7/18/10
An Open Letter to the Citizens of Newberry, South Carolina
By: Gary H. Johnson, Jr.
Senior Advisor for International Security Affairs at The Victory Institute
Friends,
On Saturday July 17, 2010 the citizens of Newberry were visited by Malik Zulu Shabazz, the President of the New Black Panther Party, who led a march down the main thoroughfare of your city to the steps of the Newberry County Courthouse, demanding Justice, while many in the peaceful demonstration waved placards reading “Black Power.”
In early June, when I read of the murder of Anthony Hill, I was shaken by the horrid barbarity of the crime. I was relieved to learn that after finding the defiled body of the victim, the Newberry County Police followed a trail of blood to the home of the suspect, Gregory Collins, and after a three hour standoff that ended with the launching of tear gas canisters into his residence, arrested the 19 year old man and subsequently charged him with Murder. According to representatives of Newberry County Sheriff Foster, the FBI was called in on the case almost immediately due to the brutal violence displayed by the alleged murderer, who shot his victim dead and then proceeded to drag Hill’s body 11 miles behind his truck. From the initial arrest, it was nearly impossible to learn whether Hill acted alone or if an accomplice was involved. What is certain is that the men worked together at a poultry processing plant. It is likely they were at least acquaintances.
Within a week of the crime, members of the New Black Panther Party descended on Newberry to hold organizational meetings aimed at pressuring the U.S. Attorney to prosecute the case as a hate crime.
Passion was no doubt involved in the slaying of Hill; however, whether the crime would be prosecuted as a “hate crime” soon captured the media spotlight. In a town hall discussion with law enforcement officials, Aurea Hill, the widow of the victim, accompanied by her family and New Black Panther Party members, learned that the US Attorney for South Carolina William Nettles is awaiting the completion of the investigation before deciding on whether the case would be tried as a hate crime, stating “I do not intend to make my decision on anybody else’s timeline.” The US Attorney of South Carolina asked the attendants to be “patient with justice” as the facts were finalized in the investigation, pledging that the case would be handled “fairly and even-handedly.”
On July 17, 2010 the possibility of thousands of angry demonstrators led by New Black Panther Party members in a march led to dozens of businesses in Newberry to close shop for the day. According to the Newberry Observer, “Newberry Police, the Sheriff’s Office, S.C. Highway Patrol, FBI, the State Law Enforcement Division, and a couple surrounding law enforcement agencies” were to be on hand for the New Black Panther Party led demonstrations.
In light of these two facts, the people of Newberry and, indeed people of small town America, must consider the cost of allowing the New Black Panther Party to host or lead protests on their streets. How much tax revenue was lost by the city, county and state as a result of the upstarts utilizing Newberry as a platform for its cause? How much did local businesses lose in sales due to the disturbance? How much did it cost to bring in that much security in terms of wages, fuel, equipment and coordination?
Moreover, what is the human cost of those officers losing time with their families to enter into an environment charged with artificially inflated racial tension? How many tee-ball games and soccer matches went without a coach while American mothers, fathers, daughters and sons sat by the phone fearing the worst? How many father-son fishing trips were cancelled? How many mother-daughter ballet rehearsals were put on hold?
How many children cried in Newberry and the surrounding counties as their parents dutifully cancelled their outings, that Malik Zulu Shabazz might gain a platform to denounce the community of Newberry and its officers as “Racist” and finding the entire community guilty of the assertion in the National Court of Public Opinion with one sweeping accusatory word? One cannot put a figure on the value of a child’s tears. But you can hear the conversation in your mind…
“But, but you said you were going to…”
“I know, but there are some bad people that might hurt someone if I am not there. Maybe tomorrow we can…”
“Honey, be careful, and call me as soon as you get out of there.”
“I will. Don’t worry. Everything will be fine. I love y’all…”
Aurea Hill deserves America’s sympathy and prayers. But for Malik Zulu Shabazz to sensationalize the pain that she and her extended family are experiencing to greedily advance his New Black Panther Party’s cause of “sowing the seeds of discord in America” is unforgivable. However, a remedy for the predatory activity of Shabazz does exist.
The people of Newberry should recognize that the aim of Malik Zulu Shabazz is to place pressure on U.S. Attorney for South Carolina William Nettles to bring “federal” hate crimes charges to the table in the case against Gregory Collins. In fact, the peaceful protest of July 17 was specifically a demand for this specific Justice.
In full, Malik Zulu Shabazz has placed the community of Newberry on notice, while intimidating U.S. Attorney Nettles and the Newberry authorities with an unspoken promise that if a federal “hate” crime charge is not issued, then his New Black Panther Party will no doubt protest again, hitting the national news talk show circuit to decry the travesty of justice and declare that the Justice system in America is racist, never minding the evidence.
Malik Zulu Shabazz is a talented attorney, who understands full well that evidence must exist to substantiate such a charge; therefore, the entire exercise on July 17 was an intimidation platform that allowed him to declare a South Carolina community as racist and to set the stage for future television appearances to spread his vicious rhetoric, regardless of the investigation’s outcome.
Indeed, should the evidence merely demonstrate that Anthony Hill’s murder was a disturbingly violent crime of passion and Nettles does not pursue a hate crime charge in the case, the U.S. Attorney will be denounced as a racist by Shabazz in the media. If a hate crime charge is brought, then the Newberry community will be denounced as a den of racists who lynch black men and its police will be put on trial in the court of public opinion without anyone ever asking him to put forward proof for his accusations. But the fact is, Malik Zulu Shabazz has already been holding up pictures and drawings of black men hanging in trees and defining “lynching” on Fox News and beyond by turning the network attention of the New Black Panther Party’s role in a Philadelphia voter intimidation case which was inexplicably dismissed into a forum to advance his agenda.
In truth, Shabazz has already tried Collins for the hate crime of “lynching” on National broadcasts, poisoning America’s sensitive public in preparation for a nationally televised campaign, establishing his own pre-formed perceptions and biases as the ultimate judge of right and wrong in the Anthony Hill murder, in complete disregard for pesky things like truth, facts, evidence, and proof, in a show of complete disdain for the justice of a jury trial.
The Black Lawyers for Justice, which Malik Zulu Shabazz founded, and the New Black Panther Party, whose offices were moved by Shabazz from New York to Washington DC in 2001, both claim that racist tattoos on Collins’s body and “white supremacist” flags found at his home along with a number of high powered rifles prove that this crime merits a “hate” crime charge. But the residents of Newberry must consider the supremacist nature of the “Black Power” placards held in the demonstration on July 17. Does the ownership of a rebel or Confederate flag indicate white supremacism or southern pride?
Turn the tables. What if, five years from now, a white man is killed by one of the members of the group who marched with Shabazz on Saturday and video proof exists of him holding a “Black Power” sign. Would this be proof of “hate” in the crime, or merely proof of his involvement with a black supremacist in the past? If he had “I hate every iota of a cracker” tattooed on his back, would even this explicit branding be proof of hate, or merely proof of poor guidance and poor judgment? There is no defense for the alleged actions of Gregory Collins if the evidence proves his guilt; however, to judge his motive without the benefit of full knowledge of the circumstances in the crime is irresponsible race baiting by activist Attorneys. Shabazz knows this, and he knows that no one will call his hand on it.
But the fact is, the people of Newberry have the ability to call him out for his predatory and irresponsible behavior and his wholesale attack on the community of Newberry. The people of Newberry also have the right and the power to request that their officials deny any and all petitions by Malik Zulu Shabazz and his New Black Panther Party from staging a protest, in the name of peace and security. However, this will require courage and unity.
The fact is, Shabazz and the Panthers are Americans and their right to peaceably assemble is secured by the U.S. Constitution. However, if it can be proven that the purpose of the assembly is not peaceful to the leaders of your community, then the Constitution is bound to protect the rights of Newberry.
The proof of the New Black Panther Party’s violent intent is to be found on their official website in a section outlining 10 demands entitled “What the New Black Panthers Want What the New Black Panthers Believe.” The list of demands was published on April 9, 2010, under the Presidency of Malik Zulu Shabazz, Esq. In fact, it clarifies the true message of the “Black Power” placards held in the “peaceful” protest on Saturday.
Demand #10 reads:
“WE DEMAND AN END TO THE RACIST DEATH PENALTY AS IT IS APPLIED TO BLACK AND OPPRESSED PEOPLE IN AMERICA. WE DEMAND FREEDOM FOR ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS OF THE BLACK RED AND BROWN NATION!”
Malik Zulu Shabazz has called for the death penalty for Gregory Collins. Is it not possible for a white man to be oppressed in America?
Demand #10 continues:
“We want land, bread, housing, education, clothing, justice and peace. And, as our political objective, we want NATIONAL LIBERATION in a separate state or territory of our own, here or elsewhere, a liberated zone (New Africa or Africa), and a plebiscite to be held throughout the BLACK NATION in which only we will be allowed to participate for the purposes of determining our will and DIVINE destiny as a people. FREE THE LAND! UP YOU MIGHTY NATION! YOU CAN ACCOMPLISH WHAT YOU WILL! BLACK POWER!”
Is this stated political objective of Malik Zulu Shabazz and the New Black Panther Party peaceful? Or is it secessionist and separatist and radically supremacist? Is it likely that the State of South Carolina’s leadership or the leadership of Newberry County would, after history’s lessons wrought in the blood of the American Civil War, find the idea of the division of its territory into a White Carolina and a Black Carolina to be a peaceful solution to the civil problem of racial tension?
Demand #10 continues:
“History has proven that the white man is absolutely disagreeable to get along with in peace. No one has been able to get along with the white man. All the people of color have been subjected to the white man’s wrath. We believe that his very nature will not allow for true sharing, fairness, equity and justice.
Therefore, to the Red Man and Woman, to the Yellow and to the Brown, we say to you THE SAME RABID DOG THAT BIT YOU, BIT US TOO! ALL POWER TO THE PEOPLE!”
Is it possible for the U.S. Attorney for South Carolina William Nettles to pursue Justice “fairly and even-handedly” as a white man in the eyes of the New Black Panther Party? Should the evidence prove out that Collins acted out of passion rather than hate and federal charges are not brought, is it likely that the New Black Panther Party and its President Malik Zulu Shabazz will accept the result of the Newberry led investigation without seeking to smear your community as a pack of “rabid” dogs? The New Black Panther Party believes that the “very nature” of white people is “absolutely disagreeable” in peace, that no one can get along with the white man. Therefore, any petition that the New Black Panther Party makes for a “peaceful” assembly is, by its very nature, an act of deceit, designed to sow discord, and dedicated to advancing the notion that the U.S. Justice system does not allow Justice for Black, Brown or Red people. This affront, while openly hostile and racist, guarantees activism rather than advocacy.
Now, this is indeed a heavy charge to levy. So, for proof, let us turn to the ninth demand of the New Black Panther Party.
Demand #9 Reads:
“We want all Black People when brought to trial to be tried in a court by a jury of their peer group or people from their Black Communities, as defined by white law of the Constitution of the United States.”
Is it seemly for a U.S. attorney such as Malik Zulu Shabazz to serve as the President of an organization which defines the supreme law of the land, the U.S. Constitution, which guarantees individual rights, guarantees his party’s freedom of assembly, as “white law”? Is Shabazz an advocate for the Rights of people of color or a radical activist and provocateur agitating against the “very nature” of the supreme law of this land of Liberty?
Demand #9 continues:
“We believe that the courts should follow their own law, if their nature will allow (as stated in their Constitution of the United States) so that Black People will receive fair trials. The 6th Amendment of the United States Constitution gives a man/woman a right to an impartial trial, which has been interpreted to be a fair trial by one’s peer group. A peer is a person from a similar economic, social, religious, geographical, environmental, historical and racial background. To do this, the court will be forced to select a jury from the Black Community from which the Black defendant came. We have been and are being tried by all white juries that have no understanding of the average reasoning person of the Black Community.”
Are the reasoning powers of a black man and the reasoning powers of a white man to be held to different measures of account in the eyes of the law? Exactly how is the court to be “forced” to select a jury from the Black Community? Are the citizens of Newberry prepared to accept the racist definition of “peer” espoused by the New Black Panther Party and its President? Moreover, would the President of the New Black Panther Party declare it to be “Justice” if the 6th Amendment of the viciously characterized “white law” deemed it appropriate, to guarantee an impartial trial, made sure that the jury pool in the Anthony Hill murder trial of Gregory Collins be drawn exclusively from the White Community? After all, black Americans, through this rationale, “have no understanding of the average reasoning person” of the White Community, right?
The people of Newberry have a choice. The Community of Newberry can allow this monster of hatred, the New Black Panther Party, to successfully petition for the right to protest in complete and willful blindness, or it can deny the Party and its President the right to assemble in Newberry and declare the organization to be what it is: subversive, racist, and a disturber of the peace.
The New Black Panther Party has not one iota of respect for law and order, reason, truth, and universally rejects the justice system of the United States as evidenced in Demand #8.
Demand #8 reads:
“We want freedom for all Black Men and Black Women held in international, military, federal, state, county, city jails and prisons.
We believe that all Black People and people of color should be released from the many jails and prisons because they have not received a fair and impartial trial. Released means released to the lawful authorities of the Black Nation.”
As the leader of an organization that espouses this completely irrational view of Justice, should Malik Zulu Shabazz be allowed to utilize the pain of Aurea Hill as a platform from which to slander the community of Newberry and its law enforcement personnel and poison the minds of the young people of color through its propaganda protest? Indeed, does Malik Zulu Shabazz view himself as the President of the “lawful authorities of the Black Nation” and his New Black Panther Party as a paramilitary alternative for the black community of Newberry? Perhaps a look at Demand #7 of the Shabazz Caliphate will clarify the reality.
Demand #7 reads:
“We want an immediate end to POLICE HARRASSMENT, BRUTALITY and MURDER of Black People. We want an end to Black-on-Black violence, snitching, cooperation and collaboration with the oppressor.
We believe we can end police brutality in our community by organizing Black self-defense groups (Black People’s Militias/Black Liberation Armies) that are dedicated to defending our Black Community from racist, fascist, police/military oppression and brutality. The Second Amendment of white America’s Constitution gives a right to bear arms. We therefore believe that all Black People should unite and form an African United Front and arm ourselves for self-defense.”
Slander and Discord, these are evident in plain black and white. Are the good people of Newberry prepared to accept the full weight of the New Black Panther Party Lobby and the Black Lawyers for Justice every time a black criminal is killed by a white police officer defending his community and fulfilling his duty? The New Black Panther Party has been sowing seeds of discord in the black community of Newberry since a week after the slaying of Anthony Hill, utilizing the shocking story as a launch pad to wage an influence campaign designed to train the black youth of your community to never cooperate with the police whose duty is to protect them – all, while labeling the Newberry Police as an “oppressor”. At the same time, under the guise of “Black self-defense” the New Black Panther Party is co-opting Anthony Hill’s murder to urge the rise of a racist militia in Newberry, to join the ranks of a unified Black Liberation Army.
In this, the aims and intent of the Malik Zulu Shabazz become clear – deceitfully use the Second Amendment to arm Black people and turn them against law enforcement. Is the community of Newberry going to take this whisper campaign of slander and discord lying down? Are the peaceful demonstrations of the New Black Panther Party calls for Justice or opportunities for recruitment and indoctrination?
What does Demand #6 reveal?
“We want all Black Men and Black Women to be exempt from military service.
We believe that Black People should not be forced to fight in the military service to defend a racist government that holds us captive and does not protect us. We will not fight and kill other people of color in the world who, like Black People, are being victimized by the white racist government of America. We will protect ourselves from the force and violence of the racist police and the racist military, by any means necessary.”
The blanket charge is clear. The U.S. Military is racist. The U.S. Government is racist and holds the colored people captive and never protect them. By omission, it is clear that white people are to be fought and killed for victimizing colored people. The police are racist, and “any means necessary” in terms of violence and force is acceptable to fight against the oppressor security apparatus of the United States and its “white law” policing forces. Finding the courage to stand up to this naked hate is a matter of reason not race. Malik Zulu Shabazz and the New Black Panther Party stand for one thing – complete hatred of America.
A sampling of Demand#1 through Demand #5 reveals the depths of the hatred of America inherent in every protest and activity of the New Black Panthers and Malik Shabazz.
While attempting to declare solidarity with the virtues in the Bible, the Quran, and the principles of Ma’at, Demand #1 calls for “self-determination”, saying:
“We want freedom. We want the power to practice self-determination, and to determine the destiny of our community and THE BLACK NATION.”
Demand #2 calls for Black Power and the collective robbery of the White Man as punishment:
“We believe that since the white man has kept us deaf, dumb and blind, and used every dirty trick in the book to stand in the way of our freedom and independence, that we should be gainfully employed until such time we can employ and provide for ourselves.
We believe further in: POWER IN THE HANDS OF THE PEOPLE! WEALTH IN THE HANDS OF THE PEOPLE! ARMS IN THE HANDS OF THE PEOPLE!”
Demand #3 is an umbrella, declaring the BLACK NATION to be the ultimate victim of every injustice ever committed in the history of the world, singling out Capitalists as the source of black oppression, while calling for Reparations and Tax Exemptions.
“We want tax exemption and an end to robbery of THE BLACK NATION by the CAPITALIST. We want an end to the capitalistic domination of Africa in all of its forms: imperialism, criminal settler colonialism, neo-colonialism, racism, sexism, zionism, Apartheid and artificial borders.”
…
“We believe that this wicked racist government has robbed us, and now we are demanding the overdue debt of reparations…. for the AFRICAN HOLOCAUST”
…
“We believe our people should be exempt from ALL TAXATION as long as we are deprived of equal justice under the laws of the land and the overdue reparations debt remains unpaid.”
…
“The American white man owes us reparations…. All have taken part in the AFRICAN HOLOCAUST and the slaughter of 600 million of our people over the past 6,000 years in general and 400 year in particular. We know that this is a reasonable and just demand that we make at this time in history.”
Demand #4 calls for a Bolivarian style of economic separation.
“We believe since the white landlords will not give decent housing and quality health care to our Black Community, the he housing, the land, the social, political and economic institutions should be made into independent UUAMAA New African Communal/Cooperatives…”
And, while calling for a Black-identity centric educational system, the New Black Panther Party’s Demand #5 speaks plainly its contempt of the United States.
“We want education for our people that exposes the true nature of this devilish and decadent American society.”
The Community of Newberry must decide for itself if these demands of the New Black Panther Party translate into seeds which will sow discord or harmony. The next time Malik Zulu Shabazz decides to petition for the right to protest in Newberry, the people of Newberry, black and white, together, hold it within their power to reject the Hate-filled vitriol and indoctrination methodology of the New Black Panthers and their leader.
This is not a time for silent dissent. The reputation of Newberry is at stake. To rise as one, white leaders and black leaders, hold it within their power to present a unified front and protect Aurea Hill from the predatory actions of the enemies of peace.
I pray that the good people of Newberry recognize in this appeal a call for Reason to prevail over the forces of evil. Should Collins be found guilty of the crime of murder, with accomplices or without, the absolute evil bestowed in the commission of the crime virtually guarantees the death penalty with or without the addition of the charge of a hate crime by the federal government. However, evil begets evil, particularly in periods of distress and emotional instability; and, the evil of this crime has drawn the predatory evil of Malik Zulu Shabazz and his New Black Panther Party to Newberry that it might plant in the youth of her community a seed of hatred and racism and discord that threatens to shatter innocence, itself, with the crowbar of punishment.
I pray for Aurea.
Thank you,
Gary H. Johnson, Jr.
