Feuer frei auf Afro-Amerikaner in New Orleans

Die Petition, in der eine Strafverfolgung gefordert wird, kann man hier unterschreiben: klick

Kein Rassismus in den USA? Wie wär's mit diesem Justiz-Beispiel

via colorofchange.org

The so-called "war on drugs" has created a national disaster: 1 in 9 young Black men in America are now behind bars.¹ It's not because they commit more crime but largely because of unfair sentencing rules that treat 5 grams of crack cocaine, the kind found in poor Black communities, the same as 500 grams of powder cocaine², the kind found in White and wealthier communities.

These sentencing laws are destroying communities across the country and have done almost nothing to reduce the level of drug use and crime.

Senator Joe Biden is one of the original creators of these laws and is now trying to fix the problem.³ But some of his colleagues on the Senate Judiciary Committee are standing in the way. Join us in telling them to stand with Joe Biden and undo this disaster once and for all:

http://colorofchange.org/crackpowder

At every step in the criminal justice system, Black people are at a disadvantage -- we are more likely to be arrested, charged, and convicted, but less likely to have access to good legal representation, and get out of prison on parole.⁴ While there's no denying that the presence of crack has a hugely negative impact in Black communities across the country, it's clear that the overly harsh crack sentencing laws have done more to feed the broken system than improve our communities.

You have to be convicted of moving roughly $500,000 worth of cocaine to trigger a 5-year sentence.⁵ For crack? About $500 worth.⁶ These laws punish the lowest-level dealers, while providing a loophole that helps those running the trade escape harsh sentences.

Recently, attention has turned to these ill-conceived policies as prisons burst at the seams with non-violent drug offenders. The U.S. Sentencing Commission, which provides sentencing guidelines for judges, has petitioned Congress numerous times to change the sentencing laws.⁷ Senator Biden was actually one of the original architects of the disparity, but now he's working to undo the damage with a new bill in Congress (Senate bill 1711). The new law will completely eliminate the sentencing disparity and end the mandatory minimum for crack possession, while increasing funding for drug treatment programs and providing additional resources for investigating and prosecuting major cocaine kingpins.⁸

But of course, there are foes of this plan. Others want to see the disparity reduced to 20-to-1 or 10-to-1, but not eliminated. As Bill Piper of the Drug Policy Alliance recently said, that "would be like amending the Constitution's three-fifths clause to make African-Americans fourth-fifths citizens or desegregating 60 percent of public establishments instead of all of them."⁹ Senators on the Judiciary Committee need to hear that there is strong support for a full elimination of the disparity.

We can take this opportunity to join the Sentencing Commission and countless other advocates in calling on Congress to change this unjust law. Please join us:

http://colorofchange.org/crackpowder/

Thank You and Peace,

-- James, Van, Gabriel, Clarissa, Mervyn, Andre, and the rest of the ColorOfChange.org team
March 26th, 2008

References:

1. "1 in 100 U.S. Adults Behind Bars, New Study Says," New York Times, 02-28-08
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/28/us/28cnd-prison.html

2. "Crack/Cocaine Sentencing Disparity," Drug Policy Alliance
http://www.drugpolicy.org/drugwar/mandatorymin/crackpowder.cfm

3. "Legislative Proposals for Reform of the Crack/Cocaine Disparity," Drug Policy Alliance, 09-07-07
http://www.drugpolicy.org/library/factsheets/raceandthedr/crack_cocaine.cfm

4. "Annotated Bibliography: Racial Disparities in the Criminal Justice System," Sentencing Project
http://tinyurl.com/297waj

5. "Cocaine Price/Purity Analysis of STRIDE Data," Drug Enforcement Agency
http://www.dea.gov/concern/cocaine_prices_purity.html

6. "Cocaine Addiction," Dual Diagnosis Treatment Center
http://www.dual-diagnosis-treatment-center.com/cocaine-addiction.html

7. "BIDEN Calls for an End to Crack/Powder Cocaine Sentencing Disparity," Biden for Senate, 02-13-08
http://tinyurl.com/2bb959

8. See reference 3.

9. "Congress to Hold Historic Hearing

Petition von "Color of Change"

Last fall in Jena, Louisiana, the day after two Black high school students sat beneath the "white tree" on their campus, nooses were hung from the tree. When the superintendent dismissed the nooses as a "prank," more Black students sat under the tree in protest. The District Attorney then came to the school accompanied by the town's police and demanded that the students end their protest, telling them, "I can be your best friend or your worst enemy... I can take away your lives with a stroke of my pen."1

A series of white-on-black incidents of violence followed, and the DA did nothing. But when a white student was beaten up in a schoolyard fight, the DA responded by charging six black students with attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

It's a story that reads like one from the Jim Crow era, when judges, lawyers and all-white juries used the justice system to keep blacks in "their place"--but it's happening today. The families of these young men are fighting back, but the odds are stacked against them. Together, we can make sure their story is told, that this becomes an issue for the Governor of Louisiana, and that justice is provided for the Jena 6. It starts now. Please add your voice:

http://www.colorofchange.org/jena/?id=2497-147814

The noose-hanging incident and the DA's visit to the school set the stage for everything that followed. Racial tension escalated over the next couple of months, and on November 30, the main academic building of Jena High School was burned down in an unsolved fire. Later the same weekend, a black student was beaten up by white students at a party. The next day, black students at a convenience store were threatened by a young white man with a shotgun. They wrestled the gun from him and ran away. While no charges were filed against the white man, the students were arrested for the theft of the gun.2

That Monday at school, a white student, who had been a vocal supporter of the students who hung the nooses, taunted the black student who was beaten up at the off-campus party and allegedly called several black students "nigger." After lunch, he was knocked down, punched and kicked by black students. He was taken to the hospital but was released and was well enough to go to a social event that evening.3

Six Black Jena High students, Robert Bailey (17), Theo Shaw (17), Carwin Jones (18), Bryant Purvis (17), Mychal Bell (16) and an unidentified minor, were expelled from school, arrested and charged with second-degree attempted murder. Bail was set so high -- between $70,000 and $138,000 -- that the boys were left in prison for months as families went deep into debt to release them.4

The first trial ended last month, and Mychal Bell, who has been in prison since December, was convicted of aggravated battery and conspiracy to commit aggravated battery (both felonies) by an all-white jury in a trial where his public defender called no witnesses. During his trial, Mychal's parents were ordered not to speak to the media and the court prohibited protests from taking place near the courtroom or where the judge could see them.

Mychal is scheduled to be sentenced on July 31st, and could go to jail for 22 years.5 Theo Shaw's trial is next. He will finally make bail this week.

The Jena Six are lucky to have parents and loved ones who are fighting tooth and nail to free them. They have been threatened but they are standing strong. We know that if the families have to go it alone, their sons will be a long time coming home. They will lose precious years to Jena's outrageous attempt to maintain a racist status quo. But if we act now, we can make a difference.

Please add your voice to the voices of these families in Jena, and help bring Mychal, Theo, Robert, Carwin, and Bryant home. By clicking below, you can demand that Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco get involved to make sure that justice is served for Mychal Bell, and that DA Reed Walters drop the charges against the 5 boys who have not yet gone to trial.

http://www.colorofchange.org/jena/?id=2497-147814

References:

1. "Injustice in Jena as Nooses Hang From the ‘White Tree,'" truthout, July 3, 2007
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/070307B.shtml

2. "Racial demons rear heads," Chicago Tribune, May 20, 2007
http://tinyurl.com/yvh7t5

3. See reference #1.

4. See reference #1.

5. "'Jena Six' defendant convicted," Town Talk, June 29, 2007
http://tinyurl.com/ysxtgg

Other resources:

NPR: Searching for Justice in Jena 6 Case (streaming audio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=11756302

Democracy Now! - The case of the Jena Six ...
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=07/07/10/1413220

Too Sense: Free The Jena Six Now
http://halfricanrevolution.blogspot.com/2007/07/free-jena-six-now.html

While Seated: Jena Six
http://www.whileseated.org/photo/003244.shtml

Nooses, attacks and jail for black students in Jena Louisiana
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/6/28/144445/384

Justice In Jena, by Jordan Flaherty
http://www.zmag.org/content/print_article.cfm?itemID=12783&sectionID=30

The Perpetrator becomes the Prosecutor (and other related entries)
http://friendsofjustice.wordpress.com/blog/

'Stealth racism' stalks deep South
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/this_world/6685441.stm

Brothers Keepers Petition gegen Aggro Berlin!

Zur Erklärung braucht es nicht viele eigene Worte, auf BrothersKeepers findet Ihr unter Anderem folgende:

Wanna B Tight? - Then you better get it right!

Exemplarisch lässt sich diese Gesamtproblematik an der jüngsten Veröffentlichung aus dem Hause Aggro-Berlin/Groove Attack illustrieren: das Album „Neger Neger“ des afrodeutschen Rappers B-Tight (aka Bobby Dick). Seit der Veröffentlichung des Albums kleben überall in deutschen Großstädten Werbe-Sticker mit der Aufschrift „Neger Neger“ – offensichtlich wenig kreative Auswüchse einer Werbekampagne, die Aufmerksamkeit erregen will und dabei keine Grenzen kennt.

Sowohl der Albumtitel als auch die Liedtexte (Bsp.: „Wer rammt immer noch sein Penis in dein Loch, sag mir wer ist immer straff? Der Neger Neger!“) und die Werbekampagne sind nicht hinnehmbar. Das Wort „Neger“ (in Folge N-Wort genannt) ist eine rassistische Beleidigung. Wir lehnen die Verwendung des N-Wortes, egal ob als Fremd- oder Selbstbezeichnung, ab – genauso wie jegliches sadistisch-sexistisches Vokabular.

Das N-Wort steht für die Herabwürdigung und Entmenschlichung Schwarzer Menschen. Dies zeigt sich sowohl in der deutschen Geschichte (Sklaverei, Kolonialismus, Genozid, Zwangssterilisierung, Ermordung in Konzentrationslagern) als auch in der deutschen Gegenwart. So sangen die faschistischen Mörder von Alberto Adriano das kolonialrassistische deutsche Kinderlied „Zehn kleine Negerlein“, während sie den mehrfachen Familienvater feige und brutal zu Tode traten. Zudem bedient sich die rechtsextreme Polit-Szene allzu gerne des N-Wortes, wie die jüngsten Aussagen über „arrogante Wohlstandsneger“ des NPD-Fraktionschefs, Holger Apfel, im Sächsischen Landtag zeigen.

Die Auswirkungen rassistischer und sexistischer Gewalt durch Sprache dürfen nicht unterschätzt werden, ihre Verbreitung über Tonträger und Medien lässt sich nicht durch die viel zitierte künstlerische Freiheit rechtfertigen. Es geht hier nicht um formelhafte Political Correctness, sondern um R-E-S-P-E-K-T und um Verantwortung. B-Tight repräsentiert in keiner Weise die Schwarze Community in Deutschland, sondern allein seine eigenen gewinnmaximierenden Interessen und die seines Labels Aggro Berlin. Seine Sprachwahl und Herkunft können und dürfen nicht herangezogen werden, um rassistische Begriffe zu legitimieren. Der Umgang mit Sprache reflektiert und kreiert natürlich das zwischenmenschlichen Klima innerhalb einer Gesellschaft und leistet der nach wie vor ausgeprägten verbalen und physischen Gewaltbereitschaft gegenüber Schwarzen Menschen in Deutschland Vorschub. Schon jetzt singen Jugendliche öffentlich – da sie weder von politischer, pädagogischer oder medialer Seite ausreichend Orientierungshilfen erhalten - Auszüge aus B-Tights Liedern und skandieren den Refrain. Letztlich führt die klischeehafte Selbstdarstellung B-Tights als sexbessener, perverser und hyperpotenter Schwarzer Vergewaltiger und Aufreißer zu einem ungehinderten Konsum frauenfeindlicher und vermeintlich „authentisch Schwarzer“ phallischer Phantasien. Rassismus und Sexismus werden so zur Ware für ein junges Publikum gemacht, das auch für die Bestätigung entsprechender Vorurteile zahlt.

Daher fordern wir:

• von dem Label Aggro Berlin ein Ende der Produktion und Vermarktung rassistischer und sexistischer Images und Inhalte sowie die sofortige Beendigung der Streetmarketing Kampagne zu "Neger Neger" und das Einstampfen noch vorhandener Sticker
• von dem Vertrieb Groove Attack die Einstellung des Vertriebs des B-Tight Albums "Neger Neger"
• von den Musiksendern einen Rotationsstop rassistisch und sexistisch motivierter Videoclips und von Magazinen, Zeitungen und Fanzines das Ende unreflektierter Berichterstattung und ungehemmten Profitschlagens aus Anzeigen, die mit der Beleidigung Schwarzer Menschen und der Herabwürdigung von Frauen werben
• ein Ende des Schweigens in der deutschen HipHop Community und der Musikindustrie, in der das Eintreten für Respekt und gegen Rassismus selbstverständlich sein sollte

Also bitte geht hin und unterzeichnet die Petition, damit diese Zumutung von B-Tight nicht mehr als Legtitimation für die Beschimpfung und Degradierung von Schwarzen Menschen genutzt werden kann!

Petition "Jack's Campaign"

Jack Monday Ikegwu, is a young gay asylum seeker currently detained at Colnbrook Removal Centre, who faces imminent removal to Nigeria on Monday 23rd of April on Virgin Atlantic flight VS651 to Lagos, Nigeria at 22.30hrs. Since his temporary release from detention last January, Jack has been has been active in fighting for and supporting migrants and asylum seeker in the UK with detainee support and other groups.

According to the law, religion and culture in Nigeria, homosexuality is strongly criminalised. Homosexuality is outlawed in the Nigerian penal code and Muslim law. However, in northern states under Muslim law the punishment can be death; in the civil penal code homosexuality can carry up to a 14-year prison sentence. The Nigerian authorities have issued a warrant for Jack’s arrest. Re-locating to a different region in Nigeria is not an option.
A new law forbids same-sex marriage and prohibits gay people from assembling and petitioning the government. It also allows prosecution of newspapers that publish information about same-sex relationships and religious groups that allow same-sex unions. Those who violate this law can be sentenced to five years in prison.
Jack had a relationship with the son of a local chief. On learning of this relationship, the family of his lover threatened to have him killed. They also went to the police, who issued a warrant for Jack’s arrest for homosexual activity and widely publicised this in Jack’s home area. The police came to Jack’s house looking for him.
Jack went into hiding, but was discovered by a group of men who recognised him. He was abducted and severely beaten and tortured for several hours. The men left Jack for dead, but having survived this ordeal, he sought to escape Nigeria with the help of other gay friends.
Jack came to the UK in February 2006 fleeing persecution in Nigeria. He applied for asylum, but was immediately put in immigration detention, even though he was under 18 years old. At the time Jack was unable to prove his age or the facts of his story and his asylum claim was refused. After 11 months in detention, Jack was granted bail on the strength of a report from a medical expert from the Helen Bamber Foundation, which provided evidence that Jack has scars and other injuries consistent with his experience of torture.
Jack’s solicitor has obtained an authenticated copy of Jack’s arrest warrant from the Nigerian authorities. Together with the expert medical report and other supporting materials this substantial new evidence that has not yet been considered by the Home Office. Jack’s solicitor was in the process of submitting a Fresh Claim for Asylum when Jack was re- arrested last Wednesday 19th April.
Jack's removal to Nigeria will undoubtedly place him at risk of persecution and will lead to the abuse of his human rights. I ask you act to help Jack have the chance to appeal his refused application and submit this new evidence.

*All further info, suggestions for action, model letters and contact information for the home office, MPs and airline can be found here: **http://jackcampaign.pbwiki.com/*

Links of the Day / Links des Tages

- "Nur ein dummer Spruch, kein Rassismus": eines der vielen Beispiele dafür, wie rassistische Verhaltensweisen und Aussprüche auch vor Gericht relativiert werden und der Fokus ganz schnell auf dem Täter und seinen Beweggründen liegt, während der Adressat und dessen Gefühle nicht weiter von Belang sind.

- "Rassismus nimmt neue Formen an": Zum Tag gegen Rassismus (21.03.) tatsächlich ein guter Artikel, der Dinge, die wir permanent sagen, tatsächlich klar und kritisch anspricht. Ja, es gibt Rassismus in Deutschland, ja, er wird tabuisiert und dadurch verfestigt, ja, in Deutschland verweigert man sich einer Auseinandersetzung und der Erstellung eines Aktionsplanes und nein, Fremdenfeindlichkeit, Ausländerfeindlichkeit und Rassismus sind nicht das gleiche! ja, Möglichkeiten des Empowerments für Menschen, die Opfer von Rassismus werden, müssen geschaffen werden. Danke!

- "Black Immigrants collect most college degrees": In den USA wurden Asian-Americans in den letzten Jahren als "Model Minority" betrachtet, weil prozentual so viele von ihnen u.a. akademische Abschlüsse erwerben. Nun hat eine "Gruppe " alle anderen (inklusive der weißen) eingeholt: Immigranten vom afrikanischen Kontinent!

- FOX ATTACKKKS: Initiative, die sich gegen die einseitige - oder nennen wir das Kind mal beim Namen - rassistische Berichterstattung bei Fox News gegenüber Schwarzen und explizit gegen Barack Obama wendet. Mit Petition auf der Seite. Hingehen!
Hier einer der Clips, mit dem sie versuchen, auf die Mechanismen aufmerksam zu machen:

Are we that different?

Petition: Arztbesuch für Illegalisierte

Kann leider nur noch bis zum 28.12. unterzeichnet werden. Also schnell hin, unterschreiben und/oder im zugehörigen Forum diskutieren.

Und, besser spät als nie, hier mein nachträglicher Weihnachts- bzw. aktueller Kwanzaa-Gruß: Victory-Dance