Zimmerman Is Innocent! - But We're All Guilty

Accepting Reality Not Always Easy

By A.F. James MacArthur Ph.A.L.

Agitator-In-Chief

You'd be smiling too if you just beat a murder rap.

The jury has spoken. What you gonna do?

Every publicity seeking politician and pontificating, pimping-in-the-pulpit preacher who's suddenly seeking a soap box, needs to sit down and shut up! If you haven't been active in your community, making moves and taking substantive action, attempting to alleviate social and economic injustice, you look like nothing but an opportunist.

Young Black men continue to die violent deaths in numbers that are far too high. This didn't start yesterday. Will we rally, riot or protest about the conditions that contribute to this?

"To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven:  A time to be born, And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted; A time to kill, And a time to heal; A time to break down, And a time to build up; A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, And a time to gather stones; A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing; A time to gain, And a time to lose; A time to keep, And a time to throw away; A time to tear, And a time to sew; A time to keep silence, And a time to speak; A time to love, And a time to hate; A time of war, And a time of peace." - Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 NKJV

Poverty and joblessness, already disproportionately high in the Black community, has increased under Obama, but other than mostly outspoken, radical right wingers, how many will admit it?

All the protesting, marching and demonstrating in the world won't change the verdict. Meanwhile, grave institutional injustices continue, and they don't get one-tenth the attention the Zimmerman case has drawn.

There are those in power, having ulterior motives, who want to milk this situation for all it's worth. Meanwhile, our problems persist.

This is what they want. A big fat distraction, drawing your eyes, ears, your time and your mind astray. While inequities, oppression and violence continues to shatter and shear our community.


Life Isn't Fair

Am I pleased with the verdict? Not hardly.

Were I a kid, minding my own business, walking to my dad's house and some guy aggressively ran up on me
late at night, I'd probably be defensive. If I felt threatened, not wanting to give an assailant an advantage, I might even swing first.

If the so-called unidentified watchman -- not in a uniform -- were so closely invading my personal space, that I could actually connect with him, my assumption would be that this guy is up to no good. I'm about to become a crime victim. I'd be in fear of my life. I'd attempt to STAND MY GROUND.

Does this mean, being unarmed, I'd deserve to get shot? I've literally been Trayvon. I think of how many times as a young Black man, I've I had a nervous cop pull a gun on me. More times than any confrontation with criminals, that's for sure. For no good reason. Doing what? Walking home late at night after work, among other things. Yes white America, this really happens!

Funny thing is, the immediate reaction of some people would be, well I'm sure there were other factors to the circumstance. When a woman gets raped, is the immediate appropriate reaction; oh I'm sure there was something you were doing that contributed to this happening? Really? For too many, it truly is inconceivable, that law abiding, Black youth, doing nothing but just trying to get home are still often viewed with unwarranted suspicion.

The truth is, there are harsh realities faced by young Black men in this country every single day. Some of it is unfortunate with no easy solution, but what about the things we can actually do something about. The Black community has got to do a better job of addressing internal issues.

Baltimore City has one of the highest rates of, out-of-wedlock, teenage births in the country. Being a majority Black city, guess what, most of the pregnant girls are Black too. Anyone not thinking this has a direct long term link to increased suffering, crime and juvenile delinquency is in denial.

But on the other hand, despite the many difficulties of a downtrodden people, between societal injustice, and socio-economic inequalities, there's a part white people play too.

Far too many are too quick to instantly dismiss any cries of foul by a Black person. As if all unfairness has just magically disappeared, many whites have a knee jerk, negative reaction when a Black person complains of injustice.

We'd love to pretend 'post racialism' has meaningful significance, but depending on how you look at things, little progress has been made since America decided to face civil rights head on in the 1960's. We all have to stop pretending these problems don't exist. Internal issues within minority communities are real. So is mass denial of injustice by many. In this regard, we're all guilty. Yes, things are better in this country than they once were, but we still have a long way to go. Denial or grandstanding will never get us there. Let's stay focused.

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Community activist, independent journalist, and entrepreneur, A.F. James MacArthur's roots run deep in the world of underground, alternative publications. First publishing a print newsletter with a small international following in 1991, his path has since taken him on a vast array of varied media projects.

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Update: Baltimore Spectator Remains On The Run

WARRANTED PERSECUTION: Police Seek Baltimore Spectator

By A.F. James MacArthur Ph.A.L.

In a rare and compelling piece of candid radio, A.F. James MacArthur revealed to his audience, the fact that there was a warrant issued for his arrest.

Though the exact nature and charges behind the warrant were never clarified, MacArthur elaborated on past instances of being held in custody for as long as 40 days, without any formal charges, and having no warrant issued.

In a rambling radio broadcast lasting several hours, MacArthur meandered through various experiences of his decade of living in Baltimore.

From telling the story of being face to face with a  hit-man who knocked on the wrong door, before murdering his neighbors next door and his being the only eye witness and able to identify the killer. To MacArthur also repeatedly bemoaned his impassioned, constant pleas for help from various entities in media and the ACLU. He admitted, they've all been utterly in vain.





Isolated And Alone

Broadcasting from an undisclosed location believed to be outside of Baltimore, MacArthur laid it all on the line, baring his very soul on air.

Despite coming right out and stating the existence of a warrant. Even after detailing an incident that could have been an attempted abduction by rogue members of Baltimore Police Department, MacArthur still received reactions of doubt of his authenticity or sincerity on social media site Twitter.

The impassioned plea for help and attention did not appear to fall totally on deaf ears. Dozens of retweets and designated "favorites" of statements issued by MacArthur, could be seen taking place from friends online in different states across the country.

@baltospectator Stay strong man. God has got his hands on your shoulder the whole way.
— Prakash Samuel (@krash_s13) November 29, 2012

Shut out to the big homie headed for central bookings on a technicality @baltospectator
— Daniel Barahona (@GlobalSETT) November 29, 2012

When contacted, MacArthur stated his reason for performing such an unusual broadcast was motivated in part, to get more transparency and force Baltimore Police and others in the criminal justice system to be on their best behavior.

Twitter reaction included several statements of concerns from active members of the Baltimore Police Department.

@baltospectator Are you ok?
— Jeremy Silbert (@JeremySilbert) November 29, 2012

Unarmed, Not Dangerous

In an ominous message, MacArthur said he was ditching his infamous sidearm, a large frame, Colt "Delta Elite" 10 millimeter  semiautomatic pistol. Certain that capture was inevitable, MacArthur stated there was fear he could be killed, and his killing could be staged and called a "justifiable shoot," by police falsely claiming he may have reached for, or drew a weapon.

At this point, MacArthur's exact whereabouts and precise intentions are unclear. During the broadcast on his Baltimore Spectator Radio Network (BSRN), MacArthur said his financial resources were completely cut off. Bank accounts frozen, and PayPal disabled. No mention was made of just how MacArthur was surviving or getting by.

Also mentioned was the fact MacArthur has had no contact with family or friends for nearly a week. By turning off, disabling, and ditching his cell phone, MacArthur said the move was part of numerous layers of evasive maneuvers, taken due to being in fear of his life.

Vague reference was also made to a myriad of electronic wizardry being deployed, enabling MacArthur the ability to broadcast an internet radio program on BSRN, from anywhere in the world and remain undetected.

Demonstration had previously been made, of how location tracking capacity on computers and cellphones were spoofed, to throw of potential pursuers and develop a false trail.

When asked what it would take for MacArthur to turn himself in on the outstanding warrant, MacArthur said; "I want to ensure there's no funny business. I've tangled with these people in the past. They've trampled all over my civil rights before, violated the sanctity of my rights as an American citizen. Quite frankly, I just don't trust them."

MacArthur continued by adding  "I need to have assurances that I will be treated fairly and justly. Ordinarily  I would have went to the media seeking assistance  but I've tried that in the past, and you see what happened.... I was left to rot away in a tiny solitary confinement cell, allowed out for half an hour, once every 24 hours. No one really gave a damn."

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Currently busy at work building an all day news, talk and information radio network, all while managing to elude evil people out for his neck, A.F. James MacArthur has become the established leader in on-scene, feet-on-the-street, Baltimore crime and emergency incident reporting. Baltimore's premier independent crime correspondent and street reporter, is a multimedia journalist who also covers urban decay and public corruption. He may be reached at 410-205-NEWS (6397) voice or text message, MacArthurMedia@gmail.com, and followed on numerous social media, including: @BaltoSpectator on twitter , Spreaker web radio, BlogTalk Radio, Baltimore Spectator on Facebook,YouTube channel

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The More Things Change, The More They Stay The Same

“Until the philosophy which holds one race superior and another inferior is finally and permanently discredited and abandoned, everywhere is war and until there are no longer first-class and second-class citizens of any nation, until the color of a man's skin is of no more significance than the color of his eyes. 


And until the basic human rights are equally guaranteed to all without regard to race, there is war. 


And until that day, the dream of lasting peace, world citizenship, rule of international morality, will remain but a fleeting illusion to be pursued, but never attained... now everywhere is war.”


 -- Emperor Haile Selassie before the League Of Nations -- 1936  (See the entire speech)

How much has changed since these words above were spoken 76 years ago? Are we any closer towards that dream, or in much that same place as we were when the Emperor's pleadings were ignored by the American and European heads of state? President Obama would do well to study the words and heed the wisdom of this great leader.

The tragedy of Trayvon Martin, along with the recent miscarriage of justice embodied in the execution of Troy Davis launched me into deep examination of the concept of justice. What we consider to be fair, equitable and dignified seems to be a moving target.  Of course, for anyone who knows me, it's no secret that my expectations for true social justice in this country continues to plummet. After all, how could the worlds largest exporter of unprovoked violence and senseless wars abroad be expected to be a beacon for justice at home?

I love America. I love my country so much, that I have the courage and the audacity to stand up and speak out when I think we're dead wrong, but more on that another time. As much as I'd sworn off writing this way, and made numerous attempts of retirement, I keep getting drawn into fiery rants on twitter and facebook.

As such, I wanted to expand a bit on some of my thoughts in a format allowing a bit more expression than the confines of the aforementioned social media.

I welcome your thoughts and comments.

Death Penalty Fraud -- O'Malleys Deception

Martin O’Malley said he would do “everything in my power” to overturn the death penalty in Maryland

Governor Martin O'Malley's hand in hand, sing along, cumbyah march against the death penalty was nothing but a big fraud. O'Malley's popularity continues to wane and he needs to drum up whatever distraction and misdirection he can. The man is a master at media manipulation. He plays tricks and creates diversions and the whole main stream follows along.

Come on Governor, seriously, is the death penalty truly that big of an issue right now? When was the last execution in Maryland? You mean you're such a caring compassionate man that you marched in the streets for the handful of people on death row? The same ones that you as Governor can easily pardon.

Governor O'Malley's March (the demonstration, not the corny Celtic rock band he's in) was nothing but a joke. At a time when the state of Maryland faces more crises than any other time since we were being invaded by the British, all I can do is sit back and laugh at the phony compassion. Putting outward form, before truly responsible action is a disservice to the people of Maryland.

Considering the thousands of innocent people falsely arrested in Baltimore under O'Malley's "zero tolerance" policy as mayor, and his total refusal to discuss this. O'Malley clearly lacks compassion no matter how much he tries to resemble, if only temporarily, a 60's era civil rights leader. The Governor should spend his time on issues that are more pressing and impacting to the majority of Marylanders.

Leave Your Comment


FEATURED COMMENT: James Greene

O'Malley has demonstrated time and time again that he has no regard for human life particularly when it comes to blacks. His deficient, self-serving, arrest everyone in sight, policing policies in Baltimore City destroyed thousands of lives, through illegal arrests and by permiting the most dangerous, violent, criminals, to remain on the streets, in an effort to control the stats and cook the books. All to make himself look good at any cost. Why? Many ask why and how this amoral, incompetent, individual was able to win the office of governor when he was the worst mayor in the history of Baltimore City. Answer. The lives he destroyed were black, and mostly poor. Who cares, right? Certainly not black voters who will vote for ANY democrat even a Martin O'Malley who gave them NOTHING as mayor except a useless, hollow, message to BELIEVE in nothing.




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Police Crime Lab Failures

In an article harshly critical of the Baltimore Police crime lab, the Baltimore Sun, lists many failures and deficiencies of yet another Baltimore city government public agency. An independent audit which the Police Department initially refused to release to the public, found the lab inadequately staffed, equipment out of order, and evidence stored in rooms too warm, which could cause it to degrade.


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