The Greensboro Pulpit Forum and Anti-Cop Vitriol

About 18 months ago, during my stint as a "community columnist" for the News and Record, I wrote a column about the GPD matter.  I opened the column by drawing a parallel between the Greensboro controversy and a supercharged story in New York-- the killing of Sean Bell.  In each case, there was a discernible theme of villainizing and vilifying police.  And in each case, the complaints were magnified by segments of the local African-American political/religious community with a history of troubled relations and perspectives regarding local police.

We have heard some recent news about the Sean Bell case.  The police officers involved were acquitted during their court trial.  Protests ensued on the streets of New York, and Al Sharpton got himself arrested.  There has been talk about efforts to get the new African-American governor of New York State to appoint a Special Prosecutor to take action against wayward police.

Of course, the police commissioner in New York City is Raymond Kelly.   Kelly has a distinguished career profile, with numerous important positions held in the past and several advanced degrees.  But he is still the quintessential caucasian, Irish New York cop.  His race is of considerable symbolic significance when incidents occur during which African-Americans have unwanted interactions with police.  The police department is a white power structure, to be reviled and demonstrated against when bad things happen.

Here in Greensboro, we have had three recent incidents during which the actions of Greensboro police could be theoretically questioned.  Two involved the shooting deaths of a couple of assailants.  The third was the unfortunate death of a man after he had been "tased".

Each of these incidents received some local media coverage, but there was no confrontational, escalating drumbeat against the GPD.   We did not hear of many vocal protests or demonstrations conducted by the Greensboro Pulpit Forum.

Three weeks ago, however, Ben Holder reported that the Pulpit Forum was meeting because of these incidents.  The indication was that trouble was brewing for Chief Bellamy.

Of course, since that time, the Pulpit Forum has become even more thoroughly discredited because of its actions on the matter of the Mystery of the Missing Boxes.  Its credibility is completely shot because of the false accusations made, and the reliance it placed on Julius Fulmore.

The Pulpit Forum, of course, has been the source of some of the anti-cop vilification that has been occurring in the city of Greensboro.  But in the case of the recent deaths, there has been complete silence despite the passage of three weeks since Ben Holder reported about their meeting.  We have not heard about wild protests, demonstrations, riots or baseless accusations.  At least not yet.

When I consider this remarkable silence, I think back to a fairly controversial post I made here about one year ago, when Bellamy, previously serving as an interim, was officially appointed police chief.  That particular post attracted a lot of criticism.  It was intentionally "edgy", because I was trying to highlight the folly of our local political culture, which tends to act, in a self-interested way, based on some of the most misguided tenets of liberalism. 

Here is one of the statements I made:

Bellamy will be in a much stronger position than Wray was because he will be given a pass on racial issues-- profiling, brutality, excessive force, internal matters, etc.  The overt symbolism of having a black chief will preemptively defuse the tendency of detractors and the media to magnify such complaints.

I still believe that is true.  Yes, the GPD has received some unflattering local mainstream media coverage, but it never elevates to the magnitude of a persistent drumbeat designed to bring down the police chief.  Except with respect to the Mystery of the Missing Boxes, which referred back to an incident that allegedly occurred long before Bellamy became chief, the Pulpit Forum has been relatively quiet over the last year on police issues.

Racial peace, thus far, has apparently been purchased-- at least partially-- by having appointed a black police chief.  Yes, crime rages on locally at a rate far in excess of the national average, and gangs reign supreme, but remember that the political culture took care of its own needs.

And consider the contrast with comparatively unenlightened New York-- where Al Sharpton is agitating against the Irish-American police commissioner on the Sean Bell case; and where crime has been decreasing to unimaginably low historic levels because of the work of its police force and the quality of its administration.

It will be interesting to see whether Chief Bellamy will be challenged overtly by the Pulpit Forum in response to the recent incidents.  But the chief has enjoyed the support of at least six city council members.  His service as chief has helped inoculate them against the criticisms they fear most.

Comments

[Don Moore]

Joe, you forget to note that Guilford County has the largest number, not percentage of population, but largest number of Concealed Carry Permits in the state. The Citizens are arming themselves because they feel they must protect themselves and their property.

[Stormy]

And, we have the sad case of Alexander Kohanowich, an elderly white man who was thrown to the ground, arrested, and charged with assault for touching a black officer. The GPD ruled that the arrest was warranted and the officer did nothing wrong, even though it is hard to imagine a 78-year old man assaulting a police officer under the circumstances. There was even a witness to the incident and had a recording. The witness stated that the officer over-reacted, but none of this was ever considered. All this because he was trying to show support for our troops and America. Apparently, some surly GPD cops did not like what he was doing. It appears that all that they knew was that he was "protesting" against Barack Obama. It does not seem that they ever actually looked at the sign before they broke it.

So, did we see anyone take to the streets on his behalf? No, and it took the DA about five minutes to dismiss the case. It just cost Mr. Kohanowich about $2,500 in legal fees to defend himself. Oh, well.

[Joe Guarino]

Don, I was unaware of the statistic regarding concealed carry permits. Thanks for sharing that interesting piece of information. I suppose that number may continue to increase.

And Stormy, there was apparently no public outrage from the Pulpit Forum on the Kohanowich incident. Thanks for the reminder about that relatively recent event.

[Brenda Bowers]

Neither was there any substantial White protest about the Kohanowich incident unfortunately! A few bloggers and a few news articles in the N&R and The Rhino.

Now that Fulmore has been shown to be a liar (tho note this was never
said in so many words) who would like to bet our City Council is still negotiating to pay him off for the so-called "discrimination" that neither the FBI nor the SBI could find after a year long investigation? Heck people, I'll even give you odds. Any takers?

The Pulpit Forum has been shown up several times before Joe and neither have they apologized nor has it stopped them from coming back with more nonsense. What about the state NAACP and their letter to the FBI demanding an investigation? I have no doubt this will just be swept under the rug and all will go on as usual until our Black leaders feel the need to get some more headlines from the N&R.

The news about the gun permits in Guilford was news to me, but like you I am not surprised. I have been begging Blacks to be reasonable and stop "baiting" the White population for several years now because if their actions can raise resentment in me and others like me who have fought for civil liberties all my life then it is very apparent that a clash between the races is coming.

Unfortunately our City Father's are closing their eyes to this possibility too. I do know the people as well as the majority of the police officers have lost all respect for Bellamy and he will have to be replaced as well as Mitch. I sincerely hope the City Council has the intelligence to understand that the people and the decent police officers will only accept a White chief of police. And one from our of the area if anyone can be paid enough to come to Greensboro. The GPD has gone fromvery good to rotten under the last two police chiefs who happened to be Black (Wray's time can not be said to count since he wasn't permitted to do anything to solve the problems even after he identified them and collected substantial evidence of wrong doing by the troublemakers.) BB

[Joe Guarino]

Brenda, Greensboro is in a difficult spot. The city is probably not tolerant enough to have a white police chief. In order to get a tough, unbiased black chief-- who is relentless on crime-- it would have to take a chance on recruiting from out of town.

And Brenda, the key with the Pulpit Forum is to deprive it of the "oxygen" that sustains its public voice-- i.e., free magnification of its claims via news coverage. If it calls a protest or a press conference, the News and Record and WFMY should not cover it. This is a group that has no credibility.

[Brenda Bowers]

Joe I am beginning to wonder if Greensboro is tolerant enough to have another bad Black chief of police. Guess there really is no need to speculate however because what will happen will happen and the next chief will definitely be Black because of our elected officials. I just know there is much, much resentment out there. It is quiet but if one reads faces any time anything regarding Greensboro politics comes up the silent shouting is loud and clear. BB

[Joe Guarino]

I know, Brenda, that what you are saying is true. There is a lot of concern out there regarding what has happened with the GPD and our city government. People know that decisions were made for all the wrong reasons.

The people to whom we refer-- those that harbor justifiable concern-- are not powerless. They only tend to behave that way when elections occur. They do a disappearing act, or they vote the wrong way.

[Just Saying]

The Guilford County School Board and school system has a track record of open hostility toward law enforcement. I think this fits in with your observations about various groups "villainizing and vilifying police."

A while back, some officers in the Greensboro Police Department approached the school board about doing a "School Watch" program similar to the successful "Community Watch" program.

Well, the school board completely shot this idea down. Board member Deena Hayes said the police were trying to make students into "snitches" (her word, not mine). Funny; I always thought that cooperating with law enforcement was the right thing to do. But in her mind, the police are worse than the gang members and drug dealers who plague our schools.

Shortly later, Andrews High School in High Point went through some high-profile problems with student violence. High Point Police responded quickly and decisively, arresting a number of students. I thought the HPPD should have been applauded for their efforts to keep the schools safe.

Instead, then-superintendent Terry Grier said the police were "picking" on Andrews. I suppose it's okay for the schools to be out of control as long as it doesn't make the news.

[Joe Guari no]

Just saying, you make some excellent points. The Guilford County Schools system offers a prime example of hostility toward law enforcement. Part of this is racial, and part ideological. And just as in the case of the Pulpit Forum, it is wrongheaded.

(In fact, the church of one of the Pulpit Forum members receives funding from the school system to do programs for the system.)