CNN is my news source. They seem to have a nice balance with their political coverage and I respect that.
If you ask around.. you might find that the police have a worse reputation among black people than black panthers have among white people. Food for thought. I can't think of a white equivalent for the black panthers, honestly.
For minority populations, with the exception of explicitly stating "white power," this is exactly what I was thinking when I read that. There have historically been too many Abner Louimas for much trust to exist. Protection from the brutality of corrupt police forces, oddly enough, was the main reason the original Black Panthers formed.
We also know historically in the south that police have been extensively used to intimidate black voters at polling precincts. Now contrary to DCKid's assertion that I condone this type of action, I do not. All I’m saying is that there is precedent for it and I understand the reaction of the black community.
Guardian Angles maybe? That organization might not be exclusively black though. Was/Is the Black Panther Party exclusively black though?
Are they wearing white sheets? As the camera approaches the scene, the one guy with a stick actually steps out to confront it. Weird. This is a hugely disappointing event. What did they think they were there to protect except anyone wanting to feel welcome and come in to vote-- who was registered!!!!
Google it -- they were heavily involved in the primaries (for Rudy), attending polling stations and driving people to the polls. Not sure what they're up to today, in Florida. Not sure if they got behind McCain or not. But yeah, it's very similar, except the Angels look fatter in general than Panthers.
If anybody is arguing that standing around in black panther uniform with a night stick in your hand at a polling place is not a stupid thing or could be construed as possible intimidation, your political beliefs have blinded you to common sense. There is another video that shows police respond and escort the guys away.
No, I actually agree with you. Very stupid thing to do, even if their hearts in are, in a warped way, in the right place. Just giving footage for Fox News is stupid in a PR 101 type of way. They are not being very bright.
If i lived in that area and saw that I would probably turn around and leave. I am not trying to get my ass beat.
Absolutely, it provided poor optics to carry a nightstick. Given the history of Republicans caging voters only in population dense minority neighborhoods, given the history of Republican poll-watchers/lawyers individually challenging minorities' right to vote, there is however a definite need for opposing Democratic poll watchers, Black Panther beret or not: e.g. our former Supreme Court chief justice: Today this intimidation usually takes the form of repeatedly challenging voters' addresses, not to turn up actual cases of fraud but to gum up the works and make the lines longer/discourage those waiting in line; or, hiring off-duty police officers to walk around in uniform to scare away those with unpaid parking tickets. I for one would like to hear from additional witnesses about the alleged doorway-blocking/confrontation before I lend it full credence, especially given TPM's opposing witness' tale of provocation, and given the sensationalized headlining of this story on Drudge & FNC. If it happened, though, fine, arrest the gentlemen and treat it as the isolated incident it is. Watching Fox, the message is clear: Black Panthers are f---ing up white voters. Be very afraid. An Obama presidency = Defense Secretary Bobby Seale.
