GOP, Holder battle over New Black Panthers

[Lone_Star_Dem]

Source: The Hill

Key House Republicans are charging Attorney General Eric Holder of playing politics at the Justice Department.

Rep. Frank Wolf (R-Va.) said Holder has ignored at least three letters sent over the past month from Republicans demanding to know why Justice dismissed charges of voter intimidation filed against two members of the “New Black Panther Party for Self-Defense” (NBPP).

NBPP National Chairman Milik Zulu Shabazz and party member Jerry Jackson both faces charges for violating the Voting Rights Act for engaging in coercion, threats and intimidation and attempted coercion, threats, and intimidation of voters and those aiding voters at a Philadelphia polling station on November 4th, 2008.

Charges against the Black Panthers were originally filed when President George W. Bush was in power.

A spokeswoman for Justice said facts did not back up the charges, and that career officials at Justice, not political appointees, decided to drop the charges.

“Following a thorough review, a career attorney in the Civil Rights Division determined that the facts and the law did not support pursuing the claims against three of the defendants,” spokeswoman Tracy Schmaler said. “As a result, the Department dismissed those claims.”

Read more: http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/gop-holder-battle-over-new-black-panthers-2009-07-12.html

[tishaLA]

1. This is one of those cases Fox has been pimping

O'Reilly and Hannity love this shit cuz it's about the amazing intimidation factor of two unarmed African American men.

[AtheistCrusader]

6. I didn't know a billy club counted as 'unarmed'.

Most likely the charges were dismissed because no one was actually threatened. Without a victim, pretty much nothing except 'brandishing a weapon' will stick. Which is probably a misdemeanor. Certainly not a federal issue.

[The Stranger]

8. These days, with fireARMS so common, it doesn't.

So now you know.

[Schema Thing]

2. ick. Low. Not a new low, but disgusting in all aspects

they really will try to stir up xenophobia in America, just to hold on to their diminishing power.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

3. The key test is that if they were white Aryan nation members would the treatment have been the same?

[No Elephants]

5. IMO, the test is, if Pubs thought votes might have been being swayed to the Republican side, would

the Pubs be challenging the dismissal of the case?

[hughee99]

10. If Dems thought the votes might have been swayed to the Repuke side

would they now be saying the same things repukes are?

[struggle4progress]

12. Feel free to post some evidence rather than an accusation disguised as a question

[creeksneakers2]

4. I remember watching those guys on TV

One was causing some trouble and was asked to leave by the cops. The other was an official poll watcher and was just standing there, watching.

[AlbertCat]

7. And the "Brooks Brothers" rioters were not even charged with anything because....?

They crossed state lines to influence and cause trouble in an election. Just like what the Chicago 7 were tried for.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

9. Is this the case that was all over the news awhile back?

Black guy was an official poll watcher and a bunch of freepers, and a few embarassed DUers, thought he was scary and intimidating the good white folk trying to vote?

[AtheistCrusader]

11. One was a poll watcher, the other was not.

The one that was not, was holding a billy club in his hand. Not acceptable behavior at a polling place, hence, he was asked to leave by the police. The one designated as an actual poll watcher, without a weapon, was not asked to leave.