Cynthia's Statement on the Sean Bell Verdict
Cynthia McKinney
Statement on the Sean Bell Verdict
April 26, 2008
And with [its assertion about "no rights which the white man was bound to respect"], the United States Supreme Court ensured that the 20th Century would be defined, as W.E.B. DuBois wrote, by the color line. So, while we might be outraged at the Sean Bell decision itself, it comes directly from the flawed jurisprudence that gave us the Dred Scott Decision in 1857, Plessy v. Ferguson in 1896, Bakke in 1978, Croson in 1989, Adarand in 1995, Gratz in 2003, and all of the Ward Connerly-inspired attacks on the very same affirmative action hard won by students facing water hoses and dogs; men and women facing jail, lynch mobs, and death.
Interestingly, according to Attorney Roger Wareham of the December 12th Movement's International Secretariat, the criminal justice system in this country "always finds a rationale for letting off cops who kill black and brown people." Indeed, police officers seem to know that they can kill certain people with impunity.
An Urgent Request from Cynthia McKinney
Friends!
Some of you know that I am on a tour of our country's heartland, visiting Texas, Oklahoma, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Illinois. We received a tremendous reception in Benton Harbor, Michigan--a majority black community that is fighting for its survival against powerful corporate interests that want to own its pristine beachfront land. Reverend Edward Pinkney has been a stallwart fighter for justice in the community and is leading its resistance to these powerful corporate interests.
I went to Benton Harbor to support Reverend Pinkney and the people of Benton Harbor in their struggle for self-determination. At this meeting, it was clear that Reverend Pinkney had succeeded in bringing whites and blacks together in this fight for justice. And we know that powerful interests view that as a no-no.
Unfortunately, today, the day after our wonderful rally with the residents, Reverend Pinkney was picked up by the police for allegedly violating the terms of his parole to not make "inflammatory statements." Reverend Pinkney's remarks were published as an article in a Chicago newspaper.
I am asking that you please write letters to the people below, asking for justice for Reverend Pinkney and the people of Benton Harbor. I know that our concerted work together will change things. Thank you for taking a stand.
Cynthia
Another Outrage: Aren't Students Supposed to Ask Questions???
He asks why Kerry is not in favor of impeachment, then the students applaud when the police attack him at the microphone. From the video, it appears that he is literally picked up by the police and carried to the back of the room where he is put on the floor, handcuffed, tasered, carried out, and in the background one can hear Kerry talking--not trying to get the police officers to stop attacking the student--but blathering on, reminiscent of George Bush when the towers were hit.
Cynthia Endorses formation of an independent Reconstruction Party
I, Cynthia McKinney, former Member of Congress for the people of Georgia, would like to hereby declare my full support for the formation of an independent Reconstruction Party in the United States. I also declare my full support for Brother Malcolm Suber's candidacy for New Orleans City Council in the October 20, 2007 elections.
