McKinney accuses Capitol Hill cop of racism (Congressional Black Caucus steers clear of press conf)

Atlanta Journal-Constitution ^ | April 1, 2006 | Bob Kemper

[Cincinatus' Wife]

WASHINGTON — Rep. Cynthia McKinney on Friday declared herself the victim of a racist Capitol Hill police officer who her supporters said used excessive force when he stopped her from skirting a security checkpoint earlier this week.

"The whole incident was instigated by the inappropriate touching and stopping of me — a female, black congresswoman," McKinney said at a news conference, abandoning the apologetic tone she struck earlier in the week.

Capitol police are considering filing assault charges against the DeKalb County Democrat next week. But her lawyers said she was acting in self-defense when she struck the officer who tried to stop her.

"Cynthia McKinney, like thousands of average Americans across this country, is ... a victim of the excessive use of force by law enforcement officials because of how she looks and the color of her skin," said one of McKinney's lawyers, James Myart Jr.

McKinney spoke on the campus of predominantly black Howard University, surrounded by more than a dozen African-American children from South Georgia's Coffee County who held signs reading "Is Cynthia a Target?" and "Recognize Our Congresswoman." The children had been in town to tour Washington and visit McKinney, said their escort, Hal Pressley, president of the Coffee County branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

Singer and activist Harry Belafonte and actor Danny Glover also appeared with McKinney. They said they had come not in judgment of the facts of the case, but, as Glover put it, "to support our sister."

McKinney's lawyers said the white officer involved in Monday's scuffle should be investigated.

Police declined to address the racial accusations.

"We're currently investigating the matter. That's as far as it goes with us right now," said Sgt. Kimberly Schneider, the police spokeswoman.

But police union officials from across the country denounced McKinney's tactics and said the officer involved — not McKinney — was the true victim.

"There was no excessive force here," said Lou Cannon, president of the Washington, D.C., chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police, which represents Capitol officers. "If she's trying to turn this into a racial issue, people should ask, 'Why is she doing this?' This is an insult to all police officers."

The FOP's national board, meeting Friday in Nashville, unanimously approved a motion commending the Capitol Hill officer, who has not been identified, and condemning McKinney, who was stopped because the officer didn't recognize her. Bill Peacock, a former DeKalb County police officer and a delegate to the national FOP organization, introduced the motion.

"There were two avenues she could take, one being the high road — admitting her error — and the other is to use the race card simply because the officer was trying to do his job," said Peacock.

McKinney's press conference marked the first time she has spoken publicly about the incident, in which the officer, not recognizing McKinney as a member of Congress, tried to stop her from walking around a security checkpoint, which members are routinely allowed to do.

Several Capitol police officials have said the officer involved asked McKinney three times to stop. When she did not, he placed a hand on her and she hit him, they said.

McKinney, who previously had released a statement saying she "deeply regretted" the incident, avoided details Friday. She said lawyers had advised her not to because of the possibility of charges against her.

As she had previously, she acknowledged that when she was stopped, she wasn't wearing the special lapel pin given to the 435 House members to help police and staff recognize them. But she said the officer still should have recognized her because he was trained to do so.

"I do wear the pin when I remember to wear the pin," McKinney said. "But the pin is not the issue. The issue is facial recognition."

"She's a victim," said Pressley. "For Ms. McKinney not to be immediately recognized by the Capitol police was, in itself, an insult. She's recognizable from around the world, so in D.C., our capital, you would expect that almost any police officer would recognize her, with all the controversy attached to her name."

Pressley said a Capitol Hill police officer — "like someone who just came off a plantation" — once treated some black children he brought to Washington "like animals."

Michael Raffauf, one of McKinney's attorneys, suggested that powerful Republican lawmakers who run Congress may be behind the accusations and possible criminal charges against McKinney.

"I find it highly unusual that this thing has gotten so blown out of proportion," he said.

Police have said it was extraordinarily rare, and possibly unprecedented, for a member of Congress to strike a Capitol Hill police officer.

McKinney said members of the Congressional Black Caucus are backing her, though members of Congress who were supposed to attend Friday's press conference didn't show up.

However, an influential African-American lawmaker, Rep. Juanita Millender-McDonald (D-Calif.), came to McKinney's aid Wednesday night. Millender-McDonald, the ranking Democrat on the House Administration Committee, which oversees the Capitol police, called the House sergeant at arms, Wilson Livingood, amid rumors that McKinney would be arrested, her spokeswoman, Denise Mixon, said Friday.

Mixon denied Millender-McDonald tried to prevent an arrest.

"The congresswoman did not intervene. All she did was ask a question: 'Where are we now?' " Mixon said.

She said the conference call also included McKinney and Tad Vandermeid, legal counsel to House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.).

Mixon said Livingood did not specifically address whether there were plans to arrest McKinney, saying, "An investigation is going on." Millender-McDonald asked to be kept abreast of any developments, and Livingood agreed to do so, Mixon said.

Staff writer Scott Shepard contributed information about Rep. Juanita Millender-McDonald and The Associated Press contributed an account of what officers said occurred in the incident with McKinney.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

"There were two avenues she could take, one being the high road — admitting her error — and the other is to use the race card simply because the officer was trying to do his job," said Peacock.

Actor Danny Glover speaks on behalf of Rep. Cynthia McKinney (D-Ga.) at a Washington news conference Friday. Glover said he was attending 'to support our sister.'

Students from the district of Representative Cynthia McKinney (D-GA) support her at a news conference after she had an altercation with a Capitol Hill police officer earlier in the week, in Washington March 31, 2006. McKinney is waiting to learn if she will be charged for apparently striking an officer after she entered a House office building earlier this week unrecognized and did not stop when asked. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts

[ken5050]

One can only conclude that the security videotapes must be pretty damning for Cynthia..

[beaversmom]

Holy cow, that new hairdo isn't an improvement.

[mewzilla]

McKinney said members of the Congressional Black Caucus are backing her, though members of Congress who were supposed to attend Friday's press conference didn't show up.

Snort.

More Dems profiles in courage.

Nancy Pelosi still think what McKinney did is no big deal...?

[ken5050]

You're all over this story..24/7, eh? LOL

[PGalt]

Why of course Cynthia. File a lawsuit. Every day you have choices to make. And so do we.

[Erik Latranyi]

So, here is what we know.....

1) McKinney was late for a meeting (her fault)

2) McKinney was not wearing the special lapel pin given to members of Congress.

3) McKinney did not stop when told to do so 3 times by a security officer.

4) McKinney thinks a hand on her shoulder is an "assault".

[mewzilla]

McKinney's behavior torques me off, for a number of reasons.

[beaversmom]

McKinney thinks a hand on her shoulder is an "assault".

It is--for that poor security officer that was forced to touch that piece of doo doo.

[AmericaUnited]

"She's a victim," said Pressley. "For Ms. McKinney not to be immediately recognized by the Capitol police was, in itself, an insult. She's recognizable from around the world, so in D.C., our capital, you would expect that almost any police officer would recognize her, with all the controversy attached to her name."

Ok, someone fess up... THIS MUST BE FROM SCRAPPLEFACE.

[ken5050]

Of course..she's a disgrace...I was just funning with you a little..and good morning, BTEW..(g)but seriously, if McKinney didn't exist, Rove would have to invent her..BTW..if, heaven forbid, the Dems took the HOuse this fall.which comittee/subcommittee would McKiney chair?..(Now there's a scary thought..)

[SkyPilot]

Many Democrats are cringing right now. This incident is not what they want going into the 2006 midterm elections.

The Democrats know they are in the cellar during national polls rating them on national security and on crime.

They desperately need the support of police unions. Even if one local union supports a candidate, Democrats will mug for the cameras like no tomorrow.

This will hurt them if it is allowed to continue. But, they are stuck behind a rock and a hard place because they risk alienating the black vote if they abandon support for this totally wacky woman who should not be permitted within 100 feet of Congress, much less a member of it.

Expect a lot of back door dealing by the Democrats. They will have to appease the Capitol Police, while trying to stop this race card juggernaut by McKinney at the same time.

Frankly, the Democrats deserve this mess.

[mewzilla]

For Ms. McKinney not to be immediately recognized by the Capitol police was, in itself, an insult.

Delusions of grandeur much?

[Dustbunny]

She will get away with it and the only reason she will get away with it is because she is black, if she were white she would already be in jail.

[cripplecreek]

I suspect that the democrats are already thinking that it's time for McKinney to shut the hell up. It's going to be some real comedy and the democrats have no sense of humor.

[mewzilla]

I know. But I keep thinking about those two officers who were gunned down on the Hill in '98 and what could've happened on 9-11, and I just can't find it in me to be amused by her behavior. I think she's despicable.

[sgtbono2002]

She plays the "Race card" at "Howard University" surrounded by kids from Georgia, that she is teaching Racial hatred to.
She thinks every police officer should recognise her face, and I can almost agree with her on that one , its the face with that arrogant , hateful , spiteful, snarl on it.
I can tell you that if this officer had recognised her , he would have gone to great lengths to avoid touching her. I am surprised she hit him, a Mike Tyson bite would have been more appropriate for Ms. McKinney.

[ken5050]

FYI.the Congressional Black Caucus has just issued a challenge to the Capitol Hill Police for a game of lacrosse, to be played during halftime at FedEx field during the first Redskins exiibition game..