The Rev. Nelson Johnson, in a highly public fashion, maintained feelings of aggrievement since 1979 over the loss of several communist compatriots. It was alleged that the negligence of the Greensboro Police Department was responsible for the situation at that time.
Last weekend, we lost a young African-American male in the aftermath of the Superjam event. City staff were aware that the event would generate lots of crime and disorder, because one-half the city's police department was deployed to manage the event. It is unsurprising that there was a fatality.
City staff-- and especially the Greensboro Coliseum's management-- inevitably shares responsibility for the fact that fatality occurred.
Where is the Rev. Nelson Johnson demanding to know why this event was allowed to proceed? Where is Cardes Brown? One would think there would be major concern over the young African-American male who was killed, and over the decisions made by city staff regarding Superjam.
Because they both attend Super Jam?
Posted by: hugh | July 01, 2010 at 10:26 AM
This is a community issue, community concern, right? Good question Joe. But seeing how there were probably African American officers on duty that night, it would be a conflict of interest for Nelson & Brown to even consider raising a ruckus & provides no room for "The Opportunists" Then again, I like hugh's answer too!
Posted by: Vivi | July 01, 2010 at 11:22 AM
Let's see now...nelson johnson...who hid behind/under a car as his comrades were being killed around him? The same one that invited the folks there so his commies could kill them?
Yep...same one!
Posted by: Jack Hart | July 01, 2010 at 06:32 PM
One key point that Hammer raises in the Rhino today is that the Pulpit Forum gang directs most of its disapproval against Greensboro police. And their disappoval of the GPD is not over a failure to control crime conditions. That is not one of their big issues. Instead, they have had other grievances against the police.
It would be difficult for them to blame the police in this instance because half the department was out there trying to contain the situation-- and we still had oodles of crime.
But one would think they would be upset enough about the loss of a young African-American male that they would speak up against those that permitted this event to happen. And of course, one would have thought incorrectly, because there is no indication the police were responsible for that decision.
Posted by: Joe Guarino | July 01, 2010 at 08:46 PM
But Joe that does not fit the template of the Pulpit Forum and all the other imbeciles who shill for "civil rights" when in reality they are shameless race hucksters who do not give a damn about black on black violence. They are in it for their own self-aggrandizement. If Nelson Johnson, Cardes Brown and the rest of them really cared about their community they would find ways to work with the GSO Police Dept instead of filing one meaningless lawsuit after another.
Posted by: Doc Alexander | July 02, 2010 at 07:51 AM
You are right, Doc, that reducing crime is not the focus of their efforts. In fact, at times it appears they want to undermine the efforts of the police in reducing crime.
Posted by: Joe Guarino | July 02, 2010 at 08:31 AM
Joe- Found this in the N&R crime blog. Its buried in a crime blog but NOT a new story??? WHat in the world??? I was out of town last week so I may have missed it...
Brown apologizes to mayor over criticism of Bellamy remark
Speaking at a news conference Thursday, the Rev. Cardes Brown of New Light Missionary Baptist Church told the media he wanted to make a public apology to Mayor Bill Knight for criticizing the mayor’s campaign trail statement that police Chief Tim Bellamy got his job because he is black.
Brown was one of many in the community to call for the mayor to make an apology to the chief about the statement. He shed more light on his thoughts Thursday, saying his research on corruption at the police department changed his opinion on the matter.
“I think I want to apologize to Mayor Knight,” Brown said. “I want to apologize to him because he made a statement some time ago and I challenged the statement.
“He made the statement that the chief was only made chief because he was black. And I stood up against that statement and I really have to apologize to Mayor Knight because the more I researched this the more I am inclined to believe in part he was right.
“He was only made chief because he was black and would show favor to the majority of officers on the force. That is what I believe, that is my opinion after I have looked into this much more.”
Brown and other members of the Pulpit Forum have criticized the police department for months regarding allegations of corruption and double-standards for minority officers. The pastors have accused Bellamy and other high-ranking officers as being part of a circle that continually covers up the problems created by racial tension at the department.
The statement was made as pastors were coming out in support of Capt. Charles Cherry who was placed on leave while he undergoes a fit for duty evaluation. The pastors allege it’s another double-standard created for a black officer and is part of a scheme to have Cherry fired and deemed not credible after he helped several minority officers file harassment and discrimination grievances against the department.
After Brown's comment, the Rev. Nelson Johnson stated the mayor still shouldn't have made the statement, which he feels was made mainly to drum up support in the city’s conservative base in order to gather votes.
“I think the mayor making an apology was called for,” Johnson said. “But the apology should have been for appealing and stirring up racism among in particular the white part of our population and creating racial tension and using that situation to do it.”
Brown and Johnson also called out Bellamy at the news conference, saying they were told by many officers that the chief was one of the leaders pushing for the EEOC lawsuit filed by 39 minority police officers against the city, alleging racial discrimination.
They accused Bellamy of dropping his name from the lawsuit when it became clear he would be named interim chief after the resignation of former Chief David Wray.
I spoke with Bellamy Thursday afternoon, who half-heartedly gave a “good for him” when told about Brown’s apology and said the pastors should have proof before making claims he had any involvement in the EEOC lawsuit.
He said he’s never had any role in filing a lawsuit against the city.
Also worth noting is that we've posted the e-mail that Cherry sent to officers in eastern division notifying them of him being placed for evaluation.
Posted by: Holly Wood | July 03, 2010 at 08:17 AM
Holly, this got around in the blogs, and I believe was reported in the paper, earlier this week. I viewed this as a back-handed concession, because Brown continues to divide and to fan the flames of aggrievement. Some might feel precisely the converse of what Brown relates with respect to the treatment of black (and white) officers in the department.
Posted by: Joe Guarino | July 03, 2010 at 09:19 PM
“He was only made chief because he was black and would show favor to the majority of officers on the force. That is what I believe, that is my opinion after I have looked into this much more.”
LOL !! What a joke. The MAJORITY OF OFFICERS ON THE FORCE are WHITE !! GOTCHA !!
Posted by: Charles Meadows | July 07, 2010 at 11:35 AM