The Obama Administration: Out For Justice
By Wyatt Earp | May 30, 2009
Yeah, that's a nightstick in the brotha's hand.
Well, you know, as long as the people charged aren’t African-American.
Remember this story? It involved Black Panthers intimidating and threatening Philadelphia voters on Election Day – and they weren’t demanding that people “Vote McCain!” Pretty much everyone who commented was outraged, as they should have been.
Well, guess who dropped all charges against the thugs?
Charges brought against three members of the New Black Panther Party for Self-Defense under the Bush administration have been dropped by the Obama Justice Department, FOX News has learned.
SHOCKA! Is this the HopeyChange we have been waiting for?
The charges stemmed from an incident at a Philadelphia polling place on Election Day 2008 when three members of the party were accused of trying to threaten voters and block poll and campaign workers by the threat of force — one even brandishing what prosecutors call a deadly weapon.
The three black panthers, Minister King Samir Shabazz, Malik Zulu Shabazz and Jerry Jackson were charged in a civil complaint in the final days of the Bush administration with violating the voter rights act by using coercion, threats and intimidation. Shabazz allegedly held a nightstick or baton that prosecutors said he pointed at people and menacingly tapped it. Prosecutors also say he “supports racially motivated violence against non-blacks and Jews.”
Some of that other nonsense could be coined “allegedly,” but as you can see in the photo, this toad is definitely carrying a nightstick.
A poll watcher who provided an affidavit to prosecutors in the case noted that Bartle Bull, who worked as a civil rights lawyer in the south in the 1960′s and is a former campaign manager for Robert Kennedy, said it was the most blatant form of voter intimidation he had ever seen.
In his affidavit, obtained by FOX News, Bull wrote “I watched the two uniformed men confront voters and attempt to intimidate voters. They were positioned in a location that forced every voter to pass in close proximity to them. The weapon was openly displayed and brandished in plain sight of voters.”
He also said they tried to “interfere with the work of other poll observers … whom the uniformed men apparently believed did not share their preferences politically,” noting that one of the panthers turned toward the white poll observers and said “you are about to be ruled by the black man, cracker.”
Bartle Bull worked as a civil rights lawyer and campaign manager for Robert Kennedy. It’s pretty safe to assume that he is not a Karl Rove operative. The guy is most likely on the liberal side of politics, and here he is swearing to the actions of these thugs.
Apparently, the Obama administration doesn’t care. Go figure. It’s okay, though, the Justice Department released a statement explaining away everything:
A spokesman for the Department of Justice told FOX News, “The Justice Department was successful in obtaining an injunction that prohibits the defendant who brandished a weapon outside a Philadelphia polling place from doing so again. Claims were dismissed against the other defendants based on a careful assessment of the facts and the law. The department is committed to the vigorous prosecution of those who intimidate, threaten or coerce anyone exercising his or her sacred right to vote.” (H/T – FOXNews)
Bullsh*t. Obama didn’t want the Black Panthers prosecuted, end of story. Personally, I think that this entire series of events is a disgrace, and it begins and ends at the president’s desk.
I also think that the Obama administration should watch out for lightning strikes the next time the president or one his his lickspittles speaks about “fairness and justice.” Apparently, his “Justice” Department considers those values to be – as Obama coined – “just words.”
Topics: Philly | 17 Comments »
May 30th, 2009 at 1:42 pm
“The Justice Department was successful in obtaining an injunction that prohibits the defendant who brandished a weapon outside a Philadelphia polling place from doing so again.”
If I was voter in Philly that injunction would make me feel so dayem much safer. NOT. What the he11 were they thinking letting them off like that? If it had been the White Panthers would they also have had their case dropped so easily? Voter intimidation… sorry but I am just irate. They got it away with it once now, whats to stop them from doing it in a bunch of other places next? When they know dayem well and good that Daddy O is going to step in and make everything go away. This requires more than a roll of duct tape.
“The department is committed to the vigorous prosecution of those who intimidate, threaten or coerce anyone exercising his or her sacred right to vote.”
Vigorous prosecution my little kitty a$$.
May 30th, 2009 at 1:56 pm
Of course they dropped the charges. If they didn’t drop the charges, then they may have a hard time finding panthers to stand outside polling places in the future.
The punishment for voter intimidation should be death, as it should be for attempting to orchestrate voter fraud. When the risk outweigh the award, then and only then will behavior begin to change.
May 30th, 2009 at 2:12 pm
If you weren’t genetically inferior Wyatt, you’d have “empathy” like these brave men. We white men could certainly learn a thing or two from their “rich life experiences” if only we weren’t so racist and intellectually inferior, becuase of our white skin of course.
May 30th, 2009 at 2:36 pm
injunction like a PFA order is just a piece of fucking paper for those animals. then again they will be needed for jug ears civillian corps to be budgeted on par with the military. gotta go find my duct tape
May 30th, 2009 at 3:24 pm
This made me sick when I read it yesterday. So much for equal protection under the law. I’m starting to wonder whether the moderate voices in the Republican party who urge not to sink to name calling and vitriolic attacks that the left sunk to have the right idea. I don’t know. I’d hate to drop an F-bomb, but this looks like Fascism to me.
May 30th, 2009 at 3:34 pm
“you are about to be ruled by the black man, cracker.”
Well, so far, this “Cracker-American” is not impressed.
(Charming choice of words, by the way.)
May 30th, 2009 at 5:56 pm
Welcome to Hope’n'Change!
America – you voted for it. At least we have the excuse that we never voted for our PM – we were never given the chance.
May 30th, 2009 at 8:07 pm
The Barack Obama Lied
Flag high! Ranks closed tight!
The Acorn Troopers march with bold, firm step.
Homeland Security Battalions
March together within our ranks.
Clear the streets for the Acorn battalions.
Clear the streets for the Socialist men!
Millions already look hopefully up to the Messiah.
The day is breaking for hope and change!
For the last time now the call is sounded!
Already we stand all ready to fight!
Soon the Obama banners will flutter over the streets.
Our enemies won’t last much longer!
Flag high! Ranks closed tight!
The Acorn Troopers march with bold, firm step.
Homeland Security Battalions
March together within our ranks.
May 30th, 2009 at 10:58 pm
Without appearing like a kumbaya freak, which I’m not really, I pray we can get through this to peace amongst ourselves. If not, by the end of this four years I see blood in the streets again. For awhile yet, the cities of blue still swim in a sea of red. Although their forces will be initially concentrated there they can and will be cut off and isolated enclave by enclave until law and order prevail again. Fell like climbing on a rock and saying..”Men of Gondor….” LOL
June 1st, 2009 at 12:00 pm
…and from a PA bitter gun clinger voter -> never bring a night stick to a gun fight.
At the very least, he’ll get that night stick painfully shoved in some orifice.
I’ll enter and vote as I please, thank you.
June 1st, 2009 at 5:23 pm
Can anyone explain the legal situation here? I have seen a short, camera phone video. Two black panthers are wearing paramilitary uniforms and one at least possesses and is displaying a night stick. When asked who they are one replies they are “Security”.
Who is responsible for the vote at a polling station? Over here we have clearly appointed individuals who have that responsibility. Who is responsible for Security outside a polling station? The police? The Returning Officer responsible for the station?
Who appointed the “Security” individuals? What are their “rules of engagement”? Does the law allow any Tom Dick or Harry to call themselves “Security” and carry and display an offensive weapon.
Over here any security would be provided by the Police. I do not know the details but I cannot conceive of it being anyone else. In the event of any disruption or the appearance of paramilitary uniforms, or the holders of an offensive weapon, I would expect the Police to descend like a ton of bricks and remove the individuals.
If there really was intimidation of voters then why didn’t they register a formal complaint in the polling station and why didn’t the cops deal with it on the spot? Surely intimidation or other interference with voters is a Federal crime? Why were they not arrested and removed?
I am confused.
June 1st, 2009 at 7:24 pm
This, from the Bulletin, is of interest:
http://thebulletin.us/articles/2009/06/01/top_stories/doc4a23b1ae4c1bd410553609.txt
I’m going to send an email of thanks to U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith.
June 1st, 2009 at 8:40 pm
E.L. – Dropping charges is “vigorous prosecution” now? I’ll remember that the next time I get a robbery or a shooting. I’ll just drop the charges and see if my sergeant lets me do it.
Marvin – Look to see these a-holes at the same polling place in 2012.
Woody – Maybe Sotomayor can promote these thugs to election coordinators?
Jimmytheclaw – Don’t think this won’t embolden other toads to do the same thing.
Crankipants – I’m pretty sure Venezuela and Cuba have the same “election helpers.”
Mrs. Crankipants – And, so far, the first black president has done a real bang-up job, eh?
Alan B – And now we are reaping the “benefits.”
Dennis – Well played.
Jon – No matter how bad Obama may or may not be, we’ll survive. This is America, and we suffered fools and bad presidents – Andrew Johnson, Harding, Ford, Carter – before.
Smite – I wish I knew where the polling place was. I would have gone there and poked them with a stick (figuratively).
Alan B – Most polling place volunteers are either too scared or indifferent to do anything about them, so they sit on their hands. The one should have been arrested for Possession of a Prohibited Offensive Weapon.
Crankipants – Good for him!
June 2nd, 2009 at 12:47 am
thanks for the link, Crankipants!
As a native born son, you make me Texas proud… God bless the Great State of Texas!!
June 2nd, 2009 at 5:17 am
Well sack them and get someone with a bit of backbone then hammer the hell out of anyone who defies them!
Full penalty of the Federal Law – they are in breach of the spirit of the constitution which appears to make it a sacred right to be able to vote.
Stop messing about. Surely there are some Marines no longer actively serving who can handle it?
(You know I’m not criticising you, Marshall or anyone else here but can’t enough people see what is going on in your great country to do something about it? Trouble is, I think I know the answer!)
(I’ve learnt not to call them ex-Marines If someone says their motto is “Semper Fi” then trust them as long as they are faithful to the Constitution.)
December 29th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
[...] from Election Day, when Black Panthers intimidated voters at a polling location in Philadelphia. You may also remember this story, where Attorney General Eric Holder dismissed all charges against the Black Panthers, even though [...]
July 2nd, 2010 at 6:46 am
[...] is what a former Justice Department attorney is claiming. Do you remember this case? During the 2008 election, members of the New Black Panther Party – a group that raises [...]