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The
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MSNBC Defends Police in beating of 16 year old black in Southern
California July 9, 2002 - This morning, I listened to Rick Sanchez of MSNBC question Mitchell Crooks, amateur videographer who took the footage of Southern California police slamming Donovan Jackson's face into the back of a patrol car, while handcuffed, and under the control of officers. In addition, the arresting officer doubled up his fist and hit Donovon Jackson in the face, bloodying him further. Nothing could possibly reveal MSNBC's position on the matter of civil rights more than the comments of Brian Williams when he said of the video... :but we don't know what occurred before that moment"... as if anything could defend an officer beating a suspect in handcuffs when the suspect isn't resisting. After all, police officers are supposed to have better judgement. And, according to witnesses, this 16 year old black teen was not resisting. But MSNBC seems to think that anything/something that occurred prior to the beginning of the videotape showing the misconduct would justify such a civil rights violation. But that's not the worst of. In Sanchez' attempts to defend the police's actions, he went on to question the motives of Mitchell Crook, the videographer. Here, he was displaying the videotape of a crime by police, and Sanchez continued to question him as to the validity of the idea that the officer was somehow justified for his actions. After the interview, Sanchez and other on-air announcers questioned Crooks' motives for taking the videotape in the first place, suggesting that he possibly had his own run-ins with the law, and held a grudge against the police, and had taken this video tape to get even. Should we also believe that the incident was a set-up to ensnare police? This is a perverse and blatant attempt to shift focus from the crimes of the police to blame it on the 16 year old who was beaten., and the vidoegrapher who just happened to be there. This is called propaganda, to defend the police by twisting the facts in order to minimize the impact of the gravity of the infraction, in an area where it is well known that officers use excessive force as a matter of course toward non-white citizens. Such thinking would be the same that blames a woman for being raped Shame on Sanchez for supporting civil rights violations. As a hispanic, he should understand that if it's okay to do this to blacks, it's okay to do it to Hispanics when their votes are no longer needed to win an election as well. Such thinking is apparently typical of MSNBC. Months ago, programming on Lester Holts' shift ( black announcer) was interrupted to supply live helicopter coverage of a foot chase by police in Miami. At the end of the chase, the single, un-armed black assailant clearly realized there was no escaping. and surrendered. He completely followed police instructions to lie face down and present his arms behind his back for handcuffing. Then, out of nowhere, another white officer appears on the scene. He began hitting and kicking the handcuffed assailant, who had the arresting officer sitting on his back. Another black officer arrived on the scene, watched in obvious disbelief, and then actually failed in a an attempt to stop the white officer from continuing the beating. This was on live tv. Lester Holt looked on and continued to comment without hesitation at this clear violation of civil rights. MSNBC dropped the story immediately after re-showing the incident, less the beating. Wouldn't want to embarrass Jeb with more civil rights violations now, would we? This is the same kind of revisionist history presented in MSNBC's series with John Siegenthaler called MSNBC Investigates. You'll know what I mean the day you see their final report on the 2000 election. Unless they change it to make me a liar. If MSNBC wants to generate a black backlash to discredit and embarrass blacks because of their claims of civil rights violations, in Florida and elsewhere, they are doing a good job. They are also setting back civil rights about 50 years. Yet another way to use propaganda to divide the consensus of the American people. July 8, 2002 - Julian Bond, current leader of the NAACP, leading the convention now going on in Texas, spoke out about the absence of George Bush at their conventions since the elections of 2000. Anyone who actually thinks would understand his reluctance to stand before the very people whose rights were usurped in order to steal the 2000 election... Nonetheless, read this story about Bond's remarks. Meanwhile, Ari Fleischer defended the Bush Administration, stating they are proud of their civil rights record. Although I don't know what there is to defend, if you''re an American who believes in civil rights. The man who would bring honor to the White House must not think civil rights are good for big business. MSNBC apparently agrees. But there's an even more evil thread that's common to MSNBC's reporting these days... that's their remarks when they point out that various organizations are tax exempt, called 501c3 non-profit public service (NGO Non governmental organizations). They brought this up about the NAACP as well as the organization American Family Voices, which has recently paid for and launched a series of television ads criticizing the Bush administration. MSNBC's remarks are as if a 501c3 has no right to voice opinions, do lobbying and engage in activities that would effect the outcome of legislation. MSNBC is wrong. Tax exempt 501c3 organizations do have that right to do such things. But they are limited to10% of their budget and resources. Somehow, Bond's remarks, and other NAACP activities don't seem to add up to more of that. An example of a 501c3 is The Heritage Foundation, only a couple of months ago receiving the 501c3 tax exempt status. If you look at their site, you'll find out what Jerry Falwell's real agenda is, as well as discover the Republican Party's training ground for party members, speaking points for the press, and much, much more. What do you think? Do they try to effect public policy? MSNBC's call to remove the NAACPs 501c3 status.. and disqualify donations with tax exemption... as well as requiring the NAACP to pay taxes, is an obvious ploy to keep the NAACP from standing up for the rights of black people in this nation. Remember, MSNBC is forwarding this idea. Chris Matthews as a matter of fact. Tell him your opinion. hardball@msnbc.com If MSNBC wishes to falsely claim that 501c3's don't have the right to speak out, and should feel that their 501c3 tax exempt status is in danger if they do, then we should not allow Heritage to have the same status either. And, oh, by the way, could this possibly be a campaign to discredit the NAACP... given that they will soon be going to the hill en masse to speak to legislators as a function of their group? (You might want to note, all organizations with an advocacy segment in their operations does this sort of thing... white people too.... religious organizations, police organizations... it's part of political life) The crux of these communications being signaled by MSNBC is unmistakable - 501c3's - speak out against the Bush administration, and your tax exempt status will be in jeopardy. This is important, since most ngo's rely on contributions, tax deductible contributions that would no longer be tax deductible for donors should the 501c3 status be pulled. By the way, the kinds of organizations that speak out against Bush's policies, and would be endangered include the NAACP and many others that legitimately work on behalf of people affected by aids, poverty, illiteracy, civil rights legislation, enforcement of civil rights, global warming, .. all the good people who understand the real issues on the ground. When the Bush Administration starts revoking 501c3 status on organizations that are actually working toward the good of us all, contrary to the Bush administration, we should all be sure to remember that the collusion between the Bush Administration and MSNBC make a powerful team in extortion and coercion to silence yet another group of dissenters. What is even more questionable is that The Heritage Foundation and it's supporters ARE the faith based charities that Bush wants to give your tax dollars to. The Heritage Foundation is the Republican Party. BTW, MSNBC, this is not a 501c3, although people have offered funding to proceed on that basis. We're waiting for advice from an attorney. However, I originally chose to open this site as an act of personal self-expression... because I was not willing to be bridled by the kind of tactics mentioned above, and I knew they would be employed in yet another act of governmental abuse of power. I knew that we would be targeted for suggesting the formation of a union of the people. I understand oppression, and the way it is implemented. Anyone who understands the progression of events leading to the rise of Hitler does. It is worthy to note that this is also a tit for tat against this website for suggesting we petition the FCC to revoke the broadcast licenses of NBC, MSNBC and CNBC. Our complaint is about the lack of truth on the airwaves. Their issue is the prevention of people like me gaining voice to force media outlets to tell the truth. Now you know a little more why it's important to boycott NBC. Who do you support? UPDATE: At Approx. 1:10pm PT, MSNBC changed it's coverage. Why? The mayor of Englewood, California, held a press conference. The mayor, a former county prosecutor and a black man, made statements to the effect that they were dealing with a bad cop, Officer Jeremy Morse, a 3-year veteran, who should be fired immediately and arrested. The other 3 officers on the scene were also suspended. MSNBC stopped questioning the motives of the viedographer, but they still insist another surveillance video shows that Donovan Jackson initially resisted, and even though restrained at the time of the beating, it would prove that there was provocation for the attack on a handcuffed, subdued 16-year old suspect. Another report has surfaced that this same cop beat up another black man in Southern California approximately 2 weeks ago. That man, as yet unidentified, was beaten into a coma. No charges were filed against that man. Donavan Jackson was charged with suspicion of resisting arrest. His father, Cody Jackson, was cited for driving with a suspended drivers' license. This, by the way, is yet another example of how MSNBC will say anything to deliver the message they desire, then flip flop when caught with their pants down. Right now they're running a story about the a group that got sued for starting a boycott. They didn't have video tape to prove their charges. UPDATE 7/10/2002 - It's good to see MSNBC''s counter-programming of my report on this by having Rick Sanchez interview the mayor of Inglewood California, as well as beatings by other police departments in other states. It's good for them to have finally recognized that reporting such acts is something a good citizen would do, and, in the case of Mitchell Crooks, a guy who was innocently on the scene with a video recorder - he should be thanked for his good citizenship, and not subjected to MSNBC's aspersions. MSNBC owes him an apology. PS - The video tape is still rolling!!! PS Appreciate your suggestion last night, Greg, that if we have comments on the programming on MSNBC, to write, and leave our phone numbers. Well... I have a log of over 100 emails I've sent to your station over the last 2 years... to execs, on air stafff. etc... no response.. so if you want to talk... email me, and leave YOUR number. I'll be glad to call you back, collect. BTW , I'm still waiting to see the surveillance video that you say justifies the actions by these police officers. I really want to see it. Finally: It's good to know that there is a station, CNN, that shows an accurate depiction of the offenses, acknowledging something may have happened prior to the beginning of the video that ended up in a scuffle, and show their care for people, not the use of propagand to support "status quo", by restating that there is no excuse for what occurred after the suspect was in cuffs and subdued. Nothing.
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