Black officers want immediate ban on racist website

[Political Tiger]

The Guardian Civic League filed for a court injunction yesterday to ban on-duty cops from using the Web site domelights.com, an unofficial online forum for Philadelphia police officers, the group's attorney said.

Since filing a lawsuit Thursday against the city, the Police Department and the site's owner, believed to be Sgt. Fred McQuiggan, 47, racial comments have increased, League President Rochelle Bilal said yesterday at a news conference inside the headquarters of the black police officers' group, at 15th Street near Girard Avenue.

"The site has gotten pervertedly worse," Bilal said.

According to the suit, many of the posts are made throughout the day, by on- and off-duty white officers using city computers.

On Friday, the department added the site to the its list of restricted Web sites.

<...>

Brian Mildenberg, the attorney who filed the suit on the group's behalf, said that for years black police officers - who allege that they are often targets of derogatory comments - have complained about their white colleagues, including supervisors, using the site while at work.

Comments such as "Guns Don't Kill People. Dangerous Minorities Do," were posted last year. A recent post referred to Northeast Philadelphia campers who were turned away from a Huntingdon Valley swim club as "monkeys."

Mildenberg said yesterday that one user had written that Bilal should be "gang-raped."

http://www.philly.com/dailynews/local/20090721_Cop_group_gets_ban_on_controversial_Web_site.html

MORE INFO:

Phila. blocks city-computer access to Domelights.com

Judge Sets Order to Preserve Evidence in Domelights Case

Racism? On Domelights?

Editorial: Tarnishing the badge

[redqueen]

1. The voice of the "good guys"?

Really?

[Political Tiger]

3. Ironic, isn't it?

I looked at that website a couple of days ago when this story first came out and I was shocked at the blatant racism (and homophobia) I saw there.

[proud2BlibKansan]

19. Me too

It was repulsive.

[fascisthunter]

2. no bigot should be in uniform

I don't see how authoritarian crackas can serve and protect such a diverse country.

[Statistical]

4. Irony: using a racial slur in a thead condemning racial slurs. n/t

[redqueen]

5. No kidding.

:wtf:

[RaleighNCDUer]

6. Gee, I didn't know fascisthunter was a cop.

There is a bit of a difference when it comes from someone backed by the power of the state, rather than backed by the power of a political blog.

[fascisthunter]

14. that's funny, because you usually defend cracker cops

[RaleighNCDUer]

16. Do I? Perhaps you've been mis-reading my posts.

I don't have a problem with cops overall, but I have serious issues with authoritarians and that usually translates as white cops - minority cops generally have a broader understanding of the society than most white cops I've met.

I don't recall ever defending racist cops. Not my style.

[Mugu]

8. I going to guess that you meant condemning

rather than "condoning." If that is indeed the case I also agree.

I was going to alert, but I think that a kick to the top so others can see will do more good.

[Statistical]

12. Yeah I did. Makes a litte more sense that way.

[N7255Q]

9. Heh. Maybe we should just flat outlaw insensitivity.

That way nobody will ever be offended. (Sounds like a winner to me, I could find that guy who called me a faggot and his ass thrown in the pokey)

[fascisthunter]

10. true... I should have been more accurate and stated white racist authoritarian

which is the same as a cracka...

I'm white...

"have complained about their white colleagues, including supervisors, using the site while at work."

Next time you try to get my post deleted, try not to twist the meaning of my post.

[Statistical]

11. I didn't want your post deleted.

I just found it ironic.

If the post was deleted nobody could chuckle at the sad irony.

Psst by the way it is still a racial slur even if you are white.

[fascisthunter]

13. I find your post even more ironic

[N7255Q]

17. I don't think it means what you think it means.

:eyes:

[yodoobo]

7. Shutting down the website is fine...BUT

Wouldn't it be FAR more effective to just shutdown the cops who are making those postings?


The problem is not that cops are making posting on a racist website.

The problem is that Racist cops are cops are still cops even after they cease posting.



(In fact, I would argue to leave the website up, and then use it to flush out the racist cops and fire them)

[redqueen]

18. What is the likelihood of that happening...

given the existence of the Blue Wall of Silence?

[Lilyeye]

15. How ironic for this to come out after all the defense of cops we've seen this week.

[BlooInBloo]

20. Uh oh. Sounds like more black folks being tumultuous to me.