The Civil Rights Movement 2.0

[Bravus]

 

In 2012, 123 blacks were killed by police with a gun

In 2012, 326 whites were killed with a gun

Whites are 63 percent of the population blacks are 13 percent

 

With a US population of 324m, that means the rate of black people killed by police is 0.29 per 100,000 and the rate of white people killed by police is 0.16 per 100,000, just over half as many.

Using Bill O'Reilly's own statistics, his claim is disproven. 

[JoeMo]

I know a few black people here and there. In fact 70% of my congregation is black. They all would say looting and burning is wrong. The fact that you felt you need to post this video shows that you don't understand how black people feel. The guy in the video is the norm.

I think you got me wrong.  I posted that stuff to show that Pastor Jonathan is the norm - as is Charles Barkley, Stacey Washington, and Joe Hicks.  It is the media who has it all wrong.  It is the media that is depicting African Americans as uncivilized anarchists.  Now it's going on in NYC as well.  You can bet that the media will portray the worst things.  Media motto: "If it bleeds, it leads".

 

I live, work, and worship in a diverse ethnic area.  Most of the African Americans I know are appalled by the death of these 2 men at the hands of the police; but they are even more upset by how the media is "stereotyping" them as crybabies and thugs - and prolonging the negative behavior by its continual coverage. 

[lazarus]

I think I did get you wrong. Sorry. I get and appreciate what you're saying. Thanks for seeking to reflect the truth.

[fccool]

I tried to stay away from this issue, but I have to weigh in as a "culture outsider".

 

I grew up in Soviet Ukraine, and moving to Miami was a culture shock, mainly because growing up we've never actually equated skin color to the idea of stereotypical cultural identity.   Sure, there was some racism, but it had to do with individual differences that people would internalize, but they wouldn't consider people sub-human... largely because the ideology of Socialism carried certain ideals.

 

When I moved to Miami,  the culture shock wasn't behind the idea that racism in US is alive and well, but the fact that it was embraced by many black people as a valid way of life.

 

Now, there are a lot of little nuances I can point out, but the overwhelming thing that I've noticed is that instead of making the skin color a non-issue in the US... American blacks turned it into an issue of "culture".  

 

Growing up, culture for us was the primary distinction... not skin color.   There was certain "continental" and "nationalistic" cultural aspects that would go along with Chinese culture, Korean culture, Hispanic culture,  certain African cultures that each had their distinct flavor, and etc... but we wouldn't single out a race, and then unload cultural expectations.   Of course, there was "socio-clique" aspect to it, but really the only hardcore racism that we've had was that towards Gypsies... which still was more of a nomadic culture and lifestyle than a race or a skin color. 

 

What I've observed in US was beyond culture shock... mainly because I was never prepared to see the race to be embraced as a point of pride and cultural identity.   For me personally, as an outsider,  the idea of "BET", "Black history month", "Black music", "Black actors", "Black musicians", "Black churches"... is absurd.  I would understand if it was "Russian actors", or "Hispanic TV", since the distinctions are made on the level of culture (language... etc), but race?   Really?

I'm saying this as an outsider who lived through some rough times, and who experienced some extreme forms of bullying and ostracism....  unless American black people stop identifying with "the black group", and start being Americans... this issue will not be going away.

 

There is no "distinct black culture".  That's a very stupid criteria to find as a point of cultural association.   It's the very reason why racism is an issue today.   It's the very reason why churches are segregated.   It's the very reason why ghetto black youth is exploited by corporate entertainment media to maintain the cycle of "black culture dependency".   It's the very reason why there's disproportionate numbers of black people incarcerated.   It's a cycle of cultural dependency that's linked to your skin, and brainwashed into you from birth that will have you form the wrong perception about the world around you.
 

[Bravus]

The implication of what you say, though, is that 'becoming Americans' means taking white America as the norm. (Or have I misunderstood?)

Surely *every* American needs to 'become American'... and that doesn't mean taking one powerful group's norms as the national norms, it means finding new and better ways to live for everyone.

[fccool]

The reason why I side with someone like Charles Barkley on this or the video of a guy that JoMo posted, is because it's difficult to keep being sympathetic to people who self-inflict the cycle of psychological self-abuse, and then make it an issue of their color and other people keeping them down rather than an issue of a being identified with culture that cultivates attitudes of aversion to that culture as problematic.

 

Until we learn to transcend the ideology that demands a distinct "black/white culture"... this issue isn't going anywhere.   If I was an American black, I would detest any idea that because of my skin color, my culture is inherently different... especially when such associations are formed by linking largely negative context.   I would probably want to see myself not as a black doctor or black American... but as an American doctor, who happened to be black.

[fccool]

The implication of what you say, though, is that 'becoming Americans' means taking white America as the norm. (Or have I misunderstood?)

Surely *every* American needs to 'become American'... and that doesn't mean taking one powerful group's norms as the national norms, it means finding new and better ways to live for everyone.

 

 

  What is "white America" standards ? .   You realize that "white America" takes a range of at times divergent cultural views and taste, that it's obscene to make such "label", especially in time where culture and race is so mixed and re-mixed, that saying "that's so white"... is probably done so in context of comedy, rather than any serious charge.

 

  What would you call a uniquely "white" cultural trait or norm?  What would be a uniquely "white" standards and norms you are referring to? 

[Kountzer]

Interesting thread. As I've mentioned I am american, i am adventist, I am african american. I am old enough to remember the civil rights movement.  Will these recent protests turn into a new civil rights movement?  I don't know. Civil rights are almost gone.  The US constitution is a sham. America is destined to play, and is playing a certain dubious part is the close of this world's history.  I wouldn't be surprised at what happens.  More later.  I am going back to sleep, literally.

[Kountzer]

The reason why I side with someone like Charles Barkley on this or the video of a guy that JoMo posted, is because it's difficult to keep being sympathetic to people who self-inflict the cycle of psychological self-abuse, and then make it an issue of their color and other people keeping them down rather than an issue of a being identified with culture that cultivates attitudes of aversion to that culture as problematic.

 

Until we learn to transcend the ideology that demands a distinct "black/white culture"... this issue isn't going anywhere.   If I was an American black, I would detest any idea that because of my skin color, my culture is inherently different... especially when such associations are formed by linking largely negative context.   I would probably want to see myself not as a black doctor or black American... but as an American doctor, who happened to be black.

Barkley is a loud mouth buffoon, who happens to be a famous ex basketball player, nothing more, nothing less. Where are his academic credentials? I don't think he has any, other than being america's  current favorite uncle tom.  I have yet to read or see anything he has to say on Ferguson or anything else.  I already know what he thinks. His mo doesn't change much.  it is similar to the mo of certain members of this highly diverse forum.  You can stay gone from here for months and years at a time.  I've done that.  When you come back it will be the same people with the same tired way of looking at things, posting the same offensive videos to express their racist hang-ups.   Barkley's just posturing.  Even he is smart enough to know that being a clown basketball commentator on TNT is limited.  He wants to make a run for governor of his home state of Alabama.  If that state is stupid enough to elect him as such they deserve one another.

 

As for african american name and culture being separated, main stream america has had as much to do with that separation as anyone else. They separated families during slavery.  They participated in all sorts of disgusting breeding practices.  I know, none of you warm and wonderful bound for heaven evangelistic adventists on this board had anything to do with slavery.  In the words of Malcolm X the chickens has come home to roost.  I've heard all that before.  I don't totally agree, but that's another issue. They separated from us during the era of separate but equal. Segregation.  Practiced even in the GC cafeteria of this church.  Another tangent too long to discuss.  They are doing there best to separate and stay so now with sorts of subtle economic divisions.  

 

I knew I was in a separate situation when i used to walk down the country highway to the local store.  White guys would purposely drive off the road to kick up rocks just to intimidate me.  I instinctively learned to walk wide from the road. You can walk down that same highway now, at certain isolated times of the evening, and it still probably happens.  I got the message they were sending.  I didn't hate them.  I just knew what the deal was.

 

Somewhere along the way black culture developed.  It wasn't planned that way.  it is a natural response, a natural process.  In closing I seldom watch BET.  It has too much junk programming.  In that respect it is a lot alike main stream tv.  I avoid fox news like the plague.

[fccool]

Barkley is a loud mouth buffoon, who happens to be a famous ex basketball player, nothing more, nothing less. Where are his academic credentials? I don't think he has any, other than being america's  current favorite uncle tom.  I have yet to read or see anything he has to say on Ferguson or anything else.  I already know what he thinks. His mo doesn't change much.  it is similar to the mo of certain members of this highly diverse forum.  You can stay gone from here for months and years at a time.  I've done that.  When you come back it will be the same people with the same tired way of looking at things, posting the same offensive videos to express their racist hang-ups.   Barkley's just posturing.  Even he is smart enough to know that being a clown basketball commentator on TNT is limited.  He wants to make a run for governor of his home state of Alabama.  If that state is stupid enough to elect him as such they deserve one another.

 

Now, come on, man.  The guy speaks his mind, and you attack him personally instead of actually addressing what he says?  There's little argument there.   In the very least you can write what exactly you disagree as far as what he says, and why you disagree with it.   Simply dismissing someone as a buffoon, and especially "uncle tom"...  doesn't work very well in a civilized conversation.

 

As for african american name and culture being separated, main stream america has had as much to do with that separation as anyone else. They separated families during slavery.  They participated in all sorts of disgusting breeding practices.  I know, none of you warm and wonderful bound for heaven evangelistic adventists on this board had anything to do with slavery.  In the words of Malcolm X the chickens has come home to roost.  I've heard all that before.  I don't totally agree, but that's another issue. They separated from us during the era of separate but equal. Segregation.  Practiced even in the GC cafeteria of this church.  Another tangent too long to discuss.  They are doing there best to separate and stay so now with sorts of subtle economic divisions.  

 

 

Yes, all of these things are terrible... but how is it relevant to the modern implications of today's culture?   I grew up in a Soviet System, and my grandmother was shipped in exile in order to start the great colonization of the Soviet "outlands".   Should I be making "chickens come to the roost" claim when it comes to the descendents of people who indirectly benefit from these events?

 

At some point in time we have to grow up, and start re-writing history NOW, instead of constantly lamenting the past, claiming it's something we absolutely can't overcome.

 

 

I knew I was in a separate situation when i used to walk down the country highway to the local store.  White guys would purposely drive off the road to kick up rocks just to intimidate me.  I instinctively learned to walk wide from the road. You can walk down that same highway now, at certain isolated times of the evening, and it still probably happens.  I got the message they were sending.  I didn't hate them.  I just knew what the deal was.

 

Somewhere along the way black culture developed.  It wasn't planned that way.  it is a natural response, a natural process.  In closing I seldom watch BET.  It has too much junk programming.  In that respect it is a lot alike main stream tv.  I avoid fox news like the plague.

 

 

 

Again,  I feel for you.   It was terrible, and a lot of people had to prove to other people that they are equally legitimate human beings for making this behavior seem reprehensible by American public at large.  

 

Very few people in this country today would say that such behavior was justified.   The question is... where do we move now... as a society, when identities are shaped via "culture-skin-color" notions?   I see it as "the problem" when it comes to racial tensions in the US.

[bonnie]

I knew I was in a separate situation when i used to walk down the country highway to the local store.  White guys would purposely drive off the road to kick up rocks just to intimidate me.  I instinctively learned to walk wide from the road. You can walk down that same highway now, at certain isolated times of the evening, and it still probably happens.  I got the message they were sending.  I didn't hate them.  I just knew what the deal was.

You seem to be of the opinion that this type of behavior is reserved for the white race. Reversing the situation it can as easily be black guys that would purposely drive off the road to kick up rocks just to intimidate someone.

Regardless of skin color all are capable of mindless hatred or contempt for someone they see as different.

Edited December 6, 2014 by Tom Wetmore
Please put your comments outside of the quote box. Putting your comment inside of it makes it look like all of it is quoting the post of the person to whom you are responding. You may have to either scroll down or hard return to get out of the box.

[bonnie]

 

 

As for african american name and culture being separated, main stream america has had as much to do with that separation as anyone else. They separated families during slavery.  They participated in all sorts of disgusting breeding practices.  I know, none of you warm and wonderful bound for heaven evangelistic adventists on this board had anything to do with slavery.  In the words of Malcolm X the chickens has come home to roost.  I've heard all that before.  I don't totally agree, but that's another issue. They separated from us during the era of separate but equal. 

Is it the practice of slavery that you find evil and disgusting or just the evils of slavery by whites in America?

Africans practiced slavery long before there was a America.They separated families and participated in all sorts of disgusting breeding practices.Between the 16th and 19th century over a million Europeans were captured and sold,men ,women and children.

Slaves were still slaves regardless of who owned them.The treatment of the European slaves was no different by black masters in N.Africa than that of black slaves by white masters.

I would have to go back and check the name for sure but I believe the first documented slave master in America was a free black 

Free blacks in the south were very successful in owning slaves,black slaves,some like the white slave masters ran the "disgusting breeding farms"

Slavery ,since antiquity was an accepted form of commerce and profit. It was a very short time in history that America was guilty of this evil practice and is short by comparison to what the black race took part in. Both in practice in Africa and in the practice of capturing and selling others of the black race for profit .

Slavery was not invented for the profit of Americans,it was profitable for the black race long before there was an America. Slavery ,altho accepted down thru the ages,was despicable regardless of who practiced it. 

It seems that slavery was not a problem or evil by all those that practiced it,but when some had it turned on them it became an evil that can never be left back where it belongs.

 

 

[Kountzer]

Slave masters, then and now, whoever they are, whatever they are, will give an account in the judgment.

 

Is it the practice of slavery that you find evil and disgusting or just the evils of slavery by whites in America?

Africans practiced slavery long before there was a America.They separated families and participated in all sorts of disgusting breeding practices.Between the 16th and 19th century over a million Europeans were captured and sold,men ,women and children.

Slaves were still slaves regardless of who owned them.The treatment of the European slaves was no different by black masters in N.Africa than that of black slaves by white masters.

I would have to go back and check the name for sure but I believe the first documented slave master in America was a free black 

Free blacks in the south were very successful in owning slaves,black slaves,some like the white slave masters ran the "disgusting breeding farms"

Slavery ,since antiquity was an accepted form of commerce and profit. It was a very short time in history that America was guilty of this evil practice and is short by comparison to what the black race took part in. Both in practice in Africa and in the practice of capturing and selling others of the black race for profit .

Slavery was not invented for the profit of Americans,it was profitable for the black race long before there was an America. Slavery ,altho accepted down thru the ages,was despicable regardless of who practiced it. 

It seems that slavery was not a problem or evil by all those that practiced it,but when some had it turned on them it became an evil that can never be left back where it belongs.

Slave owners, whoever they were, and are now, whatever they are, will give an account in the judgement.  It is a spiritual issue, a right and wrong issue.  Was it right or wrong for that cop in Cleveland to drive up and blow that 12 yr old boy away?  Or, was it a race issue?  It was probably a little of both, but more than anything it was a right and wrong spiritual issue.

[bonnie]

Slave masters, then and now, whoever they are, whatever they are, will give an account in the judgment.

 

Slave owners, whoever they were, and are now, whatever they are, will give an account in the judgement.  It is a spiritual issue, a right and wrong issue.  Was it right or wrong for that cop in Cleveland to drive up and blow that 12 yr old boy away?  Or, was it a race issue?  It was probably a little of both, but more than anything it was a right and wrong spiritual issue.

It probably had more to do with and vetting during the hire by the Cleveland police than someone that hated blacks and was willing to kill a young child

 Nearly two years before he shot and killed a 12-year-oldwho had an air gun, Cleveland Police Officer Timothy Loehmann resigned from another police job after a supervisor described him as "distracted and weepy" and "emotionally immature."

Records from the Independence Police Department obtained by CNN include comments from a supervisor detailing what they called "a pattern of lack of maturity, indiscretion and not following instructions," a "dangerous loss of composure during live range training" and an "inability to manage personal stress."

"I do not believe time, nor training, will be able to change or correct these deficiencies," Independence Deputy Chief Jim Polak wrote in a November 2012 memo.

[Gerr]

IMHO, I believe we are witnessing the birth of a new Civil Rights movement. With another non-indictment more and more people will be galvanized into action.

If this is a civil rights issue, what right/s are not already guaranteed by the Constitution?  Unless it be the right to burn, loot, and steal.

[Gerr]

Interestingly and thankfully there are some conservatives who see there is a problem with a Gardner case.

 

Government is simply a word for the things we decide to do together. Like choke men to death over rules governing the sale of cigarettes.

— Charles C. W. Cooke (@charlescwcooke)

National Review

 

Eric Garner died cuz he was selling cigs by the single. That's a crime in NYC. Death is inexcusable. Police behavior sure looked inexcusable. Breitbart's media critic John Nolte

 

Conservative radio host Dana Loesch....Appalling and obscene.

 

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/eric-garner-conservative-reaction-nanny-state

The issues involved in the Brown and Garner cases are poles apart.  The former involved a violent criminal; the latter was non-violent.  I am appalled and outraged by the Garner incident.  Kill a man  for selling cigarettes?  This is insanity.

[bonnie]

Slave masters, then and now, whoever they are, whatever they are, will give an account in the judgment.

 

Slave owners, whoever they were, and are now, whatever they are, will give an account in the judgement.  It is a spiritual issue, a right and wrong issue.  Was it right or wrong for that cop in Cleveland to drive up and blow that 12 yr old boy away?  Or, was it a race issue?  It was probably a little of both, but more than anything it was a right and wrong spiritual issue.

You are straying off in another direction. Your previous post was directly blaming one small segment of a society for slavery

 

 

 

As for african american name and culture being separated, main stream america has had as much to do with that separation as anyone else. They separated families during slavery.  They participated in all sorts of disgusting breeding practices.  I know, none of you warm and wonderful bound for heaven evangelistic adventists on this board had anything to do with slavery.  In the words of Malcolm X the chickens has come home to roost.  I've heard all that before.  I don't totally agree, but that's another issue. They separated from us during the era of separate but equal. Segregation.  Practiced even in the GC cafeteria of this church.  

 

Maybe it is appropriate for me to use your description ......I know, none of you warm and wonderful bound for heaven evangelistic black adventists on this board had anything to do with slavery,but your ancestors did same as  our white ancestors. Yet,the evil is all laid at the doorstep of white christians,why is that?  Your race had the same exact cruel inhuman capabilities as my white race.

Some might even think more so as they sold their own and after being slaves and freed they in turn became slave masters and owned breeding farms.

So when you blame slavery for the plight of the black race,who gets the blame? The white race or is the blame equal on the slavery issue?

When you list times you have felt wrongly treated because of the color of your skin has it ever occurred to you that many white people have same happen to them by those of the black race?

I have had it happen more than once,should I blame the black race or place the blame where it belongs? A few hateful people

[bonnie]

The issues involved in the Brown and Garner cases are poles apart.  The former involved a violent criminal; the latter was non-violent.  I am appalled and outraged by the Garner incident.  Kill a man  for selling cigarettes?  This is insanity.

There is more to the story of Eric  Garner

 

BREAKING: NYPD Confirms #EricGarner Was A Member of Organized Crime in Staten Island

 

DECEMBER 3, 2014  BY CHARLES C. JOHNSON

 

 

NYPD sources confirm that Eric Garner was a player in an organized crime cigarette smuggling syndicate, Gotnews.com has learned.

Staten Island arrested Garner many times for smuggling untaxed cigarettes.

“Local merchants had long complained about him,” says John Cardillo, a former member of the NYPD who maintains connections with the department.

Other NYPD sources pointed out that Garner had 31 arrests, beginning when he was 16.

“Garner was setting up shop in front of the local stores and shaking down business owners and patrons as they entered,” says Cardillo.

Garner would use his considerable size to strong arm largely ethnic shopkeepers and was “on the radar” of local law enforcement who had arrested him previously.

“They were looking at him to see who his suppliers were,”

Untaxed cigarette smuggling across state lines is a multi-billion illegal trade. Alcohol, Tobacco, & Firearms has partnered up with Phillip Morris to help stop it.

Garner was facing three misdemeanor cases prior to his death, according to the Staten Island press.

 

Garner, 43, gave cops a phony name and put himself in more hot water when officers allegedly found untaxed cigarettes and a small amount of marijuana in the 1998 Lincoln Navigator he was driving, the complaint said.

He was charged with aggravated unlicensed vehicle operation, false personation, possession or sale of untaxed cigarettes and marijuana possession, according to information from District Attorney Daniel Donovan’s office.

Seven months later, while out on $1,000 bail, Garner was busted on March 28 for allegedly selling unstamped cigarettes on the street outside of 200 Bay St., Tompkinsville. He had 24 packs of untaxed smokes in his possession, police said.

The location is next door to 202 Bay St., where the fatal confrontation occurred Thursday between cops and Garner.

Garner was charged with a misdemeanor count of violating the cigarette and tobacco products tax and posted $1,000 bail, online state court records show.

Garner was arrested again on May 7 on Victory Boulevard and St. Marks Place, Tompkinsville. The site is across the block from Bay Street.

Cops accused him of possessing six packs of untaxed cigarettes.

Garner last appeared in court to answer the three cases on July 2. The matters were all adjourned then to Oct. 7, online state court records show.

 

[Gerr]

Speaking as a white person.....I was taught to always answer with a 'no sir' and a 'yes sir' regardless of circumstances. I lived in the south where small town police looked at everyone as suspicious, especially teen agers!  So, for me, I have never understood why anyone would argue or even look like they were confronting law enforcement. To me, again, that seems way to dangerous. The NEWS is full of everyday assurances where people have done that in one form or another and have been injured or ultimately arrested for that behavior. With the publics attitude towards anyone in authority today, what we see continuing to happen, should not be surprising. IF racial prejudiced is involved, things can and are often much worse. I have friends and know of other persons in law enforcement who all say that dealing with the public is an extremely difficult job today, and becoming more so. Police are being shot at more often, according to the daily NEWs reports, so I would image every situation of confrontation is extremely dangerous to them in their mind.

 

Disrespect leads to so many of todays problems from the workplace, at home, driving and everywhere. Society needs to learn respect for others goes along ways in preserving safety for ones self.

I've had more than my share of traffic violation tickets.  No cop has ever given me a bad time, probably because I was always respectful with "no, sir" and "yes, sir" answers.  

[Gerr]

With a US population of 324m, that means the rate of black people killed by police is 0.29 per 100,000 and the rate of white people killed by police is 0.16 per 100,000, just over half as many.

Using Bill O'Reilly's own statistics, his claim is disproven. 

Not so fast, professor.  The crime rate among blacks is totally disproportionate to their representation ratio in the American population. 

[JoeMo]

This is just a question, lest anyone think I'm trying to start something.  Rather than being a racial issue, could the issue of judicial and police inequality be an economic issue?  The incidents being discussed happen to have taken place where there are large populations of poor African Americans.  Where I live and in places like Los Angeles or Tucson, these same events could have very well happened in a poor Latino part of town.  I see rich African Americans (e.g., OJ) buying their way out of horrific crimes like rich white guys do.  Do rich people in general receive better treatment by the law than poor people?  Is it because they can "buy" leniency?

[Gerr]

Barkley is a loud mouth buffoon, who happens to be a famous ex basketball player, nothing more, nothing less. Where are his academic credentials? I don't think he has any, other than being america's  current favorite uncle tom.  I have yet to read or see anything he has to say on Ferguson or anything else.  I already know what he thinks. His mo doesn't change much.  it is similar to the mo of certain members of this highly diverse forum.  You can stay gone from here for months and years at a time.  I've done that.  When you come back it will be the same people with the same tired way of looking at things, posting the same offensive videos to express their racist hang-ups.   Barkley's just posturing.  Even he is smart enough to know that being a clown basketball commentator on TNT is limited.  He wants to make a run for governor of his home state of Alabama.  If that state is stupid enough to elect him as such they deserve one another.

 

As for african american name and culture being separated, main stream america has had as much to do with that separation as anyone else. They separated families during slavery.  They participated in all sorts of disgusting breeding practices.  I know, none of you warm and wonderful bound for heaven evangelistic adventists on this board had anything to do with slavery.  In the words of Malcolm X the chickens has come home to roost.  I've heard all that before.  I don't totally agree, but that's another issue. They separated from us during the era of separate but equal. Segregation.  Practiced even in the GC cafeteria of this church.  Another tangent too long to discuss.  They are doing there best to separate and stay so now with sorts of subtle economic divisions.  

 

I knew I was in a separate situation when i used to walk down the country highway to the local store.  White guys would purposely drive off the road to kick up rocks just to intimidate me.  I instinctively learned to walk wide from the road. You can walk down that same highway now, at certain isolated times of the evening, and it still probably happens.  I got the message they were sending.  I didn't hate them.  I just knew what the deal was.

 

Somewhere along the way black culture developed.  It wasn't planned that way.  it is a natural response, a natural process.  In closing I seldom watch BET.  It has too much junk programming.  In that respect it is a lot alike main stream tv.  I avoid fox news like the plague.

Easy on Mr. Barkley, Bro. Kountzer!  He is one of the few sports commentators I like because he speaks his mind with little regard as to whether it's popular or not.  Do you call him Uncle Tom because he doesn't get behind the likes of the Sharptons and Jacksons?  Or would you consider Dr. Carson in the same category?

[bonnie]

This is just a question, lest anyone think I'm trying to start something.  Rather than being a racial issue, could the issue of judicial and police inequality be an economic issue?  The incidents being discussed happen to have taken place where there are large populations of poor African Americans.  Where I live and in places like Los Angeles or Tucson, these same events could have very well happened in a poor Latino part of town.  I see rich African Americans (e.g., OJ) buying their way out of horrific crimes like rich white guys do.  Do rich people in general receive better treatment by the law than poor people?  Is it because they can "buy" leniency?

I live in a small town,10,000 population. Up until ten years ago it was rare to see a minority family living here. For some reason that has changed,not a negative BTW. While still less than the white population there is more than a fair number.

They are not rich or influential.  Pretty much the same as everyone else.

They are not buying leniency,they don't need to.They behave like all responsible people should. It  would be rare here to have racial divide,interacial dating is very common. The minority population works here,attends church and does business in and around town just as we all do.

They work,take care of their families just like anyone else. We do have our own little"wrong side of the tracks" area made up of white,black and hispanic. Vandalism and petty robberies usually stem from that area. As you may have guesses,a very,very small number even pretend to be looking for work because the world owes them

[Gerr]

 

There is more to the story of Eric  Garner

 

BREAKING: NYPD Confirms #EricGarner Was A Member of Organized Crime in Staten Island

 

DECEMBER 3, 2014  BY CHARLES C. JOHNSON

 

 

NYPD sources confirm that Eric Garner was a player in an organized crime cigarette smuggling syndicate, Gotnews.com has learned.

Staten Island arrested Garner many times for smuggling untaxed cigarettes.

“Local merchants had long complained about him,” says John Cardillo, a former member of the NYPD who maintains connections with the department.

Other NYPD sources pointed out that Garner had 31 arrests, beginning when he was 16.

“Garner was setting up shop in front of the local stores and shaking down business owners and patrons as they entered,” says Cardillo.

Garner would use his considerable size to strong arm largely ethnic shopkeepers and was “on the radar” of local law enforcement who had arrested him previously.

“They were looking at him to see who his suppliers were,”

Untaxed cigarette smuggling across state lines is a multi-billion illegal trade. Alcohol, Tobacco, & Firearms has partnered up with Phillip Morris to help stop it.

Garner was facing three misdemeanor cases prior to his death, according to the Staten Island press.

 

Garner, 43, gave cops a phony name and put himself in more hot water when officers allegedly found untaxed cigarettes and a small amount of marijuana in the 1998 Lincoln Navigator he was driving, the complaint said.

He was charged with aggravated unlicensed vehicle operation, false personation, possession or sale of untaxed cigarettes and marijuana possession, according to information from District Attorney Daniel Donovan’s office.

Seven months later, while out on $1,000 bail, Garner was busted on March 28 for allegedly selling unstamped cigarettes on the street outside of 200 Bay St., Tompkinsville. He had 24 packs of untaxed smokes in his possession, police said.

The location is next door to 202 Bay St., where the fatal confrontation occurred Thursday between cops and Garner.

Garner was charged with a misdemeanor count of violating the cigarette and tobacco products tax and posted $1,000 bail, online state court records show.

Garner was arrested again on May 7 on Victory Boulevard and St. Marks Place, Tompkinsville. The site is across the block from Bay Street.

Cops accused him of possessing six packs of untaxed cigarettes.

Garner last appeared in court to answer the three cases on July 2. The matters were all adjourned then to Oct. 7, online state court records show.

 

 

Does this information justify choking this man to death?

[phkrause]

I'd be curious as to Dr. Carson's take on this issue?? Pretty sure he doesn't agree with either the Rev Jackson or Sharpton, bet you he agrees more with Barkley on this.