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Regarding writer Kendrick Marshalls opinion piece on Aug. 16, I wholeheartedly agree with him that equal treatment of all, regardless of skin color, is what we require of our police.

Will he acknowledge that the phrase Black lives matter comes with some serious radical political baggage?

Black lives matter was coined by a radical political movement involved in much more than just a protest about George Floyds death.

A BLM organizer in Chicago, Ariel Atkins, asserted a right to loot Chicago stores as reparations.

The BLM founders are proud Marxists, and the BLM website calls for disrupting the nuclear family, opposing heteronormative thinking and defunding the police.

These political positions provoke intense and well-justified criticism. Marshalls failure to acknowledge that fatally weakens his op-ed.

Marshall is at liberty to be wrong on fact, law and logic.

If Black Lives Matter is an appropriate street mural, why not Indian Lives Matter or Unborn Babies Lives Matter, or any number of other heart-felt sentiments from all corners of public opinion?

The city government would be bombarded with requests to paint streets, and any denials would come with the threat of lawsuits to justify why the politically charged phrase Black Lives Matter gets unquestioning deference.

Dale McIntyre, Bartlesville

Editor's note: One of the three Black Lives Matter organization founders gave an interview in 2015 saying she and another founder were "trained Marxists." The organization formed in response to the 2013 acquittal of George Zimmerman, though the phrase often refers to a larger movement.

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Letter to the Editor: Black Lives Matter comes with radical, political baggage - Tulsa World

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Police are investigating after Bucks County business owners received extortion letters that claim to be from Black Lives Matter Philly.

The local BLM chapter immediately clarified they had nothing to do with the notes. Received by at least two Newtown, Pa., businesses, the letters threaten violence or arson if proprietors dont make donations to the activist organization.

Black Lives Matter is calling you out, the letters read, according to screenshots provided to Billy Penn. We want you to donate money to us, anything over 500.00 is good. Threats follow, saying that that if funds are not donated [sic], We will burn your bussiness to the ground and put you out of bussiness for good.

Shops and restaurants in the suburban town have been receiving them since Aug. 8, and as recently as Aug. 13, according to the Newtown Township Police Department.

Its so obvious its not us, said Devren Washington, an organizer with Black Lives Matter Philly. But slowly but surely, a lot of people from outside Philadelphia started messaging us, yelling at us.

Washington said hes seen notes like this before during his three years with the group, but its happened more often this summer, after the movement that brought out tens of thousands to protest racism and police brutality following the killing of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor.

BLM Philly is one of a few dozen local chapters affiliated with the national organization by the same name, which was founded in 2013 in response to the acquittal of Trayvon Martins killer George Zimmerman. Phillys chapter was started in 2015.

It would happen morewhen theres a campaign happening, or us demanding something, Washington said. Thats part of the backlash that can be expected at that point.

As the letter circulated in suburban Facebook groups, BLM Philly tried to clear things up.

The letters are attempting to extort donations from these businesses under the threat of arson or other kinds of violence, reads a Monday post on its FB profile. Obviously we didnt write or send these letters.

The group has so far gotten a dozen or so messages about the fake letters, Washington said. Some informed the organization the notes were circulating and asked if they were real. Other recipients, assuming they were real, lashed out.

Let me tell you something you pieces of shit, one of the messages read. You all are racist i dare DARE you to come to my town and start some shit.

The owner of La Stalla Restaurant confirmed to Billy Penn that he received one of the letters, but declined to comment further.

Newtown Township Police also declined to comment, but the department website confirms an ongoing investigation:

Newtown Police responded to a report of two suspicious letters delivered by the U.S. postal service to two separate local businesses in Newtown Township. Both incidents were seeking the donation of funds to a cause listed on the letter and threatened harm to the establishment for failure to comply. Both incidents are being investigated by the Newtown Township Police and the Postal authorities in cooperation with the District Attorneys office.

So who sent the notes? Washingtons not sure although he thinks its a local chapter of some white nationalist group.

This letter is the first time Washington can remember a threat purporting to be from BLM has been sent via U.S. mail.

In June, a note emblazoned with the Black Lives Matter logo circulated in Upper Darby calling white men, women and children the enemy, saying the sender will not stop until ALL white people are sent to re-education camps.

Other individual instances of fraudulent fliers have previously been distributed in South Philly, stuck in rice and left on peoples doorsteps, Washington said.

For me, its to be expected, he said. On the list of things that scare me the most, its pretty low on the spectrum.

He is worried about the backlash, however. Its the justification for a lot of hate, which turns into violence, Washington said. I could easily see that for Black people in Newtown, things could get bad for them. Thats what I worry about.

If any city businesses receive such a letter, the Philadelphia Police Department said they should file a police report. But on behalf of BLM Philly, Washington doesnt necessarily recommend that.

What those investigations turn out to be are opportunities for [police] to investigate [Black Lives Matter] itself, he said. Its not something we would advocate for communities to do.

Originally posted here:
Fake extortion notes claiming to be from Black Lives Matter Philly circulate in Bucks County - Billy Penn

Jae Passmore (R) during a protest in Tampa, Florida on June 21, 2020.AttorneyCrump/Twitter

Tallahassee civil rights attorney Ben Crumpwhos represented the families of Trayvon Martin and Michael Brownhas been added to the legal team representing Tampa protester Jae Passmore. Crump is also representing the family of Breonna Taylor.

On Thursday night, Crump posted a video of a driver driving the wrong way on Swann Avenue and hitting Passmore with a truck during a June 21 protest in South Tampas Hyde Park Village.

UNREAL. This Tampa driver purposefully STRUCK a peaceful BLM protestor. Jae suffered a concussion and other injuries!, Crump wrote on Twitter. Crump also said that the Tampa Police Department knows the identity of the driver of the truck, but added that TPD refuses to provide it citing an open investigation.

Crump then called on #BlackTwitter detectives, to help find the truck driver's identity...

In the video, Passmore can be heard on a megaphone saying, "I'm ready to die for what I believe in." She then addresses the fact that if a vehicle runs her over then, "that'll be what it is."

TPD has a lot of investigations happening, apparently.

On August 13, CL asked Public Information Officer Jamel Lanee if Major Richard Mills had a meeting with Police Chief Brian Dugan concerning Noah Armstrong, who protesters allege drove his car through a July 4 demonstration on Dale Mabry Highway. CLciting event numbers affiliated with police reports filed by witnesses to Armstrong driving through the protestalso asked if TPD has charged Armstrong with anything, including reckless driving.

I checked and those reports are still open. Once they are closed, we can redact and send to you. We can not confirm any meetings as the case remains under investigation, Lanee told CL. The case is under investigation and thats all we can say.

In an email with CL, Gretchen Cothron, President of the Greater Tampa chapter of the ACLU, confirmed that shes enlisted Crumps help in Passmores case.

He's taking the lead and I'm staying on as his co-counsel. Jae is to make an announcement Saturday, but Ben put out a social media post late last night with the video of the truck hitting Jae, Cothron added.

Passmore is expected to make an announcement on Saturday.

Crump was inspired to become a lawyer when his mom told him the story of NAACP attorney Thurgood Marshall, the U.S. Supreme Courts first African-American justice. Crump told Florida Trend magazine that, From that day to this one, my objective has been to try to give people who are marginalized and disenfranchised a better shot at the American dream.

Crumps role in demanding justice in the 2012 killing of 17-year-old Trayvon Martinwho was walking through a Sanford, Florida gated community with a bag of Skittles and a can of iced tea when he was killed by George Zimmerman, a overzealous, racist neighborhood crime watch volunteer and child killerthrust the lawyer into the national spotlight.

Crump led a campaign to have Zimmerman arrested. Zimmerman later was acquitted on second-degree murder charges, but Crump helped Martins family settle with Zimmermans homeowners association for more than $1 million, Florida Trend wrote.

Crump's garnered so much attention for his civil rights work that "#blackAF" creator Kenya Barris is working on a Netflix documentary about him. Nadia Hallgren, who was nominated for an Emmy for her work on the Michelle Obama documentary "Becoming" will direct and co-produce the film about Crump.

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Attorney for Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown will represent Tampa protester Jae Passmore - Creative Loafing Tampa

On a blisteringly hot day in July2017, Helen Gilbert called 911 in Washington County, halfway between Macon and Augusta. She was worried about her brother, Eurie Martin.

Im concerned about him being out in all that weather, Gilbert told a 911 dispatcher. She sounds near tears.

Now where hes going to, I have no clue, Gilbert said.

It turns out Martin was on a 30-mile walk from Milledgeville to Sandersville.

Gilbert told the dispatcher Martin had a history of mental illness and was well past 50 years old. She wanted someone to find him and help him.

But unbeknownst to Gilbert, she called too late. Several minutes earlier, someone else had already called the authorities about Martin, and that call had led to his death.

Case Tests Law Enforcement Use Of Stand Your Ground

The legal path following Martins death has led to a hearing before the Georgia Supreme Court, a hearing that could have important implications for how police officers are held accountable when they kill while on the job. At issue is how Georgias stand your ground law applies to law enforcement.

Martins thirst in the over 90-degree heat had caused him to stop on the outskirts of the town of Deepstep, which bills itself as The Heart of Kaolin at the city limits in honor of the clay mining industry that sustains a handful of east Georgia communities.

There, Cyrus Harris was cutting grass in front of his home, across the road from a chalk white and red kaolin pit, when Martin asked to fill the Coke can hed cut in half to use as a cup with water from Harris spigot.

He just walked right up in my yard. I dont see no car, I dont see nothin, Harris told a 911 dispatcher.

I told him to get out, Harris said.

Harris knew nothing about Martins history of mental illness. All he knew, he said, was that he was afraid for his wifes safety and that the thirsty Black man in his yard was filthy. Because of that call, when Washington County sheriffdeputies arrived, they were looking for a suspicious person.They apparently had no knowledge of Martins mental illness, either.

In Martins case, though, murder charges were brought immediately. The deputies were also fired shortly after the killing forviolating several department procedures.

The first indictment was tossed on a technicality. In the second, the defense argued in a pretrial hearing the deputies should be immune from prosecution.In late 2019, a Superior Court judge granted that immunity.

This immunity that theyre talking about here is immunity from criminal prosecution based on the fact that you were justifiably acting in self-defense, said Jim Fleissner, professor atMercer University School of Law and an expert in the 4th Amendment.

Its not unlike the law in Florida that they call the Stand Your Ground law, Fleissner said.

Fleissner said over the last 20 or so years, officers asking for immunity under stand your ground laws has become a kind of trend. Stand your ground lawsallowthe use of deadly force without an individual needing to retreat from the situation.It was under Floridas stand your ground law that George Zimmerman was acquitted in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin.

Prosecutor: You Cant Be The Aggressor And Claim Stand Your Ground

Heyward Altman is the Middle Georgia Judicial District Attorney who presented the case against the deputies who tased Martin to deathto both grand juries. He will challenge the immunity ruling in the Georgia Supreme Court.

Altman said a stand your ground defense ultimately rests on who started the fight.

You cannot be the initial aggressor, Altman said. If you bring the fight to somebody, you cant later complain that person fought back.

In his ruling, Judge H. Gibbs FlandersJr. notes Martin neverdisplayed overt aggression, even though he was clearly agitated and tense.However, Flanderssaid under Georgias stand your ground law,and because of Martins non-compliance with officers who suspectedhim of themisdemeanors of loitering and walking in a public roadway, the use of force was justified.

Altman said because the deputies initiated the violence, the ruling could carve out special protections for law enforcement to understand your ground.

What were saying is the court expanded that to include an officer and his use of force in making an arrest, Altman said.It expands the statute beyond what it was originally intended to be.

Civil rights activist and attorney Francys Johnson represents Martins family. He said Georgia has a lot riding on the immunity appeal.

We stand to gain everything when it comes to whether the value of a Black life is truly respected in the law and in Georgia, Johnson said.

Already Martins death has changed the way the Georgia law officers are trained to use Tasers. Johnson said he hopes the case leads to bigger changes in how police are trained.

Train them to preserve life, he said.

In addition to the Georgia Supreme Court hearing on immunity for the three former deputies, some state legislators have begun considering changes to Georgias stand your ground law, especially in wake of the Ahmaud Arbery killing earlier this year near Brunswick.

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Case involving officers who tased mentally ill man to death goes to Georgia Supreme Court - The Atlanta Voice

Sheriffs in Florida are a colorful bunch maybe a little too colorful.

Its not easy being known as Floridas worst sheriff. We have a deep bench.

This week, with the COVID-19 pandemic causing new highs in Florida deaths, Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods made his move by forbidding his deputies from wearing masks while on duty or on special details, with a few exceptions. He also banned mask wearing by members of the public while they visited his department offices.

"We can debate and argue all day why and why not," the sheriff told The Ocala Star-Banner. "The fact is, the amount of professionals that give the reason why we should, I can find the exact same amount of professionals that say why we shouldnt."

>>Florida sheriff orders deputies not to wear masks

OK, so Woods is a stone-cold ignoramus who is a danger to the community hes supposed to protect.

And yet, arguably, he still might not be the worst sheriff in Florida.

After all, you have to consider Clay County Sheriff Darryl Daniels, who was arrested Thursday by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement on multiple felony charges.

Florida sheriffs who themselves get arrested earn bonus points in this competition.

The charges stem from Daniels move last year to wrongfully arrest his longtime mistress after she broke off their six-year affair. She had worked for Daniels at his previous job as a Duval County corrections officer.

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But wait, theres more. Using his position to file a false stalking charge against his old girlfriend might not even be the worst thing he has done in law enforcement.

Recently, Daniels, while wearing a giant cowboy hat with his green uniform, made a Facebook video warning Black Lives Matter protesters to stay away from Clay County.

Daniels, who is Black, said that if any protesters organized there and threatened to destroy any property, he would deputize every legal gun owner in Clay County to handle them.

"God is absent from the medias message or Black Lives Matter or any other group out there thats making themselves a spectacle, disrupting what we know to be our quality of life in this country," Daniels said in the video.

>>Cerabino: Vilifying Floridas unemployed during crisis wont work, but this guy keeps trying

"If you threaten to come to Clay County and think for one second, that well bend our backs to you, youre sadly mistaken " he continued. "Well have something waiting on you that you didnt want."

Daniels said he would deputize local gun owners "to stand in the gap between lawlessness and civility."

The freshly arrested Daniels is on the ballot next week for re-election as Clay County Sheriff.

And when it comes to tough-guy showboating, we cant forget Floridas version of Joe Arpaio, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd.

Judds another one with a tough-guy personality disorder, which he expresses by inventing ways to make his jail inmates miserable. He has denied them free underwear in jail, and taken away the jails basketball backboard and hoop.

"If they want to play basketball, they should stay out of jail," he said. "Im not going to have an environment where they feel like theyre at a fitness center."

>>Cerabino: Heres the dirt on those seeds you got in the mail from China

And when a hurricane approaches, Judd uses it as an opportunity to check the immigration status of those seeking refuge in the county shelters.

These tin-badge despots who get aroused by their own cartoonish invective have their own group called The Florida Sheriffs Association, which occasionally imagines itself as a law-enforcement-optional body.

For example, during the Obama administration, the Florida Sheriffs Association announced that Florida sheriffs "will not assist, support, or condone any unconstitutional infringement" of the Second Amendments right to bear arms in the state.

The proclamation was a ridiculous response to some executive orders issued by Obama that were hardly controversial or Constitutionally problematic. Most of them helped the police.

"Improve incentives for states to share information with the background-check system. ... Launch a national safe and responsible gun ownership campaign. ... ," the list included. "Provide law enforcement, first responders, and school officials with proper training for active shooter situations. ... Release a letter to health care providers clarifying that no federal law prohibits them from reporting threats of violence to law enforcement authorities."

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These were the executive orders that alarmed the Florida Sheriffs Association. Go figure.

Lee County Sheriff Mike Scott, who seconded the motion on the proclamation, told the Naples Daily News why it was a necessary statement to make.

"Its a dangerous time if one man can change the Constitution through any type of executive order," Scott said.

Scott retired two years ago as Lee County Sheriff. If not he would have certainly been on my list of worst sheriffs in Florida.

Scott fought the local NAACP chapter in Lee County over its modest objection to the framed portrait of Gen. Robert E. Lee in his Confederate uniform hanging in the county commission chambers behind the dais.

The civil rights group suggested displaying a different portrait of Lee that didnt show him garbed in the Confederacy uniform. Almost 9 percent of Lee County residents are black.

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Scott used this request as a vehicle to attack local civil rights leaders for not being more supportive of George Zimmerman, a self-appointed vigilante who shot and killed an unarmed black teenager, Trayvon Martin, during a sidewalk encounter eight years ago.

"I find your resurrected fixation with the portrait of Robert E. Lee and the demand for its removal regrettable," then Sheriff Scott wrote the local NAACP a year after the Martin killing. "The timing so proximate to the Zimmerman race-baiting is certainly suspect.

"While I am not black, I continue to be amazed by what is deemed racially offensive and/or insensitive and what is not. For example, the rampant use of the word n----- (which he spelled out completely) in the wildly popular hip-hop culture that floods the ears of youth across this nation and is comprised primarily of black artists apparently stirs little to no emotion among blacks but the portrait of General Lee does?"

Oy. Are there enough human resources training sessions in the world to fix that?

Compared with these examples, Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw is like a combination of Mahatma Gandhi and Stuart Smalley.

But Bradshaws no prize package either.

He and his political patron Barry Krischer were essential players in the clandestine coddling of serial child rapist Jeffrey Epstein, who was given his own private wing in the Palm Beach County Stockade by Bradshaw, and privileges to come and go from the jail as if it were a hotel.

And Bradshaw never seems to have enough money in his departments budget to equip his deputies with body cameras a truth-revealing tool in officer-involved shootings even though the sheriffs offices in Miami-Dade and Broward counties have had body cameras for years.

But Bradshaw has the advantage of appearing to be relatively reasonable in this group of unreasonable lawmen.

It takes an awful lot to be the worst sheriff in Florida.

fcerabino@pbpost.com

@FranklyFlorida

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Cerabino: Worst sheriff in Florida: Thats tough ... Is there an all of the above option? - Palm Beach Post