Ithacans vent outrage (over alleged hate crime), seek justice at meeting

Ithaca Journal ^ | Saturday, July 13, 2002 | By KANDEA MOSLEY

[Behind Liberal Lines]

ITHACA -- Outrage, frustration and a desire for justice united those at an emergency meeting held Friday, to discuss a racially charged assault reported earlier this week.

About 75 local residents gathered at the Southside Community Center to learn how they could support the victim and get their questions about the handling of the case addressed. Several city and county officials were in attendance.

[Behind Liberal Lines]

...many questioned a decision made by Ithaca City Court Judge Marjorie Olds to release the three alleged attackers from Tompkins County jail on Wednesday without bail. He said when people of color in Ithaca are accused of crimes, they are routinely sent to jail on bail amounts, even when those offenses are relatively minor.

It appears that they were arrested on Monday and apparently not arraigned until two days later. Not exactly the revolving door justice the activists would like us to believe. Furthermore, NYS law says that a defendant can only be held for a short time without holding a preliminary hearing. Furthermore, the standard for bail is whether the accused is a flight risk, has ties to the community, etc.

Others said the community should focus its efforts on boycotting Pete's Grocery. When Signer reported store representatives said the video cameras on the property grounds were not working the day of attack, the crowd responded in uproar and disbelief.

This is the part that really frosts me. Simply because the attack occurred at this small mom and pop grocery store these race baiters want the store boycotted? Geeez.

By the way, anyone with more time than me today might want to "Google" the reporter who wrote this article. We've discussed her here at FR before, but she has a history as a major league race baiting activist (so, of course, the Ithaca "paper of record" assigns her to this racially charged story).

Ithaca is the City of Evil.

[Behind Liberal Lines]

City of Evil bump

[Clara Lou]

Any news about what brought on the confrontation between these whites and a black woman?

[Khepera]

People fighting usually call each other names. They also pick words and phrases that offend their adversary. This in and of itself does not indicate a hate crime. What about the black person involved? Did they use racial or ethnic slures as well? Who started the altercation and for what reason? Do we know all the facts here? I doubt it.

A disagreement leading to a fight does not a hate crime make.

[general_re]

This is the part that really frosts me. Simply because the attack occurred at this small mom and pop grocery store these race baiters want the store boycotted?

Nahhhh - it's because the video cameras "weren't working". How convenient. Obviously, Pete's Grocery is part of the Great White Conspiracy, doing their little part to hold people of color down, and oppress them. Even in the enlightened city of Ithaca.

Clearly these three accused are a cancer on the local body politic, and have to be excised like any other tumor. I'm surprised they're even bothering with the formality of a trial. Jest string 'em up, I says...

[Behind Liberal Lines]

Any news about what brought on the confrontation between these whites and a black woman?

Yesterday, the Journal printed both sides' statements to the police (nothing like trying a case in the media, eh?) and it looked to me like the whites really did start the fight. Essentially, the whites were driving by when they saw this young black woman walking down the street and thought she looked stuck up. So they made a comment. She made one back. The whites got out of their pick up truck and the melee started.

How any of that is the fault of the grocery store they happened to pull over at is beyond me. But apparently not beyond the "enlightened" in the City of Evil.

[Behind Liberal Lines]

People fighting usually call each other names. They also pick words and phrases that offend their adversary. This in and of itself does not indicate a hate crime. What about the black person involved? Did they use racial or ethnic slures as well? Who started the altercation and for what reason? Do we know all the facts here?

See previous post to Clara.

The whites alleged that the black woman used slurs also. She denies it. They admit using racial slurs against the black woman.

In any event, it does look like the whites went out of their way to attack this woman with relatively little provacation. How that makes the grocery store culpable or proves "institutionalized racism" is the real whackiness here.

[Clara Lou]

In any event, it does look like the whites went out of their way to attack this woman with relatively little provacation. How that makes the grocery store culpable or proves "institutionalized racism" is the real whackiness here.
I'm assuming that the store owner is not black. Would that be correct? In that case, too bad for him. (You really, really do live behind liberal lines, don't you?)

[Behind Liberal Lines]

I'm assuming that the store owner is not black.

You assume correctly.

Too bad this didn't happen about one block up at the organic "cooperative" grocery store. Then they could boycott that.

Yeah, right....

[07055]

In any event, it does look like the whites went out of their way to attack this woman with relatively little provacation.

If that is the case, then they should be punished to the full extent of the law. Just like any lawbreakers should be---black or white.

[Behind Liberal Lines]

...they should be punished to the full extent of the law. Just like any lawbreakers should be---black or white.

I agree. 100%

I didn't touch on that issue because--simply put--it wasn't relevant to the points I was trying to make that time which were: yes, there was an attack but no, the store owner is not somehow responsible and no, there is nothing insideous about the fact that the assailants are out of jail already.

I am glad, however, that you reminded us of that very important fact. Thanks.

[07055]

I think all of us feel the same way---after a trial, if someone is guilty, they should be punished.

None of this, "Well, once there was slavery, so all of us should be given a lifetime 'get out of jail free' card."

[Behind Liberal Lines]

The paper also has an interview with the victim.

http://www.theithacajournal.com/news/stories/20020713/topstories/216223.html

Interestingly enough, the victim was raised by white parents and has white siblings.

She, unlike the "activists" also seems to appreciate the work the police did on the case and issued a call against any sort of retalitory violence.

I only hope as this case progresses some Al Sharpton type doesn't get ahold of her and turn her head around.

[Clara Lou]

She would appar to be the key to the whole situation. It would be a good thing for her to 1)rise above the white trash who assaulted her thus keeping the situation in balance and 2) go do some daily business with Pete-- even if she only buys a package of gum.

[Clara Lou]

Gee whiz! "appear"

[Fixit]

Background material on Kandea Mosely, from Flit.

(More info at the link.)

I still don't believe Ithaca Journal writer Kandea Mosley. And that's got less to do with my knowledge of journalists than my knowledge of Google. For Ms. Mosley... the first journalist to quote an actual U.S. soldier saying war crimes were committed... is simply not credible.

To save you the googlification: Kandea Mosley graduated from the Bronx High School of Science in 1993, making her, I'd guess, about 27 now. She then went to UCLA, where she became the chairwoman of the African Student Union in 1996-7, and then ran for student president as the Students First! candidate, which opposed Nike on campus and the ending of affirmative action in California (Proposition 209), and won. The protests in her year as president took various forms: she was quoted as saying:

Our opposition to Prop. 209 ... is not a result of a skewed perception of affirmative action as a cure-all for all of our communities and the racist, classist violence perpetuated on our people daily. Rather, the reasons behind raising a political struggle in this university is created out of our understanding that organized struggle ... is necessary on every level.

At the inauguration of the new UCLA chancellor that spring, a web report notes:

Inside USA president Kandea Mosley delivered a speech decrying the end of affirmative action and then sat down on the stage for several minutes, her fist raised in protest.

Graduating in 1998, Mosley then returned to New York, covering the Green Party for the Village Voice (!!) during the 2000 elections. And now for the last few months, she's been upstate, working as a beat reporter at the Ithaca Journal. I'm sorry, but I just can't believe someone with those credentials is going to come to the question of U.S. actions in Afghanistan capable of clear-headed judgment. So I don't believe her story.

[Behind Liberal Lines]

Mosley is most likely working at the Journal for one reason:
Gannett's affirmative action policy:

...if you work at the Gannett chain, which owns USA Today, you'll be evaluated according to how many minority sources are used in your stories and how many pictures of minorities appear on the news pages. If you don't use enough, you may not get promoted.

[ABG(anybody but Gore)]

City of Evil bump for you.

[Behind Liberal Lines]

It appears that the "activists" are going full forward with their campaign of intmidation against this innocent store owner:

anti-racist-sexism demonstrations, Monday 7/15
On Monday, July 15 from noon to one pm, Black  
Women will STAND STILL on the commons while our allies  
of other genders and colors hand out fliers to  
passersby that say, "See Black Women. We're Human  
Beings. Stop Violence."  
We're also hoping to gather in front of Pete's  
Grocery store on Buffalo St. on Monday, July 15 at 5pm  
as bodyguards. We'll either chant or hold signs up  
that say, "YOU JUST WATCHED, NOW WE'RE WATCHING YOU."  
Please bring your WORKING video cameras!  
I hope you can participate and/or spread the  
word. All are welcome. Passivity contributes to the  
problem-let's get free!

Ithaca is the City of Evil.

[NativeNewYorker]

5'll get you 10 this huckster IJ writer will be "promoted" within a year to a more visible Gannett Co. perch. The IJ is just a stepping stone for someone with her background and obvious ambition.