Anyone who has ever watched a courtroom drama will tell you that taking the fifth is never a good move while on the witness stand.
Yes, its your right under our system of justice but it just doesn't look good. One might as well hang a big sign around one's neck that says: "You Know I'm Busted. I Know I'm Busted And I'm Not Telling You Nothing!"
That's exactly what Rev. Markel Hutchins, the self-anointed leader of the once-proud Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), did when taking the stand in the ongoing legal fightover SCLC operations.
When asked if he had orchestrated the shut-down of the SCLCheadquarters by cutting power to the building, welding the back door shut and padlocking the building's gates in order to exert his authority over the organization, Hutchins responded: "I am forced and have very little choice at this moment to invoke my Fifth Amendment rights."
Oh boy!
The almost comical testimony added to the unseemly proceedings in Fulton Superior Court where a judge is deciding who is really in control of the SCLC, which was founded by Rev. Martin Luther King Jr in 1957.
The fight began when one faction of leaders accused another faction of misspending organization funds. The FBI, Alabama Attorney General and Fulton County District Attorney are looking at the criminal investigations into the charges.
Watch news report on the SCLC power struggle:
It will be up to the judge to decide who was wrong and who was right in this case. Bernice King, the youngest child of the group's founder, was elected president but is sitting on the sidelines until the legal issues are ironed out.
If I were Ms. King, I would think real hard about finding something else to occupy my time. Even if the legal issues are straightened out, it's hard to see how the SCLC will repeat the glory days of the civil rights struggle when bigger, better-funded and better-managed civil rights organizations aren't having an easy time developing a civil rights agenda for the 21st century.
With petty squabblingand lawyers fees taking so much of their time and resources, its hard to see how the current brand of SCLC leadership can take on that task.
01-June-2010 - In an effort to tackle the latest crisis, the horrendous BP oil spill in the Gulf Coast, Bill Maher thinks Obama needs to act more like a "real black president" and go in to the BP meetings flashing his gat.
25-May-2010 - Ex-police Lt. Jon Burge may have overseen the torture of and obtained coerced confessions from more than 100 African-American men over the course of a 22-year career.
27-May-2010 - CNN was a little embarrassed after accidentally playing a rap song with the N-word in it. The gaffe was part of a segment about a 103-year-old woman, Gladys Flamer, who still drives herself around and lives alone in Coatsville, Pa.
25-May-2010 - Mattel has launched a new line of Barbie dolls called "Back to Basics (pictured below)," which features several dolls, white and black, in (what I can only term) "after-5" wear: There are off-the-shoulder dresses, strapless minis and plunging necklines. The whole thing is absolutely freaky. It's like some odd soft porno featuring call-girl dolls.
24-May-2010 - The 21-year-old R&B sensation recently went on a Tweeting tirade against Atlanta-based celeb gossip blogger Sandra Rose. Reportedly, Brown resorted to attacking the blogger's complexion by using juvenile "you're so black" jokes.
23-May-2010 - If I'm blessed enough to live past my 10th decade on this planet, then 103-year-old Gladys Flamer is going to be my blueprint for how to behave after I pass the century mark.
First of all Rev. Hutchins is not self appointed or anointed, he was appointed by the legitimated members of the SCLC Board of directors as interim president of SCLC because leadership was needed. The real question is why the elected President hasn’t stepped forward a taken leadership in this crisis. Second of all this is a take over by a faction of SCLC by members that do not understand movement! Why documents would be presented about people taking money at an election meeting for Elder King something s smells!!!!!! Why was this leaked to the press when a full board agreed to investigate the matter and not go to the press! Get real people who would stand by and watch an organization that their father sacrificed for be destroyed. People are not interested in the facts they just want to be sensationalized. Someone is behind all of this that does not have the best interest of the SCLC in mind. Facts: 1. Mismanagement was surfaced in June 09 and the same people that presented the information on Trammell and Gordon in October sated that there was no mismanagement! 2. Oct 29 election of Elder King the same people claiming no mismanagement in June 09 presented documents of mismanagement at the election meeting. Go figure!! 3. Full Board meeting in November agreed that Trammell and Gordon step aside while an internal investigation is completed and there will be no press. 4. December press release by Dr. Tucker faction saying they were removed for taking over $500,000. Would Dr. King sanction press convection on anyone? Wake up people there is another agenda at work!
Far too many of our leaders, be in an elected official, the NAACP, SCLC, etc., etc.,....
......far too many lawyers are sleazy, greedy, liars, thieves, incompetent, unethical, treasonous, despotic, you name it....because it definitely fits......
......and when caught stealing they cry he or she has been set up, or other lame excuses.
....and in the event this disgraceful activity continues the Black community will become extinct!
...What ever happened to being ethical, loyal to our community, being the best that he or she can be, etc., etc.????
"Black members of the news media ought to be screaming their heads off about this and other types of coverage of (or lack of) black victims and issues but they are not. They are too spineless and scared of offending their white colleges. As far as black organizations are concern they are a shell of their former self thanks in part to racial integration. Many middle class blacks have crossed over and achieved the American dream and could care less about those left behind....." by David1
In the event our leaders be it in a lawyer, elected official, journalist, etc., etc., continue to betray the Black community....
....all while those who know what's up remain silent, or keep a misfit in an influential position.....
Yvonne "Brentwood" Burke on the Office of Congressional Ethics Committee???? This Would be Like Allowing a Sly Fox to Take Charge of a Chicken Coop!
"The most honest, most open and most ethical Congress in history" by Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D- San Francisco)
Sure, sure, sure, and flocks of birds fly backwards against a strong tail wind too. Placing Yvonne B. Burke on this committee is yet further confirmation that the Government and its Institutions, specifically as affiliated with the Democratic Party is in the toilet!
“.....and the Congressional Black Caucus, unhappy over referrals involving several of its members, who have proposed a resolution that would muzzle this ethical watchdog. Pelosi and the rest of the House leadership must resist any attempt to undermine the office, which has forced the Ethics Committee to confront allegations of impropriety that in the past might never have come to light.”
....the fact that this Congressional Ethics Committee has at least one or more unethical members, one being former 2nd District Los Angeles County Supervisor Yvonne "Brentwood" Burke should be sufficient ammunition for a thorough background check and investigation of the members of this Congressional Ethics Committee....
....to remove any member who is unqualified to conduct an OCE review process or make any recommendations to any Standards Committee that the matter at hand be further reviewed, to expose and weed out any unethical, dishonorable, or even criminal elected official(s).
Fashion Week Flash: Tracy Reese Fall 2012 (PHOTOS)
54 Ways to Say "I Love You" In Africa
Comments: (3)
Add a comment
By: aqshiwoma on 6/10/2010 10:38PM
=========== http://goph3r.com/12k =========
fr ee sh i pp ing
(jordan shoes) $32
(air max) $34
+++
wow
#@$%@#%@#%#@%#@%#@
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Gman on 6/11/2010 11:59PM
First of all Rev. Hutchins is not self appointed or anointed, he was appointed by the legitimated members of the SCLC Board of directors as interim president of SCLC because leadership was needed. The real question is why the elected President hasn’t stepped forward a taken leadership in this crisis.
Second of all this is a take over by a faction of SCLC by members that do not understand movement!
Why documents would be presented about people taking money at an election meeting for Elder King something s smells!!!!!!
Why was this leaked to the press when a full board agreed to investigate the matter and not go to the press!
Get real people who would stand by and watch an organization that their father sacrificed for be destroyed.
People are not interested in the facts they just want to be sensationalized.
Someone is behind all of this that does not have the best interest of the SCLC in mind.
Facts:
1. Mismanagement was surfaced in June 09 and the same people that presented the information on Trammell and Gordon in October sated that there was no mismanagement!
2. Oct 29 election of Elder King the same people claiming no mismanagement in June 09 presented documents of mismanagement at the election meeting. Go figure!!
3. Full Board meeting in November agreed that Trammell and Gordon step aside while an internal investigation is completed and there will be no press.
4. December press release by Dr. Tucker faction saying they were removed for taking over $500,000.
Would Dr. King sanction press convection on anyone? Wake up people there is another agenda at work!
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Michael Lofton on 6/14/2010 6:50PM
http://www.bvblackspin.com/2010/06/11/ex-gang-member-says-chicago-officer-suffocated-him/1#c28595033
Far too many of our leaders, be in an elected official, the NAACP, SCLC, etc., etc.,....
......far too many lawyers are sleazy, greedy, liars, thieves, incompetent, unethical, treasonous, despotic, you name it....because it definitely fits......
......and when caught stealing they cry he or she has been set up, or other lame excuses.
....and in the event this disgraceful activity continues the Black community will become extinct!
...What ever happened to being ethical, loyal to our community, being the best that he or she can be, etc., etc.????
"Black members of the news media ought to be screaming their heads off about this and other types of coverage of (or lack of) black victims and issues but they are not. They are too spineless and scared of offending their white colleges. As far as black organizations are concern they are a shell of their former self
thanks in part to racial integration. Many middle class blacks have crossed over and achieved the American dream and could care less about those left behind....." by David1
In the event our leaders be it in a lawyer, elected official, journalist, etc., etc., continue to betray the Black community....
....all while those who know what's up remain silent, or keep a misfit in an influential position.....
.......our community will become extinct!
********************************
http://onetime.blogtownhall.com/2010/06/12/yvonne_brentwood_burke_on_the_office_of__congressional_ethics_committee__this_would_be_like_allowing_a_sly_fox_take_charge_of_a_chicken_coop!.thtml
http://www.africanamericanconservatives.com/forum/topics/yvonne-brentwood-burke-on-the
Yvonne "Brentwood" Burke on the Office of Congressional Ethics Committee???? This Would be Like Allowing a Sly Fox to Take Charge of
a Chicken Coop!
"The most honest, most open and most ethical Congress in history" by Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D- San Francisco)
Sure, sure, sure, and flocks of birds fly backwards against a strong tail wind too. Placing Yvonne B. Burke on this committee is yet
further confirmation that the Government and its Institutions, specifically as affiliated with the Democratic Party is in the toilet!
“.....and the Congressional Black Caucus, unhappy over referrals involving several of its members, who have proposed a resolution that would muzzle this ethical watchdog. Pelosi and the rest of the House leadership must resist any attempt to undermine the office, which has forced the Ethics Committee to confront allegations of impropriety
that in the past might never have come to light.”
....the fact that this Congressional Ethics Committee has at least one or more unethical members, one being former 2nd District Los
Angeles County Supervisor Yvonne "Brentwood" Burke should be sufficient ammunition for a thorough background check and investigation of the members of this Congressional Ethics
Committee....
....to remove any member who is unqualified to conduct an OCE review process or make any recommendations to any Standards Committee that
the matter at hand be further reviewed, to expose and weed out any unethical, dishonorable, or even criminal elected official(s).
Reply to this Comment | Report This