Showing posts with label George Zimmerman. Show all posts
Showing posts with label George Zimmerman. Show all posts
08 August 2013
Boycott Florida? Baltimore Councilman Nick Mosby Wants To!
Filed by A.F. James MacArthur Ph.A.L.
Agitator-In-Chief
@BaltoSpectatorAmong the many responses seen nationwide to the Trayvon Martin/George Zimmerman trial verdict, has been a call to boycott doing business with any firm having ties to Florida.
Baltimore's own, city Councilman Nick Mosby, has joined various national leaders, who've taken to stages, grabbed microphones and gotten in front TV cameras, asking us all not to do business with the Sunshine State.
22 July 2013
19 July 2013
Stand Your Ground: Indiana Law Lets Citizens Shoot Police
State law allows residents to use deadly force in response to the "unlawful intrusion" by a "public servant" to protect themselves and others, or their property. Talk about supporting and defending the Constitution.
Passed over a year ago, in 2012. Most of the country missed the controversial measure going into effect. With renewed attention and debate surrounding so-called "stand your ground" laws, this one will certainly be a topic of much discussion.
Related articles
18 July 2013
Beating A Dead Horse "For Trayvon" Pt. 1
Controversy continues over motive of Patterson Park beating
By A.F. James MacArthur Ph.A.L.
In an interview with WMAR ABC 2's Brian Kuebler, Baltimore Police Detective Angela Carter-Watson said, "our investigation is basically saying that there is no Trayvon connection. This incident is again, an isolated incident."
Four days after first appearing on The Baltimore Spectator, three days after The Baltimore Sun reported it, and pretended not to have first heard of it from us, George reluctantly relents that the "for Trayvon" claim could be bogus.
If this whole episode was good for nothing else, at least it showed us what "real reporting" ought to look like.
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Involved in media since 1991, community activist, independent journalist, and entrepreneur, A.F. James MacArthur has grown used to getting no respect.
Email MacArthurMedia@gmail.com, @BaltoSpectator on twitter, Spreaker web radio, BlogTalk Radio, Baltimore Spectator on Facebook,YouTube channel
By A.F. James MacArthur Ph.A.L.
Have you had enough of George Zimmerman or Trayvon Martin yet?
On Sunday when I wrote about a group of Baltimore teenagers who beat up a man in Patterson Park, I really didn't feel like doing another story about the Trayvon Martin/George Zimmerman trial aftermath. Not because I though there weren't important lessons to be learned, or meaningful discussions to be had. Because there actually are. But since virtually a million outlets already had stories about the case, out of respect to my readers, I figured I'd back off a bit.
After all, you didn't come here to read stuff stuff you can easily read anywhere else.
On Sunday when I wrote about a group of Baltimore teenagers who beat up a man in Patterson Park, I really didn't feel like doing another story about the Trayvon Martin/George Zimmerman trial aftermath. Not because I though there weren't important lessons to be learned, or meaningful discussions to be had. Because there actually are. But since virtually a million outlets already had stories about the case, out of respect to my readers, I figured I'd back off a bit.
After all, you didn't come here to read stuff stuff you can easily read anywhere else.
Open Source Intelligence
v. re·port·ed, re·port·ing, re·ports v.tr.1. To write or provide an account or summation of for publication or broadcast: report the news. 2. To relate or tell about; present: report one's findings. See Synonyms at describe.
3. To carry back and repeat to another: reported the rumor of a strike.
On Sunday night, a reader made me aware of a "reported" assault on a Hispanic man. The incident was supposedly in retaliation for the controversial Florida verdict. The initial claim was a group of Black teens in jumped the man, and as they beat him down, they told him "this is for Trayvon [Martin]."
After doing basic research a brief was filed. I attempted to outline, what seemed at the time, to be a pretty shocking story. In a city with hundreds of murders and shootings per year, for an assault to be considered newsworthy, there has to be something a bit unusual or different about it. A group of gang bangers delivering a racially motivated beating definitely fit this criteria.
Within 24 hours the story was seen by thousands of people from around the world. In fact, it quickly became the most read Baltimore Spectator piece, in a long, long time.
But it seemed as if the media might have missed it. A whole day passed before The Baltimore Sun decided to even acknowledge the incident having taken place. In their original article, crime reporter Justin George fills in many of the details missing from my initial account.
Eventually the story gained the attention of national media. But was it because it was first reported here on this blog? Not hardly. George's story quickly went viral, and he eventually wound up on national TV discussing it. It's too bad we've since learned the primary thrust of his story appears to be totally incorrect. But well get back to that later.
On Twitter, I expressed disappointment. George should have at least acknowledged that the story was first reported here. But according to reporter Carrie Wells, -- not the pretend TV detective -- of The Baltimore Sun, putting a story on an internationally recognized blog like The Baltimore Spectator, is not real 'reporting.'
After doing basic research a brief was filed. I attempted to outline, what seemed at the time, to be a pretty shocking story. In a city with hundreds of murders and shootings per year, for an assault to be considered newsworthy, there has to be something a bit unusual or different about it. A group of gang bangers delivering a racially motivated beating definitely fit this criteria.
Within 24 hours the story was seen by thousands of people from around the world. In fact, it quickly became the most read Baltimore Spectator piece, in a long, long time.
But it seemed as if the media might have missed it. A whole day passed before The Baltimore Sun decided to even acknowledge the incident having taken place. In their original article, crime reporter Justin George fills in many of the details missing from my initial account.
Eventually the story gained the attention of national media. But was it because it was first reported here on this blog? Not hardly. George's story quickly went viral, and he eventually wound up on national TV discussing it. It's too bad we've since learned the primary thrust of his story appears to be totally incorrect. But well get back to that later.
On Twitter, I expressed disappointment. George should have at least acknowledged that the story was first reported here. But according to reporter Carrie Wells, -- not the pretend TV detective -- of The Baltimore Sun, putting a story on an internationally recognized blog like The Baltimore Spectator, is not real 'reporting.'
Or is it?
Although now a well known reporter for a major metropolitan daily newspaper, Ms. Wells was once a novice journalist. Back when Wells was a journalism student at University of Maryland, and her current audience had no clue who she was, I actually followed a bit of her work.
Her zeal and excitement towards journalism encouraged me about the future of the craft. At a time when I'd just about lost all faith in the direction the press was going, Wells made me think there was hope.
It's kind of funny, but apparently as a student, Wells was well aware of my non-reporting at The Baltimore Spectator, as well.
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| The Baltimore Spectator, breaking news & first to cover stuff since 2009. Even novices noticed. |
Riding High On The Horse
At first, when none of mainstream media picked up, or even seemed to have an interest in the story, I honestly was a bit surprised. If for nothing else, the story (or what seemed to be the story), had all the appearances of the kind of sensational fodder media thrives on. But this would soon change.
Sun staffers gabbed with great glee and excitement about all the sudden attention "their story" gathered. First The Drudge Report picked it up, then George even got to be a guest on Fox news.
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| Baltimore Sun reporter Justin George, spreading truth to the masses. |
But as Baltimore Sun staff reveled in the recognition received for such a captivating story, their reported version of events began to slowly unravel.
Four days after first appearing on The Baltimore Spectator, three days after The Baltimore Sun reported it, and pretended not to have first heard of it from us, George reluctantly relents that the "for Trayvon" claim could be bogus.
If this whole episode was good for nothing else, at least it showed us what "real reporting" ought to look like.
--------------------------------------------------
Involved in media since 1991, community activist, independent journalist, and entrepreneur, A.F. James MacArthur has grown used to getting no respect.
Email MacArthurMedia@gmail.com, @BaltoSpectator on twitter, Spreaker web radio, BlogTalk Radio, Baltimore Spectator on Facebook,YouTube channel
15 July 2013
Zimmerman Is Innocent! - But We're All Guilty
Accepting Reality Not Always Easy
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?
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.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
Related articles
By The Author
Outting Our Rage -- Moving Past The Zimmerman Verdict
A City For Citizens
"For Trayvon!" Patterson Park Resident Claim Man Beaten In Retaliation
Moving Forward Will Take More Than Marching
By A.F. James MacArthur Ph.A.L.
Agitator-In-Chief
 |
| You'd be smiling too if you just beat a murder rap. |
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.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
Related articles
By The Author
Outting Our Rage -- Moving Past The Zimmerman Verdict
A City For Citizens
"For Trayvon!" Patterson Park Resident Claim Man Beaten In Retaliation
Moving Forward Will Take More Than Marching
14 July 2013
"For Trayvon" Baltimore Teens Beat Hispanic Man
Unconfirmed Report: Resident Allege Zimmerman Verdict Retaliation
24 hours after the announcement of a verdict in the George Zimmerman murder trial, reaction continues to pour in from around the country.
The incident is said to have taken place at the intersection of Linwood and Fairmount Avenues in the East Baltimore neighborhood.
Sources claim local residents to be on edge as a result of the incident. If confirmed, it could be the only reported incident of violence in the city, as a reaction to the controversial Florida verdict.
Apparently a report has been made with Baltimore Police, and the victim is said to have sustained minor injuries.
Related articles
By A.F. James MacArthur Ph.A.L.
Agitator-In-Chief
A resident of Patterson Park -- a Baltimore neighborhood with a high Hispanic population --claims to have witnessed a group of Black teenagers "chase down a Hispanic male with a handgun pointed at his back."
Taking place shortly before 10:00 p.m., it's alleged the teens caught the man and beat him in the middle of the street before running off yelling "For Trayvon," in apparent reference to Trayvon Martin, the Florida teen killed by Zimmerman, in an incident claimed to be self defense.
Taking place shortly before 10:00 p.m., it's alleged the teens caught the man and beat him in the middle of the street before running off yelling "For Trayvon," in apparent reference to Trayvon Martin, the Florida teen killed by Zimmerman, in an incident claimed to be self defense.
The incident is said to have taken place at the intersection of Linwood and Fairmount Avenues in the East Baltimore neighborhood.
Sources claim local residents to be on edge as a result of the incident. If confirmed, it could be the only reported incident of violence in the city, as a reaction to the controversial Florida verdict.
Apparently a report has been made with Baltimore Police, and the victim is said to have sustained minor injuries.
A request for confirmation was sent to Baltimore Police. As of this 11:00 p.m. they have not yet responded.
Check back with The Baltimore Spectator for more details on this developing story.
Check back with The Baltimore Spectator for more details on this developing story.
Related articles
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