DOJ Imprudence: Why Did AG Holder Release Philadelphia’s Voter-Intimidating Black Panthers?
Posted By Vicki McClure Davidson on July 31, 2009
1960s photo of Black Panther founder Huey Newton, right, with Black Panther Party co-founder Bobby Seale
On Election Day 2008 in Philadelphia, several black men dressed in Black Panther militia garb were positioned outside a polling place, intimidating voters as citizens approached the poll to vote. At least one of the men was brandishing a weapon, a billy club or nightstick. They were ultimately arrested.
Attorney General Eric Holder inexplicably dismissed the charges against these thugs in May. Why?
Sen. Frank R. Wolf also wants to know why (click to see PDF of his letter to Holder). In the letter, Sen. Wolf addresses the “unwarranted dismissal of U.S. v. the New Black Panther Party for Self-Defense, Malik Zulu Shabass, Minister King Samir Shabazz aka Maurice Heath, and Jerry Jackson.”
Sen. Wolf asks many questions of Holder in the letter, including this one: “On what grounds did you find that the appearance of members of a widely recognized hate group wearing paramilitary-style uniforms did not constitute intimidation?”
From Washington Post:
Associate Attorney General Thomas J. Perrelli, the No. 3 official in the Obama Justice Department, was consulted and ultimately approved a decision in May to reverse course and drop a civil complaint accusing three members of the New Black Panther Party of intimidating voters in Philadelphia during November’s election, according to interviews.
Links to Michelle Malkin’s investigative work on this brewing story:
The New Black Panther Party’s teachable moments on race
Who let the New Black Panther Party thugs off?
Document drop: DOJ still obstructing justice in Black Panther case
The U.S. Department of Injustice
Document drop: Witness affidavit in NBPP voter bullying case
Why is the Obama Justice Department protecting New Black Panthers?
Black Panther intimidation at the polls?; NBPP: “We will be at the polls in the cities and counties in many states to ensure that the enemy does not sabotage the black vote, which was won through the blood of the martyrs of our people”
Meet Philly’s New Black Panther Party leader
Below are a few videos of the NBPP voter intimidation from Election Day 2008 (at least one reported “intimidater” left as cameras arrived, and the overall intimidation level drastically dropped, especially once police were on the scene). As more information is discovered, I’ll be providing it. Michelle Malkin has done an excellent job of investigating and keeping this story from disappearing into the cracks.
EJ Exclusive – Black Panther Security Patrols at Philadelphia Polling Location | November 4, 2008
EJ Exclusive – Police Respond to Black Panther Intimidation | November 4, 2008
Black Panthers Cause Problems In Philadelphia | November 4, 2008
FOX News: Black Panthers Outside Philadelphia Polling Place | November 4, 2008
Related:
Nice Deb: New Black Panther Party Prepares For War Against Tea Partiers
Hot Air: Who pressured Justice to drop case against voter intimidation in Philly?
Right Voices: Holder’s Black Panther Stonewall: Why did the Justice Department dismiss such a clear case of voter intimidation?
Bob Hamer, Big Hollywood: The CIA and the Statute of Limitations
Washington Examiner: Newt Gingrich: President Obama should fire Attorney General Eric Holder
Hot Air Green Room: The disgrace known as Eric Holder
Gateway Pundit: Figures. Black Panther Who Threatened Voters In Philly Is a Credentialed Dem Poll Watcher
And So I Go: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow: Black Panther Thugs may get their day in court Yet!
The Foundry: Where’s the Outrage?
The TIW Blog: Obama regime protecting New Black Panthers!
GoodTimePolitics: Obama administration Protecting Black Panthers That Wielded Weapons, Blocked Polls – Video and Ben Stein: We’ve Figured Obama Out
Michelle Malkin: Republicans who voted to confirm Holder now complain about Holder and The U.S. Department of Injustice
Washington Times: EXCLUSIVE: No. 3 at Justice OK’d Panther reversal
Around The Sphere: Why Don’t Any Of These Sixties Revivals Include A Beatles Reunion? Oh. Yeah.
Political Vindication: Obama Justice Department Defends Dropping Case Against New Black Panther Thugs
Tai-Chi Policy: Surprise, Surprise. The Black Panther Thuggery Is Supported From Pretty High Up
Fire Andrea Mitchell!: Malcolm X Was Talking About the White Man Was the Devil… It Was Great – Dr. Henry Louis Gates
Choose The Hero: PA: Black Panther Intimidation At The Polls
About the author
IMO…….
This administration is systematically intimidating the American People, AND THE CONGRESS !
This administration ( including the thugs in the house and senate) are wasting no time to push their agenda PAST THE PEOPLE THAT HIRED THEM !!
There are many idiots out there, but We the People will refuse to be BLINDSIDED.
Politico.com has a piece on Obama’s meeting with big company CEO’s, where the White House charged the CEO’s credit cards for the meal !!!
The audacity is ASTOUNDING !!!!!!
Who paid for the Paris, Chicago, New York dates ???
This country is on it’s knees economically and he is having a beer on the lawn of a house that WE PAY FOR, for a photo-op ??
If you invite someone to your home, do you scan their credit cards ?
Those CEO’S have ownership in the White House too.
The White House is OUR HOUSE, AND OBAMA IS RENTING IT.
We are the landlords, ….He is the tenant.
2010…WE VOTE AGAIN !
2010 may be too late considering the damage already done. Much of the damage is by Presidential Decree which the public doesn’t always have access to. The US is being systematically sold out to the UN. While Obama goes campaigning around the world. BB
I’m sure that someone will be able to point out ot me exactly where this “intimidation” was occurring? The first picture of the 4 here speaks volumes to the absolute drivel that this whole “controversy” is. The woman on the cell phone is leaving the building, she doesn’t look very intimidated to me. It’s clear in the video that people are coming and going from the building and not one of these men says a word to any of them.
Maybe the DOJ dropped the case because they couldn’t find any actual evidence of anyone being intimidated. Did anyone who felt threatened make a statement? Did anyone who felt threatened step forward?
All we can see from this video is the guys with the camera showing up and asking questions. They didn’t approach anyone who was coming in and out and ask if they felt an intimidating presence.
It’s not a crime to stand on a sidewalk and look stupid. If it were, there would be a lot of people locked up in America today.
You bring up valid points.
The intimidation occurred for a long time on election day before the video cameras and news teams arrived, as I noted above in the post. Once cameras started documenting them and police showed up, these Black Panthers apparently calmed down and behaved more reasonably. From what I’ve read in local reports, at least one Black Panther left before the cameras started, so he is not in any of the YouTube videos (charges were filed against three men). Witness reports were taken by the police, which from what I’ve read, attested to the intimidation and brandishing of the nightstick.
The videos captured only the aftermath. Only a total idiot would continue to intimidate people with cameras taping it and police arriving to the scene.
If they had been merely “standing around,” this would have been a non-story.
Since the DOJ has not been forthcoming about why they’ve dropped this case (and it looks like it may be revived), we’re only speculating. However, if there was no evidence whatsoever in pursuing this case and they had thrown out the police report, I believe that this information would have been shared with the public. The DOJ likely would have criticized the police force and issued either warnings, admonishments, or even suspensions of some of the officers. But none of that has happened. If information about letting the Black Panthers off the hook was not revealed nationally, then at least it would have been in Pennsylvania.
Because the DOJ is being tight-lipped about it, it is highly suspicious.