FOX attempts to stew racism in allegations of Black Panther voter intimidation in Philly

FOX reports that two Black Panthers are intimidating voters at a polling station in Philadelphia at which voter turnout is 80% African-American. So, obviously that makes little sense. Naturally FOX is trying to ramp up the racism in this election by allying Obama with "Black Panthers."

The BPP no longer exists, so any effort to categorize men dressed in leather jackets and berets as Panthers is a blatant effort to play up racism. Additionaly, even if the gentlemen at the polling station were Black Panthers, the Party did not stand on a platform of racism or black nationalism- so it cheapens FOX's angle even further. The Panthers motto was "Power to the people" and they allied themselves with a myriad of progressive goups regardless of race or ethnicity. I'm not surprised that FOX is grasping at straws and trying to stew up white fear of a black man in power. Nonetheless it's sad and shameful.

Palo Alto Police Chief orders racial profiling

Basically Lynne Johnson, the Chief of the Palo Alto police, has instructed her officers to approach and question any black person they see. She went a step further and stated that they are going to definitely stop any Black male wearing a doo-rag since a suspect in a recent robbery wore one. Is this woman a complete idiot? I'm surprised she didn't order all of EPA to be incarcerated.

I first want to start with the most trivial part of this story. You're going to stop everyone wearing a doo-rag?? Does she know a doo-rag is an article of clothing?? A doo-rag is not the equivalent of green eyes or black hair. Thats like saying that your looking for a suspect in a green shirt. How many people do you know would walk around wearing the same clothes they committed a crime in after they've described on TV??

More importantly, stopping every Black person you see because you associate them with criminality is some Klan shit. You are a police department! Investigate! You can't just round up every Black person you see. Granted, this is what police do on the regular, but this woman actually stated it in an open meeting! She must be trying to get put on leave so she can get some extra vacation time.

This is just further proof that the Police will continue to target the Black community to protect the interests of well-to-do White folks. Furthermore, it demonstrates that even in 2008 the police feel fine being openly racist with impunity. I have added a portion of a jailhouse interview with Huey P. Newton below to give us some perspective. After over 40 years of supposed "progress" the same problems described by Huey here in 1967 continue to plague us.


I say that anyone with some free time on their hands should walk around Palo Alto in a doo-rag patrolling the police. This is ridiculous.

For further coverage you can read up on the controversy in the Oakland Tribune or the San Jose Mercury News.

The latest batch of Republican racism

There are a lot of people that believe that if Barack Obama wins the presidency, that it some how marks the end of racism in this country. I disagree. I think that this election has actually magnified how racist this country still is. Even if Obama does overcome the odds, think about how race has gone from a politically correct sore spot to an open wound.

Below are the latest examples:
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Florida GOP Chair sends racist e-mail warning of car-loads of Blacks trying to vote

Via C&L

The head of the Hillsborough GOP, David Storck, distributed an email from a Republican Party volunteer saying the voters are a threat.

That's because, as the volunteer says in the email, he sees "car loads of black Obama supporters coming from the inner city to cast their votes for Obama."

It goes on to say, "This is their chance to get a black president and they seem to care little the he is at minimum a socialist and probably Marxist in his core beliefs." The Republican volunteer says that is because, "After all he is black- no experience or accomplishments but he is black."
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Rush Limbaugh YELLS that Colin Powell only endorsed Barack Obama because of race


Pat Buchanon seconds Limbaugh's bigotry. Powell just wants a Black President.


Conservative George Will thirds this notion

The most ridiculous part of this notion is that it seems to say that there is no valid reason to support Barack Obama. George Will especially says that Black brotherhood and White guilt are the only reasons people are voting for Obama, which discredits Obama's work and stances on every issue. Furthermore, it insults all of our ability to think and draw our own independent conclusions. Oh the fall of the Right! May you fall long and hard . . .
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The saddest part is that these racist statements only scratch the surface of our nations' bigotry. Remember too that these messages are being voiced by major networks that dictate the political discourse in this country. Think about all the folks around the country who see such statements as validation of their racism and ignorance. Please check out this collection of racist moments in the election over at Complex.

Another thing that isn't being adequately addressed is the anti-Muslim rhetoric that dominates this election. It is more acceptable to attack Muslims than African-Americans in a post 9/11 society, but allying Obama with Islam is just another way to emphasize his "otherness." There is nothing wrong with being Black OR Muslim. Democrats and the Obama campaign have emphasized that Obama is not Muslim, but have not properly defended Islam. By not doing so, both parties are incriminating an entire religion, including Muslims in America. This must also stop.