Well At Least they Are Consistent: NAACP Protests Sentencing of "barbie bandits"- "A crime is a crime is a crime"

I vowed to try to have a three week moratorium on posting about the NAACP after the Dunbar Village debacle, but this story jumped out at me in light of our April 3rd podcast where the Florida NAACP President and NAACP spokes person Richard McIntire were our guests. During the show, listeners challenged the "appearance" that the NAACP only appears to speak out on behalf of Black male criminals , and the NAACP Spokesperson Mr. RichardMcIntire McInLIAR ( whoever came up with McInLiar gets an award) said on our show that the media reports what it wants to report as it relates to the work of the NAACP.

So of course when I saw a cnn.com headline with NAACP in it, I looked to see what the "media" was "electing" to report. Its amazing how selective the media can get when you stage a press conference on the court house steps in a high profile case and those "evil" media folks show up with microphones and cameras.. THE NERVE of the media covering your press conference that you called to talk about a high profile case.

Fresh off of their press conference to decry what they think is the "unfair" treatment of the suspects in the Dunbar Village rape and torture case, the NAACP in Georgia is speaking out on the "Barbie bandits" case because the two white women who actually walked in the bank to take the money received probation and their two Black male accomplices received 5 years and 20 years. It is like a scene out of the movie Malcolm X where the two white women get light sentences and they send Malcolm to the clank for years.

The head of the Georgia NAACP called for the state to investigate the sentences
given in the so-called "Barbie bandits" bank theft case, saying the two white
defendants got less prison time than two black men. Edward DuBose said Monday
he will ask state Attorney General Thurbert Baker to look into the case. Baker's
office did not immediately respond to a call seeking comment Tuesday.Last month, Cobb County Superior Court Judge Mary Staley sentenced 20-year-old Heather Johnston to 10 years probation after she pleaded guilty to a charge of theft by taking in the 2007 heist. The judge gave 19-year-old Ashley Miller two years in jail and eight years probation. Both women are white. Michael Chastang, 28, was sentenced to 10 years for being the mastermind of the robbery, and bank teller Bennie Allen III, 23, who pleaded guilty, was sentenced to five years. Both men are black. Chastang also is serving 15 years on unrelated drug-trafficking charges and Allen was on probation for a drug conviction. Associated
Press

When I heard what the Barbie Bandits had been sentenced to, I also shook my head and said "no way." I did not know at the time that they also had African American accomplices. I was just thinking that if these young women had been Black or Hispanic or even if they had been white women who did not fit within the narrow standard of beauty, they would have been thrown in the clank. (ignore the mug shot pictures, they lived up to their "Barbie" label at sentencing with fresh dye jobs) So I can't quarrel with the NAACP pointing out a clear discrepancy. But once again, they have some troublesome facts to deal with. Sandra Rose breaks it down. She is based out of Atlanta and then she asks:

Was the judge supposed to ignore the fact that both men were already out on probation for serious drug offenses? Doesn’t the NAACP have anything else better to do with its time? SandraRose.com

Well the answer to her question is NO. It is clear that the NAACP has made a decision as an organization to make African American criminal defendants, the face of their most public nation-wide campaign. All of these branches are following the same script. Pick a high profile local case, hold a press conference in front of the prosecutor's office decrying unfair treatment and move on. The problem three weeks ago with their Dunbar Village press conference is that there was a vociferous response from victims rights advocates decrying a) their comparison of a horrific crime against humanity to any other crime and b) arguing that some potentially violent sociopaths be released back into the community pending trial ( I don't care what they say, their intentions in WPB were clear)

A Pattern??? A Crime is a Crime is a Crime?

I did a google news search of the NAACP. In addition to their Dunbar Village fiasco where the NAACP along with Al Sharpton declared that a rape is a rape is a rape in their eyes, two other local NAACP chapters in Florida are holding press conferences to declare that a murder is a murder is a murder.

In Manatee county Florida, the NAACP is decrying the sentencing in a murder case where a 67 year old man and his wife were gunned down in their home. The Black defendants face life in prison. But wait, where have you heard the following before?

Authorities say Walker was the driver of the getaway car. They're seeking a life
sentence. Local NAACP presidents Trevor Harvey and Edward Bailey say in similar cases white accomplices have received lighter sentences. They also point out the decision involving the murder of 9-year-old Stacey William's case. The convicted felons got a plea bargain, which only gave them four years for the crime. WWSB

I am sure 9-year-old Stacey William's family did not appreciate the comparison nor does the family of Daniel Ramsey. If you are going to make the case for disparate treatment in the system, why not compare DEFENDANTS in the aggregate? If you are trying to raise public awareness of an issue, it might be prudent to do so in a manner that is not morally repugnant.

There has to be a more articulate and effective way to make this argument other than "A rape is a rape is a rape- A murder is a murder is a murder." Someone needs to go back to the drawing board because this argument is apparently being used nationwide by the NAACP, not just the West Palm Beach Branch. Disparate sentencing is an issue, but your spokespeople aren't the best on it.

By going HIGH PROFILE when it comes to arguing on behalf of Black criminal defendants and being more "low key" *cough*silent*cough* when it comes to the victims of black on black crime, you run into charges that you only appear to champion criminals and it undermines the explanation that you do not get involved in individual criminal cases. By comparing the slaughter of a 9-year-old girl to the slaughter of a senior citizen, you run the risk of being callus towards the victims of the crime and appearing to minimize violent crime.

Someone has to pursue this issue, but I can't help but question this courthouse press conference strategy they are employing to pick any case involving a White defendant at random and hold it up against a case involving a Black defendant and scream "It's Unfair" you are always going to open yourself up to having to explain away the unique facts in each case.

REMINDERS/UPDATES

• For those who watched The Greatest Silence: Rape in the Congo, tonight, there will be a conference call tonight to speak with the filmmaker and activists from around the world.
• This week is Child Abuse Awareness Month so our topic on Thursday's podcast will be Stephanie Williams, an author and child abuse advocate and we will also be speaking with the founder of Project New Era. That's Thursday, April 10, 2008 at 8:00PM CST- the call in number is 646-478-4750 or participate in the chatroom.
• Author Tayari Jones is hosting a Dunbar Village literary fund raiser - You can bid to get your novel critiqued and various literary works. As always with any fund raisers we mention, direct your questions to the folks running it.

Dunbar Village Video:"Answer the Call"

To follow up on our last video "Crickets " here is the latest Dunbar Village video entitled "Answer the Call" - Pointing out the NAACP's hypocrisy in their handling of the Dunbar Village gang rape. I have already thought about the concept for the next one. It involves a blue screen a megaphone shaped spaceship and Al Sharpton in a Star Fleet uniform. Let me know what you think.

In June of 2007, a horrific crime against nature and humanity happened in a place called Dunbar Village in West Palm Beach, FL. A single Black mother and her child were brutally attacked for three hours when teen African American teens invaded her home because she had reported "littering" around her apartment. They tortured and raped the woman and her son for three hours. Not a single neighbor came to their aid. The complex had no security despite a ridiculously high crime rate, the local government had ignore security issues while building luxury office buildings on the nice side of town, law enforcement wasn't sufficient...in other words, these poor Black women and children were left to rot and die.

When a group of concerned citizens contacted various African American leaders about the conditions at Dunbar Village, not a single on responded publicly. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People said that they would not become involved because Black on Black crime was not a part of their mission, yet 7 months later, the NAACP came out for the first time in the case, but not to speak about inhumane living conditions and out of control crime, but to call for the release of the four suspected gang rapists despite the sadistic nature of the crime. They didn't offer a single legal reason for the release and didn't comment on whether releasing the suspects would place the community or the victim in imminent peril.

The perpetrators of Black on Black crime are not the only ones that need justice, the victims of Black on Black crime need justice too!

Feel free to forward this video on to your local and state chapter of the NAACP. The world needs to know about their unconscionable behavior in West Palm Beach

Earlier Dunbar Village Videos
"Crickets" - Highlighting Al Sharpton's Hypocrisy on Dunbar Village
"Janjaweed in America"


"Immoral Indifference"

Most Recent Dunbar Village Posts Regarding the NAACP and Al Sharpton's Reckless Attempt to Undermine the Dunbar Village Prosecution:

BLack Folks Get Ready to FIGHT! AL Sharpton to Speak Out in Defense of Dunbar Village Gang Rapist

Al Sharpton Wants Rapists and Torturers Roaming Your Neighborhood---NAACP and Sharpton Get Into It at Press Conference

Earliest Dunbar Village Posts

Where's the Outrage over Kelly? Genarlow Wilson? ( Yeah, I went there)- UPDATE Where's the Outrage Over the Florida Gang Rape???

Dunbar Village - RAZE IT TO THE GROUND AND SALT THE EARTH SO THAT NOTHING WILL GROW THERE! - How to Help.- Where in the World are the Rev's?

Maybe Black Women Should Be Pit Bulls in Our Next Life ---The Hypocrisy of Russell Simmons and Rev. Al

August 7, 2007 - National Day of SHAME- Black Leaders' Silence is Immoral- Call them on their CRAP!

National Week, Month, Year of Shame-" Immoral Indifference"- I'll be on NPR TodayJanjaweed in America.

How Do We Apply For UN Peace Keepers?- Immoral Indifference to Dunbar Village Continues.

Blacks 13% of Population 50% of Murder Victims -Background From West Palm Beach- How the Heck did Dunbar Village Happen?

Donating to the Dunbar Village Victim Assistance Fund- My "Wachovia Experience"

NAACP Contacts WADO- National Office Won't Be Speaking Out On Dunbar Village- Addressing Hate Crimes Against Black Women Not 'Mission'

A Call to ARMS!

The Five Stages of Grief-

The League of the Immorally Indifferent on Dunbar Village,Newark, Chauncey Bailey, Stepha Henry... I'm at Stage Two

Mayor of West Palm Beach - Talk About a Hot "Mess"- There is no Shame in Resignation

New Dunbar Village Videos:"Crickets"

I've been working on some YouTube Videos to get the word out about Al Sharpton and the NAACP's ridiculousness related to standing up for the alleged rapists while they ignored the victims for months.



Tell me what you think.

Comedian Who Calls Black Women "the Ugliest Women He's Ever Seen In His Life" To Host NAACP "Image Awards"

Remember when black folks were ready to torch CBS Radio over some comments by a certain crotchety old White radio host calling a group of college educated Black women athletes "Nappy Headed Hoes"? Remember how less than a month later a Black comedian went on the Tonight Show With Jay Leno and spoke about the same group of young women and agreed with the older White radio host and went on to say "They WERE some nappy headed women- DEM is some of the ugliest women I've ever seen in my LIFE!" Remember how the Tonight Show With Jay Leno had a ginormous audience compared with that of the old White radio host?


Remember the massive outcry to the Tonight Show Comments? *crickets*Oh you don't remember the outcry when DL Hughley went on the Tonight Show With Jay Leno to call a group of young Black women some of the ugliest women he'd ever seen in his life? *crickets*
That is because there wasn't any. The only people who pointed out the inconsistency were readers of this blog like Eddie Griffin who took to the streets to confront Mr. Hughley. All the preachers and potentates and "civil rights" leaders gave Hughley a pass and now, the NAACP is giving him a check. The NAACP has selected Hughley to host their "Image" Awards. it could be worse, they could be handing out a lifetime achievement humanitarian award to R. Kelly for his work with teen girls.

Read our previous posts:

News of the DL Hughley Keeps Spreading - Will New York Be Next?

OH Snap! Video of Protesters Confronting Deion Sanders Outside of DL Hughley Show!

Boycott D.L. Hughley and his IGNORANT COMMENTS ABOUT BLACK WOMEN..

"Sharpton Watch" Over - Rev. Al Responds to DL Hughley

Sharpton Watch Day 01 - Where in the World Is Rev. AL???

DL Hughley is Wrong- White folks might have a point.

NPR News and Notes Open Thread- 9.12.07 WAOD on the Blogger's Round Table

The audio from my appearance on News and Notes on September 12, 2007 is up. We talked about Cornel West, Mos Def, Oprah, Obama, Eddie Griffin and Black Enterprise and thanks to one of my guest panelists who managed to slip in a reminder about Dunbar Village

To those NPR listeners who remember my original appearance from back in early August, since my last appearance talking about the Dunbar Village, the League of the Immorally Indifferent has not sent out a single statement, not even an e-mail directing people to the Victim's Assistance Fund. The NAACP DID call me back, but only to tell me that cases like Dunbar Village were not within their "mission." The national media has moved on despite the fact that potentially 6 gang rapists are running around Florida. But undaunted, we launched a multimedia campaign and Symphony, one of the WAOD contributors had a YouTube clip that made the local news in Florida. I produced my first internet PSA and it has received over 22,000 views in less than two weeks so even without these "leaders" and the mainstream media, we are evolving around here to get our message out. Scroll around the sidebar for Dunbar Village info and our original appearance on NPR in August. Thanks for visiting.

Update: Uh Oh, some folks are upset about our discussion about the Cornel West-Mos Def train wreck. In addition to being a "Crazy Cat Lady", "Black man hater", I can now add "Uncle Tom N@^%$er" to the list. It is good to know we are having an impact. Welcome folks from the message board in addition to being CRAZY!, please also include that I am the reigning "Blog of the Year". Welcome to What About Our Daughters? Our Disgruntled Readers Support Group meets every Sunday evening at Bedside Baptist Church where our Pastor is the Rev. A. Larm Clock, Sr.

NAACP Contacts WADO- National Office Won't Be Speaking Out On Dunbar Village- Addressing Hate Crimes Against Black Women Not 'Mission'

Ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate racial hatred and racial discrimination. Mission of the NAACP.

Apparently somebody at the NAACP can't tell the difference between "and" and "or."

It is What It Is.

I just had an enlightening conversation with Richard McIntyre(sp) from the NAACP's National Office in Baltimore. First, despite this story being about a month old, nobody in the NAACP National Office had apparently heard of it. Second, they were so late in returning my call because they don't check their voicemail ( his words not mine). Third, the NAACP does not get involved in Black on Black crime at the National level because it is not the result of racism. Fourth, the local Florida branch will be going to West Palm Beach on Monday(I'd ask why it took them over a month, but we have bigger battles to fight). Fifth, when asked point blank whether they would have become involved if the West Palm Beach victim had been attacked by White teenagers, Mr. McIntyre said the NAACP would probably become involved at the National level.

Mr. Mcintyre kept referring to the crimes at Dunbar Village as if they were your run of the mill crime and not an assault on humanity and civilization. When asked whether they had become involved in the dragging death of James Byrd, a hate crime, Mr. McIntyre replied that he believed that the NAACP did become involved in that case. When I pointed out that this woman appeared to be targeted because of her national origin and gender, Mr. McIntyre conceded that both of those classifications are protected classes.

Mr Mcintyre instructed me to read in order to explain why the NAACP National Office will not become involved in Dunbar Village. I have. My question for him is have the folks at the NAACP read their mission?

This was truly an "educational " experience and I actually was shocked at his candor and I thank him for it. Now that we know the narrow mission of the organization, you can adjust your dues payments accordingly. I have offered Mr. McIntyre all the space he needs on WAOD to rebut anything I have said describing our conversation. He seemed perturbed that I didn't see fit to reason with him. He kept saying " I wasn't hearing [him]." He then implied that we are just after headlines. DUH. We stated that openly that this case isn't getting nearly the attention that it should if the employees in the national office of something called the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People don't know about one of the most heinous hate crimes committed against a "colored" person I have heard of in recent history.

He also said that he had heard of me so I guess I am on the LIST of Belligerent Working Class Black Folk. Well good, because he is on OUR LIST!

Don't be mad at Mr. McIntyre. Thank him for his candor. He was honest enough to tell us that the NAACP is only interested in the advancement of colored people n cases where that advancement is inhibited by White folk. If he had not told us so, we would have just kept speculating. Now we know that the NAACP does not become involved in crimes unless the attacker is non-African American so the folks in Newark MIGHT get some response out of the NAACP. Apparently they haven't seen the statistics that Black folks make up 50% of the homicides in this country, but only 13% or the population and 85% of the time when a "Colored" person is slaughtered, it is by another "Colored " person. They have a specialty and that is that....

I just have to ask... How the hell can "Colored" people be "advanced" when they are dying in droves? What good is your housing initiative if you can't be secure inside of your house? What good is promoting education and economic empowerment, if you get gunned down over a parking lot on your way home from work?

So it looks like we know which side they are on in the War on Black Women. The answer is NOT OURS! That is very good to know. Y'all might not like it, but it is what it is.

I am struck by this prong of their mission:" To ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of all citizens." The residents of the housing projects of Dunbar Village would beg to differ.

F.Y.I. Don't hold your breath waiting on any presidential candidates addressing Dunbar Village. it slipped my mind that Florida is a "battleground state." Another blogger pointed that out to me today.

P.S. Bruce Gordon.... Now I understand COMPLETELY!

For a look at a 21st century organization addressing 21st century problems, check out the Harlem Children's Zone.

Where's the Outrage over Kelly? Genarlow Wilson? ( Yeah, I went there)- UPDATE Where's the Outrage Over the Florida Gang Rape???

Jasmyne Cannick hits another one out of the ballpark with her piece "Why No Outrage over Kelly?"

...Last time I checked, a dog was not human, but a 13-year-old girl was. And regardless as to whether or not she willingly engaged in the act, she was the minor and he was the adult. That's really the bottom line. And since most of us saw that video over the Internet or bought it on the street somewhere, we can't act like that wasn't R. Kelly. Unless you support this type of behavior, you should be as shocked and appalled as I am at the silence from our organizations on it.

Well we can’t be hollering one minute that Black women are queens and are to be respected and protected and then turnaround and cast a blind eye towards R. Kelly, but want to be quick to jump to the defense of people like Michael Vick and Barry Bonds. Well, you can’t if you expect to be taken seriously. Jasmyne Cannick

Of course they are going to turn a blind eye because in the eyes of many people (US), a Black girl isn't capable of being violated. Statutory rape apparently only applies to non Black girls. Because of course folks seem to conclude that if these Black girls weren't so FAST, they would not have been violated by a grown man/ older boy in the first place.- Despite the fact that in most states a girl under a certain age does not have the legal capacity to consent have sex with older men and boys.


You can't have "consensual sex" with an underage girl. She can't give consent. A 15 year old girl can't even consent to getting her ears pierced or getting a spray-on tan. Obama is a Harvard Law grad, I know they went over statutory rape in his criminal law course. Why is he trying to make out Genarlow Wilson to be Steve Urkle? Barak Obama got it wrong on this one.

roslynholcomb said...

You're not alone on this Gina. I've argued the same point repeatedly. Does Wilson deserve ten years? Of course not, but he certainly deserved to spend some time in jail. I think its interesting that all of a sudden these young men act as though they don't know what statutory rape is. They certainly understood it back in the 80s when I was a young girl. 15 will get you 20 was the mantra of the day. What's the difference now? These young folk don't believe the law applies to them anymore. And why should they when folk rally around them like they're the second coming of Malcolm X.

Maybe somebody needs to prepare a PSA on that small little fact and while you are at it, somebody needs to pull folks aside and explain that in many states an intoxicated or drugged 17 year old can't have "consensual sex" either!

That is why I stayed out of the whole Genarlow Wilson debate. Almost NOBODY complaining about the sentence said a word about his VICTIMS ( Yes I said VICTIMS (plural)), young Black girls except in passing. (Watch a Video of a Discussion of a Description of the Incident with 17 Year Old)Imagine if Genarlow Wilson and his buddies were replaced by 5 or 6 White Lacrosse players? Would we still be marching then?

Folks just recount the facts of what happened in that hotel as if it was a collateral issue... Because of course, it was the girl's fault; the fact that they might have been intoxicated, one possibly gang raped, and turned into unwitting porn stars is just a small fact. I know I am going to catch hell for committing heresy and not following the party line on Genarlow Wilson, but that is the problem; when it comes to the sexual exploitation of young girls in the Black community, we turn a blind eye - the plight of the accused Black male defendant will always trump the plight of his alleged victims if they happen to be young Black girls. For those complaining about his continued incarceration, Mr. Wilson and his lawyers held the keys to his jail cell, but decided to roll the dice with a 10 year sentence instead of taking a deal which would have let him out for time served and a relatively clean record.

That is why people are still two stepping to R. Kelly. It just isn't possible for a young African American girl to be a victim. Plus some folks think dog fighting is more serious than rape.

What I want to know is who marched for these young Black girls? How betrayed must the 17 year old feel? What about her? Oh I forgot, to some folks she's just a young Black chick who should have known better. Was she going off to college? Did she play a sport? Was she on the Honor Roll? Did she have a bright future? How was her life changed by being video taped having sex acts performed on her by 5 to 6 boys? What about her future? Oh yeah, I forget.... She is just a young Black girl so her violation is a small matter to some folks.

The whole NAACP holding a press conference to defend a multimillionaire who has the financial resources to come to his own aid is laughable when you consider the cases of tons of indigent criminal defendants without Michael Vick's financial resources who the NAACP can't muster up the courage to send out a letter to help. Yeah, defending rich, spoiled athletes, that is a noble cause. Somewhere Thurgood Marshall is rolling over in his grave.

UPDATE (8/04): I haven't talked about this on this blog because quite frankly it depressed me too much to even articulate the HORROR in writing. Thanks Tracey for laying it out there.

Tracey said...

Gina,

Where is the outrage about black woman and her son that were robbed and beaten in their own West Palm Beach home? Making matters worse - she was gang-raped and her son was forced at gun-point to participate. He is just 10. This crime was committed by at least 10 young black males. The police have only captured 3 of them - ages 14-18. When reporters went to this housing project - FEMALE residents were unmoved by the crime. I have not seen this incident reported on not one black blog or spoken about by one black activist.

Why the HELL isn't the NAACP holding a press conference on behalf of this poor black woman instead of a RICH Black man who is more than capable of defending himself? Why aren't folks marching on this housing project demanding the identities of the remaining seven rapists?

UPDATE: We are not alone. Someone else is talking about the Florida rape case. More details here and they ask where in the world is Rev. Al? Folks to we need to have another SHARPTON WATCH up in this piece? Has Jesse Jackson offered this victim a college scholarship?

UPDATE (8/5): Wonderful Editorial on the Dunbar Village rape in West Palm Beach, FL and why we ALL need to worry about what happened there. This may very well be one of the most horrifying crimes I have ever heard of. Not just because of what was done, but who did it. When it was over, not a single resident of the housing complex lifted a finger to help this woman and her (now blinded) son. THEY HAD TO STUMBLE TO THE HOSPITAL ON THEIR OWN! Raze this "community" to the ground and salt the earth so that NOTHING will grow there. We can't allow pockets of hell like this to exist in this country.