NIMBY

Do you suffer from NIMBY? One Ohio community does.

A lily-white Ohio suburb is doing everything it can, including risking millions in federal highway funding, to keep mostly minority bus-riders from a nearby city from entering their community.

The showdown began in 2010 when the Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority proposed adding three new bus stops in Beavercreek, a largely white suburb 15 minutes east of Dayton. These new stops would give Dayton bus-riders access to Beavercreek’s major shopping mall and nearby businesses, as well as a medical clinic and Wright State University.

Facing the prospect of buses coming in from Dayton, the Beavercreek City Council began enacting as many hurdles as they could to stop the new bus stops. Among the dozen roadblocks included mandating that bus shelters included heated and air conditioning as well as high-tech surveillance cameras, features that would be hugely expensive and are not common at other stops. Unsurprisingly, these demands couldn't be met and the council rejected the expansion. “We turned downed an application because they didn't meet our (design) criteria,” Beavercreek City Councilman Scott Hadley explained to Eye On Ohio.

Many in the area argue that their opposition boils down to a simple reason: race. According to the 2010 census, 9 in 10 Beavercreek residents are white, but 73 percent of those who ride the Dayton RTA buses are minorities. “I can’t see anything else but it being a racial thing,” Sam Gresham, state chair of Common Cause Ohio, a public interest advocacy group said. “They don’t want African Americans going on a consistent basis to Beavercreek.”

A civil rights group in the area, Leaders for Equality in Action in Dayton (LEAD), soon filed a discrimination lawsuit against Beavercreek under the Federal Highway Act. In June, the Federal Highway Administration ruled that Beavercreek’s actions were indeed discriminatory and ordered them to work with the Dayton Regional Transit Authority to get the bus stops approved without delay.

Beavercreek, though, isn’t particularly keen to do that. The city council voted most recently on Friday to put off consideration of the matter until later this month. They are weighing whether to appeal the federal ruling, or perhaps whether to just defy it altogether. Appealing the ruling could cost the city hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees, according to a Washington D.C. lawyer the council hired. However, non-compliance with the ruling could cost Beavercreek tens of millions of dollars in federal highway funds.

The city council has until September 11, 2013 to begin complying with the Federal Highway Administration order. They will meet again on August 12 to decide how to proceed.

Gresham, for one, is flabbergasted that the council would even consider risking millions of dollars in federal highway funds. “Their worldview and logic are two entirely separate things,” he said.

How do you keep from not being pissed off when you write about a story like this -occurring in America in the year 2013? I wonder if Don Lemon, Iylana Vansant , Michael Steele, Ron Christi, Clarence Tomas, Allen West, Juan Williams - to name a few - think that this is ok in America today? Think that this is not racism in its purest form.

Racism can be coded in many ways, it can be covered up as voter fraud, it can be a self-defense claim to a hooded African American teen toting Skittles and a Arizona iced tea. Birthers come to mind as coded racists, those opposing the Ground Zero Mosque qualify as coded racists and Arizona's anti-immigration law is coded racism.

Nobody likes to be called a racist, especially when they are one. Well, almost nobody, but nobody who wishes to be taken seriously by the general public.

The NIMBY problem arises when the aversion to racism causes us to become willfully blind to racist practices around us. When confronted, racists are more likely to explain their ignorance away, rather than simply admit that they might not be so perfect at being ..... “non-racists”.

I’m a particular fan of the way that Stewart Lee characterized it: “…if political correctness has achieved one thing, it’s to make the Conservative party cloak its inherent racism behind more creative language.” Of course we can substitute “Conservative party” with “general public” in most cases. We live in a racist society, and nobody is immune from the subtle voice of cultural indoctrination whispering in our ears.

Given this lack of immunity, the only tools we have to combat the effects of racism are self-awareness and intellectual courage. However, it seems that we prefer instead to use a lexicon that allows coded racists to continue their racist behavior - you know, without them seeming racist. This is referred to as ‘coded racism’, those with racist ideologies that are carefully designed not to appear racist.

This blogger has said often, it is only by having the courage and integrity to confront our own ideas and motivations that we can identify and eliminate this kind of verbal cloaking. Being able to identify racism and being unafraid to call it out for what it is - is the first step to ameliorating the problem. Failure to do so will only serve to keep us looking the other way, to the detriment of racial minority groups in perpetuity.

NFTOS

Editor-In-Chief

Roger West

CLOWN CAR

John Oliver continued to lament having to talk about the 2016 election, which is over three years away, but the media is already on the case, wildly speculating on who will run, when, and starting in which states. Oliver mocked the potential “clown car” of candidates, gave viewers a brief 2012 flashback, and proceeded to tear apart the “Sharknado of voter suppression” Republicans are engaging in after the Supreme Court struck down a provision of the Voting Rights Act.

CLOWN CAR OF CANDIDATES




Oliver mocked Ted Cruz‘s reassurances that the fact he was born in Canada will not be a problem for GOP voters *cough*birthers*cough*, and practically begged Donald Trump to get in the race. Oliver reassured voters that the “clown car” is never full and more outlandish candidates like, let’s say, Herman Cain, could jump into the race.

Oliver then turned to the voting laws being put into effect in Republican states, from Florida, “where your grandparents and your rights go to die,” to North Carolina, where voting laws are evidently so severe, all voting booths are now “on buoys that are only accessible by yacht.”

Oliver slammed each of the justifications provided for North Carolina’s strict voting laws, and after recapping exactly how ridiculous they are, he could only conclude, “Your move, South Carolina.”




NFTOS
STAFF WRITER

TEA PARTY LOGIC

Click the picture to enlarge.

NFTOS
STAFF WRITER

THE WORD OF "OZ" [GOD] AS INTERPRETED BY TALIBANGELICALS

Cross Posted from "The Maddow Blog"

Politicians arguing about religion is routine. But politicians arguing that one major party is "anti-God" because it disagrees with him is well outside the norms of the United States.

In other words, in Virginia, E.W. Jackson may have finally gone too far.

From the power Oz this week is a look at some of the religious rhetoric coming from Virginia Republicans, which strayed awfully far from the American norm.

Last Thursday, E.W. Jackson, the Virginia GOP's right-wing-nut candidate for lieutenant governor, doubled down on his previous theological condemnations of those he disagrees with politically.

Jackson has said in the past that he thinks believing in God and voting Democratic are fundamentally incompatible, so WLEE host Jack Gravely asked if he still believes it. Gravely explained that he's a Christian and tends to vote Democratic, just like his parents and family. Jackson didn't back down. 

"You are saying for us, we're all wrong, leave that party. And all I'm saying to you is, if you said it before, you still have to believe it, why did you say it?" Gravely asked. "Oh, oh, oh I do believe it," Jackson responded. He continued: "I said it because I believe that the Democrat Party has become an anti-God party."

As a rule, major-party candidates for statewide office simply don't talk this way in the United States. American politicians have argued about religious issues since before we were even a country, but those hoping to represent a diverse constituency of millions of people generally don't argue -- out loud and in public -- that one party is "anti-God" and one party is pro-God.

Jackson, in other words, whose rhetorical excesses have made him a caricature of what a ridiculous candidate looks like, is pushing the envelope beyond traditional American norms. He's also lying -- while most secular voters gravitate towards Democrats, there's literally nothing about the Democratic Party or its platform that's hostile towards religion or the supernatural, and most Democratic voters nationwide consider themselves religious.

Indeed, Jackson went so far that Pat Mullins, chairman of the Virginia Republican Party, distanced himself from the candidate's extremism. "I do not agree with that statement," he told Salon in a statement. "My parents were Democrats, and I've got a lot of Democratic friends in Christian churches all around Virginia."

To provide some context, it's not at all common for a state GOP chair to criticize a statewide GOP candidate's rhetoric three months before Election Day. Jackson has apparently gone so far, he's too extreme for far-right Republicans.

To even have to utter such a statement for the record is testament to the untoward extremism of our Tea Partying friends and foes!

Some of my best friends are - are the most offensive defense of what usually turns out to be one's indefensibly display of ignorance when it comes to Christianity- at the least, or worst, latent or otherwise, dearly held prejudices are the norm for The American Taliban!

So, in my state of Virginia, there's a set of party affiliated candidates who are so prejudiced against the other major party brand they'd cast them out or pillory them for crimes against the spirit?

A whole lot of bullshit resides in the minds of Virginia Talibangelicals these days, and its not healthy for our nation, nor the Christian faith!

NFTOS

Editor-In-Chief

Roger West

ART POPE, KOCH BROTHER FROM ANOTHER MOTHER

From last nights New Rules segment, Bill Maher had some suggestions for "super-rich" liberals about what to do to combat the likes of the "Koch brother from another mother" who has turned North Carolina into wing-nut land, Art Pope.

Bill Maher did more last night than what most journalists have not done other than maybe Rachel Maddow, by exposing Art Pope, the Koch brothers wannabe, and how he's basically bought the government of North Carolina to reshape it into his personal right-wing wet dream.


Quoting Maher:

And finally, New Rule: It's time for America to get off the sidelines and support a proud people in a region where religious freedom, women's rights, and democracy itself hang in the balance. I'm talking, of course, about North Carolina.
Now every year here at Real Time, we do our Stupidest State contest, and the competition is always fierce, especially from perennials like Texas, Florida, and Kansas. But North Carolina right now is going apeshit in a way no state ever has. Take every crazy angry idea your drunk right-wing uncle mumbles at Thanksgiving, turn it into a law, and that's North Carolina today.

BILL MAHER NEW RULES

Brace yourself, North Carolina. Allowing Art Pope to manipulate your state means there will be draconian cuts to services in your state, the poor will become poorer, and billionaires will add more billions to their coffers - your state will be on the nations hit list as the one of most disgusting states when it comes to civil rights, women's rights, and the poor.

Congratulations Art Pope, you are today's asshat of the day.


RELATED:

Art Pope Exposed

Art Pope's National Political Influence

NFTOS

Editor-In-Chief

Roger West

Police Chief Sent A Message

DOUCHE BAG MARK KESSLER

UPDATE

In a follow-up to our blog regarding asshat police chief Mark Kessler, and his rage against the "libtards" - via several YouTube videos- now comes the rest of the story:

The Pennsylvania police chief who made a profanity-laced videos while firing machine guns and ranting about liberals has been suspended without pay for 30 days.

After a 55-minute executive session, the Gilberton Borough Council voted 5-1 on Wednesday to suspend Chief Mark Kessler for using “borough property for non-borough purposes without prior borough permission” by using machine guns and other weapons in his YouTube videos. Kessler had donated the weapons to the borough earlier in the year.

In online videos posted in July, Kessler had used profanity to berate “libtards” and suggested an armed rebellion against the government.

The Pennsylvania police chief who made a profanity-laced videos while firing machine guns and ranting about liberals has been suspended without pay for 30 days.

After a 55-minute executive session, the Gilberton Borough Council voted 5-1 on Wednesday to suspend Chief Mark Kessler for using “borough property for non-borough purposes without prior borough permission” by using machine guns and other weapons in his YouTube videos. Kessler had donated the weapons to the borough earlier in the year.

In online videos posted in July, Kessler had used profanity to berate “libtards” and suggested an armed rebellion against the government.

According to WFMZ, Michael Morrill, executive director of the liberal group Keystone Progress, delivered a petition with 20,000 signatures to the council on Wednesday demanding that Kessler be fired.

WPMT reported that gun-right activists — many of them armed — showed up to support Kessler.

“Why do you hate freedom?” Hecklers yelled at Morrill. “Liberal lies!”

“I make no apologies and I have no regrets,” Kessler told reporters after the meeting, adding that he accepted the decision and looked forward to returned to work “30 days from tonight.”


Watch this video from WFMZ, broadcast July 31, 2013.

But following the meeting the suspended police chief posted a message to his website accusing council members of taking part in a conspiracy to fire him.

“COUNCILMAN ERIC BOXER (D), COUNCIL PRESIDENT DANIEL MALLOY (D), MAYOR, MARY LOU HANNON (R) are going to have me terminated during this unjust thirty day suspension!” he wrote. “Councilman ERIC BOXER (DEMOCRAT) leading the charge for termination by orders from MAYOR MARY LOU HANNON ( REPUBLICAN ) ALONG WITH COUNCIL PRESIDENT DANIEL MALLOY ( DEMOCRAT ) ARE conspiring behind closed doors for full termination, they needed to suspend first to allow themselves time to look for or make up any reason or lie.”

The State Police were expected to serve the borough residents until Kessler returned to duty.

Having signed the petition myself to oust this douche bag, 30 days is not long enough! Let's make sure this hillbilly town in Pennsylvania, and this right wing nut job, grasp the concept that we will not tolerate this crap, not in this state, not in this country! These actions are not tolerable in anyone, but especially someone who is supposed to stand to protect and serve all!

RELATED: The Town the Militia Took Over

NFTOS

Editor-In-Chief

Roger West

WITLESS BULLIES AND HAPLESS PUNKS

Will McAvoy [Jeff Daniels] In The Newsroom

Will McAvoy [Jeff Daniels], the TV anchor in HBO's series Newsroom, took to slamming the American Taliban in episode 3 last Sunday. The series, as far as cable or regular TV goes, is by far written better than anything else, there is no comparison - as it takes real life portrayals - and is then incorporated into the show.

Typical, masterful Aaron Sorkin, is in this scene posted below.

VIDEO COURTESY OF HBO



Script from the scene in its entirety.

Presidential candidate Michele Bachmann thinks our troops are the best: "They are the best. This is the easiest thing to get behind. It doesn't get any better to help our troops when they are literally on the lines fighting for our freedom."

Presidential candidate Herman Cain will not apologize for having the biggest, baddest, greatest military on the planet: "And I don't apologize for having the biggest, baddest, greatest military on the planet."

Presidential candidate Mitt Romney would like the rest of us to support the troops even more than we already do: "I think it's time for American citizens and politicians to show a surge of support and for us to reach out to our neighbors who are serving in the military."

And presidential candidate Rick Santorum marvels as we all do at the selfless act of volunteering to serve in a time of war: "We have a culture right now that doesn't say serve. It doesn't say don't think about yourself. It says, 'Me, me, me.' It's a very self-absorbed, me-centered, excessive popular culture. And yet we have brave men and women who are willing to step forward because they know what's at stake. They're willing to sacrifice their lives for this great country."

Stephen Hill is a decorated captain in the US Army, where he's been a reservist for 20 years. He is this very night serving in combat in Iraq, as he was last night when he asked this question via YouTube at the GOP debate in Orlando, Florida:

"In 2010, when I was deployed to Iraq, I had to lie about who I was because I'm a gay soldier and I didn't want to lose my job. My question is, under one of your presidencies, do you intend to circumvent the progress that's been made for gay and lesbian soldiers in the military?"

(Boos from audience)

That was a big room full of Republican primary voters booing an American combat soldier who, as he was speaking, was in combat. The audience members who were booing were in Orlando. Soon they'll surely be in hell, though not soon enough.

Not everyone was booing. There were people in the audience who heard Captain Hill say that when he was deployed to Iraq, he was worried that if his sexuality was discovered, they might not let him go-- As opposed to most of us who, if told we were being deployed to Iraq, would go Corporal Klinger faster than you can pull on a yellow taffeta picnic dress.
I'm sure there were even some people in the building who stood up for Captain Hill, people who had the simple strength of character to turn to the fraction of a human in the seat next to them and say, "How many different kinds of disgusting do you have to be to boo a man who volunteered to fight and die for you?"

I'm sure those people were there. I'm sure there were many of them. But unfortunately, none of them were on the stage. Not one of these would-be commanders in chief took a moment to stand with a line officer. They let him stand alone.

Soldiers never do that. Leaders never do that. Witless bullies and hapless punks do it all the time.

The only president on the stage last night was Stephen Hill. Godspeed, Captain Hill, and come home soon. A grateful nation is waiting to say thank you.

That's News Night for September 23rd. Terry Smith is up next with The Capitol Report. I'm Will McAvoy. Good night.

It goes without saying that we’re all ignorant of all manner of things – the proper way to perform heart surgery, the top five poets in Urdu and Farsi, the agreed-upon hierarchy of distilleries in Scotland, a plethora of subjects. One’s person’s expertise is another’s ignorance.

Stupidity, though, is a different thing from mere ignorance. Stupidity is the condition of preferring ignorance over knowledge, which is what the American Taliban pulls on a daily basis.

Truly toxic stupidity, it seems to me, is not only when ignorance is preferred to knowledge, it’s when the very idea of knowledge itself is actively resented.

And that’s where Sorkin will always piss off those right of center. Sorkin, in his own way, actively resents any knowledge about stupidity and how it actually works in the world. And rightly so, as a consequence, huge sections of the American Taliban –actively resent him pointing out just how truly stupid they really are.

The above clip points to a callous, vile, destructive conservative party. This is the GOP that we have come to know and love. Conservatives despise HBO, Bill Maher, Aaron Sorkin greatly. Take Karen B comments to NFTOS:

another platform to portray over the top liberal views and exposing Sorkin as the hack he is........and always will be. Because the actors spout their lines off harshly and 'seriously', we are supposed to take this drivel as an important landmark in HBO and TV history...Sorkin, get over yourself!

This scene is equivalent to the American Taliban scene from last year. I love these hard hitting truthful scenes - for they allow another nail to be hit squarely on the head of the rusty nasty nail - that is the GOP!

NFTOS

Editor-In-Chief

Roger West

“GROUNDSWELL”

Groundswell Group Stoked Scandals with Help From GOP

When David Corn broke the Groundswell story last week, the general reaction among the politerati was a shrug and a giggle. Even influential NYU journalism professor Jay Rosen called it "no big deal."

"WHO ME"

But audio of a May Groundswell meeting obtained by C&L from a source who wishes to remain anonymous reveals Groundswellers met with top Congressional leaders to lobby for a select committee endowed with subpoena power to investigate the White House. Lobbying may be too mild a term, since they really are plotting with those same leaders to invent very real scandals with very real investigations in order to sink the country into a mire of inaction and sabotage the remaining years of President Obama's term.

C&L AUDIO




Catherine Engelbrecht "facilitated" the May 8th Groundswell meeting. Engelbrecht is the president and founder of True the Vote, a Texas group dedicated to challenging voting rights among the poor, students, and minorities. In addition to their regular work attacking sections 4 and 5 of the Voting Rights Act via lawsuits, Engelbrecht was the media go-to person for the media on the phony IRS scandal. That story broke on May 9th, after the Benghazi hearings had more or less fizzled out the previous day.

There was wave after wave of headlines about these so-called scandals. Some people wrote about what an awful week the White House had. It wasn't coincidence. It was orchestrated and planned by this group of people, who had the will and the power to secure the participation of people like Darrell Issa, John Boehner and more.

True the Vote led the charge to sue the IRS and serve the highest-profile plaintiff among the "aggrieved" groups. Yet this audio recording shows their president "facilitating" a clearly partisan, right-wing activist group meeting of people who claim to be fighting a "30-front war." No big deal? When is the last time anyone you know could ring up the Speaker of the House and the Chairman of the House Oversight Committee and take a face-to-face meeting in the wee hours of the evening with approval from the wife of a sitting Supreme Court justice?

In the first 20 minutes of the meeting, a lot of ground was covered. The audio of the final hour or so is available, but the quality is not clear enough at this time to publish it. However, they helpfully provided handouts at the meeting relating to their voter suppression efforts discussed later on. Here are some highlights from the audio and then parts that came later.

Benghazi "Scandal"

At 3:45, Jerry Boykin advises the group of the meetings he and Frank Gaffney had with Speaker John Boehner and Rep. Darrell Issa concerning Benghazi on the evening of May 7th about how the Benghazi investigation is progressing. This was the night before the last Congressional Oversight Committee hearing was held on Benghazi, where the so-called whistleblowers were to testify.

In the late-night meeting with Gaffney and Boykin, Boehner advised both that they needed to allow the regular order of committee meetings to play out before he would push for a select committee. Issa told him the same thing. Boykin and Gaffney reported this to the group, along with a promise that there "would be answers." Both reiterated that they and former Rep. Allen West were very concerned about the lack of a military response and assured the group that "what we'll find today is that Hillary Clinton made some egregious decisions and the president was basically absent from his post and did not make the decisions that as the Commander-in-Chief he should have been making...because he was focused on some other things."

They further assured the group that they weren't backing away from their demands, but instead they "kind of have a pledge from...Issa and the Speaker."

Future Debt Ceiling Battles

Just past the Benghazi discussion, the group received a report about upcoming debt ceiling negotiations, where they are advised that a survey has gone out to conservative lawmakers to see "what they're looking for in exchange for their votes raising the debt ceiling."

Of course, you'd never know from the press they get that there was any intention of raising the debt ceiling at all. Now we all can see that they will in fact do it reluctantly, as Shonda Weery reports when she advises that it's "not a vote they'll want to give without getting back something in return." Let the horse-trading begin.

Voting Rights

During the meeting, True the Vote made a presentation (document below) about their plan to attack groups who are actively working to protect voting rights around the country, particularly after the Supreme Court gutted most of the protections. Code-named "Hydra", True the Vote argues that the left is undermining voting rights, and must be stopped, by hook or by crook.

Let's review that timeline.

On May 8, 2013, True the Vote is a facilitator and presenter at a meeting where Ginni Thomas and others are key players. TTV presents their plan to attack "the left" for daring to register voters. They're committed to stopping them from challenging any and all efforts to disenfranchise voters. Or as they describe it, securing the vote. Others might call it democracy corrupted.

On May 9, 2013 the IRS "scandal" breaks after Lois Lerner plants a question in a conference Q&A about IRS "targeting."

On May 21, 2013, True the Vote, represented by ActRight Legal Foundation, sues the IRS for not granting their tax-exempt status and targeting them for their beliefs. ActRight Legal Foundation uses Cleta Mitchell as one of their consulting attorneys. Mitchell is a well-known and very high profile litigator on behalf of conservative causes. There are very few conservative nonprofits that don't have Mitchell's fingerprints all over them.

True the Vote goes all over conservative media with their tale of woe. Their message: The IRS was used as a tool by the liberal president to target conservatives and suppress their free speech rights. Until True the Vote was a victim of the terrible IRS, they were under Congressional investigation for voter suppression, by the way.

In fact, the IRS had ample reason to believe they were a partisan, political group who was not simply acting on behalf of voters everywhere. But that did not stop Engelbrecht from pushing forward with her anti-voter initiatives while simultaneously leading the charge against the IRS.

But wait, there's more. True the Vote wrote a letter in opposition to the nomination of Thomas Perez for Secretary of Labor, complaining that "Mr. Perez, through political appointment and action, has made clear his intent to ignore key functions in federal election law – namely Section 8 of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA)."

In TTV's document entitled "Hydra with Footnotes", the battle lines are drawn with very partisan rulers. After making their case that the "Organized Left is preparing a massive campaign to promote 'Universal Registration' and threatening to block citizen observers from the polls," TTV vows to target those groups however they can and defeat the terrible lefty Hydra by "attack[ing] the source of its strengths", which they view as the usual right-wing targets: unions, the NAACP, Common Cause, Project Vote, Demos, Center for American Progress, The Nation Foundation, and more.

While this flurry of organizing and activism is happening, TTV is front and center in the press with loud, strident claims that the IRS "targeted" them.

Another active member of Groundswell, J. Christian Adams, contributes content to the True the Vote site on issues such as whether any fix to the Voting Rights Act is possible after it was gutted by the Supreme Court in June. Adams serves as counsel to the Election Law Center, yet another right-wing effort to suppress the vote.

The efforts of this group should not be marginalized, given that what they are saying is repeated in the halls of the House and the Senate on a daily basis. It isn't just right-wing crazy people being crazy. These are activists with contacts in high places who are using those contacts to strip people of their rights, to invent scandals to undermine the President at every turn, and to marginalize Hillary Clinton if she should choose to run in 2016. Those are just a few of their goals. They have power and they're not afraid to use it.

Group members are the water-carriers and action arm of the billionaires' tea party. Listen to the full 20 minutes of that audio, or read the transcript here to see just how destructive they intend to be.

This is the first of a two-part series. Tomorrow, I'll look more closely at Ginni Thomas' involvement to see whether Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas engaged in unethical conduct or colluded with his wife and her associates.

True The Vote's Hydra document presented at the meeting:

Hydra Plan - Plan to Attack Voting Rights by Karoli

Hydra Plan - Plan to Attack Voting Rights

This story is very revealing about the lengths that the American Taliban will go to - to undermine the president. Make no mistake his is planning for a coup, it is directly organizing activities, not to win an election, but to destabilize a sitting government - and it is being led by Christian deconstructionists, radical teabaggers, and the talibangelicals.

How many different kinds of disgusting do you have to be to conduct this kind of business?

This is war. And you don't win war by challenging the way your enemy fights in court. You win it by fighting the same way. Instead of watching the poll watchers, progressive groups need to be poll watchers and challenge the voting rights of suspect individuals. Like, oh, old white men. What's needed is several weeks' worth of right-wing outrage ginned up by television footage of dark-skinned people challenging the right to vote of traditionally Republican voters -- especially in heavily Republican precincts. Imagine the gloriousness of it all: New Black Panther Party poll watchers demanding old white Teabaggers provide proof of their right to vote -- and all in accordance with the very laws. True The Vote is so desperate to implement.

NFTOS

Editor-In-Chief

Roger West

COLOR-BIND

Irrational fears, the fear that all blacks are all up to know good.

A color blind society is what we have in America today, and below Stephen Colbert slams this form of racism.

Color blindness is the new racism - certainly you jest NFTOS?


You know the old adage:

I’m not racist but …
I wouldn't pick one up in my cab
I wouldn't want my daughter to marry one
I wouldn't rent my flat to one
I wouldn't employ one

[check out Anita Heiss book "I'm Not Racist, But....]

Stephen Colbert. Video courtesy of Comedy Central.





Why are there such different understandings of the "difference that race makes?" It is partly due to the fact that many Americans - especially white Americans - are deeply invested in the idea that individuals (or groups of individuals) are solely responsible for their own success or failure, and thus they attribute success or failure solely to a person's "effort," "culture," or "values." Perhaps if all Americans were to engage in a more concrete, historically informed discussion about "opportunity" and "achievement" in the U.S., including the role that institutions have played (and continue to play) in shaping people's lives, we might have a very different understanding of "race" and its implications.

There are various shades of "color" in our country, and they must all be kept in perspective, none at the expense of the other, if we want to address seriously the question of how to be an equitable society today, it will almost certainly be difficult one, and it will require effort, awareness, and responsibility. We can not afford to be "colorblind." We need to develop our ability to see "color" for what is, has been, and will be, so we're prepared to deal with its consequences.

Are we ready for a colorblind society? Only if we are ready to deny responsibility for racism.

NFTOS

Editor-In-Chief

Roger West

NORTH CAROLINA RACTHETS UP STUPID

North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory Proves No IQ Needed To Run The State

North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory (R) said Friday he would sign a bill passed by the North Carolina legislature that would become the most oppressive voting laws in the nation. But when asked to speak about a provision in the bill that would prohibit 17-year-olds from registering in advance of their 18th birthday, McCrory admitted he “did not know enough” and had not read that portion of the bill.

The bill, passed just weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court gutted the Voting Rights Act and paved the way for new suppressive state laws, imposes a laundry list of new restrictions on access to the ballot, including eliminating same-day registration, cutting early voting, easing campaign contribution limits, and expanding the mechanisms for alleging voter fraud. In remarks saying he would sign the bill, McCrory focused on his support for the bill’s voter ID requirement — a particularly oppressive and discriminatory policy that McCrory has long supported. But when asked by an Associated Press reporter about another provision in the bill to limit new voter registration opportunities, McCrory said, “I don’t know enough. I’m sorry. I haven’t read that portion of the bill.”

McCrory also dodged questions about two other elements of the bill that restrict early voting and end same-day registration, choosing instead to tout new campaign contribution limits, and pointing to an amendment — added by Democrats — that would expand early voting hours to make up for the limited early voting days.

When a reporter repeated the original question, McCrory said same-day registration concerns him because of the “possibility for abuse.” He added: “There’s plenty of opportunity for voter registration — online, off-line, through many methods. I thought that was a fair system before, and I think it’s a fair system now.” The Associated Press pointed out that North Carolina has no online voter registration, although voters can download a form online and print it out.

In the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s June decision that effectively disables federal oversight of states with a history of voting discrimination, states have raced to pass new restrictive voting laws. On Thursday, Attorney General Eric Holder said he would challenge a voter ID law in Texas under another provision of the VRA not affected by the Supreme Court’s ruling. Holder hinted he would pursue similar actions against other states with restrictive laws, saying, “This is the department’s first action to protect voting rights [after the Supreme Court's ruling]. … But it will not be our last.”

So if I have this right, the options are (a) he signed a bill into law that he hadn't read, or (b) he merely told others he hadn't read the bill, to deflect questions about the law's specifics, which he felt uncomfortable discussing, or (c) North Carolina is the home of the most gullible conservative voters, East of California.

NFTOS

Editor-In-Chief

Roger West

CHRIS ROCK EXPLAINS THINGS, OR DOES HE?

CAUTION EXTREME LANGUAGE.

I was asked by a friend to view and comment regarding the first two videos below.
Watch for yourself.

BLACK v NIGGAZ




Chris Rock - How not to get your ass kicked by the police.




I added this clip because its Chris Rock not in character, telling the truths about being black.

Ann Coulter pwned by Bill Maher and Chris Rock




Whether the first two videos do truly reflect the black community is not for me to judge. My problem is racism, hating and discrimination because ones skin tone doesn't match yours. My own race has despicable folk in it, white trash, welfare taking, methamphetamine making, murdering bone thugs as well.

The issue is not about bone thugs, black or white, its about stopping the slavery,1863 mentality! To suggest that any one race is above another, is disgusting at best. By far, racism is one of the worst evils that this world has to offer.

Racism can be defined as the hatred of one person by another -- or the belief that another person is less than human -- because of skin color, language, customs, place of birth or any factor that supposedly reveals the basic nature of that person. It has influenced wars, slavery, the formation of nations, and legal codes.

Often white American's whom aren't racists [sic] tell me, "Get over it and move on" - which is the most ludicrous of positions or platforms to stand upon! Racism is not some tragic event to get over; it's the ongoing tragedy of cumulative experiences that shape how one sees the world. Moreover, stereotypical imagery affects all who see it, not just the lampooned race. The negative images of blacks, whether old black-face minstrel actors shucking with joy over a watermelon rind or today's portrayals as criminal, promiscuous, and foolishly materialistic, are an equal opportunity influencer -- everyone is impacted by their repeated viewing.

A very close African American friend once told me:

"Stereotypes are not the sovereign territory of bigots, of which the rest of us can pretend don't exist. We all know that loud car stereos, baggy clothes, ethnic names, and watermelon have never discriminated against anyone, but a black person with any of those things calls to mind stereotypical imagery that can be detrimental to their careers, well-being, dreams, and even their lives. Unless history becomes a blank slate and the social construct of race is dismantled, we can never just forget and move on."

There is my answer WK.

NFTOS

Editor-In-Chief

Roger West

MEET POLICE CHIEF MARK KESSLER

GILBERTON PA, POLICE CHIEF AND ASSHAT EXTRAORDINAIRE MARK KESSLER

CAUTION: THIS BLOG CONTAINS EXTREME LANGUAGE. NOT FOR CHILDREN

Welcome to America. Land of those who think they’re free, home of the hopelessly insane.

Gilberton Pennsylvania Police Chief Mark Kessler, is no ordinary police chief. His actions of late are outlandish, idiotic and very scary, yet his boss backs his actions - even through a series of demented, angry, psychopath profanity-laced tirades featuring Kessler and his guns (which he fires disturbingly into various targets mocked-up to look like famous liberals and Democrats) which have been populated to You Tube - and thousands of people this morning are understandably a little more than irate over them.

Below are two videos - just another gun peacock, strutting about with his alternative manhood strapped to his waist, desperately seeking the respect and admiration that he will never, ever get. This story is about belligerent incompetence, coupled with immense responsibilities, leaving one derelict to their duties.

Libtards take it in the ass.




Mark Kesslers version  of apology




So this asshat, when he was sworn in to his office, took an oath to uphold the laws and constitution of the united states - so much for his word, morals and character - not exactly the kind of person you want watching your back, when something goes down, or protecting and serving "Libtards" when in need. If he doesn't resign, he should be sent packing, with these weapons of mass destruction pleasantly shoved up his posture for good measure!

Not only is this asshat living under the protective wing of liberal accomplishments (pensions, benefits, shorter work hours, unions, etc.), but – as a cop – he is an agent of the very “Socialism” he despises. The police are a social program extended ostensibly to the entire populace in order to enhance our collective quality of life, and, thus, fit our modern, colloquial definition.

This trend of these radical gun huggers tend to be seeping, ever flowing in droves through the cracks of the posterior of delusional thinking.

Police chief Mark Kessler reminds me of - when you visit the zoo, you often pass the primate cage - and it is there you’ll see apes picking up their own fecal matter and tossing it at the glass where you are standing. This is the Mark Kessler.

If this mans tirade, his actions are not concerning to everyone with at least one brain cell, then Houston we have a problem. It is fruit loops like Kessler whom need to be taken off the streets and locked up forever - throwing their feces at the preverbal glass window!

Congratulations Mark Kessler, you have won NFTOS' asshole of the year award!


Related: Mark Kessler, Pennsylvania Police Chief, Says 'F*** All You Libtards,' Apologizes With Assault Rifle

'America's scariest police chief'

NFTOS

Editor-In-Chief

Roger West

GEORGE ZIMMERMAN "GOT AWAY WITH MURDER"

JUROR B29 "MADDY" SAYS ZIMMERMAN "WALKED AWAY WITH MURDER"

In an exclusive interview airing Thursday night and Friday morning on ABC, the only minority juror on the six-person panel that acquitted George Zimmerman expresses remorse that Zimmerman was found innocent on all charges, saying he “got away with murder.” But, she adds, she determined after deliberation that Florida law dictated that result. In excerpts released in advance by ABC, Juror B29, who identifies herself only as “Maddy,”

Video courtesy of ABC




The only explanation of “self-defense” in the 27-page instructions given to the jury was in the section on the “Justifiable Use Of Deadly Force,” which describes Florida’s Stand Your Ground law, and reads:

If George Zimmerman was not engaged in an unlawful activity and was attacked in anyplace where he had a right to be, he had no duty to retreat and had the right to stand his ground and meet force with force, including deadly force if he reasonably believed that it was necessary to do so to prevent death or great bodily harm to himself or another or to prevent the commission of a forcible felony.

Juror B29 is the second to speak out since Zimmerman’s acquittal. Last week, another juror who spoke anonymously to CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360 referred specifically to the Stand Your Ground law, saying the provision was a major factor in their deliberations. She also expressed more sympathy than Maddy toward Zimmerman, however, saying she felt sorry for him, and that Trayvon Martin was partly responsible for his own death. Four other jurors later issued a statement distancing themselves from these comments.

Maddy's words:

“George Zimmerman got away with murder, but you can’t get away from God. And at the end of the day, he’s going to have a lot of questions and answers he has to deal with,” Maddy said. “[But] the law couldn't prove it.” 

When the jury of six women—five of them mothers—began deliberations, Maddy said she favored convicting Zimmerman of second degree murder, which could have put him in prison for the rest of his life. The jury was also allowed to consider manslaughter, a lesser charge. 

“I was the juror that was going to give them the hung jury. I fought to the end,” she said.
However, on the second day of deliberations, after spending nine hours discussing the evidence, Maddy said she realized there wasn't enough proof to convict Zimmerman of murder or manslaughter under Florida law. 

Zimmerman concedes he shot and killed Martin in Sanford on Feb. 26, 2012, but maintains he fired in self-defense. 

“That’s where I felt confused, where if a person kills someone, then you get charged for it,” Maddy said. “But as the law was read to me, if you have no proof that he killed him intentionally, you can’t say he’s guilty.”

As a mother, Maddy said she has had trouble adjusting to life after the verdict, and has wrestled with whether she made the right decision. 

“I felt like I let a lot of people down, and I’m thinking to myself, ‘Did I go the right way? Did I go the wrong way?’” she said. 

“As much as we were trying to find this man guilty…they give you a booklet that basically tells you the truth, and the truth is that there was nothing that we could do about it,” she said. “I feel the verdict was already told.”

I am not sure what's more disturbing, the fact that Zimmerman walked, or to know that a juror failed to stand her ground with her guilty verdict. Certainly a lesson learned would be to have more than six jurors and certainly the jury should be as diverse are the country itself.

Clearly most Americans with an IQ above 3 agree that Florida's Stand Your Ground law is severely flawed. This miscarriage of justice is what's wrong with this "great system". I have said over and over in my blogs, "I'd never want to leave my fate in the hands of 6 people too stupid to get out of jury duty".

I have come to the conclusion that reason has no antithesis like a jury in session!

NFTOS

Editor-In-Chief

Roger West

SEXTING OR GRAFTING, WHICH TO BROADCAST

Cross posted from thinkprogress:

Tuesday, Governor Ultrasound Bob McDonnell apologized for bringing embarrassment to his state by accepting tens of thousands of dollars worth of gifts and about $120,000 in loans from a controversial tobacco executive. But though his actions are the subject of a federal grand jury and a state investigation, cable news largely ignored this story — opting instead to focus on the sex life of former Congressman and New York City mayoral candidate Anthony Weiner (D).

Reports emerged Tuesday afternoon that Weiner had shared additional explicit conversations and photos after his 2011 resignation from Congress. Cable news channels reported this news repeatedly throughout the day. At 5:37pm Eastern time, CNN and MSNBC went live to Weiner’s press conference about the matter, while Fox News showed footage of Weiner’s remarks as The Five criticized his behavior. In total, more than 90 segments on cable news channels focused on Weiner and the his sex life between noon and midnight on Tuesday (according to the subscription-only TV Eyes Media Monitoring Suite). The news was heavily regurgitated throughout the evening on those channels, as well as Current TV, Fox Business Channel and HLN.

Just two cable news segments covered McDonnell’s statement: MSNBC’s The Rachel Maddow Show and Fox News Channel’s Special Report With Bret Baier. MSNBC’s Maddow began her Tuesday broadcast noting the two scandals and the media’s disparate coverage, observing, “Here, I thought the Bob McDonnell news was going to be the big political scandal news of the day.” She then joked that McDonnell owed Weiner a thank-you note, proposing a post-script of, “Please save the next pictures-of-your-genitals publication date for day I resign from office. Yours truly, Governor Bob.”

McDonnell currently represents the nation’s 12th-largest state, with more than eight million people. He and his family personally helped Star Scientific CEO Jonnie R. Williams Sr. market his scientifically-unproven nutritional supplements and he reportedly arranged a meeting for Williams with Virginia’s health secretary. In turn, Williams loaned the McDonnells money, paid $15,000 for the costs of their daughter’s wedding, and bought Mrs. McDonnell a $6,500 Rolex watch so she could give it as a gift to her husband the governor.

Weiner, who currently represents zero people, has been accused to no legal wrongdoing whatsoever.

NFTOS

STAFF WRITER 

REALITY CHECK

MSNBC's All In with Chris Hayes eviscerates Bill O'Reilly. While I am not the biggest fan of the show - with this one segment it would seem, that Hayes is finally starting to come into his own.

On Monday night, O’Reilly Factor host Bill O’Reilly delivered a lengthy critique of President Obama’s remarks about the death of Trayvon Martin, accusing the President of ignoring the “real problems” facing black people, including something he called “gangsta culture.” Tuesday night, All In with Chris Hayes rebutted what he called O’Reilly’s “super-racist rants.

Yes white folk, some of you are still racists!

Watch the below videos courtesy of MSNBC.

HAYES PART ONE

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

HAYES PART TWO

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

If you take liberal speak on race as race baiting, if you think that race had nothing to do with the Trayvon Martin case, if you think like Justice John Roberts, that race is no longer a problem in these United States, then you are a racists!

NFTOS

Editor-In-Chief

Roger West

CRIMES AGAINST NATURE LAWS KEN CUCCINELLI STYLE

THE COOCH GETS BLASTED BY ABC'S THE VIEW

The hosts of The View ridiculed Virginia Republican gubernatorial candidate Ken Cuccinelli for his push to reinstate the state’s Crimes Against Nature law on Monday, a measure that would make felons out of consenting married couples who engage in oral or anal sex in the privacy of their own homes. The act was struck down by federal courts after Cuccinelli blocked efforts to bring it in line with the Supreme Court’s 2003 Lawrence v. Texas ruling.

“Michael Douglas better stay out of Virginia,” co-host Joy Behar teased, referring to the actor’s claim that he developed throat cancer from performing oral sex. She later joked, “he wants the government on my back and my husband off of it” as the other hosts piled on.

Cuccinelli has long supported restrictions on the sexual behavior of consenting adults and has linked certain acts to homosexuality. “My view is that homosexual acts, not homosexuality, but homosexual acts are wrong. They’re intrinsically wrong. And I think in a natural law based country it’s appropriate to have policies that reflect that,” he told a newspaper in 2009.

He reiterated that view during the first gubernatorial debate against Democratic nominee Terry McAuliffe on Saturday, admitting that his extreme anti-LGBT beliefs have not changed. Those positions, however, are now raising concerns from some traditionally Republican business donors, who fear that his extreme views could jeopardize the state’s economic development, and have left the attorney general at a substantial fundraising disadvantage.

So if we are to read the Cooch correctly, he wants the law to reflect "his view" that all sex he considers to be not of his liking to be banned?

The Cooch's "view" is that sex should be used for procreation only, that a man is only to have sex with his wife once a month when she is most fertile.

People are entitled to their views, of course. however, laws should never govern a person's sex life, no matter what someone else's "views" are.

NFTOS

Editor-In-Chief

Roger West

"GEORGIE" TO GET ANOTHER GUN

ZIMMERMAN'S MURDER WEAPON 

An Ohio gun group is soliciting donations to “provide [Trayvon Martin shooter George] Zimmerman, who has no current source of income, with the funds he needs to replace his firearm, holster, and other gear.” Citing a news report indicating that the U.S. Department of Justice asked police to “keep possession of all the evidence from George Zimmerman’s second-degree murder trial” — most likely so that they can use that evidence in conducting a federal investigation into the Martin shooting — the Buckeye Firearms Foundation spins a complex conspiracy theory built around the idea that Attorney General Eric Holder will use the Zimmerman investigation to somehow target other gun owners:

This move to prevent Mr. Zimmerman from claiming his property is an unacceptable abuse of power. And the threats of federal charges on civil rights grounds is little more than blatant pandering for political gain. 

Moreover, based on statements he and others have made recently, Holder hopes to use this as the first step toward renewing this administration’s attack on gun rights. . . . George Zimmerman has every right to get his property back. 

And if Eric Holder chooses to deny Mr. Zimmerman that right, Buckeye Firearms Foundation will remedy the matter by purchasing a NEW FIREARM for him, including a holster, flashlight, and any other gear he wants.

Zimmerman shot and killed the unarmed Trayvon Martin while the teen-aged boy was wandering through Zimmerman’s neighborhood carrying an iced tea and a bag of Skittles. Zimmerman was later acquitted after the jury hearing his case was instructed that he “had the right to stand his ground” and use deadly force against Martin if he “reasonably believed that it was necessary to do so to prevent death or great bodily harm to himself or another or to prevent the commission of a forcible felony.” One of the six jurors that acquitted Zimmerman confirmed in an interview with CNN that Florida’s Stand Your Ground law played a role in her decision. In her words, "because of the heat of the moment and the Stand Your Ground. He had a right to defend himself. If he felt threatened that his life was going to be taken away from him or he was going to have bodily harm, he had a right.”

Under Florida’s Stand Your Ground law, prosecutors had to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Zimmerman was not engaged in such self-defense at the time that he shot Martin — meaning that the jury was required to let him off scot-free even if they were fairly certain that Zimmerman acted unlawfully, so long as they had reasonable lingering doubts regarding whether Zimmerman was actually the aggressor.

And now, an Ohio gun group wants to ensure that Zimmerman is armed once again — just in case he feels like he needs to stand his ground in the future.

Naturally the first item of business after killing a teen is to get Zimmerman another gun. Kudos to the Buckeye Firearms Foundation for this noble gesture. Caution readers, George Zimmerman could be coming to a town near you!



NFTOS
Editor-In-Chief

Roger West

“SOULESS” AND “SELF- DESTRUCTIVE” ALL HAIL THE GOD COOCH

KEN THE COOCH CUCCINELLI

In his first gubernatorial debate against Democratic nominee Terry McAuliffe, Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli II (Talibangelical) admitted Saturday that his extreme anti-LGBT views have not changed. While reaffirming his extreme earlier comments about what he termed “the personal challenge of homosexuality,” he suggested that he would create an economically positive environment that would help LGBT Virginians.

McAuliffe repeatedly attacked the Cooch throughout the Virginia Bar Association debate in Hot Springs, VA for his record of demonizing science, women’s health, and LGBT people. Twice, McAuliffe noted that the Cooch had called LGBT Virginians “soulless” and “self-destructive” and that his attempts to rescind non-discrimination protections have hurt Virginia’s business climate.

The Cooch consistently ignored the attacks until moderator Judy Woodruff asked him directly about his previous comments. The Cooch responded briefly, saying, “My personal beliefs about the personal challenges of homosexuality haven’t changed.” He then said that as governor he would “create an environment” where economically every Virginian has opportunity.

In contrast, McAuliffe reaffirmed his support for marriage equality, promised to sign an executive order banning discrimination in employment, and said while Virginia’s constitutional ban and Republican legislature make it unlikely, he would sign a marriage equality law if it came to his desk.

The Cooch and the American Taliban should take a long look at themselves. If they did, they might just see that they themselves indeed are the “soulless” and “self-destructive” ones.

Delusional vile conservative voices claim to speak for a "god" - that they say brings hurricanes and earthquakes, illness and catastrophe upon this Country because of a love between two people of the same gender.

When will their "god" bring violence against, divorce, greed, murder, child abuse, promiscuity gossip, dishonesty, incest, theft, idol worship/capitalism, genocide, apathy, and the judging of others? Radical right wing bigotry is indicative of the hypocrisy of their religious thinking, and its failure to follow the true mission and teachings of Christ. Their obsession with sex is a sexual disease transmitted by ignorance itself - and in their attempt to force their beliefs on society with unconstitutional laws through the "purchased " power of politics - which has become their idol and single creed - has alienated the multitudes searching for truth, love and reconciliation in the Lords good news . Conservatives have brought shame upon the church. Love has been substituted with fear. Woe to those white washed tombs and broad of vipers with hearts like old wine skins ready to burst - and you fail to see the truth in Scripture just like the Pharisees, your eyes are veiled with bigotry, prejudice, self righteousness and superficial teachings and tradition.

The judgment by the Talibangelicals is meaningless, we each will stand before Oz, I mean God, and shall be judged for what we thought we did in his name. 

Under the Cooch, the Virginia state motto, "Virginia is for Lovers", shall have a disclaimer affixed under a Cooch rule - love in Virginia would be subject to approval by the Cooch.

NFTOS

Editor-In-Chief

Roger West

GROVER NORQUIST VISIBLY SHAKEN

GROVER LOOKING A LITTLE ILL AT THIS MOMENT IN THE SHOW

CAUTION BLOG CONTAINS ADULT CONTENT:

Last nights Real Time, Dan Savage told Bill Maher about his reactions to this year’s monumental Supreme Court rulings on gay marriage, the most laugh-out-loud awful anti-gay arguments, and one of his favorite ways to troll Christian conservatives. He also explained to Maher how gay male couples are most likely to be promiscuous, while lesbian couples are most likely to be monogamous, leading him to conclude that the problem with monogamy is simply “dick.”


VIDEO COURTESY OF HBO AND MEDIAITE

Savage said how whenever he has people come up to him and tell him that gay people cannot biologically produce a child, he just tells them “Anything is possible for God,” and “I’m gonna keep inseminating my husband and keep my fingers crossed.” The camera jumped to a one shot of conservative guest Grover Norquist looking visibly uncomfortable, leading Maher to quip that Savage should move on so as not to induce any actual vomiting.

The look on the bastards face, that being Norquist was priceless!

Maher also found it amusing that Savage’s son came out to him as straight, joking how kids always want to rebel against their parents. Savage used this to slam the religious claim that kids adopt their parents’ sexuality, because 1) he had straight siblings and his parents weren’t particularly shitty just to him, and 2) gay people are born to straight couples all the time. That’s kind of how gay people come into the world.

Its funny if you think about it, that infertile couples can be together because God might grant them with a pregnancy, but homosexual couples can't because you need at least one penis and a womb to get pregnant. It's like humans have decided to limit God's power based on a random set of rules. How is it, that this all powerful OZ, I mean God, is incapable of futzing with those rules - seems very laughable to me. Apparently, OZ, I mean God can create man out of dirt, cause the infertile to bear children, cause a virgin to birth the Messiah, but when it comes to something like male pregnancy, He's flummoxed.

As Ellen DeGeneres says in the closing of all her TV shows, "anyway", its a great time had watching this most radical Talibangelical - Grover Norquist squirm in his seat.

NFTOS

Editor-In-Chief

Roger West

TWENTY FOUR PERCENT OF BLACKS EXPERIENCE POLICE UNFAIRNESS

Cross posted from thinkprogress

Almost one in four young black males have experienced recent unfair treatment by the police, according to a newly released Gallup Survey. Among black males between ages 18 and 35, 24 percent said they recalled an instance within the last 30 days in which they were treated unfairly during dealings with the police. For all African Americans, that number was 17 percent. Here’s Gallup’s breakdown by category:

Twenty-four percent of African Americans also reported unfair treatment at a store, while 16 percent reported mistreatment in a restaurant, bar, theater, or other entertainment place within the last 30 days.

Police targeting of young black men has drawn new attention with the acquittal of George Zimmerman, but it is not a new phenomenon. Reports of police mistreatment of African Americans reached their peak in 2004, when 25 percent of all blacks surveyed by Gallup reported police mistreatment within a one-month period. In 2011, the New York Police Department made more stops of young black men than the number of young black men in all of New York City. Personal experiences have prompted even some of the most prominent and powerful African Americans to advise their sons on avoiding mistreatment by police, including former Reading Rainbow host Levar Burton, and Attorney General Eric Holder. After a jury found Trayvon Martin shooter George Zimmerman not guilty, MSNBC Host Melissa Harris Perry said she was relieved when her ultrasound revealed that she was pregnant with a girl because of the adversity she feared a boy would face. “I will never forget the relief I felt — I’m a sexual assault survivor — and yet the relief I felt at my 20-week ultrasound when they told me it was a girl,” she said. “And last night I thought, I live in a country that makes me wish my sons away, makes me wish that they don’t exist because it’s not safe.”

What is most remarkable about the Gallup poll is that it captures only unfair treatment by police within a random 30-day time period — a duration during which most Americans probably have no interaction at all with police.




NFTOS
STAFF WRITER