Dear Bill Maher and Hillary Clinton, Can EYE talk to you for a minute? #WomensHistoryMonth2016

Bill Maher, usually you and EYE are on the same page, but your calling young activist #AshleyWilliams a F***ing Idiot  because she had to courage to confront candidate Clinton went way to far.  Your mother is a F***ing Idiot.  That didn't feel good did it?  Like you, Ashley Williams is somebody's child, and she has the right to power without being called a F***ing Idiot.  What you call people is what your are yourself. OK?

For many months EYE was undecided who I would cast my vote for in the democratic primary, but events in Charleston helped me make up my mind to vote for Bernie Sanders. The fact that you said no one ever asked you to apologize for the 1996 Crime Bill, and your not doing do so on the spot, was telling to me.

To be fair, Bernie Sanders voted for the bill after speaking out against it, but at least he predicted what the outcome would be, i.e. mass incarceration, and police and vigilantes who view shoot black men/women/children first, and ask questions later.

Hillary, EYE have the feeling you are being advised to distance yourself from the Professional Left , aka the traditional democratic base, and pander to the white, EYE mean, right wing moderates. Here's the problem with that...they are not going to vote for you no matter what.  

EYE would advise you to get a new team and develop a new plan ASAP.  There is style, then there is substance.   We want our HOPE for Change we can Believe in back.  Strike that, we want a FUTURE we can Believe in.

Your Friend,

RedEye

#WomensHistoryMonth2016

This is not your momma's Civil Rights Movment

Update: "Well Behaved Women Rarely Make History" and "Well Done Protest is Always Inappropriate" #BlackHistoryMonth2016

Update:  Clinton apologizes for 1996 remarks on 'super-predators' after encounter with activist.

In case you haven't heard, the woman who is attempting the break the already cracked glass ceiling to  become the first female President of the United States of America was confronted by a young, black, female activist at a private, $500.00 per person fundraiser in Charleston, SC last night.  Yes, the interruption was rude and disruptive, but so was Hillary's response.

For those who have been living under a rock, Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton are in a fight to the finish for the black vote.  Both of them, as my Daddy used to say, are N-wording up.

With the Democratic candidates’ first test in the South approaching, a battle of high-profile surrogates is intensifying as Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Sanders vie for the support of African-American voters, who are expected to make up more than half of the primary electorate in the Palmetto State.

As Super Tuesday draws near EYE am still undecided which democratic candidate EYE will vote for.  Just when EYE think my mind is made up, one of the candidates, or their supporters, do or say something that brings me right back to being undecided.

 

EYE don't know who is advising Hillary, but EYE HOPE it's not the same people who advised President Obama and others to pander to those who might vote for them at the expense of those who did, and will vote for them.  It was  not a good look to be campaigning with the Mothers of victims of gun and police violence one day and marginalize their daughters the next day.  

Listen up Bernie and Hillary, the young people are sick and tired of photo ops and lip service.

Pulley said Thursday she was not interested in being a part of what she called "a photo opportunity and a 90-second sound bite for the president."
"I was under the impression that a meeting was being organized to facilitate a genuine exchange on the matters facing millions of Black and Brown people in the United States," Pulley wrote in an op-ed piece. "I could not, with any integrity, participate in such a sham that would only serve to legitimize the false narrative that the government is working to end police brutality and the institutional racism that fuels it. For the increasing number of families fighting for justice and dignity for their kin slain by police, I refuse to give its perpetrators and enablers political cover by making an appearance among them."

The young people aren't the only ones who are sick and tired of being sick and tired. If either of you really want to understand the fear, yes EYE said fear, of being black in America, and the significance of the Black Lives Matter Movement, yes, EYE said Movement, as in the Civil Rights Movement both of you like to use as props, watch last nights' episode of black-ish, then go out and earn the Black vote.

We want our HOPE for Change we can Believe in Back.

#BlackHistoryMonth2016

In honor of Black History Month and since South Carolina is Ground Zero for the battle for the hearts and minds of Black voters, here an excerpt from a previous post reminding us about the history of South Carolina.

So now it's on to the racist, I mean conservative, Christian, red, republican, Confederate, slave state of South Carolina. Which may explain why Willard starting slinging red meat in his victory speech,accusing President Obama of not knowing what it means to be an American, who wants to turn America into a European-style entitlement society. Code for birth certificate, welfare, food stamps. 

Here are some facts about the conservative state of South Carolina, which according to the Talking TeeVee Pundit Heads, is known for it's bare knuckles politics.

South Carolina is the home of The Orangeburg Massacre at South Carolina State University where three black students were shot and killed by police during a peaceful protest. 

South Carolina is the home of former republican U.S. Senator Strom Thurmon, racist by day, hypocrite by night. 

South Carolina is the home of current republican U.S Senator Jim "Waterloo" Demint. 

South Carolina is the home of U.S. Congressman Joe "You Lie" Wilson. Speaking of Congressman Joe "You Lie" Wilson, he will address a group of defense and military leaders at a $1,000.00 per person luncheon in Huntsville, AL today. Dale "voter suppression with the state seal of approvall" Jackson will introduce Congressman Mo "I will do anything short of shooting them" Brooks who I'm assuming will introduce Wilson. What's up with out of state/city Congress Critters raising money in North Alabama? 

South Carolina is the state vowing to sue the United States Department of Justice, to enact a state voter ID law, which they have already said punishes black voters.
South Carolina is the state where republican Governor Nikki Haley rejects the NAACP push to remove the Confederate Flag from atop the Statehouse. 

I can't wait to see which candidate will emerge victorious in the Battle for South Carolina.

RedEye

Note:  The quotes in the title are by  Laurel Thatcher Ulrich and Matthew Williams

Charleston Massacre

In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends. ~~Martin Luther King, Jr.

A couple of days ago, the haze of shock began to lift for me, and I began to feel, really feel, the reality of yet another horror, the horror of the Charleston massacre. One of the first details to emerge was that of the grandmother, Felecia Sanders, who played dead and shielded her 5-year old granddaughter with her body. When I heard that, I thought of another beautiful, vivacious 5-year old I have watched grow, and I remarked to her grandmother that the survival story made me think of her granddaughter.



There is so much to be said, it is difficult to know where to start. Some things are obvious, of course, like the white privilege with which the admitted terrorist murderer, Dylann Storm Roof, is being treated, in contrast to alleged loosie vendor Eric Garner, who may not have broken any NY state law, making the Staten Island grand jury's exoneration of Officer Daniel Pantaleo all the more odious. It's murder on camera without consequences.

If #MotherEmmanuelAME church had treated #DylanStormRoof like First Baptist Church treated Joshua Chukwuedozie Ude they would be alive today.

A screenshot taken from a YouTube video involving Huntsville police officers arresting a man outside a church via al.com

Let's recap.  Remember Josha Ude, the 23 year old grad student from Africa who had the misfortune of sightseeing while black?

Huntsville police spokesman Harry Hobbs said off-duty officers arrested 23-year-old Joshua Chukwuedozie Ude on Sunday, Oct. 27, on charges of resisting arrest and criminal trespassing, following reports of disruptive conduct during a church service at First Baptist Church, located at 600 Governors Drive.
Here's the complete police statement from Hobbs:
"Church members contacted officers working at the church regarding suspicious behavior by Ude and his two adult male companions. Witnesses told police that the three men entered the church after the 11 a.m. service began. One of the men remained in the sanctuary hallway while Ude and another man walked to the front row and began videotaping the pastor and congregation. The three men left the church building on their own accord before the service concluded.
Police approached the three men as they left the building to inquire about their activities. During that conversation, Ude became uncooperative, refused to leave, and was subsequently arrested. Ude's companions, who were also detained by police, videotaped the arrest, posted it to You Tube within 30 minutes and contacted local media. The video does not show the events leading up to Ude's arrest."
"Initial review of the posted videotapes indicate the officers used appropriate techniques under the circumstances,"Chief Lewis Morris said. "However, I have instructed our Internal Affairs division to investigate any alleged use of excessive force during the arrest of Mr. Ude."

In all fairness First Baptist Church said that's not exactly what happened.

On Sunday, October 27th, three men were observed taking photographs outside the church of the mosaic on the front of our building. One man entered the building, was welcomed by our ushers and invited to join the service which was already in progress. Initially, he declined, but later two of the three young men entered the sanctuary approximately 40 minutes after the service had begun, walked down the center aisle and sat in the front pew. Our pastor, Dr. David Hull, was already preaching the sermon at this point. One of the men removed a cell phone and appeared to be videotaping and/or taking photographs. At no time were the men confronted or asked to leave the service. They remained in the service for approximately 10 minutes, at which time they got up, walked out the center aisle and left the service. The third young man remained in the hallway engaged in conversation with our ushers. After leaving the building on their own initiative, an incident occurred in the parking lot involving the young men and uniformed police officers.
First Baptist Church has received many inquiries from concerned members of the public, especially pertaining to videos of the incident which have been posted to YouTube by one or more of these young men. Some have speculated that First Baptist Church asked these men to leave the service because of the way they were dressed. First Baptist Church did not ask these men to leave the service at any time. First Baptist Church welcomes all people who wish to worship and attend our services, and does not have any type of dress code.

You can watch the entire take down here, but if the good people of Charlestons' Mother Emmanuel AME Church had profiled Dylan Strom Roof instead of welcoming him into the house of the Lord with open arms they might be alive today.

EYE am back.

Update: Santana | Luggage & Baggage: Toward Our Better Days

Exclusive: Extended interview with witness to SC shooting



You saw the cold blooded murder. You've seen it before. What is the difference between selling a loose cigarettes and having a broken tail light? The end was the same.



Will our dreams come true
I believe in you
Show me the way to my better days
What's the price to pay
If I follow you


Feiden Santana is a hero, in fear.


Everybody sooner or later has to drop the luggage and the baggage of illusions.


Feiden Santana dropped his baggage of illusions. He has paid the price. May all his dreams come true.

Note:  Ramsey Ortega, who filmed the Eric Garner Video, is in prison and refusing to eat.  He is another "hero, in fear."~ RedEye

Updates: 

#WalterScott: We Must Protect Witness Feidin Santana

Walter Scott was not the only one-North Charleston Police have stunning record of abuse.

U.S. Supreme Court largely is responsible for the environment that led cop to fatally shoot Walter Scott