65 YEARS FOR BURGLARY?! U.S. INJUSTICE SYSTEM
According to New York’s Vera Institute of Justice, the United States has one of the highest incarceration rates in the world. Around two million people are behind bars, with Blacks making up a disproportionate number. In fact, they are five times more likely to be jailed than Whites. There have been plenty of examples of seemingly egregious miscarriages of justice, but here’s one astonishing court case we’ve decided to highlight.
In 2015, Lakeith Smith was taking part in a break-in with a friend who was shot dead BY POLICE at the scene. However, an all-White jury found Smith guilty of ‘felony murder’ under Alabama’s accomplice law.
As The Guardian newspaper reported, that means
“co-defendants can be guilty of murder if a death occurs when they are in the midst of committing a felony.”
According to New York’s Vera Institute of Justice, the United States has one of the highest incarceration rates in the world. Around two million people are behind bars, with Blacks making up a disproportionate number. In fact, they are five times more likely to be jailed than Whites. There have been plenty of examples of seemingly egregious miscarriages of justice, but here’s one astonishing court case we’ve decided to highlight.
In 2015, Lakeith Smith was taking part in a break-in with a friend who was shot dead BY POLICE at the scene. However, an all-White jury found Smith guilty of ‘felony murder’ under Alabama’s accomplice law.
As The Guardian newspaper reported, that means
“co-defendants can be guilty of murder if a death occurs when they are in the midst of committing a felony.”
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Continued….Smith was jailed for a total of 65 years, a sentence criticised by the Criminal Justice Legal Foundation. It pointed out Smith had been convicted of a murder that legally was not a murder, but a ‘justifiable homicide’ according to the jury.
Now, compare that to what happened the same day. In a different case, 28-year old Wesley Phelps (White) appeared before the same White judge, Sibley Reynolds. While being chased by police, Phelps had crashed his car, killing his girlfriend. He’d a string of previous convictions but was given only a three-year jail term after agreeing a plea deal.
Smith’s sentence was reduced by ten years on appeal, but he’ll still be 70 when he finally walks free.
Reynolds has since retired after a 30-year career.
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Now, compare that to what happened the same day. In a different case, 28-year old Wesley Phelps (White) appeared before the same White judge, Sibley Reynolds. While being chased by police, Phelps had crashed his car, killing his girlfriend. He’d a string of previous convictions but was given only a three-year jail term after agreeing a plea deal.
Smith’s sentence was reduced by ten years on appeal, but he’ll still be 70 when he finally walks free.
Reynolds has since retired after a 30-year career.
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It’s time for our weekly dose of facts - inspired this week by Israel’s jibe at South Africa that (thanks to its genocide case against Tel Aviv at The Hague) Pretoria was basically H*m*s’ legal team. We decided to unpick some other dubious things claimed by Israel - be it by its government, army or journalists. Feel free to expand our list in the comments!
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Namibia’s President Hage Geingob, 82, died in a hospital early on Sunday. Geingob has been in charge of Nambia since 2015. A veteran of the country’s independence struggle, Mr Geingob had been diagnosed with cancer and revealed the details to the public last month.
He had recently made international headlines after condemning Germany for its decision to support Israel during its ICJ case and intervene as a third party to make arguments at the ICJ on behalf of Israel. Geingob argued that Germany’s decision demonstrates the former colonial power has failed to learn from its horrific past and added, “The German Government is yet to atone for the genocide it committed on Namibian soil fully.”
May he rest peacefully with the ancestors.
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He had recently made international headlines after condemning Germany for its decision to support Israel during its ICJ case and intervene as a third party to make arguments at the ICJ on behalf of Israel. Geingob argued that Germany’s decision demonstrates the former colonial power has failed to learn from its horrific past and added, “The German Government is yet to atone for the genocide it committed on Namibian soil fully.”
May he rest peacefully with the ancestors.
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DARK MUSIC-INDUSTRY SECRET?
US-based rapper Krayzie Bone shared a message with aspiring rappers and entertainers, warning them about the malicious nature of the industry. He read aloud from a letter he claims he received from a former music-industry executive, describing a secret meeting that took place in the 1990s. During the meeting, it was announced rap music would be used as a medium to increase the profitability of private prisons. According to the rapper, the author’s letter states attendees were asked to use their influence to encourage making music that promoted ‘criminal behavior.’ While the contents of the letter have never been verified, when looking at the current state of mainstream hip-hop, one can understand why the story has gained so much traction.
Video credit: @krayzie_bone on Digital Soapbox Network
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US-based rapper Krayzie Bone shared a message with aspiring rappers and entertainers, warning them about the malicious nature of the industry. He read aloud from a letter he claims he received from a former music-industry executive, describing a secret meeting that took place in the 1990s. During the meeting, it was announced rap music would be used as a medium to increase the profitability of private prisons. According to the rapper, the author’s letter states attendees were asked to use their influence to encourage making music that promoted ‘criminal behavior.’ While the contents of the letter have never been verified, when looking at the current state of mainstream hip-hop, one can understand why the story has gained so much traction.
Video credit: @krayzie_bone on Digital Soapbox Network
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NIGERIAN CHESS KING BEATS 10 PLAYERS SIMULTANEOUSLY!
It’s normally superheroes who’ve the strength of ten men. But a Nigerian chess player has just beaten ten opponents simultaneously!
Tunde Onakoya laid down the challenge at a competitive event in Germany. And it took him just two hours to blast past them all. Amazing pictures show him switching between boards every few seconds.
What’s more, he’s raised money for a brilliant cause. Tunde runs a chess academy for deprived children in the slums of Lagos, and his Herculean effort brought in much-needed cash.
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It’s normally superheroes who’ve the strength of ten men. But a Nigerian chess player has just beaten ten opponents simultaneously!
Tunde Onakoya laid down the challenge at a competitive event in Germany. And it took him just two hours to blast past them all. Amazing pictures show him switching between boards every few seconds.
What’s more, he’s raised money for a brilliant cause. Tunde runs a chess academy for deprived children in the slums of Lagos, and his Herculean effort brought in much-needed cash.
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NAMIBIAN PREZ SCHOOLS GERMANY
Namibia’s President Hage Geingob has died aged 82 while receiving cancer treatment at a hospital in the capital Windhoek.
Geingob who played a key role in his nation’s struggle for independence from apartheid South Africa was a firm and unapologetic Pan-Africanist who did not shy away from putting former colonizers in their place when they crossed the red line.
In his memory, we repost this clip where he scolded Germany’s ex-parliamentary speaker for his remarks about Namibia’s expanding Chinese population. May his revolutionary spirit soar high!
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Namibia’s President Hage Geingob has died aged 82 while receiving cancer treatment at a hospital in the capital Windhoek.
Geingob who played a key role in his nation’s struggle for independence from apartheid South Africa was a firm and unapologetic Pan-Africanist who did not shy away from putting former colonizers in their place when they crossed the red line.
In his memory, we repost this clip where he scolded Germany’s ex-parliamentary speaker for his remarks about Namibia’s expanding Chinese population. May his revolutionary spirit soar high!
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SENEGAL UNREST AMID ‘CONSTITUTIONAL COUP’ CLAIMS
The Senegalese capital has been rocked by unrest again after President Macky Sall postponed the presidential election indefinitely. The opposition say it amounts to a ‘constitutional coup.’
Sall had ruled himself out of the race - which was meant to take place February 25th - after mass demonstrations over the prospect of him seeking a controversial third term. He’s now put his support behind his prime minister, Amadou Ba.
Unrest has also been triggered by what is seen as Sall’s suppression of rival candidates - in particular, the popular Ousmane Sonko, whose anti-imperialist and anti-French stance has captured the public imagination.
The Senegalese capital has been rocked by unrest again after President Macky Sall postponed the presidential election indefinitely. The opposition say it amounts to a ‘constitutional coup.’
Sall had ruled himself out of the race - which was meant to take place February 25th - after mass demonstrations over the prospect of him seeking a controversial third term. He’s now put his support behind his prime minister, Amadou Ba.
Unrest has also been triggered by what is seen as Sall’s suppression of rival candidates - in particular, the popular Ousmane Sonko, whose anti-imperialist and anti-French stance has captured the public imagination.
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Continued….Sonko is also admired as a whistleblower who exposed tax-evasion via off-shore accounts among the elite. But he’s been barred from running after being found guilty of “corrupting youth” - a trumped-up charge, according to his supporters.
Thérèse Faye Sall, the Minister of Community Development, is proposing a six-month postponement of the election. Do you think Macky Sall will let go of power? Share your predictions in the comments.
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Thérèse Faye Sall, the Minister of Community Development, is proposing a six-month postponement of the election. Do you think Macky Sall will let go of power? Share your predictions in the comments.
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BURKINABÉ CONFRONT U.S. EMBASSY
A grassroots organisation called the Black African Defence League held a rally on 2 February outside of the US Embassy in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Ralliers demanded US military bases withdraw from the country and they denounced US imperialist policy. African Stream’s Salifu Mack scored an exclusive interview at the demonstration with the group’s national coordinator.
US and French military bases—from which NATO operations can originate—encircle Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, all founding members of the newly formed Alliance of Sahel States. These three countries recently experienced coups that ousted Western-aligned leaders and they have cooperated in recent months to secure their territory. Plus, they announced during a 28 January joint televised event that they plan to exit the French-approved Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
A grassroots organisation called the Black African Defence League held a rally on 2 February outside of the US Embassy in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Ralliers demanded US military bases withdraw from the country and they denounced US imperialist policy. African Stream’s Salifu Mack scored an exclusive interview at the demonstration with the group’s national coordinator.
US and French military bases—from which NATO operations can originate—encircle Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, all founding members of the newly formed Alliance of Sahel States. These three countries recently experienced coups that ousted Western-aligned leaders and they have cooperated in recent months to secure their territory. Plus, they announced during a 28 January joint televised event that they plan to exit the French-approved Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
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Continued….The group delivered a letter on 2 February to the embassy, condemning current and future interference in the internal affairs of AES member-states. In addition, the letter denounces potential weaponisation of the United Nations against AES states. It reminded the embassy that the people that the AES represents are ‘united behind their leaders.’
The letter concludes, ‘We address this, first, as a warning, and we reserve the right to call on the peoples of the AES to preserve their interests, as well as throughout Africa.’
@usembassyouaga could not be reached for comment, as of press time.
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The letter concludes, ‘We address this, first, as a warning, and we reserve the right to call on the peoples of the AES to preserve their interests, as well as throughout Africa.’
@usembassyouaga could not be reached for comment, as of press time.
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CAN YOU BE A BLACK EUROPEAN?
Joshua Maponga, a social entrepreneur, motivational speaker and musician, was asked on a show, ‘Penuel the Black Pen,’ whether one can be a white African. He flipped the question on its back and explained one cannot be a Black Indian or a Black European and how, after living in the US for centuries, Africans in America are referred to as African-Americans. European settlers are generally called “white” or “American,” and may hyphenate their identity.
Do you think identity is fluid or does Maponga have a point here?
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Joshua Maponga, a social entrepreneur, motivational speaker and musician, was asked on a show, ‘Penuel the Black Pen,’ whether one can be a white African. He flipped the question on its back and explained one cannot be a Black Indian or a Black European and how, after living in the US for centuries, Africans in America are referred to as African-Americans. European settlers are generally called “white” or “American,” and may hyphenate their identity.
Do you think identity is fluid or does Maponga have a point here?
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NAMIBIAN PRESIDENT REMEMBERED
Namibia’s President, Hage Geingob, passed away on Sunday, a few weeks after publicly announcing his fight with cancer. He’ll be remembered for dedicating much of his life to his country’s independence struggle.
African Stream’s William Sakawa profiles the amazing journey of this teacher-turned-liberation icon. One which took him from the classroom to the halls of the country’s presidential palace and beyond.
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Namibia’s President, Hage Geingob, passed away on Sunday, a few weeks after publicly announcing his fight with cancer. He’ll be remembered for dedicating much of his life to his country’s independence struggle.
African Stream’s William Sakawa profiles the amazing journey of this teacher-turned-liberation icon. One which took him from the classroom to the halls of the country’s presidential palace and beyond.
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BOB MARLEY‘S POLITICAL REGGAE: ‘CRAZY BALDHEAD’
On what would have been Bob Marley’s 79th birthday, we look back at some of the deeper, political messages behind his songs - taking a deep dive into the lyrics of his revolutionary tune Crazy Baldhead.
The noscript might make it sound like it’s about neo-Nazis and skinheads. But ‘baldhead’ is actually Rasta slang for colonialists, and the words of the song are about fighting back against their cultural, political and economic grip on the Caribbean - as our man Uwimana explains. He also breaks down the Pan-African ideals behind certain other famous Marley lyrics.
Unfortunately copyright restrictions meant we weren’t able to include the music - but please do go hunt it out in the usual places if you don’t know it already!
And, of course, let us know your favourite lines in the comments!
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On what would have been Bob Marley’s 79th birthday, we look back at some of the deeper, political messages behind his songs - taking a deep dive into the lyrics of his revolutionary tune Crazy Baldhead.
The noscript might make it sound like it’s about neo-Nazis and skinheads. But ‘baldhead’ is actually Rasta slang for colonialists, and the words of the song are about fighting back against their cultural, political and economic grip on the Caribbean - as our man Uwimana explains. He also breaks down the Pan-African ideals behind certain other famous Marley lyrics.
Unfortunately copyright restrictions meant we weren’t able to include the music - but please do go hunt it out in the usual places if you don’t know it already!
And, of course, let us know your favourite lines in the comments!
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COERCED INTO COINTELPRO
In this 1980 interview from @abc7ny’s ‘Like It Is’ news programme, FBI informant Darthard Perry spoke to journalist Gil Noble about how the FBI was able to coerce him into betraying the African liberation struggle in the United States. The FBI’s COINTELPRO, an acronym for ‘Counterintelligence Program,’ aimed at crushing the Black Power movement and other liberation struggles in the United States. COINTELPRO sometimes relied on ordinary people infiltrating movements to serve as informants. As this clip demonstrates, the FBI recruited Africans into their ranks through manipulation, force, blackmail and threats.
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In this 1980 interview from @abc7ny’s ‘Like It Is’ news programme, FBI informant Darthard Perry spoke to journalist Gil Noble about how the FBI was able to coerce him into betraying the African liberation struggle in the United States. The FBI’s COINTELPRO, an acronym for ‘Counterintelligence Program,’ aimed at crushing the Black Power movement and other liberation struggles in the United States. COINTELPRO sometimes relied on ordinary people infiltrating movements to serve as informants. As this clip demonstrates, the FBI recruited Africans into their ranks through manipulation, force, blackmail and threats.
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OPPRESSORS TURN PEOPLE OF COLOUR AGAINST EACH OTHER
For centuries, imperialists have sought ways of turning oppressed people against each other. This not only makes the oppressed forget who the actual enemy is, but it also turns us into cannon folder during wars of imperialist aggression.
In this 1993 clip, renowned singer and actress Eartha Kitt (1927-2008) explained how the US military-industrial complex fomented hatred between US-based African communities and other Global South people to attract Black people into the US military to fight wars in countries such as Iraq, Vietnam and Korea.
For centuries, imperialists have sought ways of turning oppressed people against each other. This not only makes the oppressed forget who the actual enemy is, but it also turns us into cannon folder during wars of imperialist aggression.
In this 1993 clip, renowned singer and actress Eartha Kitt (1927-2008) explained how the US military-industrial complex fomented hatred between US-based African communities and other Global South people to attract Black people into the US military to fight wars in countries such as Iraq, Vietnam and Korea.
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Continued…..Kitt highlights how, after our people returned to the US, they were provided with no financial support, while forced to live under discriminatory Jim Crow laws that prevailed up until the mid-20th century.
This makes it clear why the likes of legendary boxer Muhammad Ali refused to be drafted to fight in Vietnam. When questioned, Ali famously declared, ‘I ain’t got no quarrel with them Vietcong. No Vietcong ever called me n*gg*r.’ He added, ‘No. I’m not going 10,000 miles from home to help murder and burn another poor nation simply to continue the domination of white slave masters of the darker people the world over.’ Over five decades later, his words ring true, as some African people continue to see each other and other people of colour as the ‘enemy,’ perpetuating oppressive structures that only benefit the ruling class.
Video credit: @whoopigoldberg
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This makes it clear why the likes of legendary boxer Muhammad Ali refused to be drafted to fight in Vietnam. When questioned, Ali famously declared, ‘I ain’t got no quarrel with them Vietcong. No Vietcong ever called me n*gg*r.’ He added, ‘No. I’m not going 10,000 miles from home to help murder and burn another poor nation simply to continue the domination of white slave masters of the darker people the world over.’ Over five decades later, his words ring true, as some African people continue to see each other and other people of colour as the ‘enemy,’ perpetuating oppressive structures that only benefit the ruling class.
Video credit: @whoopigoldberg
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LAGOS’ LITTLE CHESS KINGS
By popular demand, we’re re-running the amazing story of Nigerian chess champ Tunde Onakoya. Yesterday, we posted him beating ten players at once during a competition to raise money for his chess academy for deprived kids. Well, here’s him in action with those children in the slums of Lagos. He says the game teaches them life skills and likens his project to pawns reaching the top of the board and turning into more powerful pieces. It’s inspiring stuff. Enjoy.
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By popular demand, we’re re-running the amazing story of Nigerian chess champ Tunde Onakoya. Yesterday, we posted him beating ten players at once during a competition to raise money for his chess academy for deprived kids. Well, here’s him in action with those children in the slums of Lagos. He says the game teaches them life skills and likens his project to pawns reaching the top of the board and turning into more powerful pieces. It’s inspiring stuff. Enjoy.
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