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There is a ground swell of anger against Reverend Al Sharpton and the Florida chapter of the NAACP over their apparent support of a gang of black teenagers charged with holding and assaulting a 35-year-old Haitian mother and her 12 year old son at gunpoint inside their home at the Dunbar Village housing project in West Palm Beach, Florida. The four black teens are accused of committing heinous crimes. They are charged with beating, raping and sodomizing the victim then making her abuse her own son. Before fleeing, the suspects also reportedly poured chemicals i
nto the boy's eyes and tried to set both victims on fire.
Three weeks ago Rev. Al Sharpton and local representatives of the NAACP held a press conference to throw their support behind the suspects. They told the press that they are upset over the treatment of the black suspects versus the handling of the case of five white teens charged with attacking two white girls after a night of drinking. While the white suspects were given bail, the black teens are being held without bond.
Dozens of blogs have now turned their attention to Sharpton and the NAACP's choice to champion the rights of these youths. Many, including, the Color of Change, are criticizing them from getting behind this case rather than attacking black on black violence or the rights of victims. Sharpton has said the crime is despicable but that should not negate the equal protection rights of these teens under the law. Still, there is an upsurge in victim advocates and civil rights advocates who believe supporting these boys is reckless.
Check out the video for the rundown:
Comments: (38)
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By: Mike on 3/31/2008 2:47PM
Mr. Sharpton choose your battles.
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By: Lady on 3/31/2008 2:51PM
Fathers this is why you need to be in your sons lives!!! The father has no idea where his sweet shy son got his hands on a gun. The mother (red kool aid weave and all) allowed her son to hang out in the projects most of the time. These parents do not know this child or what he is capable of. Both of them showed up in court wearing street clothes. I can see where Al is coming from about treating suspects fairly but I dont agree with his cause. Once you cross the line from law abiding youth to commiting heinous acts of rape and violence then you should be lucky to have any rights at all. When you do the crime be ready for what comes with it, fair and equal or not. These thugs didnt care about that woman and her son so why must we champion a cause that gives them fair treatment. If these boys are guilty I hope they get the book thrown at them.
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By: DarkNLovely on 3/31/2008 3:04PM
It's difficult for many to take Sharpton seriously. In his efforts to try and bring to the social conscious mind of the black community what is fair and unfair treatment regarding people of color, he often times has raised his voice so loudly and adorned himself w/such heavy civil rights armor that we knew whatever it was he was attempting to bring attention to, better be worthy of all the lights and cameras and media frenzy.
I can recall clearly a segment of the talk show 'That's What I'm Talking About' on TVOne, where 2 of the guest on the show included Wanda Sykes and Al Sharpton. Wanda said there was an occasion when Sharpton was to approach the mike and begin his speech, and all she could think to herself was, 'please don't say nothing crazy'. If you could have seen the look on his face - it was hilarious! I knew that she represented the majority while his reaction of surprise was certainly that of the smaller numbers.
We do need those who are willing to stand up for justice - we know that...we also know that right is right and wrong is wrong.
I remember this story when it first hit the news. I was horrified at what happened to this woman and her son. And though everyone is due their day in court, it seems that if Sharpton is determined to have his name connected to this situation, he should start by offering some type of comfort or counseling to the victims and their family or maybe volunteer to erect some type of facility that will offer different constructive activities in a safe environment for young men, so that the alternatives would not find them in such an awful situation.
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By: Rachel on 3/31/2008 3:28PM
Sharpton will speak out against anything that will give him publicity. I am pro black but I hope these teens revceive a punishment to the fullest extent of the law. Disgusting!!!
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By: Lisa on 3/31/2008 4:03PM
I can't believe Sharpton would support these ANIMAL for such a crime. I say they have no rights and They should rot in prison!!!!!
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By: Robert G.L. Newkirk III on 3/31/2008 4:32PM
Choose your battles Al...yes equal protection rights have value but in this case I would commit to the victims and protecting them from ANY type of crime...white or black...
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By: Villager on 3/31/2008 5:29PM
All,
I am one of the bloggers speaking out against Al Sharpton and NAACP for their support of the Dunbar Village rapists. We were on the radio last week with Al Sharpton when he backtracked on his press conference comments --> http://electronicvillage.blogspot.com/2008/03/stop-naacp-support-of-rapists.html
Today, we received a response from NAACP National Office which doesn't appear to accept responsibility for the comments of their West Palm Beach branch president at that press conference --> http://electronicvillage.blogspot.com/2008/03/naacp-issues-weak-response-to-dunbar.html
At this point, I still encourage folks to 'stop NAACP support of rapists' --> https://www.thepoint.com/campaigns/stop-naacp-support-of-rapists
peace, Villager
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By: african american political pundit on 3/31/2008 4:58PM
with all due respect to these brothers of the 60's, they disgrace black communities across America with their ignorant and unjustified support for alleged criminals instead of the victims. They are on the wrong side, and should be called out and held accountable. Julian Bond should just go ahead and resign the National Association for the advancement of colored People. There is clearly a need for new leadership on the board. This brother is not advancing anyone but himself. Al Sharpton should just chill out and admit that he screwed this one up.
http://aapoliticalpundit.blogspot.com
http://aapoliticalpundit.blogspot.com/2008/03/dunbar-village-justice-old-school-civil.html
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By: Was That Necessary To Say on 3/31/2008 5:46PM
This comment is for Lisa #5.
You said;
"I can't believe Sharpton would support these ANIMAL for such a crime. I say they have no rights and They should rot in prison"!!!!!
You know what, the four teens were wrong and I hope they are punished for what they all did but, you have no RIGHT to be calling anybody ANIMALS. That was a mean thing to say for all of them to ROT in PRISON!
These young teens are HUMAN BEINGS just like you and me! For you to make a statement like that, you sound like you hate BLACK PEOPLE PERIOD! Let the Law, Al Sharpton, and the NAACP, decide and handle this case the way it should be!
There is crime in ALL RACES! If you wish hateful things or do anything full of hatered, it will come back at you DOUBLE! We are all upset but, there is a way to make a comment without Racially or Hatefully expressing ones self!
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By: Miss Brown on 3/31/2008 5:56PM
Al, please get back to defending Blacks who are being treated unfairly when they have not hurt someone else. I used to be a supporter of your missions, but this particular case will cause me to question your motives from here on in. I hope that the young men who committed this crime get life in prison. There are many men in jail who do not deserve to be there or go there, try defending them.
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