Archive for the ‘George Zimmerman’ Category

In brief | January 19, 2017 | grandblancview.mihomepaper.com … – Grandblancview

Homeowners Forum to meet in February

GRAND BLANC TWP. The GB Homeowners Forum has cancelled its meeting for the month of January. Please join us for the next scheduled meeting on February 15, 6:15 p.m. in the David Stamm Community Room located at the Grand Blanc Twp. Police Department, 5405 S. Saginaw Rd. The guest speaker for February is renowned Farmington Hills Condo and HOA lawyer Steve Guerra. The meeting is open to the public. P.S.

GBHS Bands craft show

GRAND BLANC GBHS Bands will host A Concert of Crafts - Fine Arts & Craft Show April 29 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Grand Blanc High School East, 12500 Holly Rd. This event features handcrafted fine arts and crafts by local and regional artists, a bake sale, concessions, kids craft activity & more! Proceeds benefit the GBHS Bands. For more information or applications for spaces available, email gbhscraftshow@gmail.com. P.S.

Women of a New Tribe to open Jan. 22 at FIA

FLINT Women of a New Tribe, artist Jerry Taliaferros photographic study of the spiritual and physical beauty of women in Flints African American community, opens Sunday. Jan. 22, at the Flint Institute of Arts.

The 10th Annual Community Gala, will take place at 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21. It will include discussion with the artist, viewing, and a reception with music, a strolling supper and cash bar. Pre-event tickets are $40 per person for FIA members, $60 per person for non-members. Tickets at the door are $55 for members, $75 for non-members. The exhibit runs through Saturday, April 15. L.R.

Race, privilege topic of 10-minute plays

FLINT Flint Youth Theatre will present Facing Our Truth, a collection of 10-minute plays that examine race and privilege, at 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 22.

In light of the George Zimmerman verdict, The New Black Fest commissioned six very diverse playwrights to write 10-minute plays on the topics of Trayvon Martin, race and/or privilege.

The purpose of Facing Our Truth is to incite serious discussion throughout area communities around these urgent issues.

The collection includes The Ballad of George Zimmerman by Dan OBrien and Quentzal Flores, Colored by Winter Miller, Dressing by Mona Mansour and Tala Manassah, Night Vision by Dominique Morisseau, No More Monsters Here by Marcus Gardley, and Some Other Kid by A. Rey Pamatmat. Tickets cost $7. The show is recommended for adults and older teens. Facing Our Truth is sponsored by Dr. Daniel and Donna Anbe. L.R.

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In brief | January 19, 2017 | grandblancview.mihomepaper.com ... - Grandblancview

Dastardly D.C. Judges Shouldn’t Punish Political Punditry | Cato … – Cato Institute (blog)

Michael Mann is a climate scientist and researcher whose work has been at the center of the global warming debate for decades. After emails came to light concerning Manns statistical methods, two of his critics wrote scathing pieces arguing that Mann had molested and tortured data in the service of politicized science, and calling for a fresh, truly independent investigation. Despite such harsh criticism being par for the course in online commentary, Mann sued both writers (Mark Steyn and Rand Simberg) and their publishers (National Reviewandthe Competitive Enterprise Institute, respectively) for libel.

A three-judge panel of the D.C. Court of Appeals (the Districts highest court) ruled that Manns libel claim could succeed in front of a jury, and allowed the case to go forward. The defendants have asked the court to reconsider the implications of its decision, and Cato has filed a brief supporting that request.

Harsh words are common to the discourse of pundits and politicians alike. Op-eds and stump speeches frequently feature terms like fraud, scam, misconduct, and even treason. Whether such characterizations are apt or not is for readers and listeners to judge, but until now few imagined that using them could lead to years of litigation and a costly libel verdict.

Similarly, calls for investigation and accusations of whitewashing have a long history dating back to Emile Zolas Jaccuse! and continuing today with debates over the trials of O.J. Simpson, George Zimmerman, and many others.If Manns critics committed actionable libel, then so might everyone who has voiced disagreement with such verdicts, as well as everyone who has called for politicians to be investigated for corruption, fraud, or war crimes.

Finally, the court wrongly held that merely comparing a public figure to a notorious person could be libelous. As we know from Godwins law, such comparisons are a time-honored tradition of American debate. Opinion writers in recent years have invoked colorful analogies to Timothy McVeigh, Charles Manson, and Jack the Ripper to express their displeasure with the conduct of public figures. Writers and historians concerned with the conduct of politicians have drawn parallels with Stalin, Mussolini, and, of course, the ubiquitous Hitler. Right or wrong, such language is unquestionably speech on subjects of public concern.

The D.C. Court of Appeals should give Mann v. National Reviewa second look and reverse its earlier decision. Its no exaggeration to say that the courts reasoning could put thousands of articles, blogposts, and even tweets under a cloud of potential liability, thereby chilling the speech that is the lifeblood of Washington politics. Cultural and political debates should be litigated in the court of public opinion, not law.

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Dastardly D.C. Judges Shouldn't Punish Political Punditry | Cato ... - Cato Institute (blog)

Local airwaves lack adult R&B mix – Tampabay.com

My local radio dream has come true.

Sort of.

iHeart media launched a Throwback 94.5 (St. Petersburg) and 105.9 (Tampa) station this week, bringing to our local airwaves a blend of hip-hop and R&B from the late 1980s to the early 2000s.

It's not quite the adult R&B mix that I long for, a format featuring Stevie Wonder, Luther Vandross, Jill Scott, Anthony Hamilton and Chaka Khan to name a few but delivering Puff Daddy, Arrested Development, old JayZ and DMX adds to the diversity of our airwaves.

For that I'm grateful and a bit amazed it took this long. Frankly, local radio was about to make me lose my mind, up in here, up in here.

For so long, most of the area broadcasters eschewed true adult R&B on the FM side. When WTMP, the city's longtime, black-owned station, went through an ownership and format change, the void grew even greater. But even in WTMP's best days, its signal didn't reach the entire area.

To me, it appeared to be a no-brainer that one of the corporately owned media groups would fill the void, especially when the smooth jazz station changed programming.

But for so many years, the market went without adult R&B. Yes, stations offering hip-hop emerged, but that mix of old soul and neon soul, sans hip-hop's most coarse songs, remains missing, even today.

Surprisingly, the same format enjoys success in almost every other market in Florida and many across the nation.

Here, we continue to have stations that mirror each other. At any given minute, I can find a station playing Bon Jovi or Journey or the Eagles. Nothing wrong with those groups, but we deserve a better music mosaic.

Some who have heard me make this lament before point to WMNF-FM 88.5, and while its diverse programming brings some of my favorites to the airwaves, I want a more consistent stream of Alicia Keys and Marsha Ambosious, Prince and Earth, Wind and Fire.

Others wonder why I haven't converted to satellite. Sirius Radio offers the Groove, which fully carries the artists I crave. I know because I once subscribed.

But I long for over-the-air, local radio because it can bring a sense of community that can't be created with satellite and syndication. WMNF's popularity is built on the concept, but other corporate broadcasters have moved away from it. A good station, however, can serve as a clarion call on issues.

I happened to be in Orlando the night George Zimmerman received a not guilty verdict in the Trayvon Martin case. That market's adult R&B station, WCFB-94.5 FM (Star 94.5), turned off the music and gave its listeners a chance to call in and offer opinions on the decision. Seldom is radio's immediacy more valuable than in such moments.

But just the music alone deserves a place in our market. I know I'm not alone in craving adult R&B. I've seen the audiences at the Clearwater Jazz Holiday sway to the O'Jays and Kool and the Gang, among others.

And don't call it a black thing.

You can't assume only African-Americans like Lionel Richie and Charlie Wilson no more than you can assume only whites like the Rolling Stones and Guns 'n Roses.

It's just great music like classic rock and alt-rock and hip-hop and it needs a platform in Tampa Bay. For now, the best place to get my fix is on WRBQ-FM 104.7 (Q105). It occasionally comes through with a classic from the Emotions or K.C. and the Sunshine Band, delivers club hits with the Saturday Night Dance Party and a Quiet Storm of R&B ballads on Sunday night.

But every time my wife and I drive east on Interstate 4, we flip to Star 94.5 the minute we cross over into Polk County and can pick up even a faint signal.

I'll never understand how that format thrives in Orlando, but can't even get a chance to succeed in Tampa Bay.

That's all I'm saying.

Local airwaves lack adult R&B mix 01/18/17 [Last modified: Wednesday, January 18, 2017 5:45pm] Photo reprints | Article reprints

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The History of Scapegoating Black Lives Matter – Study Breaks

Despite its attempts at good will and inclusion, Black Lives Matter continues to center a national narrative of violence propagation.

By Aliyah Thomas, Mount Saint Mary College

By now, youve likely heard about the live-streamed beating, torture and harassment of a special needs student by four Chicago teens.

Over the course of the live stream, the assailants cited President-elect Donald Trump in addition to calling out adverse comments like, Fuck white people! while they assaulted the young man. While the teens never mentioned Black Lives Matter by name, the organization has once again found itself at the center of a national debate concerning the legitimacy of the movement, and whether or not it propagates violence toward white people.

Richard Spencer, self-proclaimed alt-right leader of the National Policy Institute, has even gone so far as to name the event the BLM Kidnapping. If you think Black Lives Matter is a race-baiting hate group, dont forget that Richard Spencer is the same man who promotes 21st century ethnic cleansing and unashamedly said, America belongs to white men.

Richard Spencer (Image via Rolling Stone)

As someone who cares for a special needs population, I am angry, appalled and hope for an unkind taste of justice for these teens. As someone who supports Black Lives Mattera movement with no chauvinist means, despite what alt-right leaders have been saying for yearsI think that this last-ditch attempt to discredit Black Lives Matter reeks of desperation.

Black Lives Matter, born from the 2013 public acquittal of George Zimmerman, affirms black life (not while synchronously denying white life) in a time where people like Richard Spencer regularly marginalize minority groups. Yet somehow, people continue to spin the same narrative about BLM being an organization that propagates violence and hate, not that this should come as a surprise revelation to anyoneBlack Lives Matter has always known success, but has an equally as bleak history of incrimination.

After Darren Wilson fatally opened fire on Michael Brown on August 9, 2014, a national debate was incited about race relations and law enforcements relationship with black America. The days after the shooting were commemorative of Brown, but the push for black activism was quickly overtaken by days of violencethis came to be known as the first wave, but it would be the second wave where Black Lives Matter really bore the brunt of national criticism.

Days before a not-guilty verdict was announced to the nation and Ferguson found itself in its second wave of unrest, the governor of Missouri declared a state of emergency. Upon announcement of the jurys decision not to indict Darren Wilson, Michael Browns stepfather ordered Ferguson residents to, Burn this bitch down! Chaos ensued.

Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman (Image via ABC)

Black Lives Matter had merely been a hashtag after Trayvon Martin, a movement that gained traction, legitimacy and longevity after unrest in Ferguson. Just as quickly as the movement started, it was met by instant reproachthe counter-movement, All Lives Matter, was one of the very first attempts to detract from the purpose of the Black Lives Matter organizationthat continues to inform the negative response toward BLM.

In the midst of city-wide disorder, Ferguson suffered massive property damage. People used a passive movement as a cover to further their own agendas, and this began a history of violence that remains completely unrelated to BLM. Fergusons legacy isnt rooted in the attempts of peaceful protestors to advocate for justice, but in the looting of businesses, vandalism, and destruction of the city.

In response to the deaths of Eric Garner and Michael Brown, Ismaaiyl Abdullah Brinsley approached the patrol car of Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu, shot and killed the two officers, and fled on foot before committing suicide in a subway station. While the nation mourned the death of the officers (whod done nothing to provoke Brinsley), others were quick to pour out their hatred of Black Lives Matter and avid in their attempts to discredit an ideology theyd never even concerned themselves with.

Despite what its pseudo-affiliates (i.e. criminals and murderers operating under the shroud of BLM) do, Black Lives Matter has never proposed any kind of mass execution of law enforcement as an answer to police brutality. Although Black Lives Matter condemned Brinsleys ambush of the NYPD officersAn eye for an eye is not our vision of justicesocial media and conservative commentators rejected the Facebook statement and once more accused BLM of knowingly inciting violence.

Image via Police Tees

This instance of violence against police has since spurred another counter-movement, Blue Lives Matter, a national pro-police effort to dissuade people from the supposed anti-police sentiment of the Black Lives Matter movement. Blue Lives Matter and All Lives Matter, respectively, have since gained their own base of support since the creation of Black Lives Matter.

Just two months after Dylann Roof gunned down members of the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Vester Lee Flanagan II shot and killed Alison Parker and Adam Ward during a live television interview. Flanagan cited Dylann Roofs purposeful execution of black people (and his alleged intention to spur a national race war) and supposed workplace discrimination at WDBJ as his motive to kill.

Given the intentions of Flanagan, its obvious that Parker and Wards murders were racially motivated. Although Flanagans vendetta, very clearly against his white coworkers, ended with two lives being taken, the issue here had nothing to do with Black Lives Matter. His mental state has repeatedly been called into question, and it seems more so like toxic delusions of racism rather than supporting BLM were the driving factor for Flanagans actions.

Vester Lee Fanagan (Image via ICE)

Black Lives Matter became a social media-wide rebuttal for the WDBJ shooting, and this had only added fuel to a fire building steadily since 2014. Flanagans manifesto made no mention of the movement, but naysayers continued their trend of trying to dismantle Black Lives Matter by fixating on violent acts perpetuated by black people.

After the deaths of Alton Sterling on July 5 and Philando Castile on July 6,a peaceful protest was arranged in the streets of Dallas, Texas on July 7 of last year. A peaceful demonstration against police brutality quickly turned into chaos when Micah Xavier Johnson, a heavily armed military veteran of the Afghan War, began firing upon police officers. Five officers were killed in the ensuing shootout, and Johnson was later killed by a bomb attached to a robot.

Image via NJ

Johnson sought out Black Lives Matter after being discharged from the military as a means of expressing himself as an activist, but after being blacklisted from other nationalist groups, Johnson became a loner of sorts. Even though he was never officially associated with Black Lives Matter, citing the movement as the perpetrator was the most transparent attempt to discredit the real work being done by activists.

Blue Lives Matter was brought back to life in the midst of the ambushs extensive media coverage, and Black Lives Matter suffered another huge blow despite having nothing to do with Johnsons extremist actions.

These events will not be the last time that Black Lives Matter falls to an adverse rhetoric. Blaming Black Lives Matter for allegedly reinforcing a national anti-police outlook misses the point of the movement and masks the work of advocates across the nation.

True, honest supporters of Black Lives Matter would neither partake in nor encourage violence against anyone, especially not with the intention of being racially divisive. Anyone who claims to support Black Lives Matter, but does not encourage racial inclusion and affirmation, doesnt understand the purpose of the movement, but instead promotes a deadly strand of racial discord.

Black Lives MatterBlack Lives Matter ScapegoatBLM

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The Legacy of President Barack Obama – Afro American


Afro American
The Legacy of President Barack Obama
Afro American
The 17-year old Martin was gunned down by George Zimmerman, a gun-toting, neighborhood watchmen or vigilante (depending upon one's perspective), as he walked to his father's home in Sanford, Florida, armed with only a bag of Skittles and an Arizona ...
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The Legacy of President Barack Obama - Afro American