Mumia Abu-Jamal

[rhymenocerus]

not a RATM fan, i was originally turned on to the story by a freind, ya ive seen the pamphlets but also researched online, library, etc, i do realize material put out by left wing groups could easily be slanted, but if you look at the fbi's behavior in regard to the black panthers during the time period, a frame up certinly seems likely

[RebelRebel]

[ QUOTE ]
not a RATM fan, i was originally turned on to the story by a freind, ya ive seen the pamphlets but also researched online, library, etc, i do realize material put out by left wing groups could easily be slanted, but if you look at the fbi's behavior in regard to the black panthers during the time period, a frame up certinly seems likely

[/ QUOTE ]

"The FBI's behavior" wasn't unusual in the least. They knew these facts at the time:

The Panthers are militant
The Panthers are stockpiling guns
The Panthers are roving the streets
The Panthers are conflicting with local police

Using those facts, they began an investigation. I really hate to burst your bubble, but I've got the facts to back this statement up. The Panthers were a street gang, nothing more. The Panthers are no different than the Bloods or the Crips.

The fact that they've played race as an issue should not distract you.

The Panthers at that time were stockpiling arms, and involved in the drug trade. They are also involved in several murders. See Betty Van Patter for details.

The FBI did what the FBI does. They investigated, then began to attempt to infiltrate, what they considered to be a threat to American safety.

[rhymenocerus]

ok you make a valid point. Is it your belief that the FBI under J Edgar Hoover was only infiltrating groups that posed a legit safety threat? It is well known that they had infiltrated avowedly non-violent black rights groups in the south and had an extensive spying operation on Martin Luther King

[RebelRebel]

[ QUOTE ]
ok you make a valid point. Is it your belief that the FBI under J Edgar Hoover was only infiltrating groups that posed a legit safety threat? It is well known that they had infiltrated avowedly non-violent black rights groups in the south and had an extensive spying operation on Martin Luther King

[/ QUOTE ]

Why is that an issue? Of course the FBI infiltrated groups that were not a danger to America, they still are investigating people I don't believe to be a threat to America, namely Cindy Sheehan. I can't stand her POV, but she's no threat to America.

The Panthers, on the other hand, had a history of violence, drugs, and were stockpiling weapons, and not just "12 gauge Shotguns and .38 Revolvers" as they would like you to believe. Also, the FBI becomes very concerned whenever a group designate themselves the new "Police" for a community.

[Money2Burn]

[ QUOTE ]
ok you make a valid point. Is it your belief that the FBI under J Edgar Hoover was only infiltrating groups that posed a legit safety threat? It is well known that they had infiltrated avowedly non-violent black rights groups in the south and had an extensive spying operation on Martin Luther King

[/ QUOTE ]

Have you ever actually read COINTELPRO? The thing people that trumpet this as clear evidence of governmental racism don't ever mention is that J Edgar Hoover's FBI was targeting the KKK and neo-Nazi groups as well. The Blackpanthers were a much more influential group and percieved as a bigger threat.

EDIT:
The focus was to find out and bring down communistic threats we faced from within our country if I remember correctly, it's been a while since I read about it.

[NewTeaBag]

Free a murderer because you think he has some political message?

No tx. Not sure he should be executed but deffo should get to enjoy the rest of his days imprisoned.

[Copernicus]

LOL at RATM and ZdlRs politics. Awesome band, esp. the Battle of LA, but way around the bend. Then again, some people think Rubin Carter was innocent because Dylan wrote a song about him, and that got the convictions set aside.