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National News: Lawsuit Says Bay-Area Cops Ran Blacks Out of Town; Fisk Beat Major Money Hurdle
July 18th, 2008Civil rights groups say the Antioch Police force harassed African-American renters.
An Oakland, Calif.-area police force established a special unit designed to run the Black folks out of town, according to civil rights groups who have filed a class-action lawsuit on behalf of African-American renters who get federal public housing aid. Originally, the lawsuit, filed in a federal court in San Francisco, included just five renters, but it was widened this week to cover all past and present Black renters who received federal vouchers in the East Bay suburb of Antioch, KTVU reports. The lawsuit alleges that Antioch officials created a special police unit called the Community Action Team to harass new African-American renters “by pressuring landlords and housing authority officials to evict Black tenants receiving vouchers,” the television station reports. Among the tactics allegedly used by Antioch Police were illegal search warrants or home searches without any warrants at all. Antioch officials deny the charges, saying the special police unit was created in July 2006 “in response to neighborhood demands for help in dealing with growing crime rates and persistent neighborhood problems.” The Community Action Team has been “extremely successful” in eradicating crime, they said, expressing disappointment that the civil rights groups filed a suit rather than negotiate with Antioch officials. “We believe that any objective review of our city’s policing efforts will reveal that these efforts are focused exclusively on criminal and/or dangerous behavior,” the statement said. “Claims of other, sinister motivations are untrue and irresponsible.”
Fisk climbs major money hurdle Fisk University climbed a major money hurdle this week, raising $4 million and qualifying for grant that will keep the doors of the financially troubled Tennessee-based Black college open, Shauntel Lowe of Black College Wire reports. Late last month, Fisk announced that it had raised $4 million in unrestricted funds just days before a June 30 deadline. By meeting the challenge, the campus will receive a $2 million grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Earlier in the year, Mellon also gave the university a $1 million contribution. “Thirty-four percent of contributions in support of the Mellon Foundation Challenge came from Middle Tennessee, and it is clear that with the help of our alumni, the community of faith, government leaders, as well as our corporate and foundation partners we can claim great victory this year,” said university President Hazel R. O’Leary. The institution is expected to raise more than $8.3 million this year, Lowe reports. Matthew Kennedy, the former director and concert pianist of the legendary Fisk Jubilee Singers, told Black College Wire that he thought Fisk would reach its goal. “I’m a very positive thinking person and I just didn’t think that Fisk would be faced with serious consequences such as having to close and I don’t think the public will let that happen because of the long legacy in the field of education that Fisk has,” said Kennedy, 87.
I live in the bay area and this does happen. Especially in places like Antioch and Brentwood. And they wonder why african american/blacks continue to say its racism. It is! I see it and live it everyday – though I live in the suburbs I have friends through-out California I visit and kick it with. Even in my own little suburb area we have cops like this. When is it ever going to be enough.
LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED TO OAKLAND, CA…..Whenever there is an area inhabited by mostly African-Americans but whites want to live there..they send in the police to “clean It up” meaning getting rid of drugs and crime. I don’t have a problem with that – they should be doing that in the first place. But then you will see whites moving in (in this case because housing in San Francisco was extremely high) then the rent starts going really high, then they start buying the old homes fixing them up and selling them for high prices blacks can’t afford…it happens all the time and there is a term for it but I can’t think of it right now…..
regentification, I think thats the word
Kudos to FISK!!!… That’s very good news
The truth will be told and it will come out. Whatever occurred here the Lord knows and it will be revealed!
FISK University – Praise God for His GRACE and MERCY!
I am so happy for Fisk God Bless and thank you for Nicky.
I am glad for Fisk , that is very good news congrats!
Great! God bless Fisk University. Black colleges are very important to our curlture and heritage. However, has anyone done in checking to find out why Fisk was in financial trouble?
I am an alumni of Fisk University and I cannot express how grateful I am that is not going face probable closure. Fisk is a GREAT institution and I would not change going there for anything or anyone. Fisk truly embraces African-American history and culture and there is such diversity among the students and faculty that it turns out to be more much than just a university. It becomes a home. I wish Fisk much success in all its future goals and I look forward to continuing to help in any way I can.
Go Fiskites!!!!!!
As for Antioch California where’s the surprise?
White cops taking it upon themselves to decide who should live where….that’s new. Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely! We need to wait for the official results of the lawsuit, but if its proven true then the question is not how a bunch of racist rogue cops harassed blacks in their precinct. The real question is how they did it and no one in the Antioch Police Department either knew about it or worst yet stopped it?
Just like those black citizens in the Midwest who were denied water for more than 50 years, it took a lawsuit to get those in charge to do the right thing. What does that say about white officials in this country that seem to continue to turn a blind eye to the civil rights violations of black citizens. Why does it take a breaking news story or lawsuit to get these situations addressed? Where are their consciences? Why doesn’t their sense of right and wrong kick in, especially as it relates to their responsibility as a city, county or state in authority?
What is it going to take to get white folks to treat all citizens in this country as Americans? Another Watts or Detroit riot? How much injustice is considered enough? Unfortunately, many white people justify this police abuse of power by blaming it on innocent, law-abiding blacks, who just happen to live in a high crime area. They receive assistance from their government, which is perfectly legal and available for them to do so. As far as I know, its still not a crime to need help….yet.
yup the police is racist all over the bayarea i live there also and i wouldn’t be surprised if they did some mess like that i guess they fell that most people with voulcheers came from urban areas in they ain’t tryna have it but they should be sued going into people house searching for trouble the police is very bad out here harassing black people all the time for no reason
So SAD, Why????????????
I’m so happy Fisk was able to stay open…I have friends who attended Fisk, and I’ve done some research at Fisk’s library. So much history at Fisk…Fisk was one of the first Black colleges (1866) after the Civil War. We must preserve this history.
xpw Een plaatje zegt alles, toch ? mip Het volledige rapport is hier te vinden. Lees natuurlijk y de blogposting. v a
Thanks for interesting post! yff
??????? 9d
Hello,
My name is Raymond Carnation. I was a Philadelphila Police Officer That opposed racism against African Americans and was fired for doing so in March of 1999 under the command of now Chief insp. William Colarulo. In May of 2008 I along with two other white officers won a Precedential racism case. The case is Moore vs. The City Of Philadelphia NOS.03-1465 and NOS.03-1473. There are serious racial cocerns in the Philadelphia Police Department also. Please let family, friends and the public know about this incident. Thank You for your time and support. Yours Truly Raymond Carnation email around4life@aol.com
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