Electronic Village

Taser Autopsy: Matthew Bolick (East Grand Rapids MI)

noreply@blogger.com (Villager) — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 07:15:00 +0000

Matthew Bolick, 30, died after being tasered multiple times by Sgt. Brian Davis and Ofc. Gary Parker. Villagers may recall that these police officers felt that they couldn't restrain 5'6" Bolick ... despite his slight 150-pound frame. They jolted him with their taser guns ... and they are still on suspension.

However, Davis and Parker received good news this week. A medical investigator has ruled the death of an East Grand Rapids man who was Tasered by police "natural."

Matthew Bolick died of acute exhaustive mania, which also is known as excited delirium syndrome, said Dr. David Start of the Kent County Medical Examiner's Office. Start said the death was brought on by a psychiatric disorder.

Is it just me? Or does it stretch your imagination too much to believe that this young man died of "natural causes" as the coroner ruled?

Taser Death: Andrew Grande (Bay County FL)

noreply@blogger.com (Villager) — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 02:15:00 +0000

Andrew Grande, 33, messed with the wrong deputies from the Bay County Sherriff's Office (BCSO) and it resulted in yet another taser-related death. Three deputies responded to a physical disturbance call from a female victim of assault at a local hotel. [SOURCE]

The cops located Grande in the parking lot of the hotel. The police say that Grande attempted to flee, but the deputies stopped him and placed a handcuff on one wrist. The police say that Grande attempted to swallow something a bag of marijuana with his other hand.

Police say that Grande was able to free himself and stand. Deputies jolted Grande with at least 50,000 volts of electricity from a taser gun. Shortly thereafter deputies observed that Grande seemed to be choking and attempted to use the Heimlich maneuver on Grande but were unsuccessful. Deputies continued to provide aid until EMS arrived. Grande was transported to Bay Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

Oak County Sheriff Frank McKeithen requested the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) conduct the investigation of this incident and extended his sympathy to the family of Mr. Grande.

A deputy injured during the physical altercation with Grande has been treated and released from Gulf Coast Medical Center. The three deputies involved have been placed on administrative leave per BCSO policy.

Andrew Grande did a stupid thing by having marijuana, assaulting a woman and running from the police. However, the penalty for those things should NOT be death. Grande should be DEATH. The police should not be able to use their taser as a form of extra-judicial electrocution.

What are your thoughts as you learn of this taser-related death?

Taser Lawsuit: Alton Hall (Modesto CA)

noreply@blogger.com (Villager) — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 12:30:00 +0000

Alton Hall, 45, died after a taser was used on him while in police custody at the Modesto jail. Police officials claim that the taser was used in an appropriate manner. Hall's family disagrees. The family submitted a claim against the county, alleging negligent jail officials are responsible for his death.

The claim states "the county of Stanislaus and its employees did not adhere to the restrictions on the use of the Tasers and as a result thereof Alton Ham died."

The claim is a possible precursor to the family filing a lawsuit against the county, seeking damages.

Read more.

51 Taser-Related Deaths in the United States

noreply@blogger.com (Villager) — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 05:01:00 +0000

There are not many states in the nation who have not been involved in a taser-related death this year. Tasers are now deployed in law enforcement agencies in 29 of the 33 largest U.S. cities.

Perhaps the idea of an electric rifle made sense when it was first invented. However, we now see too much taser abuse.

First available to law enforcement in February 1998, now used by more than 14,200 law enforcement agencies in more than 40 countries. More than 406,000 taser guns have been sold since the product hit the market. It may be time for congressional hearings.

This blog has been pointing out incidents of police taser torture for quite awhile. The work done over the past few years by Patti Gillman and Cameron Ward inspired this post. Gillman and Ward documented over 450 taser-related deaths in North America on their blog.

Our blog has documented 51 taser-related deaths in the United States since the beginning of the year:

Jan 9, 2009: Derrick Jones, 17, Black, Martinsville, Virginia

Jan 11, 2009: Rodolfo Lepe, 31, Hispanic, Bakersfield, California

Jan 22, 2009: Roger Redden, 52, Caucasian, Soddy Daisy, Tennessee

Feb 2, 2009: Garrett Jones, 45, Caucasian, Stockton, California

Feb 11, 2009: Richard Lua, 28, Hispanic, San Jose, California

Feb 13, 2009: Rudolph Byrd, 37, Black, Thomasville, Georgia

Feb 13, 2009: Michael Jones, 43, Black, Iberia, Louisiana

Feb 14, 2009: Chenard Kierre Winfield, 32, Black, Los Angeles, California

Feb 28, 2009: Robert Lee Welch, 40, Caucasian, Conroe, Texas

Mar 22, 2009: Brett Elder, 15, Caucasian, Bay City, Michigan

Mar 26, 2009: Marcus D. Moore, 40, Black, Freeport, Illinois

Apr 1, 2009: John J. Meier Jr., 48, Caucasian, Tamarac, Florida

Apr 6, 2009: Ricardo Varela, 41, Hispanic, Fresno, California

Apr 10, 2009: Robert Mitchell, 16, Black, Detroit, Michigan

Apr 13, 2009: Craig Prescott, 38, Black, Modesto, California

Apr 16, 2009: Gary A. Decker, 50, Black, Tuscon, Arizona

Apr 18, 2009: Michael Jacobs Jr., 24, Black, Fort Worth, Texas

Apr 30, 2009: Kevin LaDay, 35, Black, Lumberton, Texas

May 4, 2009: Gilbert Tafoya, 53, Caucasian, Holbrook, Arizona

May 17, 2009: Jamaal Valentine, 27, Black, La Marque, Texas

May 23, 2009: Gregory Rold, 37, Black, Salem, Oregon

Jun 9, 2009: Brian Cardall, 32, Caucasian, Hurricane, Utah

Jun 13, 2009: Dwight Madison, 48, Black, Bel Air, Maryland

Jun 20, 2009 Derrek Kairney, 36, Race: Unknown, South Windsor, Connecticut

Jun 30, 2009, Shawn Iinuma, 37, Asian, Fontana, California

Jul 2, 2009, Rory McKenzie, 25, Black, Bakersfield, California

Jul 20, 2009, Charles Anthony Torrence, 35, Caucasion, Simi Valley, California

Jul 30, 2009, Johnathan Michael Nelson, 27, Caucasion, Riverside County, California

Aug 9, 2009, Terrace Clifton Smith, 52, Race: Unknown, Moreno Valley, California

Aug 12, 2009, Ernest Ridlehuber, 53, Race: Unknown, Greenville, South Carolina

Aug 14, 2009, Hakim Jackson, 31, Black, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Aug 18, 2009, Ronald Eugene Cobbs, 38, Black, Greensboro, North Carolina

Aug 20, 2009, Francisco Sesate, 36, Hispanic, Mesa, Arizona

Aug 22, 2009, T.J. Nance, 37, Race: Unknown, Arizona City, Arizona

Aug 26, 2009, Miguel Molina, 27, Hispanic, Los Angeles, California

Aug 27, 2009, Manuel Dante Dent, 27, Hispanic, Modesto, California

Sep 3, 2009, Shane Ledbetter, 38, Caucasian, Aurora, Colorado

Sep 16, 2009, Alton Warren Ham, 45, Caucasian, Modesto, California

Sep 19, 2009, Yuceff W. Young II, 21, Black, Brooklyn, Ohio

Sep 21, 2009, Richard Battistata, 44, Hispanic, Laredo, Texas

Sep 28, 2009, Derrick Humbert, 38, Black, Bradenton, Florida

Oct 2, 2009, Rickey Massey, 38, Black, Panama City, Florida

Oct 12, 2009, Christopher John Belknap, 36, Race: Unknown, Ukiah, California

Oct 16, 2009, Frank Cleo Sutphin, 19, Caucasian, San Bernadino, California

Oct 27, 2009, Jeffrey Woodward, 33, Race: Unknown, Gallatin, Tennessee

Nov 13, 2009, Herman George Knabe, 58, Caucasian, Corpus Christi, Texas

Nov 14, 2009, Darryl Bain, 43, Black, Coram, New York

Nov 16, 2009, Matthew Bolick, 30, Caucasian, East Grand Rapids, Michigan

Nov 19, 2009, Jesus Gillard, 61, Black, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

Nov 21, 2009, Ronald Petruney, 49, Race: Unknown, Washington, Pennsylvania

Dec 11, 2009, Andrew Grande, 33, Caucasian, Oak County, Florida

I think it is worth noting that at least 21 of these deaths of these taser-torture killings occurred against Afri can American men. We make up about 6% of the total population, yet 40% of the taser-related deaths in America this year are Black men.

However, nothing seems to be able to stop the continued taser-related killings. I remain convinced that the 'Use of Force Continuum' needs to show tasers as 'near-lethal' ... definitely an error to claim that they are 'non-lethal'.

Something is wrong! I appreciate the 2,000 or so folks that have signed our online petition asking for congressional hearings on taser torture. I hope that you will join our effort on that date!

What say are your thoughts about these taser-related deaths?

President Obama Accepts Nobel Peace Prize and Shares His Thoughts on 'War and Peace'

noreply@blogger.com (Villager) — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 22:15:00 +0000

This morning the President spoke at the Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony at the Oslo City Hall. His speech accepting the prize was well worth reading in full, an excerpt is below:

Of course, we know that for most of history, this concept of "just war" was rarely observed. The capacity of human beings to think up new ways to kill one another proved inexhaustible, as did our capacity to exempt from mercy those who look different or pray to a different God. Wars between armies gave way to wars between nations -- total wars in which the distinction between combatant and civilian became blurred. In the span of 30 years, such carnage would twice engulf this continent. And while it's hard to conceive of a cause more just than the defeat of the Third Reich and the Axis powers, World War II was a conflict in which the total number of civilians who died exceeded the number of soldiers who perished.

In the wake of such destruction, and with the advent of the nuclear age, it became clear to victor and vanquished alike that the world needed institutions to prevent another world war. And so, a quarter century after the United States Senate rejected the League of Nations -- an idea for which Woodrow Wilson received this prize -- America led the world in constructing an architecture to keep the peace: a Marshall Plan and a United Nations, mechanisms to govern the waging of war, treaties to protect human rights, prevent genocide, restrict the most dangerous weapons.

In many ways, these efforts succeeded. Yes, terrible wars have been fought, and atrocities committed. But there has been no Third World War. The Cold War ended with jubilant crowds dismantling a wall. Commerce has stitched much of the world together. Billions have been lifted from poverty. The ideals of liberty and self-determination, equality and the rule of law have haltingly advanced. We are the heirs of the fortitude and foresight of generations past, and it is a legacy for which my own country is rightfully proud.

And yet, a decade into a new century, this old architecture is buckling under the weight of new threats. The world may no longer shudder at the prospect of war between two nuclear superpowers, but proliferation may increase the risk of catastrophe. Terrorism has long been a tactic, but modern technology allows a few small men with outsized rage to murder innocents on a horrific scale.

Moreover, wars between nations have increasingly given way to wars within nations. The resurgence of ethnic or sectarian conflicts; the growth of secessionist movements, insurgencies, and failed states -- all these things have increasingly trapped civilians in unending chaos. In today's wars, many more civilians are killed than soldiers; the seeds of future conflict are sown, economies are wrecked, civil societies torn asunder, refugees amassed, children scarred.

I do not bring with me today a definitive solution to the problems of war. What I do know is that meeting these challenges will require the same vision, hard work, and persistence of those men and women who acted so boldly decades ago. And it will require us to think in new ways about the notions of just war and the imperatives of a just peace.

What are your thoughts about the President's speech today in Oslo? Are you proud that he won the Nobel Peace Prize?

(Th)ink by Keith Knight: Extreme Home Takeover

noreply@blogger.com (Villager) — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 14:30:00 +0000

(Th)ink is an editorial cartoon written and drawnby cartoonist Keith Knight (the K Chronicles).

Wordless Wednesday: Pray for Obama to Die?

noreply@blogger.com (Villager) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 05:01:00 +0000

Taser Autopsy: Derrick Humbert (Bradenton FL)

noreply@blogger.com (Villager) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 03:00:00 +0000

The coroner down in Bradenton, FL indicates that the 50,000 volts of electricity zapped by a taser gun into 38-year old Derrick Humbert back on September 28 played a minor role in his death one hour later. [SOURCE]

Dr. Russell Vega works for the medical examiner's office. Vega says that Humbert's death was 'accidental'. He blames the death on cocaine toxicity and heart disease.

"His heart was enlarged. He had at least one large blockage," Dr. Russell Vega said in an interview today. "We see that as a cause of death by itself."

So ... let's recap. Humbert riding on his bicycle a few blocks from his home. Two Bradenton police officers stop him for not having a light affixed to the front of his bicycle. Humbert tries to run. Police officer Del Shiflett shot him with a taser. An hour later he is dead.

One moment he is alive. The next hour he is dead. And the powers-that-be in Bradenton insist that the taser shot did not cause Humbert’s death.

"If it did, it appears to be have been a minor role or none. There’s no way to confirm that," Vega said. "We simply couldn’t find any evidence the Taser played a role."

The death investigation is expected to be completed this week. A Bradenton Police Department’s internal review of the incident should wrap up next week.

I understand that the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, a civil rights group that opposes the use of Tasers, is scheduled to meet with officials at Bradenton Police Department about the incident later this week.

Tune In Tuesday: Happy Birthday to Flip Wilson

noreply@blogger.com (Villager) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 11:30:00 +0000

On this date in 1933, Flip Wilson was born. He was an African American entertainer and the most visible Black comedian of the early 1970s.

He was born in Jersey City, N.J., the tenth of 24 children. Clerow Wilson (his given name) was a troublesome and troubled child in his youth. His family was extremely poor, he ran away from several reform schools, and was ultimately raised in foster homes. His comedic talents first surfaced while he was serving in the Air Force overseas. While in the Pacific, Wilson entertained his buddies with preposterous routines. Upon his return to civilian life he had to settle for a day job as a bellhop along with part-time showmanship.

Opportunity found him in 1959 when a Miami businessman sponsored him for one year for $50 per week, enabling him to concentrate on the work he loved. For the next five years,Flip Wilson appeared regularly at the Apollo Theater in Harlem. The Tonight Show was his next stop. in 1965, he began a series of nationwide appearances, followed by long-term contracts and a number of hit records. With "The Flip Wilson Show" in the early 1970s, he became the first African American to have a weekly prime-time television show under his own name.

I remember watching Flip Wilson when I was a kid. The two catch phrases that stick with me are: "What you see is what you get!" and "The devil made me do it!" Could Tyler Perry have been successful with Madea without Flip Wilson's portrayal of Geraldine?

Wilson died November 25, 1998 at the age of 64. Rest in peace Mr. Wilson!

Opposition Grows Against Joe Lieberman (I-CT)

noreply@blogger.com (Villager) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 16:15:00 +0000

Senator Joe Lieberman is not shy about stating his opposition to any public option in the proposed health care reform legislation. He is losing support in his own state for this point of view. The guy who chaired the 'Connecticut for Lieberman' campaign starred in a new TV ad that is playing in Connecticut and Washington DC today.

I encourage villagers ... especially those of you that live in the state of Connecticut ... to sign the online petition calling on Senator Lieberman to represent his constituents ... and not the health insurance lobbyists.

Rebecca Davis Uses Ballet Dancing to Save Darfur

noreply@blogger.com (Villager) — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 20:00:00 +0000

Soulclap to Save Darfur for introducing us to Rebecca Davis, an entrepreneur, dancer and activist who has used the arts to bring attention to violence against women in Darfur. As Creative Director of her own ballet company, Rebecca choreographed and premiered the first contemporary ballet about the conflict in Sudan, entitled DARFUR - the proceeds of which fund humanitarian work in-country.

In DARFUR, a woman is brutally raped by a group of Janjaweed soldiers. The ballet explores both the attack itself and the long-term emotional and relational repercussions of her attack. Through dance, Rebecca educates her audience about this important issue.

Refugees International Fights Sexual Violence in Sudan

noreply@blogger.com (Villager) — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 21:15:00 +0000

Soulclap to Save Darfur for highling the work of Refugees International (RI). RI is known for their tireless advocacy on behalf of displaced people in crisis areas worldwide, and their incredible work to combat sexual violence in Sudan.

In 2007, RI released a report on how Sudanese law negatively affects rape survivors - detailing barriers to justice that many Darfuri women face and the immunity from prosecution their attackers frequently enjoy. RI's continuing dedication to ensuring lifesaving services and lasting solutions for displaced people, and their unique emphasis on displaced women, has made them one of the most impressive groups working for women in Sudan today.

Save Darfur joins RI in bringing attention to the unacceptable situation in Sudan. Save Darfur folks put together a collection of recent resources and reports related to sexual violence. Due to the barriers the Sudanese government continues to construct for human rights organizations, gathering information for these reports is a labor-intensive, difficult and often dangerous process. Yet each report provides an invaluable perspective on and analysis of conditions on the ground, as well as diplomatic and humanitarian steps that must be taken to address them. In the realm of advocacy, knowledge truly is power.

Morgan Freeman Talks About His Movie, 'Invictus'

noreply@blogger.com (Villager) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 20:30:00 +0000

Soulclap to Ava DuVernay for inviting the Electronic Village to participate in a press conference with Academy Award winner Morgan Freeman to discuss his upcoming film, Invictus. Directed by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Clint Eastwood, the movie stars Oscar winner Morgan Freeman as 'Nelson Mandela', along with Oscar winner Matt Damon. The film chronicles Mandela's first term as president after the fall of apartheid as he attempted to unite his countrymen by hosting the 1995 Rugby World Cup.

Morgan Freeman was the driving force to bring this movie to the big screen. I didn't realize until today that Freeman is co-founder of Revelations Entertainment. He uses this company to develop films that 'enlighten, express heart, and glorify the human experience'. Revalations Entertainment bought the rights to John Carlin's book, Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game That Made a Nation, a few years ago. Freeman had been studying Nelson Mandela since they met over 12 years ago. He has been searching for the right project all that time.

"This was a labor of love," said Freeman. "I wanted to do a story about Mandela for a long time ... this was the right time ... this was meant to be. I'm a big believer in fate. I memorized the poem, Invictus, when I was in the 8th grade!"

Freeman indicates that he wanted Clint Eastwood to direct the film from the very beginning. Villagers may recall that the Eastwood-Freeman team has been magical in the past on such films as Unforgiven and Million Dollar Baby.

"I sent him (Eastwood) the script. He read it and called me back to say he would like to direct it", said Freeman. "Clint Eastwood is an actor's dream. He is a consummate professional. Quite simply, he is the best."

Mr. Freeman indicated that he was 'not intimidated' by playing a living legend in this movie. He noted with a chuckle that he is a 'professional actor'. However, he did acknowledge that there were some intimidating aspects in playing this role.

"There have been a number of actors, such as Danny Glover and Sidney Poitier, who have played Mandela before. I learned my lines in the script ... his walk ... the way that he talks ... then I add in the other nuances of Mandela. The biggest challenge is to remember to sound like him. If there is going to be an area where I fail in this movie it would be in whether or not my voice sounded enough like that of Mandela."

I was struck by the passion that Mr. Freeman felt for this story and for Mr. Mandela. He talked about filming that took place at the Robben Island ... and how awestruck he and the other actors were as they realized the confined space that held Mr. Mandela for over a quarter-century.

Mr. Freeman indicated that Nelson Mandela has not yet seen the film. However, the staff of the Mandela Foundation did screen the movie recently. They were very pleased with the movie which was important to Freeman as the people closest to Mandela "are likely to be the harshest critics". Mr. Freeman will be in South Africa next week with Mr. Mandela. He is hopeful to have a chance to watch the movie with the former South African president.

Mr. Freeman noted that he doesn't usually watch his own movies.

"I don't watch my movies. I trained as a stage actor. I know whether my performance is good or not from the immediate reaction of the audience."

I asked Mr. Freeman to comment on the current state of affairs for the Black Cinema. Specifically, I was curious to hear what, in his opinion, the public ... villagers like you and me ... could do to improve the state of the Black Cinema.

"Tyler Perry is doing a great deal in this area right now with his studio in Atlanta. He is producing movies and showing others that it is possible to be successful with that formula. I imagine that others interested in advancing the Black Cinema would use Tyler Perry as a role model."

Finally, I noticed that Mr. Freeman's career has him with scores of film roles ... however, I noticed that he only had one credit as a director. He directed the 1993 film, 'Bopha', starring Danny Glover. I wanted to know if Mr. Freeman planned on getting behind the camera again in the future as a director.

"I have no plans to direct. I prefer to be an actor. I like to get in to a character or a role ... finish it ... and move on to the next acting assignment. Directing requires almost a year of commitment with all of the pre-production, production and post-production work. Quite frankly, I'm too lazy to be a director!"

Well, villagers, I must admit that I enjoyed the opportunity to talk with Morgan Freeman. He was gracious and seemed to be very comfortable in his own skin. His movie, Invictus comes out next week. I plan to go see it. How about you?

Taser Advisory to Cops: 'Our Guns May Cause Heart Attack'

noreply@blogger.com (Villager) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 15:00:00 +0000

Taser International, the maker of taser guns is advising police officers to avoid shooting suspects in the chest with the 50,000-volt weapon, saying that it could pose an extremely low risk of an "adverse cardiac event."

The advisory, issued in an Oct. 12 training bulletin, marks the first time that Taser has suggested any risk of ill effects on the heart from the use of its 50,000-volt taser guns.

Critics, including civil-rights lawyers and human-rights advocates, called the training bulletin an admission by Taser that its guns could cause cardiac arrest.

For years, Taser officials have said in interviews, court cases and government hearings that the stun gun is incapable of inducing ventricular fibrillation, the chaotic heart rhythm characteristic of a heart attack.

This is a stunning reversal for the company, which for years has maintained that the gun was incapable of inducing a cardiac arrest.

But Taser officials reply that the bulletin does not state that Tasers can cause cardiac arrest. They said the advisory means only that law-enforcement agencies can avoid controversy over the subject if their officers aim at areas other than the chest.

"Should sudden cardiac arrest occur in a scenario involving a Taser discharge to the chest area, it would place the law-enforcement agency, the officer and Taser International in the difficult situation of trying to ascertain what role, if any, the Taser . . . could have played," the bulletin says.

The bulletin recommends that when aiming at the front of a suspect, the best target for officers is the major muscles of the pelvic area or thigh region. "Back shots remain the preferred area when practical," it says.

Police departments across the United States reacted immediately to the bulletin, with some ordering officers to follow Taser's instructions and begin aiming at the abdomen, legs or back of a suspect.

The guns are used by more than 12,000 police agencies across the country.

Advocacy groups such as Amnesty International allege that Taser guns are often used by police as a compliance tool on unarmed individuals who pose no deadly threat, who are drunk or on drugs and simply quarrel with officers.

This is the first time that we've seen a chink in the taser-happy armor of the manufacturer and the police. I wonder if police will think twice before using tasers outside of the 'use of force continuum' policy? [NOTE: Gunfighter is a law enforcement officer who conducts training on the 'use of force continuum'. He provides a comprehensive explanation that I encourage all villagers to read].

What are your thoughts on this admission from Taser International?

Blog Safari #36

noreply@blogger.com (Villager) — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 14:30:00 +0000

It has been awhile since we have invited our villagers on a blog safari. Our rhino-guide (she still needs a name!) wants to take you through the cyber-jungle to see some talented bloggers and creative blog posts. Enjoy the flow!!

African American Political Pundit - African Americans and Climate Change

Black and Missing, But Not Forgotten - Letter to the Black Press

Black 'n Bougie - Dear Microsoft, I Wish I Knew How to Quit You!

Black Women, Blow the Trumpet - The Foibles of Black Female Scapegoat: Notes From the Bench

Nat Turner's Revenge - Great Depression for African Americans

Let us know if you come across any remarkable posts that should be shared in our next Blog Safari!

Does Rupert Murdoch Think That Barack Obama is "a Racist"?

noreply@blogger.com (Villager) — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 00:30:00 +0000

Villagers recall that Glenn Beck called Obama a racist a few weeks ago on Fox News. Rupert Murdoch co-signed Glenn Beck's comment at first.

Rupert Murdoch has been ducking any follow-up questions on the subject. ColorOfChange has over 135,000 signatures on a petition asking Murdoch to either say clearly that he meant what he said and that he stands by Beck; or he should acknowledge there's a problem with what Beck said and take responsibility for stopping the continued race-baiting at News Corp and Fox.

But Murdoch has refused to respond.

Yesterday, Rupert Murdoch spoke at the Federal Trade Commission as part of a conference on the future of journalism. ColorOfChange organizers and others in the audience confronted Murdoch about his comments and asked for an explanation, but as you can see, Murdoch made a quick, silent exit.

What are your thoughts on this issue? Personally, I encourage all villagers to sign the ColorOfChange petition!

Why Did Black Newspaper Compare Ohio State Sen. Nina Turner to Aunt Jemima?

noreply@blogger.com (Villager) — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 20:15:00 +0000

Black-owned newspapers have a tough enough time being profitable and relevant in the new information age. It doesn't help when Black-owned newspapers think it is humorous to portray African American female leaders as Aunt Jemima.

Call&Post is a weekly newspaper published in Cleveland OH. Call&Post editors thought it would be funny to portray Sen. Nina Turner as Aunt Jemima, a character most people of African descent consider to be offensive because of its use as a racist stereotype.

The paper criticized Turner, a Cleveland Democrat, for supporting last month's successful ballot issue to overhaul county government. Some Blacks fear the changes will reduce minority political power. I'm fine with calling out policies or politicians when you disagree with them. I think it is hateful and poor judgement in the extreme to personally denigrate a Black woman by comparing her to Aunt Jemima.

Call&Post associate publisher and editor Connie Harper says the caricature isn't hurtful. Cleveland resident Henry Ford disagrees.

What say u?

Wear a White Ribbon in Solidarity with Zainab Salbi

noreply@blogger.com (Villager) — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 13:30:00 +0000

Soulclap to the Save Darfur folks for telling us about Zainab Salbi, a dynamic leader, author, advocate and entrepreneur. Zainab devotes her life to establishing economic security and leadership training for women in post-conflict societies.

It is obvious that Zainab believes in the concept of living your truth or standing up for what you believe in, no matter how controversial or inconvenient - which was the foundation of the White Ribbon Campaign. Nearly two decades ago, a group of men gathered together to declare that they would never commit, condone, or remain silent about violence against women. In over 50 countries, men and women led public education campaigns to speak up for the protection of women and girls - many of them uniting under that powerful symbol of a white ribbon.

Villagers ... we can no long remain silent. Wear a white ribbon in solidarity with Zainab Salbi, the women of Sudan, and all those who wear the white ribbon to declare their commitment to stopping violence against women.

World AIDS Day

noreply@blogger.com (Villager) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:00:00 +0000

December 1 is World AIDS Day, and this year marks the 21st anniversary of its commemoration. It was started in 1988 as a way to raise awareness, money and combat the stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS. 21 years later, the disease continues to make its impact on the world, infecting over 33 million people, and taking the lives of millions others.

67% of the people living with HIV/AIDS are in Sub-Saharan Africa

Since 1981, over 25 million people have died from the disease

Young people account for half of new HIV infections

The number of people living with HIV has risen from around 8 million in 1990 to 33 million today, and is still growing. - UNAIDS

I am not aware of anyone in my family or among my friends that is infected with the HIV/AIDS virus. However, I recognize that the issue is one that cannot be ignored in the African American community. I created the HIV/AIDS Awareness Groupsite in an effort to keep people informed about this issue year-round.

What are you doing to increase HIV/AIDS Awareness in your sphere of influence?

Good News Tuesday: Dr. Mohammed Ahmed Abdallah

noreply@blogger.com (Villager) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 13:00:00 +0000

Dr. Mohammed Ahmed Abdallah is a physician and Professor of Medicine at el-Fasher University in Darfur, Sudan, specializing in the treatment of survivors of torture and sexual violence.

In 2004, Dr. Ahmed created a network of physicians and medical personnel to work providing care on the ground in Darfur. Within a few months, the Amel Center had treated seventy-eight victims of violence relating to the genocide, including fifteen women who had been raped and beaten. By October of 2007, the number of people treated at the center reached 520. Those working at the center faced constant risk of intimidation and even arrest and interrogation by the Sudanese government for the work they performed. As a native Darfuri who speaks the local language, Dr. Ahmed was able to provide a safe space for women to speak about their experiences and provide them with hope that their psychological and physical wounds could be healed.

The Amel Center was recently closed by the Sudanese government.

Dr. Mohammed is a member of the Sudanese Center for Rights Promotion and Peace Building, whose main objectives are to prevent human rights violations, combat impunity, and promote peace and reconciliation in Darfur and Sudan as a whole. The Centre’s legal activities include strategic litigation, law reform, institutional reform, and engaging in transitional justice mechanisms. In addition, the Center conducts advocacy on behalf of victims of genocide and war crimes, and promotes peace and reconciliation in Darfur and the region.

We honor Dr. Mohammed for his work as a community leader, peace negotiator and human rights advocate.

Tune In Tuesday: Edwin Starr

noreply@blogger.com (Villager) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 05:01:00 +0000

America is engaged in two wars at the moment -- Afghanistan and Iraq. President Obama promises that we will be out of Iraq by August 2010. In a few hours he will announce his decision on whether or not to send more troops into Afghanistan. Personally, I find myself doubting the need to continue the war in either country. However, I am open-minded to what our President will tell us tonight.

In the meantime, I hope that he has Edwin Starr someplace on his iPod. Do any of y'all remember a song popularized in 1970 by Edwin Starr called, 'War' back in 1970. The song was originally recorded by The Temptations. The Vietnam war was at the height of its conflict, and the peace movement was gaining speed.

The song talks about war in general, not specifically the one in Vietnam. The lyrics raise the question of whether there must be a better way to resolve conflict. What are your thoughts as you sing this song to your computer screen?

Introduce Yourself

noreply@blogger.com (Villager) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 05:00:00 +0000

Hotep! My vision for the Electronic Village is simple. I want you to feel that you have entered a warm and welcoming enclave where you can rest for a moment under our baobob tree and share libations with fellow villagers. Just relax for a moment in your hectic surfing through cyberspace ... relax and enjoy the vibe of our Electronic Village.

We hope that our voice is a worthy one in the blogosphere. The Electronic Village strives to share information that uplifts people of African descent throughout the diaspora. There are a number of ways that you can hear our drumbeat in a timely manner. However, we realize that it is your drumbeat that makes us better. Please comment freely on any post that you read here in the Electronic Village.

If you have any questions, or want to promote your blog then you can do this here! Just leave a 'comment' to this post.

Women of Farchana Camp (video)

noreply@blogger.com (Villager) — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 14:30:00 +0000

Soulclap to Save Darfur folks for pointing us to the Women of Farchana Camp in Eastern Chad, all of whom fled the violence in Darfur. The Farchana Manifesto was written by displaced Darfuri women and given to a Physician for Human Rights team in June of 2008. These women - who have lost so much due to the conflict in Darfur - demand freedom and equality not only for themselves, but for women all around the world.

I encourage all villagers to read The Farchana Manifesto and share it with your friends and family over this holiday season. We hope that you will read their words and be inspired to make their dream a reality.

Sunday Inspirations: A Legend in Your Own Mind

noreply@blogger.com (Villager) — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 15:30:00 +0000

Originally posted: 11/30/2008

"For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith." -- (Romans 12:3)

Do you want to know one of the secrets of staying in the will of God, of keeping yourself from getting off track? Don't overestimate yourself! Proverbs 16:18 says, "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall." How many times have we seen that borne out! How many times do we see believers get into trouble because they get an overblown idea of themselves. They begin to think they're so smart that they have it all figured out. This is a part of the scripture that I wish I paid more attention to over the years. Much of my life has been destroyed because of the false pride that resided in my soul.

Then, the next thing you know, they're thinking they have to straighten everyone else out. Instead of just letting Jesus be Head of the Church, they feel like they have to step in and do the job. Once that happens, it's just a matter of time before they're flat on their faces in failure. Why? Because the Bible says God resists the proud! (1 Pet. 5:5).

Don't put yourself in a position where God has to resist you. Rate your own abilities soberly. Adopt an attitude of humility. Keep a watch on yourself, and when you catch yourself getting puffed up with your own greatness, repent and remember that every good thing you enjoy and every bit of success you've had has come by the grace of God and by His power. Look back on your life and see how many times you could have lost what God had given you. See how many times, when you were floundering around making every mistake imaginable, His tender and precious mercy pulled you through.

Don't become a legend in your own mind. Instead, humble yourself beneath the mighty hand of God, and let God do the exalting--that prevents some very painful falls.

Anything in this post remind you of yourself at some point in your past?

Twilight Zone: Tasers and Sutphin

noreply@blogger.com (Villager) — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 14:45:00 +0000

This blog has been following taser-related deaths over the past year. Here is an oddity that we offer for your consideration.

Sutphin is not a common name. Ancestry.com tells us that Sutphin is the Americanized spelling of Dutch van Zutphen, a habitational name for someone from Zutphen in the province of Gelderland.

Anyhow, Sutphin has come up three times in recent taser-related stories:

19-year old Frank Cleo Sutphin was killed by taser guns in San Bernadino, CA.

Marsha Sutphin was one of five Lee County deputies investigated for firing taser guns while prison inmates were in the area. Two of the deputies have been fired for lying during the investigation.

43-year old Darryl Bain was killed by taser guns in Coram, NY. The memorial service for Bain was held at David Williams Funeral Home, 108-20 Sutphin Blvd. in Jamaica, Queens.

I don't know the full significance of this Sutphin-Taser trilogy. I'm open to hearing your interpretation. What say u?