O'Neil Solomon's Death Sits Quietly in the Shadow of the Sean Bell Trial

As the trial of NYPD police officers charged in the shooting death of Sean Bell gets underway in New York City, a much less well-known milestone passed without much fanfare.

Last Thursday's two-year anniversary of the brutal police beating of former limo driver O'Neil Solomon's passed relatively unnoticed by most mainstream media outlets.

The beating he received at the hands of up to 16 NYPD officers in Brooklyn on the night of February 21, 2006 beating went relatively unnoticed too. Unfortunately is was drowned out by storm of controversy surrounding the Sean Bell shooting.

It's not that Solomon's death is any less important in it's representation of the problems that stem from the remnants of institutionalized racism within the NYPD sub-culture and a distorted perception of African-American and Hispanic males that exists amongst the more than 40,000 officers.

But the Bell shooting simply took place in a much brighter spotlight; and the violent reaction of the officers involved remains baffling in it's scope and horrifying in lack of reasoning or sense.

The confusing events that took place in the early morning hours of November 25, 2006 that led NYPD Detective Michael Oliver to pump 31 shots (he was struck by 50) into the body of young bride groom Sean Bell outside of a Jamaica, Queens nightclub are once again the subject of local and national media attention as the trial of the accused officers is now in full swing.

On March 21, 2006 the New York Daily News did print an article with the details surrounding O'Neil Solomon's vicious beating by a group of enraged NYPD officers after he fled from a traffic stop in Brooklyn on the night of February 21, 2006.

But it was published two days after the March 19, 2007 indictment of Detective Oliver along with NYPD Officers Gescard Isnora (who fired 11 shots at Bell) and Michael Cooper (who fired 4 shots) by a Queens Grand Jury on charges including first degree manslaughter.

Bell was finishing a night of celebration marking the end of his bachelor status, and was to be married in the morning. In contrast O'Neil Solomon had just fled a traffic stop that turned into a police chase. He was an ex-con with a lengthy rap sheet that included arrests for stolen property, assault and a sexual assault on a 13-year-old.

Maybe it's harder for the media to find a compelling story in Solomon's troubled past, but he didn't deserve what happened to him that night in the Brooklyn streets when the police caught up with him.

St. Vincent's Hospital nurse Janice Pinheiro, 37 witnessed the beating outside her Autumn Avenue home. She told the Daily News up to 16 cops hit Solomon with nightsticks and stomped him in the head and chest - when she tried to intervene and began pleading and screaming at them to stop, they handcuffed her and took her to the 75th Precinct station house.

Pinheiro's complaint led to the Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) opening an investigation into the incident. In the days following his release, Solomon complained of feeling sick; he was rushed to the hospital on March 4th where he was pronounced dead.

But don't look for justice from the courts in this case. NYPD officials claim arrest photos show no visible signs of trauma - nor did the coroner find any. At least that's what they say.

Even though the process of the criminal case against the officers involved in Sean Bell's violent shooting death is just getting started, maybe there's a better chance that whatever justice is served will provide at least a measure of justice for O'Neil Solomon; though a measure unseen except by those who knew and loved him.

Official Apologies for Australia's Stolen Generation

Our friends over at Wikipedia offer the following definition for Aborigine:Indigenous peoples, Displaced peoples with a prior or historical ownership of a land, and who maintain (at least in part) their distinct traditions and association with the land, and are differentiated in some way from the surrounding populations and dominant nation-state culture and governance. (Excerpt from Wikipedia.org

Let's face it the plight of the Aborigine people doesn't exactly light up the headlines of mainstream media outlets in the US. Most of what my mind absorbed about Aborigine people came from the images I gleamed from superficial sanitized slices of world culture littered across the various media platforms I grew up with.

'Crocodile Dundee' was really the first time I can consciously recall seeing Aborigine characters portrayed on film with a sense of humanity.

Bruce Trevorrow's harrowing account of being taken from the Adelaide Children's hospital in South Australia when he was an infant opened my eyes to a different dimension of the aborigene experience that I had not honestly considered let alone explored before.

Trevorrow (pictured above) and scores of aborigine children like him were removed from their Aborigine families by agencies of the state, or those acting on their behalf, and adopted and raised by white Australian families with the consent and complacency of the government.

The scores of Aborigines who endured similar fates has attracted a wide range of media attention, garnering mentions here in the US and around the globe, from NPR radio to the "ABC News Website"

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd made headlines across the globe recently when he offered an official apology on behalf of the Australian government to the Aborigine people.
Though it might not seem so to many puzzled by the logic or need of such a statement it's a huge step.

It's a statement, an official recognition of events. That's a long way from snatching children from people's families. A number of US states have issued apologies for the government's role in slavery to no small amount of controversy. Former Prime Minister Tony Blair apologized for Britain's Role in the slave trade.

Real healing in the cultural sense must begin with an objective analysis of the past. It's the only way to really affect the present and build a positive foundation for the future.

Polish Immigrant Defaces 57 Jewish Tombstones in Chicago - 3 Busted for Vandalism in East Windsor NJ

I recently blogged about the rise in neo-Nazi activity across the US but the hate activity continues even as mainstream media ignores it for the most part; even as it begins to reach epic proportions.

On Friday February 1, 2008 Mariusz Wdziekonski, 21, a Polish immigrant who's been living in the US for about four years confessed to police that he was responsible for desecrating 57 tombstones in the Jewish Westlawn Cemetery in Norridge Park Township, Illinois.

Wdziekonski used blue and silver paint to deface Jewish headstones with swastikas and anti-Semetic graffiti such as "white power" and "Aryan power."

The disturbed machine mechanic, who told Des Plaines police he was a member of a neo-Nazi group known as "National Socialist Movement 88", was also involved in the neo-Nazi movement in his native Poland.

The disturbing part of this is that it spawns copy-cat incidents by ignorant young men with no sense of history, little in the way of intellect and too much time on their hands; and it's now
happening all over our nation - even right next to the town where I went to High School.

On Friday February 8th, three college students in East Windsor, NJ were charged with anti-Semitic vandalism in connection with statues and signs spray-painted in East Windsor, Hightstown and Roosevelt.

18 year-olds Nicholas Kurahara, Nikolai Afanassenkov and Max Drazdik were all charged; the 3 bigots were home on college break last month and boozed up when the incidents occurred and are all members of a band I obviously won't be listening to anytime soon.

Want to see demented, goose-stepping morons burning books in 21st century America?
Then hold your nose and check out this Website.
Remember -this is happening in your community, in Europe and all over the Internet right now as you read this.

This blight upon the fabric of our culturegeist will continue to fester in these difficult economic times until mainstream media turns the power of the spotlight on this issue and real Americans begin to understand who these people are and their obsession with hate, bigotry, anti-Semitism and racism.

It begs the question; what the hell are they so angry about and more importantly, who taught them to hate?

Are Asian Americans Being Underserved By Advertisers?

My first real exposure to ethnic advertising was the old Calgon detergent commercial (Still from the commercial seen left) where a smiling All-American WASP mom is standing in the dry-cleaners/laundromat gushing to the Asian-American laundry guy behind the counter about how clean her clothes are.

When she asks him how he does it, he smiles and says with a mysterious air: "Ancient Chinese Secret!" On cue the Asian-American guy's perky, Americanized-Asian wife comes cruising out of the back waving an empty box of Calgon detergent, announcing loudly: "We need more Calgon!"

The customer gives him a look after he's totally busted and admonishes him with faux-anger: "Ancient Chinese Secret huh?"

It was so cute and endearing that the not-so-subtle stereotype of the Asian guy behind the counter came off as harmless.

These days it seems advertisers are sticking with mainstream images, performers and settings when it comes to commercials; with Asian-Americans such a large and growing part of our culturegiest in this nation, why is it we rarely see advertising targeting their culture?

According to a recent study by the Selig Center for Economic Growth Asian-American spending power in the US is expected to reach 528 billion by 2009. People of Asian descent in this nation comprise 5% of the US population and 86% speak English.

So why do media buyers approach targeted ethnic advertising with a lukewarm attitude?

According to the New American Media Website targeted ethnic advertising is more cost efficient and delivers better ROI but mainstream advertisers still tend to rely on mainstream media to deliver the message to Asian-American communities.

Just turn on your TV and surf the channels, there's no question advertisers still seem confused about how to market to Asian-Americans, African-Americans, Hispanics and other minority groups.

I wonder if it's fear or ignorance?

Advertisers Flee Michael Savage's Ultra-Conservative Radio Schpeel

In a move that's sure to dampen Ann Coulter's day, five more high-profile advertisers have pulled their support of nationally syndicated radio program Savage Nation.

Host Michael Savage is being actively targeted by a group of organizations united in their outrage at the controversial talk show host's comments against Muslims and other groups.

Michael Savage pictured above

It's not the first time Savage's bigotry has landed him in hot water with the media companies that bankroll his vicious tirades. He made headlines in 2003 when he teed off against a male homosexual caller on his talk show on MSNBC, suggesting to the man: "You should only get AIDS and die, you pig." He was subsequently fired by MSNBC.

But his homophobic verbal attack was tame compared to the bizarre, rambling tirade he unleashed against Muslims on October 29, 2007. Visit the Website NOSAVAGE.ORG to hear a recording of the segment or see PDF's of the printed transcripts. It's hard to listen to it and remember companies pay him to be on the air.

Savage has become a victim of his own hate as companies including the makers of well-known brands such as Icy Hot, Selsun Blue, TurboTax and even GEICO are siding with a coordinated effort to hold the horrifying hate-monger accountable for his divisive spew.

Groups such as Hate Hurts America and the Interfaith Community have aligned to demand that advertisers sever their association with Savage's nationally-ranked syndicated program. Wal-Mart, AT&T and Sprint Nextel are just a few of the companies that have moved to distance themselves from Savage.

Savage's cartoonish Website promotes a range of ultra right-wing causes, but to me the bigger issue is who is actually tuning into this program to listen to this ignorant, un-American drivel?

What sort of Neanderthal media executive green-lights a pathetic moron like Savage in the first place?

ADL: Skinhead Activity Rises in US & Around the Globe

With much of the daily national media spotlight focused on the current elections, the state of the US economy and the details of Brittney Spears' bizarre personal life I really haven't seen that much television, radio or print media coverage concerning the February 7, 2008 report issued by the Anti-Defamation League that warns of a rise in neo-Nazi/racist skinhead activity in every state in America.

The report cites at least 110 newly formed skinhead groups which have taken advantage of frustrated, disenfranchised white youth who are easily sucked into the flurry of racist skinhead Websites around which much of this activity centers.

Lack of jobs with benefits, stagnant wages for working & middle class citizens, fear of immigration and a rapidly changing culture in America are just some of the factors contributing to this rise in hate crimes. The report notes there have been at least 83 reported criminal incidents over the past several years, including 17 involving murder, attempted murder and manslaughter.

Case in point: In January, 2008 29 year-old Thomas Verducci was charged with shooting 30 year-old Jose Corona in the head in a Vallejo, California bar in January 2007. Verducci is an alleged member of the Family Affiliated Irish Mafia (FAIM) a loosely organized skinhead group based in northern California near the San Francisco area.

Websites like the ADL's Skinhead Project and the Southern Poverty Law Center's (SPLC) Intelligence Project offer some of the most extensive analysis of hate crimes and groups who espouse racist, anti-Semitic, anti-immigrant, anti-government and anti-gay ideologies and agendas.

The only way these groups and their activities are going to move beyond a blip on the media radar is through exposure of, and dialog about these groups and their violent anti-American activities. It affects our culturegeist and it's not just happening in some isolated working class community in California, or Florida, or New Jersey - it's happening right now where you live.

That's not the America the founders envisioned, it's not the America hundreds of thousands of Americans have died defending and certainly not the America that is going to move forward into the 21st century.

Neo Nazis Suspected in German Arson-Fire That Kills 9

Investigators in Ludwigshafen, Germany are trying to determine if a group of neo nazis (pictured left, German Skinhead rally, 2000) are responsible for setting a suspicious blaze that consumed the interior of a building that housed Turkish immigrants on Sunday, February 3rd.

At least nine people, including five children, were killed in the fire and another 60 injured. Prior to the fire "Hass", the German word for hate, was scrawled next to the door of the building on at least two different occasions.

A photographer captured a dramatic photo of a couple dropping their infant Onur four stories down to a policeman in a desperate effort to save the baby from the smoke and flames - the infant survived the fall.

Sadly German officials and citizens have been dealing with the uncomfortable question of how to stem the tide of facism and white supremacy for years. This latest incident underscores a global rise in hate crime activity against minority groups. Given the state of the economy it's not surprising to see disenfranchised youth venting their frustrations on innocent people that cannot defend themselves.

It's not limited to young men with shaved heads and engineer boots either, Turkish, African and other immigrant groups often deal with subtle race-based discrimination in areas such as housing and access to decent medical care.

Spikes in hate crime activity always take place in times when jobs are scarce and opportunities limited. The signature of hate groups like the Ku Klux Klan has always been violent, cowardly attacks on innocent people. Check out the link to the Southern Poverty Law Center in the upper left to get the latest on hate activity in the US.

Rebel Fighting In Chad's Capital Underscores Destabilization & French Government's Global Influence

A surprise attack coordinated by three rebel groups in Chad is threatening to further erode stability in a region already being crippled by violence and government unrest.

Despite the attacks on Saturday, president Idriss Deby (pictured left) remains ensconced inside the palace in N'djamena and in control of government troops which used tanks and helicopter gunships as part of sweeping counterattacks on rebel positions on Sunday.

Africa is wracked by internal conflicts at present, the rise in violence in Kenya and now Chad will only delay the deployment of UN troops and has the potential to drag Sudan into the conflict.

The French government, the former colonial power in the region, maintains a force of about 1,200 troops and sent 300 more to bolster their presence; but they are there largely to protect French diplomats and other private citizens. The attack comes a minor setback for a French government seeking to expand and strengthen the role of it's military around the globe.

Africa is just a complete mess right now and nothing is going to change until there is an authoritative body in place equipped, funded, authorized and staffed to deal with regional flare ups of violence.

Wesley Snipes Outed as Member of the 'Tax Denial' Movement

Actor Wesley Snipes has vanquished the un-dead, faced down the Yakuza and was cleared of two felony fraud and conspiracy charges and three misdemeanor charges for failing to file returns or pay taxes. He will face the gavel for three more misdemeanor tax charges.

In a series of reportedly rambling letters defining his position, Snipes claimed, among other things that he is a "nontaxpayer" by law.

An article posted by David Cay Johnston on the nytimes.com Website listed some details of arguments included by Snipes in a 600-page document he submitted to the court, including a rather interesting defense that is apparently common to tax deniers, Johnston wrote:

"Mr. Snipes also complained that the I.R.S. violated his 14th Amendment rights to equal protection because it would not help him establish what he said was his rightful status as a legal nontaxpayer."

I went to the Times site and checked out the PDF text of Snipes' anti-tax defense. All I can say is that I can see where the US Attorney in the case dismissed the actor's massive document as "gibberish". It's extensive, meticulous in detail and ALL of 600 pages; a law degree or familiarity with the intricacies of the US Tax Code would be helpful.

I've heard of anti-government movements, "patriots", KKK, evolved weekend warrior types who brandish the Constitution and Bible in one hand and a really big hand gun in the other. But this was the first time I ever heard of a movement of Americans who actually believe that the IRS collects income tax illegally by manipulating Americans with the fine print of the tax laws.

Apparently we've all been "bamboozled" into paying income tax since it was enacted by the Federal Government, which, to them, is in itself an evil institution. Anywayyyyy...

Seriously though, who wouldn't want to pay less or even NO taxes? But I'm not sure where I stand on the tax denial movement. Check it out for yourself, here's a link to a site that gives you somewhat of a feel for the thinking behind the those who feel they don't owe Uncle Sam a dime.

In my limited experience, movements such as this one inevitably attract the same type of mindset that is sympathetic with theories supporting racial superiority, divisive, antiquated thinking and belief in a God who apparently populated the planet with a whole bunch of people he didn't really like.

Whatever works for you Wes.