Posted on 07/31/2010 8:31:52 AM PDT by smokingfrog
Local politicians in Greene and Macon counties have joined to file a federal lawsuit claiming that Gov. Bob Riley’s bingo raids are perpetuating racial injustice by thwarting the intent of black voters.
The suit, filed Thursday, was intended to reopen Greenetrack and avoid a raid at Victory-Land in Macon County. The raid appears imminent after the state Supreme Court on Friday gave the governor’s anti-gambling task force a green light.
Voting rights lawyer Ed Still is one of several attorneys who filed the lawsuit over the June raid and confiscation of more than 800 bingo machines from the Greenetrack bingo casino in Greene County.
Still said on Friday that Riley never got clearance from the U.S. Justice Department to take action against Greene and Macon counties, which have local constitutional amendments approved by voters authorizing bingo.
The lawsuit’s premise is simple: Riley’s actions reversed voter intentions in both counties, effectively canceling their votes.
In response, Riley spokesman Jeff Emerson said Friday, “Any claim the task force’s work is targeted to just one area or against one particular group is absolutely false and does not square with the facts.”
It appears likely the lawsuit will stretch into the administration of the next governor, either Democrat Ron Sparks, a supporter of bingo gambling, or Republican Robert Bentley, who opposes it. The candidates said they want voters to decide whether to allow bingo in Alabama.
(Excerpt) Read more at tuscaloosanews.com ...
Don’t drug busts and the resultant confiscation of (ahem) merchandise also “thwart” black voters?
I smell bs
When everything is racist, nothing is racist.
Always victims, never perpetrators
Barack Obama’s dream of a racially balkanized America is continuing apace, folks. Every day from every angle, white America endures more and more black attacks. And this carefully orchestrated assault is not going to stop.
Bingo rhymes with Mandingo. Clearly RACIST !!!
Black crime is always a “racist” issue.
Almost makes one think there’s a sub-culture here that has no idea what laws are for, and prefers to be led by the local witchdoctor...
For those of you wondering what in the world is going on...
Alabama’s Constitution outlaws gambling. However, amendments to it allow it on a county by county basis if voted on by the voters.
Some counties voted it in. Again, there were restrictions.
Charity bingo is allowed in the state ,(along with dog tracks in a couple of counties, when constitutional amendments were passed).
Well, the gambling interests took the “charity bingo” loophole and tried to drive a convoy of mack trucks through it. Started opening Bingo Parlors all over the state.
THe State Attorney General is Troy King (D). He has consistently refused to shut down bingo parlors. THe local county judges (notoriously corrupt in Alabama) will issue decisions “legalizing” the gambling.
The Alabama Supreme court has shot these down every time.
It’s basically all a big political game. Milton Macgregor is a huge gambling tycoon in Alabama. He’s getting into politicians pockets everywhere that he can to try to get gambling legalized.
Problem is, the voters of Alabama, in statewide votes, consistently vote down gambling on statewide ballots.
Republican governor Bob Riley finally had to assemble a gambling task force to start shutting down the illegal gambling houses because AG Troy King wouldn’t stop it.
What we’ve ended up with is local politicians trying every tactic possible to keep the illegal gambling going in their county. SO you end up with numbskull lawsuits like this.
Thanks for the excellent summary.
Several of the big gambling houses that have been shut down are in the “black belt” counties in Alabama. Very large black populations in those counties. They are trying to make it a racial issue because they have nothing left to try.
This isn’t a race based issue. This is purely a gambling issue with big money gambling interests pulling every legal charade possible, including race, to try to keep the illegal gambling operations going.
You should add that the states consider them to be slot machines.
Thanks...the article was impossible to comprehend what, why, when and where. You’ve cleared it up.
Suit claims bingo raids thwart black voters
No more than a couple New Black Panther guys with billy clubs at the polling place deter white voters.
Thanks....I figured some big gambling money was involved. What these black people have to do is
— return to their tribal roots
—get the Feds to grant them tribal recognition
— open casinos
— sit back on their butts and collect the paychecks
I wonder, if Hispanics and Asians are next on the list.
They already do in case you haven’t noticed.
” return to their tribal roots”
They lay claim to their African roots.
“get the Feds to grant them tribal recognition”
They demand that the Feds institute AA as a recognition of their minority status.
“open casinos”
They gamble in the sense that they go out and rob people.
“— sit back on their butts and collect the paychecks”
And they sit back and collect welfare.
That would be a great tagline!
I can’t argue with you. Getting tribal status to open up casinos is being anointed same as getting affirmative action
Now the Hawaiian natives are getting bills through Congress to grant them tribal status so they can open casinos so they get that weekly check. So they can sit on the butts all day and smoke cigarettes and take drugs (preferably meth)..... At least that’s how it looks on Dog the Bounty Hunter’s show
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