Verizon should be ashamed of “TechNigga” blog, critics say
Some people aren’t too happy with Verizon Wireless who has given a distribution deal to White guy who’s running a video blog called “TechNigga,” EUR reports. Loren Feldman, of 1938 Media, has drawn the ire of such critics as Najee Ali, of Project Islamic Hope, and Paul Porter, of Industry Ears, among other activists. They want Lowell C. McAdam, president and CEO of Verizon Wireless, to stop giving Feldman a forum for what they say is blatant racism. “Feldman has a history of using the internet to promote racism and demeaning and negative racial stereotypes against African Americans on his internet site. He is responsible for and appears in what he calls ‘TechNigga,’” Ali told EUR in a statement. “Verizon CEO Lowell C. McAdam needs to demonstrate that Verizon understands they should demonstrate corporate responsibility and will not tolerate racism, or bigotry. The Verizon distribution deal with Feldman sends a horrible message that Verizon seeks to partner with racists like Feldman and that Verizon and CEO McAdam find nothing offensive with ‘TechNigga.’ Our community nationwide should.” Ali is urging everyone to call Lowell C. McAdam and let him know that you will boycott Verizon unless this distribution with Feldman is severed. There are plans for an upcoming national day of protest against Verizon stores nationwide if our calls for a meeting and our demands are not met.”

New York man is charged with a hate crime

Buffalo, N.Y., Police say that the thought of Whites and Hispanics living in the same household was too much for 40-year-old Donald Napierala to take, so he took a seven-foot cross, wrapped it in gasoline-soaked rags and lit it on their front lawn. The fire caused about $250 in damage, but it could have been worse, says Officer James T. Reese and Fire Marshals Edwin Ortiz and Harold Emerson, noting that his actions could very well have killed the four people who slept inside during his 1:30 a.m. escapade. His charges include arson, reckless endangerment, and criminal mischief. He is also charged with perpetrating a hate crime.

Cops in ritzy N.Y. neighborhood chase Black kids away. A New York lawyer is screaming “racism” after police in the upscale Brooklyn community of Manhattan Beach told a group of Black teenagers to get out of the neighborhood. Gene Berardelli, a Brooklyn-based attorney, says that the group of teens was blocked by police on Friday. “Black kids were told get out of the neighborhood,” Berardelli said. “It was definitely a Black and White issue. Black teens were not welcome in Manhattan Beach and police, on behalf of the neighborhood, let them know that.” Police said that Friday was “cut day,” when students traditionally skip school, and the officers had good reason to turn the students away. “[They would] either be brought back to the track site for truancy, or brought back to the school where they belong. We can’t allow kids to cut out of school,” NYPD Lt. Fernando Villafan said. But, Berardelli countered, “There’s no way they couldn’t know they were cutting class because they didn’t ask to see their program cards. They didn’t bother to check anybody’s identification,” he said.

Atlanta’s ex-mayor convict duped prison officials to enter rehab. Former Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell, who is serving a 30-month prison sentence for tax evasion, finagled his way into a drug program to lop 500 hours off his term. Somehow, according to recently unsealed court documents, Campbell was able to dupe officials at the U.S. Bureau of Prisons to bend their policy and allow him to enroll in the residential rehabilitation program. He earned a “certificate of completion” last December for his “effort toward his personal growth.” He was rewarded for completing the program by being transferred to a halfway house earlier this year and was all set for an early release. But federal prosecutors in Atlanta heard about it and immediately demanded that Campbell be re-evaluated. It didn’t take long after the prison administrator’s one-on-one with Campbell to revoke his certificate and put the former mayor back to the rear of the line for release. So, instead of collecting his property and strolling out of prison on June 23, Campbell will kick it at the low-security facility near Miami until Oct. 25. Campbell ’s lawyer, Patricia Jean Kyle of Miami , told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that it initially seemed as if the Bureau of Prisons overstepped its authority in rescinding Campbell ’s early release. “Ultimately, Mr. Campbell agreed that the [bureau] had not acted beyond its authority” and then dismissed his complaint, she said.

Dr. Ben Carson to add Presidential Medal of Freedom to achievements. The man who made medical history by successfully separating Siamese twins in 1987 will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Dr. Ben Carson’s selection for the nation’s highest official civilian honor was announced by the White House this week. Carson, author of the book Gifted Hands, overcame a disadvantaged upbringing in Detroit to earn the title of Pediatric Neurosurgery director at Johns Hopkins Hospital by age 33. Carson recently delivered the commencement address at George Washington University.