Brown by Atlantic Records
rz: This article illustrates the long-held power and control of white, privileged recording exec determining who and what is or isn't "Black" enough. The same dynamic plays out in hip hop, particularly gangsta rap, which was seen as an antidote to the influence of POSITIVE hip hop artists like KRS-ONE, PARIS, and especially PUBLIC ENEMY. The industry, and the predominantly white consumers who support it, promote and desire images of Black death, misogyny, family strife, and Black on Black violence, and then market these images as 'real'. You couldn't have Chuck D teaching the youths about the 10 point BPP platform or exposing the shams of the criminal (in)justice system -- someone might get educated: Not that I haven't bopped my head to NWA and EAZY-E but I have avoided society's attempts to get me to internalize a desire to view my brothers and sisters through the prism of cut-throat Western/Capitalist competition, which seems to be required if you want a fat, million dollar record contract.
Bitches.
Atlantic Records Tries to Turn 14yr Actress Into Lil Kim
By Bruce Banter playahata.com
Keke Palmer, is the 14 year old girl who played Akeelah, in the movie, Akeelah and the Bee. She and her mother Sharon have a huge problem with the upcoming record deal they signed with Atlantic Records in March of 2006. The problem is that the record label wants to market the 14 year old as a sexpot but she does not want that image.
Keke admits “From the very beginning Atlantic's A&R representative tried to get me to record inappropriate music, and my parents and I resisted.”
Soon Keke and her mom became tired of fighting the negative images that the label kept trying to force on her, and they started looking for a management company that could deal with the situation. They settled on DAS Entertainment, a management company out of New York.(John Legend label. One problem, the label has been blocking the efforts!
Atlantic kept telling them that “Keke is “urban”, and should be singing urban music”. Keke’s mom Sharon got her in touch with Mr. Edmonds
(Babyface) and he and Keke worked really well together and came up with a good commercial R&B song, but when it came time to pay for the song the label said no, he was “too expensive”.
Paul Porter of www.Industryears.com says “Keke Palmer is the poster child for what’s wrong with the music industry. Imagine being 12 year’s old and Atlantic Records trying to mold Keke in the mold of Lil Kim or Foxy Brown.”
The problem with the corporate hip hop machine is more than black and white. Unfortunately, white America enjoys seeing and hearing about cultural misogyny, sex and violence. They honestly believe Black America is the mix of lyrically challenged artists[sic] they promote.
The industry spin on Keke is nothing new. When you fail to promote or market a new artist they often fail. If Keke recorded a Jibb type “Chain Hang Low” or say a Plies “Shorty” BET and radio would be all over it. In my eyes Atlantic Records for now has simply passed on one of the most talented artist to come around in decades. Keke Palmer is no one hit wonder.
Who’s behind this nonsense? Well the Senior A&R rep, Mike Caren, was the main antagonist, he kept on saying, ” Keke is urban”, so as long as they refused to record the raunchy tracks that he sent them, he refused to pay for the good clean music they brought him.At one point he even stopped Keke from recording by not paying for studio time.
Unfortunately, Das Entertainment the Management co was also ineffective in dealing with the label, they now began to codify the intent by repeating , ” we will not promote her unless she records urban music”.
This statement confused Keke and her mom.They are unsure of what is really being said indirectly.
Just for the record Keke is from the south side of Chicago. She began singing in her church’s choir at the age of five, and she auditioned for a stage production of The Lion King at the age of nine. She grew up listening to Brandy, Aaliyah and TLC, so it was not like she was recording rock music! She was recording good music, with great beats, with good positive lyrics, her music is what all kids want to hear no matter where they live. She was blessed to have worked with some of the top producers in the business, some even cut their price down so that the label would not have an excuse not to pay for the songs.
The only thing she and her parents could figure out was that the subject matters that she chose to sing about were not as, ” urban ” and they would have preferred.
She is only 14 years old, and when she signed the deal she was only 12 years old, “what did they think she would be singing about?” Anyway, they kept their word and did very little to promote her cd. They refused to provide marketing reports, even when Das management kept asking.Then on Sept 14th they received the report, 4 days before her cd release date of Sept 18th.
Needless to say, it was not a good report, there was absolutely no plans to pay for a national announcement to tell kids that her cd was even being released! They kept their word and did not promote Keke because she was too clean, she refused to go ” urban”, and sing words that disrespect her and other young girls.
Keke’s parents tried to promote the release in Chicago(her hometown), they called the press on their own, and managed to get on some morning shows, but that was only in Chicago. Her debut cd that she worked so hard on sold 1,325 copies, the label supposedly shipped 69,000 copies.
She was on a Disney Channel movie called, JUMP IN, that over 8 million households tuned in to watch it’s debut, also the soundtrack to that movie debuted at #5 on Billboard. She was the only artist to have 2 songs on that soundtrack(she can sing). The Akeelah DVD sold 1.2 million copies and on that DVD she has a music video, so her audience, kids from 8-15 know who she is. She also sung the end title credit to the block-buster movie NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM, which grossed over 270 million, her voice is the first voice you hear coming out of the movie. Fox tried to get Atlantic to go half on a music video for Keke, but Atlantic declined stating,
”that song is NOT “Keke’s image” so we will not pay, of course they regretted that after the movie grossed so much! This was way back in February, 2007, this was a forshadowing of events to come!
Last week Keke’s mother, Sharon, received a call from an employee of Atlantic Records, a confidential call off the record. The caller told her mother that the president of the label is so disappointed with low sales that she may pull Keke’s cd off the shelf. The caller was so upset by this statement that she wanted Keke’s parents to know what was being said behind closed doors. She was disappointed that the label refused to promote Keke, and now they are blaming her for poor sales!
Keke was informed that Congress was working to make the labels promote positive music, well her music is positive, but the label will not spend a dime to promote it because she refused to sing raunchy lyrics, and dares to call herself Pop/R&B and not urban / Hip-Hop.
Keke admits “I am only a kid, my parents would kill me if I sang stuff like that”. Ask yourself would they want their daughters to sing negative music?
They knew her age when they signed her, they came to her after seeing Akeelah and the Bee, and begged her to sign, so why did they not think that she could really be like Akeelah, a good girl?
In closing, we are asking our audience, should Keke just let it go, accept the fact that this label will not promote this album. Or should they try to get the message out on their own?
Keke wants to try to get the message out because they worked extremely hard on this music and it is good, and the early reviews online are good.
G0 to www.kekepalmer.com and listen for yourself.
I think the kids would like it if they knew that it was out. Her parents are so tired of fighting the label. They are not rich and to launch their own promotions would cost a lot of money , so her parents don’t want to go broke trying to push a cd that the label should be pushing, they go broke to break the album, and the label just becomes richer.
Bitches.
Atlantic Records Tries to Turn 14yr Actress Into Lil Kim
By Bruce Banter playahata.com
Keke Palmer, is the 14 year old girl who played Akeelah, in the movie, Akeelah and the Bee. She and her mother Sharon have a huge problem with the upcoming record deal they signed with Atlantic Records in March of 2006. The problem is that the record label wants to market the 14 year old as a sexpot but she does not want that image.
Keke admits “From the very beginning Atlantic's A&R representative tried to get me to record inappropriate music, and my parents and I resisted.”
Soon Keke and her mom became tired of fighting the negative images that the label kept trying to force on her, and they started looking for a management company that could deal with the situation. They settled on DAS Entertainment, a management company out of New York.(John Legend label. One problem, the label has been blocking the efforts!
Atlantic kept telling them that “Keke is “urban”, and should be singing urban music”. Keke’s mom Sharon got her in touch with Mr. Edmonds
(Babyface) and he and Keke worked really well together and came up with a good commercial R&B song, but when it came time to pay for the song the label said no, he was “too expensive”.
Paul Porter of www.Industryears.com says “Keke Palmer is the poster child for what’s wrong with the music industry. Imagine being 12 year’s old and Atlantic Records trying to mold Keke in the mold of Lil Kim or Foxy Brown.”
The problem with the corporate hip hop machine is more than black and white. Unfortunately, white America enjoys seeing and hearing about cultural misogyny, sex and violence. They honestly believe Black America is the mix of lyrically challenged artists[sic] they promote.
The industry spin on Keke is nothing new. When you fail to promote or market a new artist they often fail. If Keke recorded a Jibb type “Chain Hang Low” or say a Plies “Shorty” BET and radio would be all over it. In my eyes Atlantic Records for now has simply passed on one of the most talented artist to come around in decades. Keke Palmer is no one hit wonder.
Who’s behind this nonsense? Well the Senior A&R rep, Mike Caren, was the main antagonist, he kept on saying, ” Keke is urban”, so as long as they refused to record the raunchy tracks that he sent them, he refused to pay for the good clean music they brought him.At one point he even stopped Keke from recording by not paying for studio time.
Unfortunately, Das Entertainment the Management co was also ineffective in dealing with the label, they now began to codify the intent by repeating , ” we will not promote her unless she records urban music”.
This statement confused Keke and her mom.They are unsure of what is really being said indirectly.
Just for the record Keke is from the south side of Chicago. She began singing in her church’s choir at the age of five, and she auditioned for a stage production of The Lion King at the age of nine. She grew up listening to Brandy, Aaliyah and TLC, so it was not like she was recording rock music! She was recording good music, with great beats, with good positive lyrics, her music is what all kids want to hear no matter where they live. She was blessed to have worked with some of the top producers in the business, some even cut their price down so that the label would not have an excuse not to pay for the songs.
The only thing she and her parents could figure out was that the subject matters that she chose to sing about were not as, ” urban ” and they would have preferred.
She is only 14 years old, and when she signed the deal she was only 12 years old, “what did they think she would be singing about?” Anyway, they kept their word and did very little to promote her cd. They refused to provide marketing reports, even when Das management kept asking.Then on Sept 14th they received the report, 4 days before her cd release date of Sept 18th.
Needless to say, it was not a good report, there was absolutely no plans to pay for a national announcement to tell kids that her cd was even being released! They kept their word and did not promote Keke because she was too clean, she refused to go ” urban”, and sing words that disrespect her and other young girls.
Keke’s parents tried to promote the release in Chicago(her hometown), they called the press on their own, and managed to get on some morning shows, but that was only in Chicago. Her debut cd that she worked so hard on sold 1,325 copies, the label supposedly shipped 69,000 copies.
She was on a Disney Channel movie called, JUMP IN, that over 8 million households tuned in to watch it’s debut, also the soundtrack to that movie debuted at #5 on Billboard. She was the only artist to have 2 songs on that soundtrack(she can sing). The Akeelah DVD sold 1.2 million copies and on that DVD she has a music video, so her audience, kids from 8-15 know who she is. She also sung the end title credit to the block-buster movie NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM, which grossed over 270 million, her voice is the first voice you hear coming out of the movie. Fox tried to get Atlantic to go half on a music video for Keke, but Atlantic declined stating,
”that song is NOT “Keke’s image” so we will not pay, of course they regretted that after the movie grossed so much! This was way back in February, 2007, this was a forshadowing of events to come!
Last week Keke’s mother, Sharon, received a call from an employee of Atlantic Records, a confidential call off the record. The caller told her mother that the president of the label is so disappointed with low sales that she may pull Keke’s cd off the shelf. The caller was so upset by this statement that she wanted Keke’s parents to know what was being said behind closed doors. She was disappointed that the label refused to promote Keke, and now they are blaming her for poor sales!
Keke was informed that Congress was working to make the labels promote positive music, well her music is positive, but the label will not spend a dime to promote it because she refused to sing raunchy lyrics, and dares to call herself Pop/R&B and not urban / Hip-Hop.
Keke admits “I am only a kid, my parents would kill me if I sang stuff like that”. Ask yourself would they want their daughters to sing negative music?
They knew her age when they signed her, they came to her after seeing Akeelah and the Bee, and begged her to sign, so why did they not think that she could really be like Akeelah, a good girl?
In closing, we are asking our audience, should Keke just let it go, accept the fact that this label will not promote this album. Or should they try to get the message out on their own?
Keke wants to try to get the message out because they worked extremely hard on this music and it is good, and the early reviews online are good.
G0 to www.kekepalmer.com and listen for yourself.
I think the kids would like it if they knew that it was out. Her parents are so tired of fighting the label. They are not rich and to launch their own promotions would cost a lot of money , so her parents don’t want to go broke trying to push a cd that the label should be pushing, they go broke to break the album, and the label just becomes richer.
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Guards acquitted in death of Black youth...no surprise there.
Shame.
Guards Acquitted in Boot Camp Case
PANAMA CITY, Fla. (AP) -- Eight former boot camp workers were acquitted of manslaughter Friday in the death of a 14-year-old boy who was videotaped being punched and kicked. The scene sparked outrage and changes in the juvenile system, but it took jurors just 90 minutes to decide it was not a crime.
Anger over the verdict was obvious outside the courtroom, where bystanders screamed "murderer" at former guard Henry Dickens as he described his relief at the verdict.
Martin Lee Anderson died a day after being hit and kicked by Dickens and six other guards as a nurse watched, a 30-minute confrontation that drew protests in the state capital and spelled the end of Florida's system of juvenile boot camps.
"I am truly, truly sorry this happened. Myself, I love kids," said Dickens, 60. He added that Anderson "wasn't beaten. Those techniques were taught to us and used for a purpose."
The defendants testified that they followed the rules at a get-tough facility where young offenders often feigned illness to avoid exercise. Their attorneys said that Anderson died not from rough treatment, but from a previously undiagnosed blood disorder.
The boy's mother, Gina Jones, stormed out of the courtroom. "I cannot see my son no more. Everybody see their family members. It's wrong," she said, distraught.
"You kill a dog, you go to jail," said her lawyer, Benjamin Crump. "You kill a little black boy and nothing happens." He spoke outside court, which is across the street from the now-closed Bay County boot camp.
Anderson's family repeatedly sat through the painful video as it played during testimony. They had long sought a trial, claiming local officials tried to cover up the case. The conservative Florida Panhandle county is surrounded by military bases and residents are known for their respect for law and order.
The guards, who are white, black and Asian, stood quietly as the judge read the verdicts. The all-white jury was escorted away from the courthouse and did not comment.
Special prosecutor Mark Ober said in a statement he was "extremely disappointed," but added, "In spite of these verdicts, Martin Lee Anderson did not die in vain. This case brought needed attention and reform to our juvenile justice system."
The defendants would have faced up to 30 years in prison had they been convicted of aggravated manslaughter of child. The jury also decided against convicting them of lesser charges, including child neglect and culpable negligence.
Chuck Hobbs II, an attorney for the Florida chapter of the NAACP, said his group was considering asking the Justice Department to bring federal civil-rights charges against the guards. Defense attorneys called such a case unlikely.
"With a 90-minute verdict after a three-week trial (in the state case), it would be the same result," said attorney Bob Sombathy, who represents ex-guard Patrick Garrett.
Aside from hitting Anderson, the guards dragged him around the military-style camp's exercise yard and forced him to inhale ammonia capsules in what they said was an attempt to revive him. The nurse stood by watching.
Defense attorneys argued that the guards properly handled what they thought was a juvenile offender faking illness to avoid exercising on his first day in the camp. He was brought there for violating probation for stealing his grandmother's car and trespassing at a school.
The defense said Anderson's death was unavoidable because he had undiagnosed sickle cell trait, a usually harmless blood disorder that can hinder blood cells' ability to carry oxygen during physical stress.
Prosecutors said the eight defendants neglected the boy by neglecting his medical needs after he collapsed while running laps. They said the defendants suffocated Anderson by covering his mouth and forcing him to inhale ammonia.
"You may not hear anything coming out of that video sound-wise, but that video is screaming to you in a loud, clear voice, it is telling you that these defendants killed Martin Lee Anderson," prosecutor Scott Harmon said in his closing argument.
Anderson died Jan. 6, 2006, when he was taken off life support, a day after the altercation. The case quickly grew and shook up the state's boot camp and law enforcement system amid the boy's family alleging a cover-up.
An initial autopsy by Dr. Charles Siebert, the medical examiner for Bay County, found Anderson died of natural causes from sickle cell trait. A second autopsy was ordered and another doctor concluded that the guards suffocated Anderson through their repeated use of ammonia capsules and by covering his mouth.
"I am feeling a little vindicated. People got to see a lot more than what's been publicized in the media," said Siebert, who was widely criticized for his autopsy. He said he was going to celebrate with some of the guards.
Anderson's death led to the resignation of Florida Department of Law Enforcement chief Guy Tunnell, who established the camp when he was Bay County sheriff.
Then-Gov. Jeb Bush had been a strong supporter of the juvenile boot camps, but after Anderson's death he backed the Legislature's move to shut down the system and put more money into a less militaristic program.
Bush appointed Mark Ober, state attorney for Hillsborough County, as special prosecutor in the case. Bush also scolded Tunnell for exchanging e-mails with current Bay County Sheriff Frank McKeithen, in which he criticized those who questioned the effectiveness of the boot camp concept. He also made light of the protesters in the state capital.
The Legislature agreed to pay Anderson's family $5 million earlier this year to settle civil claims.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/B/BOOT_CAMP_DEATH?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=US
Guards Acquitted in Boot Camp Case
PANAMA CITY, Fla. (AP) -- Eight former boot camp workers were acquitted of manslaughter Friday in the death of a 14-year-old boy who was videotaped being punched and kicked. The scene sparked outrage and changes in the juvenile system, but it took jurors just 90 minutes to decide it was not a crime.
Anger over the verdict was obvious outside the courtroom, where bystanders screamed "murderer" at former guard Henry Dickens as he described his relief at the verdict.
Martin Lee Anderson died a day after being hit and kicked by Dickens and six other guards as a nurse watched, a 30-minute confrontation that drew protests in the state capital and spelled the end of Florida's system of juvenile boot camps.
"I am truly, truly sorry this happened. Myself, I love kids," said Dickens, 60. He added that Anderson "wasn't beaten. Those techniques were taught to us and used for a purpose."
The defendants testified that they followed the rules at a get-tough facility where young offenders often feigned illness to avoid exercise. Their attorneys said that Anderson died not from rough treatment, but from a previously undiagnosed blood disorder.
The boy's mother, Gina Jones, stormed out of the courtroom. "I cannot see my son no more. Everybody see their family members. It's wrong," she said, distraught.
"You kill a dog, you go to jail," said her lawyer, Benjamin Crump. "You kill a little black boy and nothing happens." He spoke outside court, which is across the street from the now-closed Bay County boot camp.
Anderson's family repeatedly sat through the painful video as it played during testimony. They had long sought a trial, claiming local officials tried to cover up the case. The conservative Florida Panhandle county is surrounded by military bases and residents are known for their respect for law and order.
The guards, who are white, black and Asian, stood quietly as the judge read the verdicts. The all-white jury was escorted away from the courthouse and did not comment.
Special prosecutor Mark Ober said in a statement he was "extremely disappointed," but added, "In spite of these verdicts, Martin Lee Anderson did not die in vain. This case brought needed attention and reform to our juvenile justice system."
The defendants would have faced up to 30 years in prison had they been convicted of aggravated manslaughter of child. The jury also decided against convicting them of lesser charges, including child neglect and culpable negligence.
Chuck Hobbs II, an attorney for the Florida chapter of the NAACP, said his group was considering asking the Justice Department to bring federal civil-rights charges against the guards. Defense attorneys called such a case unlikely.
"With a 90-minute verdict after a three-week trial (in the state case), it would be the same result," said attorney Bob Sombathy, who represents ex-guard Patrick Garrett.
Aside from hitting Anderson, the guards dragged him around the military-style camp's exercise yard and forced him to inhale ammonia capsules in what they said was an attempt to revive him. The nurse stood by watching.
Defense attorneys argued that the guards properly handled what they thought was a juvenile offender faking illness to avoid exercising on his first day in the camp. He was brought there for violating probation for stealing his grandmother's car and trespassing at a school.
The defense said Anderson's death was unavoidable because he had undiagnosed sickle cell trait, a usually harmless blood disorder that can hinder blood cells' ability to carry oxygen during physical stress.
Prosecutors said the eight defendants neglected the boy by neglecting his medical needs after he collapsed while running laps. They said the defendants suffocated Anderson by covering his mouth and forcing him to inhale ammonia.
"You may not hear anything coming out of that video sound-wise, but that video is screaming to you in a loud, clear voice, it is telling you that these defendants killed Martin Lee Anderson," prosecutor Scott Harmon said in his closing argument.
Anderson died Jan. 6, 2006, when he was taken off life support, a day after the altercation. The case quickly grew and shook up the state's boot camp and law enforcement system amid the boy's family alleging a cover-up.
An initial autopsy by Dr. Charles Siebert, the medical examiner for Bay County, found Anderson died of natural causes from sickle cell trait. A second autopsy was ordered and another doctor concluded that the guards suffocated Anderson through their repeated use of ammonia capsules and by covering his mouth.
"I am feeling a little vindicated. People got to see a lot more than what's been publicized in the media," said Siebert, who was widely criticized for his autopsy. He said he was going to celebrate with some of the guards.
Anderson's death led to the resignation of Florida Department of Law Enforcement chief Guy Tunnell, who established the camp when he was Bay County sheriff.
Then-Gov. Jeb Bush had been a strong supporter of the juvenile boot camps, but after Anderson's death he backed the Legislature's move to shut down the system and put more money into a less militaristic program.
Bush appointed Mark Ober, state attorney for Hillsborough County, as special prosecutor in the case. Bush also scolded Tunnell for exchanging e-mails with current Bay County Sheriff Frank McKeithen, in which he criticized those who questioned the effectiveness of the boot camp concept. He also made light of the protesters in the state capital.
The Legislature agreed to pay Anderson's family $5 million earlier this year to settle civil claims.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/B/BOOT_CAMP_DEATH?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=US
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
Monday, October 08, 2007
Sunday, October 07, 2007
Nine white farmers demand court appeal, refusing to leave land in Zimbabwe - Africa, World News - Independent.ie
Then begone already....you received African land during the colonial period. Go Mugabe!
Chicago cops on desk duty after video - Crime & Punishment - MSNBC.com
Has the time come for municipalities to ELECT those we entrust to SERVE and PROTECT us? Across the nation PDs seem to be locked in a battle of one-upsmanship to see who can terrorize the most citizens with citizen (taxpayer) money: Minneapolis, Chicago, New York, St. Louis, ad infinitum. The ranks of police across the nation are filled not so much with benevolent defenders of justice but often racist/violent individuals who have belatedly recognized that the badge literally shields their hatred of certain individuals and groups from accountability. Community policing can best be assured when we elect those who have license to kill instead of allowing those with violent mentalities to treat our cities and the people in them with criminal disregard.
Saturday, October 06, 2007
ABC News: White House warns Costa Rica on trade ahead of vote
ABC News: White House warns Costa Rica on trade ahead of vote
How nice of them.
I hope the Costa Ricans reject CAFTA.
How nice of them.
I hope the Costa Ricans reject CAFTA.
Friday, October 05, 2007
Despite What President Arias Might Want You to Believe: Why Costa Rica Might Not Need CAFTA After All, and Why It May Be a Bad Deal for the Average Co
"Collective suicide."
"It was what Costa Rica President Oscar Arias has publicly predicted for his country if its good citizens don't ratify the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) , which will be put to referendum this Sunday. "Let's not close the door. Let's not cut our wings. Lets not deny our young people this challenge, " was the impassioned, almost moralistic appeal that Costa Rican economist Alvaro Cedeno made in the country's national newspaper La Nacion. This hortatory, if not establishmentarian advice on the part of Arias and the Costa Rican academic, is reminiscent of President Clinton's appeal to Democratic legislators in 1994 when he urged them to vote for NAFTA. Just as the pro-free trade bloc bought NAFTA by throwing millions of dollars to promote the enactment of it, a comparable fortune has been spent in Costa Rica to guarantee that no October surprises take place on Sunday."
"It was what Costa Rica President Oscar Arias has publicly predicted for his country if its good citizens don't ratify the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) , which will be put to referendum this Sunday. "Let's not close the door. Let's not cut our wings. Lets not deny our young people this challenge, " was the impassioned, almost moralistic appeal that Costa Rican economist Alvaro Cedeno made in the country's national newspaper La Nacion. This hortatory, if not establishmentarian advice on the part of Arias and the Costa Rican academic, is reminiscent of President Clinton's appeal to Democratic legislators in 1994 when he urged them to vote for NAFTA. Just as the pro-free trade bloc bought NAFTA by throwing millions of dollars to promote the enactment of it, a comparable fortune has been spent in Costa Rica to guarantee that no October surprises take place on Sunday."
Jones to admit drugs use says IOC - CNN.com
Jones to admit drugs use says IOC - CNN.com
Now this, this makes me sad -- screw Barry and Big Mac, but you Marion?
Nooooooooooooo!
Now this, this makes me sad -- screw Barry and Big Mac, but you Marion?
Nooooooooooooo!
Thursday, October 04, 2007
BBC NEWS | Business | Wal-Mart must pay extra damages
"One of Wal-Mart's undisclosed secrets for its profitability is its creation and implementation of a system that encourages off-the-clock work for its hourly employees."
Damn.
Do you think news of this sort will stop the sheep from shopping with the wolves?
Damn.
Do you think news of this sort will stop the sheep from shopping with the wolves?
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