Group seeking recognition for female author Harriet Wilson

In the mid-1800s,a black woman wrote a novel about a  black girl who was  beaten and tortured by her  white masters in Milford. Scholars believe  Harriet  Wilson's book was autobiographical, but for more than a century,her  story was more or less forgotten. [more]

Bill Cosby's Heroic Assault on the Poor

Cosby can sit on his soapbox and complain about ebonics and crime all day. It won't accomplish a damn thing. [more]

All-Indian TV channel planned

Harlan  McKosato likens his quest to start an  American Indian cable station to  the famous first line in "Field of Dreams." "I  keep saying: 'If   you  build it, they will come,' " said  McKosato, 38. And come they will,McKosato iscertain, to a cable and  satellite channel filled  24 hours a day, seven days a week, with  nothing but American Indian programming. [more]

Documentary film opens discourse on racial divide

In June  1998, Whitney Dow drove down a long road in  Jasper, Texas,beside a series of many small chalked circles where police had foundthe body  parts of James Byrd Jr. almost two weeks  earlier. [more]

Is there freedom of the press on Indian land?

Ivy League school probes tribal newspapers. Just how free is freedom of the press on Indian land? Harvard University wants to know. [more]

Jersey City Mourns loss of Glenn Cunningham

In his decades-long rise from  patrolman on the beat to the  first African-American mayor in Jersey  City-- City Hall,Glenn D.Cunningham held office at virtually every  level of government during a  distinguished  career that was described yesterday as a continuing mission to improve life in the city he loved.[more]

Democrats are Political Punks

I have been asked often why George Bush has not been impeached for malfeasance, given the illegal intervention in Iraq, I have generally replied that Bush would have to be charged with ''high crimes and misdemeanors.'' Of course, we all know that the definition this concept is purely political inasmuch as Bill Clinton was impeached for consensual sex with a woman in the White House.

Compare what Bill Clinton did with Bush leading the country into an illegal war. He did so without the support of the country's strongest allies, under the false pretense of finding  ''weapons of mass destruction.''  In the process, we have wasted precious lives and financial resources. 

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Ron Walters: Democrats are Political Punks

I have been asked often why George Bush has not been impeached for malfeasance, given the illegal intervention in Iraq, I have generally replied that Bush would have to be charged with ''high crimes and misdemeanors.'' Of course, we all know that the definition this concept is purely political inasmuch as Bill Clinton was impeached for consensual sex with a woman in the White House. Compare what Bill Clinton did with Bush leading the country into an illegal war. He did so without the support of the country's strongest allies, under the false pretense of finding ''weapons of mass destruction.'' In the process, we have wasted precious lives and financial resources.

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Ehrlich won't retract remarks

Wading deeper into a controversy he kicked off in a radio interview, Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. yesterday refused to apologize for dismissing multiculturalism as "bunk" and lamented that ethnic groups are "separating out of a common culture" in America. Speaking with reporters, Mr. Ehrlich expressed surprise that some groups were offended by his comments on WBAL AM-1090 in Baltimore just a day after Comptroller William Donald Schaefer said immigrants need to "adjust" to life in America. "That was a very clear statement and should not be controversial," he said. The governor told WBAL Thursday that he rejects the idea of multiculturalism. "Once you get into this multicultural crap, this bunk, you run into a problem. With respect to this culture, English is the language," he said. "Should we encourage young folks here to be assimilated, to learn the culture and values? Of course. There's a major distinction to ethnic pride and multiculturalism."

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Death Fans Tensions in Pasadena; Black Man shot by Police is buried

A northwest Pasadena man who was killed in a shootout with officers was buried Friday, days after the city's police chief asked the FBI to investigate the shooting. Hundreds of family and friends of Maurice Clark attended the emotional service at Lincoln Avenue Baptist Church, blocks away from where the 30-year-old was killed in a gun battle with two officers. Residents and authorities have been divided over whether the shooting on April 24 was justified, and hostilities between law enforcement and residents in northwest Pasadena are running high. Residents told authorities at recent community meetings that police routinely harass, verbally threaten and use excessive force against young African Americans.

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Hudspeth lawsuit cites city, police culture of excessive force against blacks

Originally published in The Times (Shreveport, LA) March 16, 2004
By Don Walker

donwalker@gannett.com

Federal authorities are just days shy of publicly releasing the findings of a nearly yearlong investigation into the March 15, 2003, shooting death of Marquise Hudspeth by Shreveport police officers -- an incident that is now subject of a $10-plus million lawsuit filed against the city of Shreveport.

U.S. Attorney Donald Washington said Monday he could have the results of the federal probe in hand by week's end.

"The last FBI report was turned over to the U.S. Justice Department on March 5. Their civil rights section will prepare a memorandum or statement of law and opinion on whether a violation of a criminal nature occurred," Washington said Monday. The findings will then be released to the U.S. attorney's office.

"I expect that report possibly by the end of the week, but more likely next week,'' Washington said. He said federal officials have not determined how the information will be made public.

"We will likely have a meeting with the victim's family and go over our findings, our decision, and then hold a press conference,'' he said.

The lawsuit filed by Shreveport attorney Hersy Jones names Mayor Keith Hightower and former police chief Jim Roberts among defendants. It claims they condoned and cultivated a culture of the use of excessive force against blacks by Shreveport police officers "by the practice of an official 'code of silence' policy.''

The suit was filed with little fanfare, without press conferences or public statements, in U.S. District Court in Shreveport on March 8, seven days before the one-year deadline for filing a civil claim.

Hightower, who said he became aware of the suit late in the week, said "We'll try it in court.''

"Anytime you're sued, you're concerned,'' he said. "We will be there on opening day of the trial.''

Hudspeth, 25, was fatally shot after running a red light that led to a brief pursuit by police. At Hearne Avenue and Midway Street, Hudspeth brandished a cell phone and pointed it like a gun at officers, two of whom opened fire. The lawsuit claims Hudspeth was hit 10 times in the back, though previous reports frompolice were that Hudspeth was hit eight times. The shooting was caught on police patrol car video monitors.

"The allegations in the suit speak for themselves,'' Jones said Monday. He filed the suit on behalf of Hudspeth's family, including his surviving spouse, Lakesha Hudspeth, three children, Hudspeth's mother and brothers and sisters. The suit seeks a jury trial.

Among claims cited by Jones in the lawsuit:

஁® Officers did not activate body microphones, or cruiser microphones. "We do not accept the fact thatMarquise Hudspeth was pointing the cell phone as a gun. With the absence of audio from body or car microphones from the officers, it's ambiguous. He could have been responding to a request from the officers to show me what's in your hand,'' Jones said.

஁® Officers were able to observe Hudspeth did not have a gun in his hands. "There's no evidence ofMarquise Hudspeth saying 'I'm using this as a gun.' No statement where he says, 'Get back or I'll shoot.' Nothing like that,'' Jones said. "It's the officers' speculation he's using it as a gun.''

"I'm saying what happened in this incident is the public has jumped to conclusions in believing officers' speculation,'' Jones said.

The lawsuit also names officers Michael Armstrong, Denver Ramsey and Steven Hathorn as defendants. The shooting was ultimately ruled justifiable by Caddo District Attorney Paul Carmouche.

Of the lawsuit, Shreveport lawyer Edwin Byrd, who represents the officers, said only "we will respond to the allegations in accordance with the pleading and pleading deadlines.''

The lawsuit claims police failed to provide Hudspeth prompt medical attention, and that officers were not properly trained in proper procedures for making a legal arrest, the use of deadly force to stop a fleeing suspect, and the duty to give a warning prior to using deadly force.

Fifteen shots were allegedly fired at Hudspeth by officers Ramsey and Hathorn.

The suit cites a history of the use of lethal force against blacks by Shreveport police. Investigations into similar shootings have also led to declarations that officers' actions were not in violation but consistent with the training, policy and procedures of the Police Department.

"What we attempt to do in the lawsuit is outline the conduct of each of the two shooters and to break up the whole incident that took place that night,'' Jones said. "It was unfairly treated as one quick incident, but there were really various incidents and there were two shooters. There was no justification for the repeated shots and no justification for Ramsey to join in the shooting frenzy. The video tape shows when all shots were fired Marquise Hudspeth was walking way, and they were four to five seconds after the alleged pointing of the cell phone."

Police referred comment to the city attorney's office. Assistant City Attorney Ed Jones said Monday, "We've just been served with the lawsuit. At any time we don't comment on pending litigation.''

Hudspeth's uncle, Mike Taylor, said Monday he was aware the lawsuit had been filed.

"A lawsuit all by itself cannot bring closure,'' he said. "Everything that's happening, the good Lord wants to bring unity to this community and will use whatever means necessary to bring that about. It's going to take people working together, law enforcement and civilians, practicing the golden rule."

©The Shreveport Times
March 16, 2004

University of Maryland study critical of WMD coverage

A new study from the University of Maryland argues that the media swallowed whole the claims of government officials about the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and elsewhere. "It has been irresistible for policymakers to use threats of WMD as powerful tools of public persuasion and as forceful rationales for policy initiatives," writes Susan D. Moeller, the University of Maryland journalism professor who led the study . "It has been equally irresistible for the media to report both the doomsayer arguments and the defense and security arguments verbatim." ...

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Voting Machines Under New Scrutiny; Legislative panel to look at security issues

Leaders of the House and Senate set up a special panel yesterday to probe security issues surrounding electronic-voting devices that Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell wants to buy for Ohio. The move puts into limbo Blackwell's request before the state Controlling Board to spend more than $128 million on new voting machines. Blackwell hoped to replace punch-card ballots in at least 29 of the current 69 counties by the November presidential election. "The proposed delay would virtually eliminate the possibility of any deployment of new voting machines in 2004," Blackwell said in a letter to legislative leaders and Gov. Bob Taft. "With Ohio slated by both national parties as a battleground state, the possibility of a close (presidential) election with punch cards as the state's primary voting device invites a Florida-like calamity."

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Bush's absence noted at funerals of American Soldiers Killed in Iraq

"Bush's script: Four Fund-Raisers and No Funerals." This sub-headline on a column in the New York Times has been widely quoted throughout the week in a growing debate on how President George Bush should respond to the sudden surge in military deaths in Iraq. The president has not attended any of the funerals of the 388 Americans killed in the conflict, but has spent the past few weeks criss-crossing the US to attend fund-raising events for the 2004 election. Under pressure, the White House stated that Mr Bush cannot fairly pick and choose which funerals to go to, and that previous presidents did not regularly attend services in previous wars. But there is growing public discontent with the White House handling of the war, and criticism of Mr Bush. Some 54 per cent of Americans disapprove of his handling of Iraq, according to a CNN-USA Today-Gallup poll published yesterday. Three months ago the same poll found 57 per cent of Americans approved, and three months before that 75 per cent.

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Courtland Milloy: Bush's Absence At Soldier's Wake Insults the District

For the most part, Bush's appearances in unofficial Washington nearly always involve using the city as a backdrop for some political scheme. He'll visit a private school to promote school vouchers or a public school during Black History Month to show black voters he cares. But he missed the opportunity -- if not the obligation -- to show respect for an African American who proudly gave his life in a war that the vast majority of African Americans oppose, including many of the residents in the city where Dent grew up. It's one thing for Bush to ignore the District, where he received only about 9 percent of the vote; it's something else altogether when that city has sent a disproportionately high percentage of its young men and women into the military. Dent's elected representative in Congress could not even vote on the question of going to war. Had Bush attended the funeral, he might at least have seen the contradiction in Dent's casket -- a man who died trying to bring democracy to Iraq while being disenfranchised at home.

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