HOUSTON, Texas (FinalCall.com) – Even during the recession, the rate of major crimes in America continues to drop according to preliminary FBI crime statistics but anti-violence advocates warn the figures should not lull the Black community to sleep.

“I’m always puzzled by these types of reports because it doesn’t represent what I’m constantly getting calls about in the Black community. We still have some serious problems and much work to do,” said Reginald Gordon of Operation Outreach OG-1, a Houston organization geared toward helping misguided youth.

“Gang violence hasn’t disappeared, we’re still having murders, our young people still dropping out of school and they don’t have jobs. Also, Texas reported last year that the state saw an influx of gang activity and drug trafficking from Mexico. How is crime down?” asked Mr. Gordon, a former gang member who served 19 years in prison.

The recent FBI report says the number of violent crimes–murder and non-negligent homicide, aggravated assault, forcible rape, and robbery–reported in the first six months of 2011 dropped 6.4 percent compared with the first six months of 2010. The number of property crimes dropped 3.7 percent in same time frame.

Murders declined 5.7 percent, and rapes fell 5.1 percent. Robbery declined 7.7 percent, and aggravated assault decreased 5.9 percent. By region, the largest decrease was in the Midwest (9.7 percent), followed by the West (6.6 percent), the South (5.8 percent) and the Northeast (3.6 percent).

“We should look at these kinds of reports as disinformation that only takes us off our guard and makes Black people think everything is fine when it is really not. They may say in the newspapers that crime is down but when I walk the streets, it’s not getting better,” Phillip Jackson, who heads the Black Star Project in Chicago, told The Final Call.

According to Mr. Jackson, at least 13 people were killed by gunfire in the Windy City during the Christmas week. “That’s more deaths in a week than the amount of soldiers killed the same week in Afghanistan. Let’s not drink the Kool-Aid and the false perceptions. We are at war,” he said.

“When you look at some of the statistics, that decline might be just five or six less murders. At the start of 2012, we are already looking into five murders here,” Arthur “Silky Slim” Reed, CEO of Stop the Killing, Inc. in Baton Rouge, told The Final Call.

The FBI report, released in mid-December, does not provide any reason why the crime rate has dropped or offer a detailed breakdown by city or race.

“We don’t know the reasons for the drop in crime. This is just a preliminary report with figures we’ve received from over 16,000 law enforcement agencies. Crime varies from place to place,” said Bill Carter, of the FBI’s press office in Washington, D.C.

“We will release our comprehensive report this fall about the overall crime in America and it will include more details. However, we don’t provide reasons as to why crime drops. We usually refer that to academies and sociologists,” said Mr. Carter.

Houston Mayor Annise Parker and Houston Police Chief Charles McClelland Jr. announced Jan. 4 that preliminary police figures show Houston’s murder rate dropped 26.4 percent to 198 murders for 2011, the lowest since 1965.

“Crime is down across the board and we are going to work to make sure it stays down,” said Mayor Parker. “One murder is still too many, let alone 198. While we are pleased that 2011 finished up in this fashion, we want to continue to build on our successes,” said Chief McClelland.

Chief McClelland attributed the decline to deployment of the Crime Reduction Unit into hotspots. He also cited a high-tech 24-Hour Real Time Crime Center, which tracks criminal activity and updates information used by officers every six hours.

Taking responsibility in the face of funding challenges

Dennis Muhammad, founder and CEO of The ENOTA Project, founded the Peacekeepers Global Initiative to call on men to assume personal accountability in reducing violence in their communities. There are 15 chapters in America and the first international chapter opened in London this past fall. Another is slated to open in Manchester, England in February.

“What makes us effective is we ask the men in particular, the community in general, to give one hour a week to patrol the worst part in their community. We believe one hour of doing something is better than 24 hours of doing nothing,” said Mr. Muhammad.

“I believe because of the declining economy and major budget cuts in most cities, especially the smaller cities, they are cutting back on law enforcement and fire service. This jeopardizes public safety but law enforcement also believes this jeopardizes the safety of police as well. Their focus will not be patrolling high crime areas but areas that have less crime, which means the Black community must fend for itself,” Mr. Muhammad added.

The success of The Peacekeepers Initiative inspired hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons to financially invest into its growth and the group is also soliciting donors via its website. “The greatest challenge is lack of funding and resources by state and federal government to the inner city programs and grassroots organizations. I would like to see more of our celebrities and private corporations who have an interest in our community to fund these organizations,” said Mr. Muhammad, whose group will also be participating in New York’s Peace Week January 15-22.

“People are still in denial that these problems of violence exist in our community so they don’t feel the need to financially back those of us doing this important work. But I’m seeing a few schools opening up to me because of problems that are arising,” said Mr. Gordon.

Mr. Jackson agrees funding is a challenge. “We’ve applied to about 50 foundations seeking support but they don’t think our work is necessary. They read these reports and hear officials say crime is down, which justifies their reasoning for not backing us,” he said.

“Most of the financial backing in these cities is going to individuals who are skilled at writing grants but don’t do anything in the streets to address the violence. But it’s a shame we have so many Black millionaires who won’t put money into their communities to address real issues,” said Mr. Reed.

To fund his efforts, Mr. Reed sells copies of his award-winning documentary “Live and Die in Amerikkka” that shows gang murders in the streets of Baton Rouge. He also published a workbook for schools to teach conflict resolution. “The work won’t stop and can’t stop because we have lives to save,” he said.

The post Lower crime rates? Activists don’t see it on urban streets appeared first on Final Call News.

(FinalCall.com) – With the widespread use of small video cameras, sophisticated smartphones and popular social networking sites like Twitter, YouTube and Facebook, injustices are being exposed, global movements are growing and the people are expected to continuing rising up in 2012.

“Social media enables us to connect directly to like-minded people and get our message out quickly and without censorship. It enabled us to expose and reveal many facts that have been kept from us, and once people get the truth they demand change,” said Jasiri X, a popular hip-hop artist based in Pittsburgh, told The Final Call.

These digital tools have become weapons in the hands of the people, also called citizen journalists, seeking to spread relevant information instead the last celebrity gossip.

Coupled with on the grounds mobilizations in 2011, Twitter and Facebook served as go-to vehicles by which people stayed abreast of, supported and disseminated updates on major headlines such as the Arab Spring uprisings, Occupy Wall Street, brutal military crackdowns on protesters in foreign nations, the execution of former Georgia death row inmate Troy Davis, rioting in London, police brutality in U.S. cities, earthquakes and more.

“Social media has been invaluable because mainstream media has been co-opted and is bought and paid for by corporations intent on maintaining the status quo. People in power use the information or the lack of it to control the masses,” said Jasiri X, who uses his music to address social justice issues via his YouTube page that has garnered over one million upload views.

“First and foremost, information must be viewed from a different perspective in the modern context. As the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan has stated, “We are at war” and the greatest weapon in this battle is information–it is truly a battle in the sky,” said Traci C. Muhammad, a library director for a liberal arts college in Arizona, told The Final Call.

“When viewed from that stand point, then one can see that information is a strategic resource that enables the holder to remain in a position of optimum tactical advantage. It’s no longer about the haves and have-nots from a wealth perspective, it is the haves and have-nots from a strategic resource management perspective,” she said.

During a commercial break in an Oct. 25 radio interview on Chicago’s WVON-AM 1690, the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan chided members of press for what he called a betrayal of the American people.

“You don’t have a democracy when you don’t have a free press. You are all slaves and you love it, so you deserve what you get: the erosion of your democracy. You’ll soon be the laughing stock of the world,” said Min. Farrakhan.

“That’s why the children are occupying space in New York, in Boston, in Washington, in Chicago, in San Francisco, in other cities, because they are not looking at you as a source of information. Look how long it took you all to talk about what was going on in New York. It took you two weeks, because the same people that control the banks control the media. You all know it but you are afraid to say it.”

Min. Farrakhan added, “I thank God for the young man that invented this wonderful technology, Steve Jobs, that’s the man that is freeing the whole planet where Zbigniew Brzezinski could say ‘Yesterday it was easier to control a million people than to kill a million people,’ then now he says, ‘It is easier to kill a million people than it is to control a million people,’ because the genie is out of the box, the cat is out of the bag, the people all over the world are waking up.”

According to a survey by the Pew Internet and American Life Project, 61 percent of Americans said they get news online and 75 percent said they hear about news via e-mail or social media sites. Fifty-four percent said they get news via radio programs and 50 percent said they read a local or national print newspaper.

This free flow of information could be under attack by the proposed Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA), a bill that was introduced in the House of Representatives on Oct. 26, by Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas). The bill would allow the U.S. Justice Department, as well as copyright holders, to seek court orders against websites suspected of enabling or facilitating copyright infringement.

“We already see Congress attempting to pass bills like SOPA which would effectively kill sites like YouTube and Facebook and the National Defense Authorization Act which could lead to Americans being able to be detained indefinitely. This oppressive legislation is a direct response to the success of the Occupy movement and the movements overseas,” said Jasiri X.

Interestingly, TIME magazine’s annual 2011 Person of the Year cover acknowledged protesters from around the world. One of those persons was New York’s Malik Rashaan, founder of Occupy the Hood, a national grassroots movement comprised of activists, organizers and community members.

“That story by TIME proves that we’re in a different world. These protestors have to be answered to and paid attention to. It’s growing and will expand further in 2012,” said Mr. Rashaan.

“I also know that a story like that can work against our movement because people may try to move in on us to shut us down. The key is not to get caught up in press coverage but to stay focused on the mission,” he said.

In order to build up Occupy the Hood, Mr. Rashaan and his team used Twitter and Facebook coupled with canvassing the streets. “The internet makes the world smaller and helps to get your message out quicker. I didn’t have the funding to market and reach all of these people. At the same time, you have to get out in the streets and not just do everything digitized. We have to marry the two together,” he advised.

The post Information warfare: Freeing the minds of the masses appeared first on Final Call News.

MISSOURI CITY, Texas (FinalCall.com)  – If you drive down Cliffdale Street to the cul-de-sac, you will see a humble two-story home to your left. From the outside it appears to be just a normal family residence but inside it’s an entirely different story.

It is the location of the Muslim-owned private school called The Elevated Places.

Small bedrooms, a living room and dining area have been turned into classrooms, giving birth to some impressive accomplishments by the staff and students–all rooted in the Teachings of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad as taught by the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan.

“We always focus on making sure we’re in line with what the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan is teaching and do our best job to educate our students,” said Wakiti Muhammad, school administrator.

How did it all begin? Wakiti Muhammad and her family lost everything in New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. While dealing with the emotional pain of that experience, she was very concerned about the education of her children. With so many Nation of Islam women in the area already homeschooling their children, she decided to network and unite with them in July 2006, with a school in mind.

One of those parents was Melva Muhammad, a mother of eight children. She and her husband Isaiah Muhammad owned the home and were willing to make the sacrifice to turn it into a full-fledged institution–especially since they were anti-public school.

For seven months, while waiting for the completion of their present new residence, Melva Muhammad and her family slept at night in the house on Cliffdale and woke up every morning to move mattresses to make room for classes in the day time.

“We didn’t have a choice. We couldn’t wait to get a building. The need was so great, we were willing to make that sacrifice for the education of our children,” said Melva Muhammad, who has homeschooled all of her children and is also an experienced school administrator.

When deciding upon a name for the school, it was Melva Muhammad who opened to the 7th Surah of the Holy Qur’an titled “The Elevated Places” and the school was officially founded in 2007 with approximately 35 students.

Unexpected growth and success

Now accredited from pre- K to 12th grade, The Elevated Places focuses on high academic and moral standards while working in conjunction with Muhammad Universities of Islam all over the nation to fulfill the vision of the Hon. Elijah Muhammad. In addition to high academic skills, the school provides experiences that enable the students to grow socially, emotionally, and artistically.

It has grown to an enrollment of 60 students. On staff are eight full-time and three part-time instructors who work tirelessly every school year to bring out the best in their pupils. Every morning starts with prayer, an intense drill competition, and recitation of various aspects of Islam.

Students have delivered riveting performances in highly attended plays based on the legacy of the Hon. Elijah Muhammad, the Best of Broadway and Black Soul Music.

There is a Junior Achievement Club that teaches students how to build a business from ground up. The club was awarded the title of Best New Company of 2010 during an annual city wide competition.

The school partnered with the National Association of Black Engineers (NSBE) to form a Junior Chapter for their students in October 2010. Amazingly, two months later their robotics team competed at the NSBE Fall Regional Conference in New Orleans and walked away with 1st place and the math team placed 2nd.

“The opportunities we’re getting at the Elevated Places such as being a part of these clubs is what makes the school so great,” said Abdul Aziz Muhammad, 15.

Abdul Aziz Muhammad, a 10th grader, is a member of the award-winning robotics team that eventually went on to compete at the National NSBE competition in St. Louis. “The teachers are a lot more caring here and it is like coming to a family environment every day,” he said.

Future computer engineer Aishah Muhammad, 15, has experienced the environment of attending a public school. “The public school teachers really don’t have the same care for you. The teachers at the Elevated Places will not only help turn your weaknesses into strengths but challenge you to make your strengths even stronger. It’s a challenging, yet comforting environment,” she expressed.

“I wouldn’t want to be at any other school. It’s very nurturing. The classes help us focus on what goals we should have,” said Ayinde Muhammad, 13, who wants to be an electronic engineer.

This past summer, Ayinde Muhammad won the Shell Oil leadership award along with a free laptop computer at the close of a STEM camp at Texas Southern University.

School field trips have included the NASA space center, Houston City Hall, various museums and more. The school has taken frequent trips to the 40-acre farmland in Winnie, Texas owned by several members of Muhammad Mosque No. 45. The students have witnessed how raw milk is extracted from cows and why it is beneficial for good health. They have also learned how to produce butter, cheese, an aquaponic system and even deodorant.

“We’re instilling in them the idea of having land and producing products that our people need to survive,” said Wakiti Muhammad.

“I have to be honest that I didn’t expect us to do all that we have been blessed to accomplish. But we believe in what we’re taught by the Honorable Elijah Muhammad and the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan that we’re destined for greatness. We must take our belief and go to work,” said Melva Muhammad, whose two eldest children teach Spanish and Tae Kwon Do classes.

Backed by parents and community

The school does not receive any U.S. government funding and keeps its doors open with financial support from Muslim businesses and those who believe in independent education.

“We have brothers with businesses that have donated largely to the success of the school. Even people who don’t have students here have come by to donate because they have heard about the work we’re doing,” said Wakiti Muhammad. “We don’t want to receive government funding because we want to keep the freedom necessary to bring about the vision of Minister Farrakhan.”

Another important component has been the parents, who sometimes can be nonexistent in traditional schools. Parents of The Elevated Places do monthly fundraising, provide mentorship and volunteer to chaperone field trips and teach life skills classes.

“We would not be where we are without the unity of the parents. They bring a lot of their resources to the table to ensure that the school has whatever it needs and can cut expenses,” said Wakiti Muhammad.

Special guests at the school have included NOI theologian Jabril Muhammad, London micro artist Willard Wigan, National MUI director Dr. Larry Muhammad, Student Minister Nuri Muhammad, Black pilot Nia Wordlaw, Math Doctor Shahid Muhammad, and more.

Brother Ishmael Muhammad, Minister Farrakhan’s Assistant Student Minister at Mosque Maryam in Chicago, made a surprise appearance at the school on Nov. 10. He was so impressed with what he witnessed that he presented the staff and students to Minister Farrakhan that evening during a Believers Meeting at the mosque. Minister Farrakhan sat on stage with a huge smile as the students sung their school song.

“I was extremely emotional because it was a blessing to be in front of Minister Farrakhan,” said Asha Muhammad, 11.

“That moment is still very surreal to me because that is the man we’re teaching our children about that we must follow, not only in words, but in action to make his vision a reality,” said Wakiti Muhammad.

“I’m extremely proud and very humbled. Allah willing, we will be doing even more at The Elevated Places for years to come,” said Melva Muhammad.

(For more information on The Elevated Places visit www.theelevatedplaces.com)

The post Muslim School Elevating Young Minds to Help Build a Nation appeared first on Final Call News.

HOUSTON (FinalCall.com) – When reviewing lists of the “most popular” majors selected by incoming college students throughout America, agriculture is hardly mentioned or pursued by this generation.

Omari Muhammad, a college sophomore, is determined to help change the aversion his peers have towards this field that is necessary for the survival of all people.

“I believe most young people don’t have a true understanding of the importance of agriculture. Plus most of us run away from something that involves getting our hands dirty yet the things we eat come from the land,” said Omari Muhammad, who is majoring in animal science at Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU), a HBCU located 45 miles west of Houston.

Omari Muhammad developed an affinity for agriculture while working on a farm every summer owned by his grandparents. He decided to pursue it in college and is presently taking courses such as agriculture marketing management.

“I don’t see a lot of young people flocking to this major versus other majors. We need more of our experienced Black farmers to go into the middle schools and high schools to teach us early about why we can’t survive without farming. This may help to increase the number of college students pursuing it,” opined Omari Muhammad, who also serves as president of the PVAMU chapter of the Nation of Islam Student Association.

For the past few months, the importance of land ownership has been an on-going theme in recent messages and radio interviews by the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan. In his appearance at PVAMU on Nov. 9 he even suggested that anyone majoring in sociology or psychology should change their major right away.

Janice Henderson, who is majoring in psychology at a local community college, was in the audience when he said that. She got slightly offended but understood his point.

“I will admit he has me thinking about why I even chose psychology as a major and what direction I’m going to take once I graduate. He’s right in that there aren’t a lot of opportunities out there in my major but I’m just not a land type of person,” Ms. Henderson said with a smile.

“However, I come from a family that owns a lot of land and has lost a lot of it too due to not paying back taxes. We’ve grown a lot of food and it is better for your health to eat from your own gardens and farms. I’m thankful for Minister Farrakhan’s message that night because I now want to do more than just have a job. I want to own something,” she said.

According to the Texas Forest Service, approximately four million acres of land have been scorched over the last year by nearly thirty thousand wildfires. Yet, the state’s agriculture department reported recently that its $100 billion agricultural industry still leads the nation in the production of cattle and cotton.

Harry Lewis, a 65-year-old experienced Black dairy farmer in Sulphur Springs, Texas, owns over 200 acres of land and stresses that agriculture is not as “boring” as some young people may think.

“Agriculture is more than just milking cows. There are so many avenues you can pursue in this field such as organic farming and marry it with the latest technologies,” said Mr. Lewis, who now produces and markets hay.

“It’s an exciting feeling to be able to own land and produce food, shelter, and clothing for your family and your people. We as a people have to get back to the soil,” he said.

Where’s the next generation of farmers?

In a Nov. 23 interview on KPFT’s “Connect the Dots” with host Robert Muhammad, Minister Farrakhan responded to a question from a listener as to why farming is not appealing to Blacks.

“People left the South in droves, finding refuge in the North; finding work in factories. And they turned their backs on the land. They turned their back on farming. They turned their back on agriculture,” said Min. Farrakhan.

“Today, farming has a lowly status in the minds of the people but the farm is the engine of every society. You have nothing if you don’t have a farmer. From the earth is where everything comes and the tilling of the ground is what God made man to do. When God gives you earth it is your duty as a producer to till the ground and bring out the richness that is in the ground to produce products. That is what makes you fit for life itself,” said Min. Farrakhan.

Min. Farrakhan also said on the show that he was happy to hear that some of the students at PVAMU changed their majors to agriculture after seeing him speak.

“Because of what they see on television, more of our young Black people lean more towards being an athlete, singer and entertainer because it’s more stylish than being a farmer. But agriculture is the most important profession,” said Mr. Lewis.

According to Dr. Ridgely A. Muhammad, farm manager of a 1,600 acre farm in southwest Georgia owned by the Nation of Islam, less than 4 percent of the Black farmers in America are under the age of 35.

“Students pick other majors in hopes of getting an easy job where they can make more money, wear a nice suit and sit at a desk every day. That’s the total opposite of farming which involves harder work, getting dirty, dealing with hot and cold temperatures, and making very little money per hour,” said Dr. Muhammad, who heads the NOI Ministry of Agriculture.

When researching what Whites say about why they get into farming, Dr. Muhammad said “they emphasized that it represents freedom and also they feel a sense of accomplishment by producing things from the land. We have to continue educating our people that we are at the mercy of others as long as we don’t control land and produce for ourselves.”

For the past years, Dr. Muhammad has hosted numerous schools at Muhammad Farms to show students the art of farming. This same hands-on experience is being consistently offered at Pure Milk Farms in Winnie, Texas, where students have learned to produce cheese, butter, yogurt, and more from raw milk.

“The key in getting our young people more interested in agriculture early in life has been bringing them to the land. Children are very analytical so bringing them to the farm beats watching a video or even reading a book,” said Kelvin Muhammad, who helps manage Pure Milk Farms.

“Black farmers have almost become nonexistent so we’re in dire need of young people to step into this field and take it to the next level of production. If they don’t, we’re in trouble as a people,” said Mr. Lewis.

The post Majoring in ‘Minor’ Things: Why do Black students avoid studying agriculture? appeared first on Final Call News.

(FinalCall.com) – Many may not believe it, but yes it is official: The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan is tweeting.

Since I have been on Twitter, the past three years, countless people kept asking, “When is Farrakhan going to get on Twitter?” The wait is over.

With the use of this modern technological tool, Min. Farrakhan is instantly reaching tens of thousands of people with timely guidance, warning and inspiration.

“The young people around me have dragged me “kicking and screaming” into the modern use of technology. (smile) And I am loving every minute of it,” he tweeted in response a question as to why he decided to launch a Twitter page.

For those unfamiliar with Twitter, it is an online social networking platform that enables users to send and read text-based messages (tweets) in 140 characters or less. The popular site has approximately 200 million users including everyday people, celebrities and businesses looking to engage clientele.

In its early stages of development, its founder came across the word “twitter” which he said meant in part “chirps from birds,” thus the bird logo.

Min. Farrakhan’s favorite aspect of Twitter is answering questions from those eager to learn more about the Teachings of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad. He does not review the questions prior to answering because he likes the spontaneity of seeing what Allah (God) will bring forth from him in responding.

People are increasingly excited about having this kind of accessibility to the “78-years-young” leader who has a non-stop schedule and has always managed to stay fresh in accords with the time.

“I will admit that I didn’t believe it was really Minister Farrakhan because he is such a globally known leader with so much on his plate,” said 29-year-old Tiffany Washington of New York. “But once I started seeing the responses to the questions I said this sounds like the words of Farrakhan. I’m happy to be following him on Twitter versus all of these celebrities who (are) not tweeting about anything of value. He keeps me motivated.”

From the rostrum to the dinner table, people can bear witness that he can speak for several hours at a time, yet he is mastering the art of delivering short Twitter responses. Some responses have gone beyond 140 characters, but the followers don’t mind because it’s all valuable.

“His presence on Twitter has provided a spark that is unlike anyone else that is tweeting because he’s giving correct guidance and solutions,” said Troy X, 25, who manages a popular YouTube account that features videos of Min. Farrakhan past and present. That page has accumulated over 8-million upload views over a four year span.

Min. Farrakhan’s quotes, responses, recent speaking engagements and radio interviews have been heavily retweeted (reposted) by other users to their own Twitter followers. Many have signed up to have his tweets sent directly to their phones.

“When I’ve done online searches of Minister Farrakhan’s Twitter page, the stats showed that his words are being overwhelming retweeted by so many people,” said Brother Troy. “Because of the type of man that he is, I’m not surprised that he takes out the time to answer so many questions on Twitter. That’s the kind of love he has for the people.”

The growing popularity of Min. Farrakhan on Twitter was even more evident the night of Nov. 9 when he addressed thousands of students at Prairie View A&M University in Texas. His name became one of the top trending topics on Twitter in the Houston area. Trending means that a particular topic is the most tweeted about, capturing most people’s attention at any one time.

Min. Farrakhan’s Twitter chats are now recognized by the hashtag #AskFarrakhan. A hashtag is a phrase prefixed with a “#” sign and allows users to group posts together by topic.

Over the past nine months, Min. Farrakhan has engaged and responded to questions about Libya, the Obama administration, the Nation of Islam, the Hon. Elijah Muhammad, land ownership, marriage, youth, leadership, Malcolm X, division in religion, education, sports, politics, setting priorities, scripture, parenthood, the weather conditions, music, technology and more.

In response to a question about the proper use of social media, the Minister tweeted, “Social media should facilitate the cause of friendship and the passing of knowledge. Create bonds and brotherly love.” He also tweeted, “The advancement of technology can be used for evil or good. We make it valid by the way we use it.”

In more personable questions, people have asked him about his childhood, biological parents, health condition, work ethic, the success of his marriage to Mother Khadijah, how he handles failure, how he prepares for lectures and his upcoming album.

“Yes, like most young people, I wanted to be a boxer. My favorites were Joe Louis, Sugar Ray Robinson, and Henry Armstrong. I’m sure most of you may not know these great ones,” he tweeted. “I had very tender skin so when I boxed, even if I won, I looked like I lost. So I knew that was not for me. (smile)”

The founders of AllHipHop.com and rappers Big Boi of Outkast, The Game, Bun B, Trae the Truth and Paul Wall are just a few of the popular music artists who have supported Min. Farrakhan’s account by sharing his quotes and encouraging people to follow him.

“I didn’t know much about Min. Farrakhan until I saw a few rappers that I listen to started retweeting some of his quotes. He’s a deep man and I’m going to continue following him plus check out some of his speeches,” said 17-year-old Brian Jackson of Los Angeles.

Demetric Muhammad, a student in the ministry class at Muhammad Mosque No. 55 in Memphis, sees Min. Farrakhan’s tweets as a gift to the toolbox of teachers, pastors, ministers and motivational speakers.

“These tweets constitute bite size chunks of guidance that can be unpacked to lay out a complete message for knowledge hungry audiences everywhere,” said Demetric Muhammad, who has turned a few of Min. Farrakhan’s tweets into messages.

In Surah 27 of the Holy Qur’an, Solomon is mentioned as one who understood the “speech of birds” and scholars see this as a metaphor for his ability to convey messages from one place to another. Min. Farrakhan is without a doubt a master communicator who speaks the language of the people that they may soar to a higher plane of thought and action.

Follow Min. Farrakhan at www.twitter.com/LouisFarrakhan.

The post The Truth 2.0: Farrakhan speaks via Twitter appeared first on Final Call News.

‘We mourn, tomorrow we organize’

SAVANNAH, Ga. (FinalCall.com) – With so much happiness resonating within the walls of Jonesville Baptist Church, one could have easily forgotten that this was supposed to be a Southern-type funeral.

On a sunny morning on the west side of Savannah, it turned out to be a celebration of the life of former Georgia death row inmate No. 657378: Troy Anthony Davis.

“I was elated that so many people came out. My prayer is that they didn’t just come out for this one day but that they will pledge to carry on the fight that my brother asked us to do,” Martina Davis-Correia told The Final Call.

“Emotionally, as a family, we’re not down and out or depressed like people usually are when they lose someone. Troy is only gone physically but his spirit is in us and we will do his work. He now has a stronger presence and a wider impact on people around the world. No need for us to be sad but the only person I’m concerned about is my son because he was close to his uncle,” said Ms. Davis-Correia.

Her 17-year-old son, De’Jaun Davis-Correia, was the only family member to speak during the service for his uncle held on Oct. 1.

“When I reflect on the times with my uncle, it was never a dull moment. You really shouldn’t be sad all the time, you should be happy, be positive and make the best of every situation. That’s the attitude my Uncle Troy instilled in me,” said Mr. Davis-Correia, a high school senior.

He further recalled how his uncle spent many hours with him on the phone assisting with homework. “Don’t let his name go in vain,” he said.

Ms. Davis-Correia said that moving forward the movement will be focused on clearing her brother’s name, fighting to end the death penalty and getting unjust laws changed. “Those who killed Troy want us to stop so they can get comfortable but we’re not going to let up on them,” she said.

A multi-racial audience of thousands filled the main sanctuary and balcony area while several dozen watched the program on big screens in an overflow room. The NAACP also streamed it live on their website.

Mr. Davis was on death row for over 20 years. Family members, lawyers, prominent leaders, grassroots activists and supporters from around the world fought up until the last minute in hopes that a stay of execution would have been granted. However, on the night of Sept. 21, Mr. Davis closed his eyes for the last time on a gurney.

Loss is just a chapter, not the whole book

Vehicles packed Montgomery Street several hours before the start of the service, while a line of people leading to the church’s front door wrapped around the parking lot. No media cameras were allowed inside.

Mr. Davis’ closed casket was flanked by two blown up images, one of him as a child and the other in a suit. Everyone received a 24-page color booklet filled with mostly images of the family’s many visits with Mr. Davis behind prison walls.

“Troy Davis turned the prison into a pulpit. He turned death row into a sanctuary. There’s some who think since Troy is gone that our fire is out. We are just getting started!” Rev. Raphael Warnock, pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, said in his eulogy.

“Loss is but a chapter but it’s never the whole book. Hold on for the whole book. Thank you to the Davis Family for schooling us on how to live on the other side of loss,” said Rev. Warnock.

Rev. Randy Loney, who frequently visited Mr. Davis, shared words from prisoners who were locked up with him prior to his execution.

“They said Troy was a good man that showed them how to be a man. They said he was an inspiration and that he mentally coached others who came to death row,” said Rev. Loney.

Attorney Jason Ewart, who was part of Mr. Davis’ legal team, said his client wanted to work with at-risk youth and that “he wasn’t a symbol, he was the soul of something bigger.”

The nearly four hour service was also filled with expressions by other advocates and passionate musical selections from various singers including award-winning gospel singer Deitrick Haddon.

Many of Mr. Davis’ family members and childhood friends told The Final Call about the man they believe has been mischaracterized by the mainstream media.

“He was a better man than what they say he was. They don’t know the full story about him. I grew up with him as a childhood friend,” said Jason Patterson of Savannah.

Atlanta resident Anthony Corley, a cousin, said, “What you see today and what you’ve seen the past couple of years, shows that he was a great man. He was an innocent man and everyone knows that. You got people from all over the world that this guy touched and loved him.”

“He was such a good man and he will be missed. I’ve known him all my life and the family. When I reflect upon him it is nothing but joy,” said Grover Thomas, who grew up in the same neighborhood as Mr. Davis.

The call for advocacy and action

Mr. Davis was convicted and sentenced to death in 1991 for the murder of Savannah officer Mark MacPhail. Seven out of the nine witnesses that originally testified against Mr. Davis eventually recanted their testimony. No murder weapon was found and no physical evidence was presented that linked Mr. Davis to the crime.

“Troy’s last words that night were he told us to keep fighting until his name is cleared in Georgia. But most important, keep fighting until the death penalty is abolished and this can never be done to anyone else,” said Benjamin Todd Jealous, CEO and president of the NAACP, during his remarks at the church.

Mr. Jealous further told The Final Call, “Today we mourn, tomorrow we organize. This is a day for the entire country to question its belief, to question the death penalty, to question whether we can afford to remain silent anymore about something that no other country in the Western world does. We have to fight on.”

“This was a story not only about one man, Troy Davis, but about everything that is broken, unjust, and deeply wrong with the death penalty and the suffering and harm it does to all who come near it,” said Larry Cox, executive director ofAmnesty International.

Amnesty International is one of the many large and small organizations who supported Mr. Davis via petitions, rallies, phone calls and social media action. During his remarks, Mr. Cox asked people at the church to sign a “Not in my name” pledge card and take a vow to fight harder.

“We have to do more than just talk about it and cheer. And now the state of Georgia believes it is over. We are here today to say it is far from over. You ain’t seen nothing yet!” said Mr. Cox.

Comedian and anti-death penalty activist Dick Gregory said the Davis family has done more for human rights than “99 percent of the athletes and entertainers. Don’t leave here today feeling down. We are the difference.”

“After we shout, we need to move to action. Troy said if this barbaric system is going to change it will be at the hands of young people,” said Edward DuBose, president of the Georgia State NAACP Conference.

“I’m just praying that this does not die after the ceremony ends and that we continue to fight. I hope that we have learned from Troy’s death that, as the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan has stated, we cannot look to this system for justice. We must look to the God of Justice and put our trust in Him,” said Nation of Islam Student Minister Abdul Sharrieff Muhammad of Atlanta.

Jaribu Hill, executive director of the Mississippi Worker’s Center for Human Rights, told The Final Call, “We are here to show solidarity and to say the fight continues. This is an example of yet another state sponsored killing. We have to fight harder.”

“I believe this tragedy and today’s services has fueled the people of Savannah to fight even harder to end the death penalty,” said Jamie Muhammad, the local NOI study group student minister.

During the call-and-response litany of justice read at the service, the audience said in unison, “When we say, ‘I am Troy Davis,’ it means we profess that we, too, are foot soldiers, united in the army of justice, never retreating, but pressing on until victory is won.”

At the conclusion of the funeral, hundreds filled the streets outside the church chanting, “I am Troy Davis!”

Mr. Davis body was laid to rest, but he’s celebrated as a martyr.

Related news:

Legal Lynching in Georgia?  (FCN, 09-28-2011)

The post Thousands honor the life of Troy Davis; vow to keep fighting unjust system appeared first on Final Call News.

After execution of Troy Davis, supporters and family vow to fight death penalty

(FinalCall.com) – The title of its state song, “Georgia on My Mind,” could be a fitting symbol of what is dominating the outrage of people across United States and many the world over with the execution of Troy Davis.

“We’re hurting and we thank everyone for everything they did. Like my brother said this struggle didn’t start with him and it shouldn’t end with him. We can’t stop. His death was not in vain. He told us he wants us to keep fighting to prove his innocence and that’s what we’re going to do,” Martina Correia, his elder sister, told The Final Call in a phone interview on Sept. 22.

“We must abolish the death penalty. It’s time for the old South to change and its time for us to pressure these apathetic Black officials who keep allowing injustices like this to keep happen. This movement isn’t over,” said Ms. Correia.

On September 21, at 11:08 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Mr. Davis was pronounced dead–some say murdered–by lethal injection in Jackson, Georgia.

Ms. Correia said she and her family spent at least six hours visiting with her brother the morning of the execution. “We did not witness the execution,” she said.

“It sounds awful, but it’s kind of a relief that it’s over for me. There is no reason to celebrate or do anything because this is sad for both families. I’m sure his family has suffered terribly too,” Anneliese MacPhail, the mother of the deceased officer Mark MacPhail, told reporters following the execution.

According to U.S. media representatives who witnessed the execution, Mr. Davis used his last words to continue declaring his innocence.

“I am innocent. The incident that happened that night was not my fault. “I personally did not have a gun. I was not the one who took the life of your father, son, brother,” said Mr. Davis while strapped to the gurney and needles being injected into his arm.

To the prison officials, Mr. Davis said, “For those about to take my life, may God have mercy on your souls. May God bless your souls.”

“Every life is precious with Allah, the life of the policeman that was killed and the life of Troy Davis,” said the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan of the Nation of Islam, in a statement released hours before the execution took place.

“The arrogance of authority to not fiercely fight for the truth that may exonerate him is dangerous for the state of Georgia. When Cain slew his brother Abel, God told him that the blood of your brother cries out from the ground for justice. If our brother is killed, and he is innocent, I feel sad for the state of Georgia for the God of Justice will retaliate,” warned Min. Farrakhan.

It was a gruesome ending to a case that has widened the conflagration of global disgust with the death penalty, America’s flawed justice system, and the continuous miscarriages in the fair administration of laws meant to protect its citizens.

“We need a nationwide ban on the death penalty. If we can’t be certain of the legitimacy of the conviction, the practice must be halted. It is criminal that this man was executed with so much doubt surrounding his case and Georgia has blood on its hands,” said Judge Greg Mathis, who hosts a popular TV court show and actually served on the bench in Michigan.

“I don’t like to contradict other judges, but Davis should have been granted a new trial so that he could prove his innocence. This was, without a doubt, a grave miscarriage of justice,” he added.

“The night they put Troy Davis to death will become an annual reminder that justice will not be achieved until we end this brutal practice of capital punishment,” said Ben Jealous, CEO and president of the NAACP.

“We must not only mourn what happened to Troy Davis but take strong measures so that it does happen again,” said Reverend Al Sharpton of the National Action Network. “I promised Troy when I got involved in this case in 2007 that NAN and I no matter what the outcome would fight to change the law.”

“My heart is heavy. I am sad and angry. The state of Georgia has proven what we already know. Governments cannot be trusted with the awful power over life and death,” said Laura Moye, Director of the Death Penalty Abolition Campaign of Amnesty International USA.

Amnesty International, along with the NAACP and other groups, was instrumental in gathering over one million signed petitions calling for clemency.

“Today, Georgia didn’t just kill Troy Davis, they killed the faith and confidence that many Georgians, Americans and Troy Davis supporters worldwideused to havein our criminal justice system,” said Ms. Moye.

The flaws of America’s justice system further exposed

For the past two decades, Mr. Davis’ case has grown to become one of the most watched cases in the history of America’s legal system. Mr. Davis was convicted and sentenced to death in 1991 for the murder of Mr. MacPhail.

Eyewitnesses originally claimed Mr. Davis and two other men were harassing a homeless man in 1989 in a Burger King parking lot. Mr. MacPhail, who was off duty, arrived on the scene to aid the man and witnesses testified at trial that Mr. Davis shot the officer twice before escaping the scene.

Seven out of the nine witnesses against him eventually recanted their testimony, no murder weapon was found and no physical evidence was presented that linked Mr. Davis to the crime. Yet he was still put to death.

“We’ve long known our justice system is broken. Davis’ execution shows us just how flawed the system has become. Too often prosecutors and parole boards simply refuse to admit they are wrong or have doubts about the guilt of the accused. Our nation’s governors are often unwilling to sacrifice their political careers in the name of doing the right thing,” said Judge Mathis.

On Sept. 23, Rev. Sharpton, who also joined the protest outside the Jackson prison, traveled to Washington, D.C., to call upon the U.S. Justice Department to move out on federal laws that would prevent states from prosecuting capital cases unless scientific or physical evidence is presented in the case.

“We are calling upon the federal government to supercede and set boundaries before any state can move forward with capital punishment prosecution. Multiple studies have established how flawed eyewitness testimony is and 75 percent of the cases overturned by DNA evidence were cases that also had flawed eyewitness testimony,” said Rev. Sharpton.

“We must not allow prosecutors to convict an individual based solely on eyewitness testimony when new evidence is introduced or witnesses recant their testimony. A new trial should automatically be granted when this occurs,” advised Judge Mathis.

According to the most recent statistics released by the Death Penalty Information Center (DPIC), there have been 1270 executions in the U.S. since capital punishment was reinstated in 1976.

Whites and Blacks have accounted for 56 percent (712) and 34 percent (441) of those executions, respectively. Over 82 percent (1,043) of those executions have been carried out in the South.

The DPIC reports that 34 states have the death penalty. Texas has the most executions with 475 since 1976, including 11 so far this year. The Lone Star State is followed by Virginia (109) and Oklahoma (96). Georgia ranks 7th with 52 executions carried out.

Over 75 percent of the murder victims in cases resulting in an execution were White, even though nationally only 50 percent of murder victims generally are White, according to the DPIC. A 2009 poll by DPIC revealed police chiefs ranked the death penalty last on the list among ways to reduce violent crime.

“The world will remember Troy’s name, as death penalty opponents who remained silent in the past realize that their silence is no longer an option. Our movement will grow stronger until we succeed in destroying the death penalty in the United States once and for all,” said Mr. Jealous.

College students arrested; hip-hop makes a statement

People held rallies, protests, and prayer vigils on the night of Mr. Davis’ execution. Twitter and Facebook were flooded with people sharing phone numbers and e-mail accounts for Georgia officials who had the authority to withdraw the death warrant.

Big Boi, one half of the Atlanta rap group OutKast, flooded his Twitter followers with up-to-the-minute updates for several days. He also led a caravan of protesters who stood outside the Jackson prison.

“Just remember we fought til the very end …. peace and Blessings,” Big Boi tweeted after Mr. Davis was executed. “Dear Georgia, we don’t know if Troy Davis killed a man. Neither do you. But we know you killed Troy Davis.”

Hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons was also vocal about the case. “I think executions should be broadcast live on television. Let us see the barbarianism that we’ve sanctioned. We have to talk about the disparities between black and white in death penalty, kill a white and u are 10 times more likely to fry,” he tweeted.

“I believe the death penalty should be abolished. I don’t think this country is in any position to hold its citizen’s lives in their hand. There has not been justice for Black people in this court system,” Dream Hampton, a noted writer and member of the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement, told The Final Call.

“We all wanted to do something. I think that those signatures and the phone calls is a way of creating a record that people said this is not done in my name and I didn’t sit idly by. We’re resisting. One must resist oppression on all levels. We need that on record for our children,” said Ms. Hampton, who also tweeted ways people can stay involved.

“We have some responsibility that if we’re going to lead people into action, if that action is a ‘failure,’ then we have to give them some alternatives to do something with that energy and continue struggling,” she added.

Howard University students protested at the Supreme Court and some were arrested for marching outside the White House lawn.

“We were protesting peacefully for Troy Davis in front of the White House and the officers asked us to move. A few of us refused, sat down and locked arms,” Jalisa Goodwin, 21, told The Final Call. She serves as president of Ubiquity, Inc.

Ms. Goodwin, a junior English and African-American studies major, said officers gave them three warnings. She was among the 12 Howard students and one professor who refused to move and were arrested on Sept 21. She said they were all given a $100 fine and the community is raising funds to pay the fees in support of their stance.

“I was disheartened by the execution. And at the same time I felt empowered that we had took a stand. I prayed that we as students can learn from this and use this time to organize ourselves, get more involved and fight to make change,” said Ms. Goodwin.

The funeral for Troy Davis is scheduled to take place on Saturday, October 1 at Jonesville Baptist Church in Savannah, Georgia.

Related news:

Minister Farrakhan statement on Troy Davis execution (FCN, 09-21-2011)

State of Georgia Killing An Innocent Man?  (FCN, 09-21-2011)

Supreme Court rejects appeal of death row inmate Troy Davis  (FCN, 04-17-2011)

Fight of lifetime for Troy Davis  (FCN, 11-04-2008)

Neo-slavery rises in Georgia’s criminal justice system? (FCN, 06-30-2011)

American Jim Crow injustice in the state of Georgia  (FCN, 07-01-2007)

Justice for Kenneth Walker: Brutally shot down by Georgia police  (FCN,01-26-2005)

The post Legal Lynching in Georgia? appeared first on Final Call News.

The Troy Davis case shows how a man could die for a crime he did not commit, say advocates

FINALCALL.COM BREAKING UPDATES:

• Update (9/21/11 @ 10:08pm CST) Troy Davis was executed by lethal injection in Jackson, GA.
• Update (9/21/11 @ 3:00PM CST) Minister Farrakhan releases statement on pending Troy Davis execution –Read statement her
• Update (9/21/11 @ 11:15am CST) Troy Davis’ request to take a polygraph before his execution has been denied and the parole board rejected a last-minute appeal by his attorneys.
• Update (9/20/11 @ 10:40pm CST) Per a text message sent to The Final Call from Martina Correia, the sister of Troy Davis, he sends the following message to supporters: “This struggle did not start with me and this movement should not end with me”.
• Update (9/20/11 @ 905pm CST) According to an email sent out by the NAACP, Troy Davis will refuse to have a last meal because he has faith that his life will be spared.  Read more @ http://ow.ly/6Abso Update (9/20/11) Per Martina Correia, the sister of Troy Davis, the Georgia Board of Pardon and Paroles has denied clemency for Troy Davis.

(FinalCall.com) – Martina Correia and her family have been down this road before. Her brother, Troy Davis, is staring death in the face once again and surprisingly calm in the midst of what could be his last days of life.

“There is too much doubt in my brother’s case but they still want to execute him. Troy isn’t stressing at all. He talked to me this morning and said he’s prayed up and feels comfortable about it all,” Ms. Correia told The Final Call in an interview on Sept. 19.

On that same day, at Final Call press time, the 42-year-old Mr. Davis and his legal team had entered into a hearing in Atlanta with the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles to advocate clemency for him. Supporters of Mr. Davis camped out all night outside the state facility.

“We have to present our best from our legal team. We’re praying for a positive outcome. Troy and family thanks everyone for their support. Let’s not stop. Keep pushing,” said Ms. Correia. Due to just being released from the hospital, Ms. Correia said her son, Dejuan Correia, along with her sister Kimberly Davis, would be testifying at the clemency hearing on behalf of the family.

“The parole board is now only allowing two members from the family to attend but it is really unethical how the Fraternal Order of Police Officers is allowed to show up for every hearing,” she said.

The parole board was reportedly expected to hear from witnesses who did not testify at prior hearings while Mr. Davis’ attorneys were expected to submit sworn statements from at least three jurors who sentenced Mr. Davis to death, but who are now calling for his life to be spared.

Mr. Davis was convicted and sentenced to death in 1991 for the murder of Savannah police officer Mark MacPhail. The parole board has the authority to commute a death sentence to life without parole or deny clemency.

Mr. Davis is scheduled to be executed by lethal injection on Sept. 21 at 7 p.m., at the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison in Jackson, Georgia, where he has been an inmate for over 20 years.

Anneliese MacPhail, the mother of the deceased officer, told CNN, “I will never have closure. But I may have some peace when he is executed.”

“We want to see the execution called off. When there is so much doubt about the guilt, the (parole) board must stop the execution. If they commute it to life in prison then further efforts can take place,” Brian Evans of Amnesty International USA told The Final Call.

Mr. Evans serves as a Death Penalty Abolition campaigner at Amnesty International USA’s regional offices in Washington, D.C. The group has been helping to lead online and street canvassing efforts in support of Mr. Davis. They firmly believe the death penalty is the ultimate, irreversible denial of human rights.

“If they execute Troy Davis, it will show that our system is not concerned with doing the right thing. If they execute him it will further undermine this criminal justice system and further weaken the people’s confidence in the system. But we’re hoping for the best,” said Mr. Evans.

At least 51 members of Congress have joined the voices calling for Mr. Davis to not be executed. Advocates include the Pope of Rome, South African anti-apartheid leader Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, who also served as governor of Georgia.

In a letter to James E. Donald, chairman of the parole board, the U.S. lawmakers wrote, “It is clear now that the doubts plaguing Davis’s case can never be adequately addressed; the lack of scientific or relevant physical evidence has made it impossible to resolve with any degree of certainty. Over the last four years, the inability of our courts to resolve these uncertainties has shaken public confidence in our judicial system, and an execution under such a cloud of doubt would do nothing but further undermine that confidence. Public faith in the integrity of justice in Georgia is at stake and it is for this reason that we urge you to grant clemency to Troy Davis.”

“The Holy Qur’an says you should not take any soul unjustly. It’s a grave injustice for the United States, which is rooted in White supremacy and racism, to put to death anyone. Especially when America’s educational system has produced the ills that we see in society. This system is not rooted in God,” said Abdullah Muhammad, the N.O.I. National Prison Reform Student Minister.

“This is a case that, whether you support the death penalty or you oppose it, should make you stop dead in your tracks,” said Ben Jealous, president and CEO of the NAACP, in an interview with Democracy Now!

“But with regard to the Board of Pardons and Parole, we just need them to recognize that there is doubt, that this is an exceptional case, and they should do the exceptional thing and spare his life,” said Mr. Jealous. “It’s been activism that has kept Troy alive to this point.”

“You have a conviction based on nine eyewitnesses, seven of whom have since recanted or changed their story. No DNA evidence, no physical evidence, and you’re going to take a man’s life?” said Rev. Al Sharpton, who has been discussing the case on his new MSNBC show.

“In this case the US judicial system has failed to establish Mr. Davis’ guilt beyond reasonable doubt. To execute him under these circumstances would be an appalling miscarriage of justice,” wrote human rights activist Bianca Jaggar, in a letter sent also to the parole board chairman.

“The murderer of Officer MacPhail must be brought to justice. However, justice will not be served by executing Troy Davis,” said Ms. Jaggar.

From petitions to global street pavements

On Friday, Sept. 16, a Global Day of Action was declared as thousands marched in solidarity in Atlanta with signs reading “Too Much Doubt” and chanting “Free Troy Davis!” A rally was then held at Ebenezer Baptist Church, the famous religious house where the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once preached.

“Every time Troy is given an execution date, more people look at his case and see there is too much doubt,” said Mr. Evans.

Thousands of supporters also hosted simultaneous events on that day in other parts of the country including California, Colorado, Arizona, Alabama, Vermont and Hawaii. Events were also organized overseas in Peru, London and Hong Kong.

The Texas Death Penalty Abolition Movement, the Green Party, the National Black United Front, the NAACP, the Nation of Islam and others united for a rally outside the Harris County courthouse in downtown Houston.

“We in Texas know how witnesses can be coerced to convict innocent people. It happens in Harris County and in Texas too often. Jailhouse snitches testified against Todd Willingham and we

now know that he was an innocent man executed by Gov. Rick Perry. Troy Davis’ case cries out for relief,” said organizers with the Abolition Movement.

“No matter if it is in Georgia or Texas, it is better to be rich and guilty than it is to be poor and innocent in America. The case of Troy Davis is showing this country that her system has failed,” said N.O.I. Student Minister Robert Muhammad.

Robert Muhammad served as the spiritual advisor and witness to the executions of Texas death row inmates O’Dell Barnes (executed, March 1, 2000) and Shaka Sankofa, a.k.a. Gary Graham (executed, June 22, 2000). Both cases drew international attention. “There was always a glimmer of hope that the state would come to their senses but they eventually executed Shaka Sankofa and O’Dell Barnes. The outcry of the world for Troy Davis should not be ignored,” said Robert Muhammad.

“How could we sit here in Houston, in the death house, that’s sending more people to the death row than any other place in the world here at Harris County, and not represent for Troy Davis? Who are they to have the moral authority to put anyone to death?” asked Kofi Taharka, national chairman of the National Black United Front.

Additionally, Amnesty International, the NAACP, Change.org, ColorOfChange.Org and the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty are continuing to circulate online petitions and posting action items on Facebook and Twitter.

On Sept. 15, Amnesty International delivered 650,000 petition signatures to the parole board and since has reached nearly one million signatures. Supporters have been flooding the parole board (404-656-5651) and Georgia Governor Nathan Deal with phone calls (404-656-1776), e-mails and faxes daily to demand clemency.

Many other notable activists, music artists and celebrities such as John Legend, OutKast’s Big Boi, Cee-Lo Green, Russell Simmons, Free, and Harry Belafonte have also expressed support for Mr. Davis’ plight. Jasiri X released a hip-hop video on YouTube titled “I Am Troy Davis” that has had thousands of views.

Too much doubt

Witnesses claimed Mr. Davis, who was then 19-years-old, and two others were bothering a homeless man in 1989 in the parking lot of a Burger King restaurant. Mr. MacPhail, who was off duty, arrived to help the man and witnesses testified at trial that Mr. Davis unloaded two shots at Mr. MacPhail and fled the scene of the crime.

Since Mr. Davis’ conviction, seven out of the nine witnesses against him have recanted their testimony and no physical evidence has been presented that links Mr. Davis to the murder. No murder weapon was found.

One of the star witnesses in the case, Darrell Collins, later told news networks, “I told them (police) over and over I did not see this happen. They put what they wanted to put in that statement.” Brenda Forrest, one of the jurors in the trial who found Mr. Davis guilty, has since changed her mind. “If I knew then what I know now, Troy Davis would not be on death row. The verdict would be not guilty,” she told a Savannah news station in 2009.

Since 2007, the state of Georgia has scheduled Mr. Davis for execution three times only to have the executions postponed. In 2009, the Supreme Court ordered the federal court in Savannah to hear Mr. Davis’ innocence claim in an evidentiary hearing. In 2010, U.S. District Court Judge William Moore heard testimonies and ruled that Mr. Davis’ defense team failed to adequately prove his innocence.

Mr. Davis’ last appeal was fi led in January of this year but was denied in March by the U.S. Supreme Court.

“This fight is not only for Troy Davis. This is for the Troy Davises that came before him and for the Troy Davises that are actually going to come after him. We’re all fighting for one cause and that cause is justice,” said Kimberly Davis in a video message to supporters.

“This system is not about reform. We want freedom for Troy Davis. As stated in The Muslim Program, we want freedom for all Black men and women now under death sentence in innumerable prisons in the North as well as the South,” added Abdullah Muhammad, who heads the Nation of Islam Prison Reform Ministry.

Related news:

Supreme Court rejects appeal of death row inmate Troy Davis  (FCN, 04-17-2011)

Fight of lifetime for Troy Davis  (FCN, 11-04-2008)

Neo-slavery rises in Georgia’s criminal justice system?  (FCN, 06-30-2011)

Leaders convinced of Troy Davis’ innocence  (FCN, 06-25-2009)

Fight of lifetime for Troy Davis (FCN, 11-04-2008)

American Jim Crow injustice in the state of Georgia  (FCN, 07-01-2007)

Justicefor Kenneth Walker: Brutally shot down by Georgia police  (FCN,01-26-2005)

The post State of Georgia Killing An Innocent Man? appeared first on Final Call News.

• Related links:  http://www.TroyAnthonyDavis.org
• JUSTICE for Troy Davis – Sign the Petition  (BlackAmericaWeb.com)
• Stop the Execution of Troy Davis  (Amnesty International)

(FinalCall.com) – For the fourth time, the clock is ticking on the life of Georgia death row inmate Troy Anthony Davis.

A Chatham County judge recently signed his death warrant and the Georgia Department of Corrections has set his execution by lethal ejection for the evening of Sept. 21.

All of his appeals have been exhausted, however, his family and supporters are refusing to go away silently.

“Troy is in good spirits. He is prayed up and he says that they will not be able to detour him because he knows whatever happens is Allah’s Will for him,” Martina Correia, his sister, told The Final Call in a phone interview on Sept. 8.

“Since they gave the execution date, Troy has been calling home about twice a day. He believes he can never die because his name has touched the lives of so many around the world,” said Ms. Correia, who is presently in a wheelchair due to some health challenges.

“I have some serious complications right now and haven’t had much time to rest due to my phone constantly ringing. But this will not stop me from continuing to fight for my brother’s freedom. Georgia and the old South has to go,” said Ms. Correia.

Mr. Davis, 42, and his legal team will have an opportunity to go before the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles to plea for clemency in a hearing set for Sept. 19.

“There are things legally being discussed that I can’t share but we have a lot of planned mobilizations over the next few weeks across the country and the world,” said Ms. Correia.

Groups such as Amnesty International, the NAACP, and the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty are circulating online petitions, Facebook messages and Twitter action alerts in what could be Mr. Davis’ last chance.

Political, religious, and community leaders are being called upon to ask people to make calls, send emails and fax letters daily to Georgia Governor Nathan Deal and the Board of Pardon and Paroles to demand clemency.

Clear innocence?

Mr. Davis was convicted and sentenced to death in 1991 for the killing of Savannah police officer Mark MacPhail.

Witnesses claimed Mr. Davis, who was then 19-years-old, and two others were harassing a homeless man in 1989 in the parking lot of a restaurant. Off-duty officer Mr. MacPhail arrived to help the man and witnesses testified at trial that Mr. Davis shot the officer twice and fled the scene.

Since Mr. Davis’ conviction, witnesses against him have recanted their testimony and no physical evidence has been presented that links Mr. Davis to the killing.

Since 2007, the state of Georgia has slated Mr. Davis for execution three times only to have the executions delayed.

In August 2009, the Supreme Court ordered the federal court in Savannah to hear Mr. Davis’ innocence claim in an evidentiary hearing.

In June of 2010, U.S. District Court Judge William Moore heard two days of testimony and ruled that Mr. Davis’ defense team failed to prove his innocence.

Mr. Davis’ attorneys argued the ruling and said that Judge Moore refused to hear from potential witnesses who could testify that another man confessed to taking the life of Mr. MacPhail.

The attorneys filed Mr. Davis’ last appeal in January of this year and in March the U.S. Supreme Court justices kept Atlanta’s 11th Circuit Court of Appeals from examining the controversial case.

“They know my brother is innocent but the state is bent on taking his life. Troy is thankful for all of the support. We won’t stop and we need everyone to keep pushing,” said Ms. Correia.

(To follow updates on this case visit: http://www.troyanthonydavis.org)

Related news:

Supreme Court rejects appeal of death row inmate Troy Davis  (FCN, 04-17-2011)

Fight of lifetime for Troy Davis  (FCN, 11-04-2008)

Neo-slavery rises in Georgia’s criminal justice system?  (FCN, 06-30-2011)

American Jim Crow injustice in the state of Georgia  (FCN, 07-01-2007)

Justice for Kenneth Walker: Brutally shot down by Georgia police  (FCN, 01-26-2005)

The post Execution date set for death row inmate Troy Davis appeared first on Final Call News.

(FinalCall.com) – When analyzing the six year impact of Hurricane Katrina, some researchers believe it is impossible to understand what happened and what still lingers without considering race, gender, and poverty.

“It will probably take a decade or two for the city to fully recover. A lot of people who have returned are interested in putting the lessons of Katrina behind them, which is a huge mistake in my opinion. Katrina showed a lot about our city in terms of race and class. We have problems engrained in this city,” Bill Quigley told The Final Call.

Mr. Quigley is a professor at Loyola University New Orleans, College of Law, and the associate director of the Center for Constitutional Rights. Along with Loyola professor Davida Finger, they released the annual 2011 Katrina Pain Index report on Aug. 22.

“As a whole, we did not do a very good job of protecting and welcoming back our most vulnerable population which included the elderly, children, and renters. Tens of thousands didn’t make it back,” says Mr. Quigley.

According to their report, the city’s population is Whiter and about 110,000 less than when Katrina and subsequent flooding struck in 2005. In the New Orleans metropolitan area, there are now 65,423 fewer Black women and overall the number of women and girls has decreased by 108,116.

Over 3,000 public housing apartments occupied by Blacks before Katrina were bulldozed after the storm.Only half of the 3,000 families have even made it back to the city at all, the report states.

“We still have deep racism. We still have communities that won’t get attention until something bad happens. They deserve the same human rights and dignity as other communities. We have to make the system work for everybody,” says Mr. Quigley.

The report further notes that the homeless population has increased by 70 percent and 34 percent of children live in poverty. An increase in heart attacks was documented in the two years after the storm in New Orleans.

The federal, state and local governments are still being criticized for negligence and slow responses during and after the flooding. Two years after Katrina, reports came forth that U.S. officials turned down numerous offers of aid from foreign allies totaling more than $1.2 billion.

A 2008 post-Katrina study by the Institute for Southern Studies exposed America’s violations of human rights, disregard for UN relief standards, weak disaster laws and refusal to implement disaster policies at home that it imposes on foreign nations.

FEMA was widely condemned for its red tape and was later exposed in giving away approximately $85 million in household goods intended for hurricane victims. FEMA trailers turned out to be a formaldehyde nightmare, causing severe illnesses.

The Pain Index report says FEMA is now reviewing the grants it gave to 154,000 people following hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma. FEMA’s error rate following Katrina was 14.5 percent.

Mr. Quigley believes that President Obama’s administration has made some positive efforts but warns that it is the system that needs a complete overhaul.

“The recent developments with the NOPD Katrina-related charges and the funds being released to people from the Road Home program would have never taken place under a Republican administration,” says Mr. Quigley. “Maybe our expectations of him (Obama) were too high. We haven’t seen revolutionary change but some progress.”

According to the Pain Index report, at least 10 people were killed by NOPD under questionable circumstances in the wake of Katrina.Eleven New Orleans police officers have been convicted or pleaded guilty to federal crimes involving shootings of unarmed civilians.

“New Orleans just concluded the most important police violence trial in the recent history of this country. As former DA EddieJordanrecently said, we now know that the New Orleans police committed more crimes during the storm than the people of the city,” said Jordan Flaherty, author of the book “Floodlines: Community and Resistance from Katrina to the Jena Six.”

“For nearly six years, the family members of police violence victims fought against a wall of official silence. But now, with the federal intervention they have won, these families are finally getting some justice. Most importantly, they are fighting for real community control of the police,” said Mr. Flaherty.

“Katrina wasn’t a one person failure, it was a system failure. Some people called it a ‘system success’ for those who took advantage of it,” said Mr. Quigley.

“We could have another Katrina or even an incident like in England with the people being fed up. It’s the systems that are still crushing the people. The lessons of Katrina should continue to be studied. It was a wakeup call for the country but everyone didn’t wake up,” he added.

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