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Angela Davis, Danny Glover and other activists demand justice for Jussie Smollet

Activists have come together to stand in solidarity and demand justice for Jussie Smollett writing a letter saying the actor is at the center of a smear campaign.

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Jussie Smollett was sentenced
Jussie Smollett at the PaleyFest Los Angeles 2016, By Dominick D

Entertainers and activists have come together to stand in solidarity and demand justice for Jussie Smollett.

Activists come together for Jussie Smollett

In an intricate open letter, the collective says Smollett is the target of a smear campaign.

“Jussie faces false charges of felony disorderly conduct and is still being forced to fight back against a relentless and vicious smear campaign initiated by the Chicago Police Department and uncritically disseminated by the media. We believe Jussie, not the CPD”, says the letter.

Smollett accused of lying

In January of 2019, Smollett was at the center of a high-profile incident when he claimed to be the target of a racist and homophobic attack in Chicago. Smollett told police that his attackers yelled “this is MAGA country” as they put a noose around his neck and poured a chemical substance on him.

A month later, Smollett was arrested and later charged by the Chicago police department for providing false information.

A grand jury indicted the actor on 16 felony charges, all of which were dropped in exchange for him forfeiting his $10,000 bond and agreeing to two days of community service.

In the detailed opinion letter originally published on TheGrio, activists assert the Chicago police and prosecutors “continue to expend precious public resources to cover up a hate crime and renew their fabricated case against Jussie Smollett”.

Read the letter below:
We, the undersigned, appeal to you to join us as we stand in solidarity with artist and activist Jussie Smollett.

As we focus on keeping our loved ones and those most socially vulnerable safe and healthy during these times of COVID-19 and of White nationalism in the White House, we remain painfully aware of the police crimes that continue to plague our communities, having claimed precious lives in the last months.

At a time when the people of Chicago are demanding community control of the police and when our movement for Black Lives demands that police be defunded and demilitarized, Chicago police and prosecutors continue to expend precious public resources to cover up a hate crime and renew their fabricated case against Jussie Smollett.

Jussie faces false charges of felony disorderly conduct and is still being forced to fight back against a relentless and vicious smear campaign initiated by the Chicago Police Department and uncritically disseminated by the media.

We believe Jussie, not the CPD.

An actor who broke new ground as a leading Black gay character in the award-winning TV show Empire, Jussie has always been active in social justice movements, especially against police terror, homophobia, environmental injustice and global poverty.

Over the years he has offered generous support to HIV/AIDS organizations and to Historically Black Colleges and Universities. During the 2018 midterm elections, Jussie personally campaigned and used his social media platforms to urge support for anti-Trump candidates. As a result, he was hit with a barrage of attacks, including overtly racist and homophobic threats.

In January 2019, Jussie received a death threat with the return address “MAGA” and an image of a noosed figure hanging from a tree. Just one week later, on Jan. 29, Jussie was physically assaulted by two masked men who noosed him, shouted homophobic epithets, and yelled “This [is] MAGA country n***!”

The CPD investigated but refused to make public any of their findings that corroborated Jussie’s account of the attack. For example, a security guard at a Sheraton Hotel near Jussie’s apartment saw two masked men running by, one “a white male in his 20s.”

A neighbor saw a White man with a rope hanging from his pocket waiting outside Jussie’s apartment. Outrageously, police concealed these eyewitness statements that are in the police reports. In addition, CPD claims that a motion-activated video camera turned off just as the attack on Smollett began. They then concocted a media narrative to spread deception.

Even some of us who are aware of the history of racism and repression linked to the Chicago Police Department failed to question this narrative. We ask why so many were so quick to believe the CPD.

The department is legendary for its history of racial terror and cover-up — from the assassination of Fred Hampton in 1969 to the murder of Laquan MacDonald in 2014 and the torture of over one hundred Black men over the last decades, leading to the passage of the 2015 Reparations for Burge Torture Victims ordinance by the Chicago City Council.

Many allegations have been made against the very officers who investigated Jussie’s case, charging cover-up, hate speech, false arrest, excessive force, and torture. What’s more, former CPD Superintendent Eddie Johnson, who led the Smollett investigation and made several national media appearances, was later fired for lying and other unethical acts.

In face of felony charges that he staged the attack, Jussie has never wavered in his description of what occurred. The main evidence proffered by CPD in support of the charges is the coerced statement of brothers Abel and OIa Osundairo. Abel had been employed by Jussie as his personal trainer. Ola, known to Chicago police through an unrelated case, had previously faced charges of attempted murder but pled to a lesser charge.

When investigating Jussie’s case, CPD searched the brothers’ apartment and claimed to turn up a cache of illegal arms and drugs. Police detained the brothers, giving them 48 hours — the maximum police may hold suspects without charge — to confess or implicate Jussie.

Initially, they refused. But after 47 hours of detention and high-pressure interrogation, the brothers relented. Unsurprisingly, after co-operating and incriminating Jussie, they were released without charges.

The CPD claim that Jussie staged the hate crime to boost his salary was repudiated by FOX executives. Actually, gaining ever-greater prominence, Jussie was in high demand for new projects, including starring in a new Broadway production, directing Empire episodes, and starring in two feature films.

The CPD never had the evidence to prove that Jussie falsified his account, leading them to manufacture dubious and unsupported claims and motives. Seeing the writing on the wall, in March 2019, the State’s Attorney dismissed all charges.

But the hounding didn’t stop. In February 2020, special prosecutor Dan Webb re-indicted Jussie. This relentless political persecution has been fodder for statements from the highest echelons of power: Trump denounced Jussie during 11 of 16 campaign stops in 2019, equating the hate crime with impeachment, both “scams.”

The Trump administration continued to slander Jussie with the early July 2020 false announcement that the noose found in Black race car driver Bubba Wallace‘s garage was “a hoax” just as Jussie Smollett’s claim he was a victim of a hate crime was “a hoax.”

We believe this case is being used to distract us from the countless acts of racial injustice perpetrated by police against Black people and LBGTQ people and particularly in the wake of the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Jacob Blake and many others.

We’ve seen this before. We stand with Jussie and all persons targeted by hate crimes, police misconduct, and the Trump administration. Please join us. Let us vindicate Jussie Smollett and all those subjected to state-sanctioned violence and repression.

Signed,

Melina Abdullah, Academic, Co-founder of Black Lives Matter, Los Angeles

Gina Belafonte, Activist, Artist, Executive Director, Sankofa.org

Gwen Carr, Activist, Mother of Eric Garner

Angela Y. Davis, Activist, Academic, Author

Fania E. Davis, Activist, Civil Rights Attorney, Restorative Justice Practitioner

Gina Dent, Activist, Academic

Danny Glover, Activist, Actor

LisaGay Hamilton, Activist, Actress

Ericka Huggins, Activist, Educator, former Black Panther Party Leader

Robin D.G. Kelley, Activist, Academic, Author

Tiq Milan, Activist, Author


Angela Robinson
, Film and TV Director

Linda Sarsour, Activist, Co-chair of 2017 Women’s March


What you can do:

Share this public statement on social media

Sign the petition to drop the charges http://chng.it/RqDLBDsqzr

Visit website: https://thejussiesmollettcase.wordpress.com/

Additional info: infosiesmollettcase@gmail.com


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Unheard Voices is an award-winning news magazine that started in 2004 as a local Black newsletter in the Asbury Park, Neptune, and Long Branch, NJ areas to now broaden into a recognized Black online media outlet. They are the recipient of the NAACP Unsung Hero Award and CV Magazine's Innovator Award for Best Social Justice Communications Company.

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Opinions

Irene Cara You Will Be Missed!

I was sad to find out that Irene Cara had passed away. She was a terrific singer.

David Wronko

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Irene Cara
Irene Cara (Fair Use Image)

I was sad to find out that Irene Cara had passed away. She was a terrific singer.

What A Feeling

When I was down and depressed her song, Flashdance…What A Feeling, always picked me right up. For instance, when I had unfortunate passings in my family plus a very bad injury to my neck, hearing her song on the radio uplifted my spirits. In What A Feeling, her words and the background heart throbbing music made you feel alive after a very dark depressing time.

I remember when I was a kid, my mother and sisters would listen to What A Feeling and silly me would imitate Jennifer Beals dance moves from the movie Flashdance. That came to a quick end when I knocked over a lamp in the living room.

Irene Cara passed away but her legacy lives on forever

PS: But anyway, Irene Cara’s passing is very sad but her spirit and music will live on for generations to come.

 


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Jussie Smollett believes race played a factor in jail sentence

Smollett was sentenced to 150 days in Cook County Jail.

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Jussie Smollett was sentenced
PaleyFest Los Angeles 2016, By Dominick D

Jussie Smollett was sentenced on Friday, March 11, for allegedly faking a hate crime. The entertainer and activist was sentenced to 150 days in a Chicago jail and Smollett believes the sentence was racially motivated.

Jussie Smollett sentenced

Smollett, 39, told his defense team before sentencing that he expected jail time and believed he’d be treated more harshly for the non-violent low level offense than others convicted of similar crimes due to the color of his skin, sources told TMZ.

For Smollett, it just might be further evidence of systematic racism within the judicial system.

He reportedly told his team he was “dead on” in predicting the outcome, calling it “unfortunate” and “sad.”

Despite testimony from his 92-year-old grandmother, his siblings, letters from a multitude of prominent organizations and celebrities asking the judge to show leniency, Smollett was sentenced to jail as he predicted.

Aside from 150 days in Cook County Jail, Judge James Linn sentenced Smollett to pay $120,000 in restitution, $25,000 in fines and 30 months on probation.

Maintaining his innocence

Smollett has always maintained his innocence and after sentencing, he again vehemently denied his involvement in the crime he’s accused of.

“I’m innocent … I’m not suicidal”, Smollett said, walking handcuffed with a fist in the air.

Post sentencing, the Smollett family and attorneys held a brief press conference expressing their disappointment and disdain over the sentence. Smollett’s grandmother, 92-year-old Molly Smollett, said reporters need to do better investigative journalism suggesting there are pieces to the puzzle the media missed. A sentiment shared by the family.

Was Smollett set up?

Was Smollett the subject of a modern day lynching? Though the exact words didn’t come out their mouths, the Smollett family seems to believe so.

Jojo and Jocqui Smollett were on Roland Martin Unfiltered on Friday, speaking with the journalist about the case and Jussie’s sentence.

“The only proof they have are two brothers saying my brother told them to do it”, said JoJo, Jussie’s older brother.

Watch the interview on YouTube.

To say the least, the Smolletts and defense attorneys believe the evidence was merely hearsay. They believe the word of two brothers, who they said had a history of homopobia and was jealous of Jussie, shouldn’t have held in court.

Chicago prosecutors said they have “overwhelming evidence” that Smollett orchestrated the attack because he received a homophobic letter and his employer didn’t take it seriously.

The “overwhelming evidence” was:

– the Osundairo brothers saying Jussie Smollett told them to do it

– surveillance video of them buying the items

– surveillance video of them driving in the area of the attack four days before

– Uber data that the Osundairo brothers were in the area at the time of the attack

– a $3,500 check for “services” rendered

– Smollett tying the noose tighter

– Smollett failing to hand over his cellphone

Prosecutors say Smollett didn’t intend on the brothers getting caught and just wanted to bring attention to hate crimes given the climate in America and the hate mail he received.

Smollett’s attorneys say there was too much reasonable doubt calling the Osundairo brothers “sophisticated liars”, are “the worst type of criminals” and are very smart.

Did jury convict on hearsay?

Chicago prosecutors didn’t show any correspondence (text messages, emails, voicemail) of the three orchestrating the alleged hate crime, there is no true validation the $3,500 check was for the alleged crime, or validation they were planning the attack when they were seen on surveillance driving in the area four days before.

There is, however, a gray area and that is, how did the Osundairo brothers know Smollett would be in the area to carry out the attack late at night in the bitter cold?

Judge Linn called Smollett a narcissistic who doubled down after the case was initially dismissed and he only had to pay $10,000 in restitution and do community service. Smollett intended to sue the Chicago police department and prosecutors. The suit was dismissed and then a special prosecutor was asked to look into the case. New charges emerged.

Needless to say, Smollett’s attorneys will be filing appeals. Attorneys filed a motion to have the sentenced stayed as it’s being appealed. Judge Linn denied those motions and Smollett was hauled off to jail.

Recently, former Kansas City police detective Eric Devalkenaere was convicted of murdering a Black man in his own driveway. He was sentenced to 6 years but gets to remain free while he appeals his sentence. Smollett went to jail immediately for a class 4 low level felony.

Maybe Mr. Smollett is right about the judicial system.

It also leads me to question why he would spend thousands of dollars on his defense, try to sue, when he essentially got away with it the first time?

He doubled down. Which makes me believe he is either unhinged or just maybe he’s actually innocent.


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Culture

Things on my mind part 3

The first thing on my mind is the Women’s Army Corps’ all-Black 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion is finally getting recognition.

David Wronko

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Zaila Avant-garde

The first thing on my mind is the Women’s Army Corps’ all-Black 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion is finally getting recognition for the job they have done during World War II.

on my mind

Image was from U.S. Army Center of Military History

It is incredible that their work only got recognition now and not immediately after World War II. These women should always be remembered for their service. For instance, because of these women and their strong dedication, they made sure that members of the United States Government personnel, military, and workers of the Red Cross received their mail and packages. There was a point in time that the mail and packages were not leaving the warehouses because of the dangers of war. The mail was stacked to the ceiling. However, the 6888th overcame all dangers. The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion from the U.S. Army Center of Military History states “the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion produced great results in Birmingham: With the new tracking system they created, the women processed an average of 65,000 pieces of mail per shift and cleared the six-month backlog of mail in three months. The women adhered to the motto of, ‘No mail, low morale,’ providing essential support for the U.S. military in the European theater by linking servicemembers to their loved ones back home. They achieved unprecedented success and efficiency in solving the military’s postal problems.” In closing, these women had to deal with Nazi attacks from U-boats and on-going war explosions. Their work they have done for the United States should never be forgotten.

 

Members-awards-combat-369th-Infantry-Regiment-gallantry

Harlem Hellfighters) posing with their awards for gallantry in combat.
National Archives, Washington, D.C. (533492)

The next thing on my mind is that the Harlem Hellfighters are finally getting the recognition that they deserve. This incredible unit were engaged in combat longer than any American unit during World War One. Now in 2021, the Harlem Hellfighters are finally recognized for their efforts of keeping the United States safe from ever being taken over by an aggressive foreign power. Their recognition is way overdue and it is about time that history takes more of a look of what many great African Americans have done to sustain and build the United States of America.

 

Miracle 2 and Miracle 3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A Thing Mu (Image is from the Boston Globe)

Another thing on my mind is the Olympics of 2021 in Tokyo. One athlete very close to home that stands out is Athing Mu. This New Jersey superstar from Trenton dominated her competition in the summer games.

By dominating her competition, she made history by becoming the first American woman to come first in the 800-meter race in over fifty years.

She is a great inspiration and role model for all young women in the U.S.

Her dedication to the sport and to make history with her gold medal win only will inspire more Olympians to step forward. Trenton’s Athing Mu wins gold in 800 meters at Tokyo Olympics | Video | NJ Spotlight News

Miracle 2 and Miracle 3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Image is from Kenosha News

Besides Athing Mu, another Olympic champion that is on my mind is Lee Kiefer. Fencing is to me a very interesting sport that apparently takes great concentration and skill to defeat your opponent. To Kiefer’s credit she defeated Inna Deriglazova, the defending champion from Russia. It has been a while since someone from the United States won a gold medal in fencing. However, Lee Kiefer made sure the U.S. did not have to wait any longer. Lee Kiefer wins USA’s first-ever gold medal in individual foil | Tokyo Olympics | NBC Sports – YouTube

anastasija zolotic

Anastasija Zolotic (Photo Source: Sports Illustrated)

Image is from Sports Illustrated 

Another great Olympic athlete on my mind is Anastasija Zolotic. Anastasija Zolotic in my opinion displayed awesome skill in her sport of taekwondo. The way she was able to move her legs and her body to score points was incredible. The flexibility to participate in that sport is a very big must. She will be another athlete history will remember for being the first woman to win a gold medal in this sport. Way to go Anastasija Zolotic. Olympic gold medalist Anastasija Zolotic greeted with cheers, applause – YouTube

Zaila Avant-garde

Zaila Avant-garde, 14, from New Orleans, Louisiana, holds the trophy after winning the 2021 Scripps National Spelling Bee Finals at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, U.S. July 8, 2021. REUTERS/Joe Skipper

Image is from PBS

On to another topic that is on my mind which is the National Spelling Bee. At one point in my life I was a great speller. Today as I get older, I have a tough time spelling things. That is why I use spell check. Anyway, the National Spelling Bee is in my opinion one of the toughest educational competitions that kids participate in. That is why my hat is off to Zaila Avant-garde. She not only became the first Black American to win the National Spelling Bee championship but also a very dedicated hard worker. To spend countless hours of studying and memorizing these challenging words to spell only says that Zaila Avant-garde will have a very bright future. Way to go!

The next thing on my mind are my students Ja’Shawn Gadson, Jose Jordan, and Luis Martinez Martinez who got their art work published in Prehistoric Times Magazine issue 138. Good job to all my students and to my students who participated in the Robert Rines analysis of the underwater Loch Ness Monster photograph which was also published. Artwork and project done at Asbury Park High School, Asbury Park New Jersey.

Spider Man

Image is from Spider-Man Films Wiki – Fandom

Furthermore, another thing on my mind is Michael Clarke Duncan’s Kingpin in the movie Daredevil. It is very unfortunate that Michael Clarke Duncan passed away. He was a great actor. He will be missed. It would have been great to see him reprise his role as the Kingpin for a sequel to the Daredevil movie starring Ben Affleck. In Daredevil Michael Clarke Duncan made a huge presence on the screen. From his size to being feared, I thought he did a good job playing this Marvel Comics character. At the end of the movie, he discovered who Daredevil was and promised to make his life a living nightmare once he gets out of prison. Unfortunately, the sequel to the ending of Daredevil will not be made. It is in a forever cliffhanger and left up to our imagination. Hopefully in Heaven, Michael Clarke Duncan is making the sequel.

Things on my mind part 3: Women's Army Corps' all-Black 6888th, Harlem Hellfighters, Athing Mu, Lee Kiefer, Anastasija Zolotic, Zaila Avant-garde, students artwork and project in Prehistoric Times Magazine, Michael Clarke Duncan, Apollo Creed, The Rise of Skywalker, Mandalorian,Boba Fett, Altered Beast!

Another thing on my mind is Apollo Creed from the Rocky film series. The one thing that played on my mind was what made Apollo Creed change his mind about giving Rocky a rematch. At the end of the first Rocky, Apollo told Rocky there will be no rematch. Rocky replied something to “I don’t want one.” However, in Rocky II, Apollo caught up with Rocky in the hospital and told him “I am going to give you a second shot.” What I think happened in my opinion is that when Apollo left the ring after the first fight with Rocky, he was heckled. The crowd screaming at him that he could not finish off a club fighter, you’re a disgrace. I think by being heckled that is why Apollo then demanded Rocky face him again. The last thing on my mind about Apollo Creed is would he have fought Clubber Lang if Rocky lost to Lang. In Rocky III, there was a high chance Rocky was going to lose to Clubber Lang yet again. If that happened would Apollo have come out of retirement to take on Lang? If he did that what would happen? I think if Apollo came out of retirement, I think he may have beaten Lang but by decision.

Besides the Rocky film series, another thing on my mind is the biggest mistake in The Rise of Skywalker. The huge mistake in The Rise of Skywalker was brining back the Emperor. Why did they do that? They should have made Kylo Ren the head of the First Order. Not only should he have been made the leader of the First Order but also take on the role of his grandfather by creating a Darth Vader helmet. That would have been cool, having Kylo Ren wearing a Darth Vader helmet to honor his grandfather. They should have made Kylo Ren into a new more powerful Darth Vader. Then it would have shown how Darth Vader from the past could have been in control of the Empire.
Things on my mind part 3: Women's Army Corps' all-Black 6888th, Harlem Hellfighters, Athing Mu, Lee Kiefer, Anastasija Zolotic, Zaila Avant-garde, students artwork and project in Prehistoric Times Magazine, Michael Clarke Duncan, Apollo Creed, The Rise of Skywalker, Mandalorian,Boba Fett, Altered Beast!
In addition to The Rise of Skywalker, another thing on my mind is that the Mandalorian series did something really cool. What it did was showed who Boba Fett really was.

As it turned out, Boba Fett was really not a bad guy or a good guy. Instead, he was a person who showed loyalty to who was paying him. That was it. What was cool was that he worked for Darth Vader and the Empire and then showed allegiance to the Mandalorian character who was more of a good guy.

Commercial Break: King Komodo created by Todd Tennant takes on Predator, Terminator, and Alien

 

Things on my mind part 3: Women's Army Corps' all-Black 6888th, Harlem Hellfighters, Athing Mu, Lee Kiefer, Anastasija Zolotic, Zaila Avant-garde, students artwork and project in Prehistoric Times Magazine, Michael Clarke Duncan, Apollo Creed, The Rise of Skywalker, Mandalorian,Boba Fett, Altered Beast!

The next thing on my mind is the video game from Sega Genesis called Altered Beast.

Recently a friend of my mine got a small version of the Sega Genesis system which has many games on it.

One of those games is Altered Beast. I tried the game out for the first time and it reminded me of the television show Manimal.

On this show the hero changes into a panther, hawk, cobra, etc. to help solve crimes. In the game Altered Best, the hero can change into a werewolf, dragon, a bear, and tiger. Very entertaining if you have nothing to do on a hot Saturday night. See Manimal transformation: Manimal (panther transformation sequence) – YouTube


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