Faith in Action

It was for male ex-offenders who were there to receive information that could potentially help their situation. Here’s part 1 of my sharing. You can check out the rest on my youtube page.

On that same day I conducted a Social Justice Bible Study session for the United Worker’s Association. They have an Organizer’s Training Program that they’ve just started with some of their low-wage workers. The day before I was in Annapolis meeting with members of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland meeting about Governor Martin O’Malley’s absurd DNA bill and from Annapolis did 95 on 95 to get to the studio of WEAA 88.9FM to be a guest on Front Page hosted by my good brother, Craig Thompson. We were talking about Dr. Jeremiah Wright, the Black Church, and Black Liberation Theology.

Once I got home Tuesday night from this long 48 hours of giving and sharing I went straight to bed and slept for 12 hours. (I never do that)

I’m tired ya’ll. My body, mind, and spirit needs a break. I’ve been going full throttle for months now. Vacation please!?

Last night, I was blessed to be a part of the Stop Snitchin Town Hall at New Life United Methodist Church in East Baltimore. Here are a couple of clips from the event:

Chip Dizard and his team from Absolute Presence provide this clip:

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT ABSOLUTE PRESENCE! They provide high quality web and video services at affordable prices.

WBAL was also there to cover the event:

The Baltimore Sun was also there.

Shout out to my brother, Jamye Wooten founder of Kinetics: Faith in Motion, who organized this fruitful gathering. May we continue to labor and serve our community together.

This should’ve been the headline in all the local media today, however, Baltimore’s media is the fourth branch of this city’s government. They wouldn’t dare present the facts as they actually happened.

Here are the facts - an unarmed Black Man was shot at least 4 times by a police officer at the Hamilton Shopping Center around lunch time yesterday.

Local media attempt to soften the reality so that the masses are not riled to revolt. WJZ News’ headline is “Man Killed in Police-Involved Shooting.” Notice that their headline is written in the passive…”Man Killed” separates the action from the murderous actor. “Police-Involved” leaves the door open to the thought that the police were there, but weren’t the ones doing the shooting. (Only the Baltimore Examiner gives this story the appropriate headline.)

Notice similar literary avoidances of the facts in this Baltimore Sun version of the story. (Pay attention to how they follow their headline with a pro-police byline)

Don’t miss the ‘code words’ they use to help the reader to justify murder by this cop. Code words = “drugs” / “officer feared for his safety” / “suspected drugs taken from the man”. The media uses these code phrases to signal to its base readers that they believe that this man deserved to be killed. His murder isn’t anything we should be worried about. He wasn’t deserving of the due process of law. The cop was justified in playing judge, jury, and executioner.

I elaborate on this technique in my post entitled: “Media and Police partner in production of Murderous Propaganda.”

The problem for the police department is that this murder happened around lunch time. There were a lot of witnesses. People were in the Murry’s grocery and the Dollar General Store looking through the glass when the 25 year old Black man was accosted by the cop and then shot 4 times.

IF YOU WERE ONE OF THE ONES THAT WERE THERE AND SAW WHAT REALLY HAPPENED, PLEASE CONTACT ME. (YOU CAN REMAIN ANONYMOUS)

The cops have declared war on the Black Man. The question now becomes what will we do?

As you contemplate the answer to that question, enjoy this revolutionary message by Brother KRS. As it is his custom, he speaks truth in this classic: “Sound of da Police“. Don’t miss the lyrics.

As relevant today in Baltimore City, Maryland as it was the day Baldwin spoke it.

Check out this video: (audio and video are slightly out of sync)

The murders in this town must stop! I could actually feel stress and grief gripping my heart this week as I tried to offer support to the family of Zachariah Hallback - the 18 year old Algebra Project student who was murdered last week on the corner of The Alameda and 33rd while waiting for a bus at 8pm. Zach’s Homegoing Service was today at Israel Baptist Church and his mother informed me that there will be a prayer vigil for her son this Monday - MLK, Jr. Day at 6pm on the corner where he was killed.

Concerned Baltimoreans are also mourning the loss of 14-year-old Edward Smith gunned down in Cherry Hill. Smith was a student at the ConneXions Community Leadership Academy. The circumstances involving his murder are yet unclear, but I think that it was truly insensitive on The Baltimore Sun’s part to publish information concerning Smith’s history with the Department of Social Services. Is that supposed to be some type of justification for this child’s death?

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Greetings Family,

Some of you know by now that I’m working on an initiative in Park Heights to close the liquor stores in that community. Research shows that there is a direct connection between the abundance of liquor establishments and crime in a particular neighborhood. The more liquor - the more crime. The brothers that I am working with on this initiative believe that an intoxicated people can never be a liberated people. We are looking for other people of like mind and spirit to join in on this.

Currently, we meet every Tuesday at 3PM at the Park Heights Barbershop - 5114 Park Heights Ave.,Baltimore 21215.

This week is slightly different. We’re meeting tomorrow - Wednesday, January 16th at 3PM at the Barbershop because Baltimore City Council President, Stephanie Rawlings-Blake will be coming to meet with us and take a look at some of the liquor establishments that we are targeting.

I know that some of you either work near Park Heights or have a flexible job that will allow you to move about in the community. You are welcome to come tomorrow. If you can get there at about 2:45PM that would be great. We should be no longer than 30/45 minutes.

If you have any questions feel free to hit me back on this site. Also, you can watch a video that I did of this initiative on my youtube page. www.youtube.com/franktalk

Justice!

Heber Brown, III

Dear supporters of the Algebra Project:

We mourn the loss of Zachariah Hallback, a wonderful young man who had participated in many Algebra Project events, and who was helping to organize for the action below. Zach was shot Wednesday, Jan. 9 during a robbery while he waited with other Algebra Project youth for a bus across the street from City College High School. He was pronounced dead on Friday, Jan. 11. The students have decided to continue with this action in his memory.

STUDENT ACTION –CSI ANNAPOLIS– NOW SCHEDULED FOR FEB. 6
Please join them, Silent March to the State House begins at 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, Feb 6, from Asbury United Methodist Church, 87 West Street, Annapolis.
RIDES NEEDED FOR PARENTS–PLEASE CALL 410-338-0679 TO HELP.

DEMANDS INCLUDE:

Reverse cuts to Thornton Funding — school system must currently cut $50 million to balance 2009 budget

Jobs in the knowledge-based economy for all youth
$800 million for Baltimore schools as ordered by court
Arts for all students; Buildings repaired, not closed; Class sizes capped at 20.

Quality Education as a Constitutional Right.

Some students will perform a die-in to dramatize the cost of inadequate education, and the Governor’s Mansion will be wrapped in crime-scene tape.

For more information, Call 410-338-0679

Jay

As you know, I’ve locked arms with activists in Baltimore’s Park Heights community in an effort to shut down the liquor stores there. As Betty noted in my previous post on this issue, this community is inundated with liquor establishments. And as Common Sense alluded to in that same comment section - a community that is inTOXICated will never rise up and demand better for themselves and/or their children.

The sheer volume of liquor establishments in Park Heights borders on a criminal offense and if I was Sharon Green Middleton - Baltimore City Councilwoman for that community - strategically removing these parasites from Park Heights would be one of my top priorities.

Interestingly enough, I have obtained a letter written by Jean Yahudah, president of the Woodlands Nguzo Saba Neighborhood Association addressed to Councilwoman Middleton and the Baltimore City Liquor Board dated December 1, 2007.

Honestly, I had to read the letter about three times. I could hardly believe Yahudah’s position on this issue.

How in God’s name does a neighborhood association named after the seven principles of Kwanzaa come to the defense of a liquor store that fuels violence and drug activity in this Black neighborhood!? Which principle of Kwanzaa justifies your position Ms. Yahudah?

Yahudah even goes so far as to express concern about how the elderly owners of the liquor store will make a living if not allowed to continue selling alcohol in the Black community!

I believe this letter is indicative of self-hatred and the self-destructive practice of protecting the interests of other ethnic groups at the expense of your own community’s dignity, prosperity, and basic humanity.

I don’t know family. Obviously, our efforts in Park Heights need to be two-fold. On one front we need to target the liquor stores and political systems. On the other front, we need to work to liberate the minds of “mis-educated negroes.”

Check out the letter and let me know what you think.

A big thank you to everyone who took the time to send an email to members of the Baltimore City Council in reference to the Sudan Divestment Bill. 

I’m proud to announce that the bill passed and was signed into enactment by the Mayor on November 27, 2007!  YOU MADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE!  I especially want to thank Tanae and Adam (all the way from Ohio!) for sending emails to City Councilwoman Helen Holton in regard to the bill.  [if you sent an email as well let me know and I'll be quick to publicly give you your props.]  See that - right from your keyboard - at work, home, or school you helped to pass a bill to support the people of Darfur.  Don’t you feel empowered?!  You should. 

I just received an email from Joe Madison as well informing me that DC just passed its own Sudan Divestment Bill!  The avalanche is growing and pressure is mounting on the government of Sudan to end this tragedy.

So what next?…you did know there was a next right?  This is not a 40 yard dash people.  This is a marathon.  So now we have got to make sure that Baltimore, the state of Maryland, and DC make the legislation come to life.  No equivicating!  Don’t just have the press conference legislators! Divest the money! 

I’ll be making a list and checking it twice, E-ACTIVISTS, to make sure the legislation is really enacted.  If it isn’t, you know I’ll blow the trumpet. 

FYI: I’ve learned that last month a new documentary starring Don Cheadle called DARFUR NOW came out.  This can be a great tool in raising awareness and encouraging action on this issue.  Here’s an idea: Get a group of your friends together and go see the movie.  You might just win over some new Darfur Activists.  Great idea right?  There’s only one problem

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