Two men stop traffic to settle a road rage dispute.
Two men stop traffic to settle a road rage dispute.
This op-ed piece originally appeared on Hebrew Vision News

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“…While we appreciate the right of our citizens to protest and applaud the fact that, to date, the protests have been peaceful, we are very concerned about the rhetoric of the protests. In fact, the images seen on television look and sound much like a lynch mob in that they are calling for the immediate imprisonment of these officers without them ever receiving the due process that is the Constitutional right of every citizen, including law enforcement officers…”
-Excerpt from the Baltimore Fraternal Order of Police statement-

The recent statement issued by the Baltimore Fraternal Order of Police (BFOP) comparing the indignant protesters in arms over the police related death of Freddie Gray to a “lynch mob” adds insult to injury to the greater Black community in America due to the historical terrorism that we have faced from lynch mobs, which has included police repression. So with the recent rash of police murders of unarmed Black’s, this statement clearly demonstrates that the ghosts of Jim Crow’s past continues to haunt America as many of the murderers who are police do so with impunity.
In light of the numerous extrajudicial executions of unarmed Blacks, it is absolutely deplorable how the statement recognized the “Constitutional right” of due process that the officers involved in Freddie Gray’s murder are being afforded, while none of the victims who have lost their lives from these rogue police officers ever had a chance to experience. This is an injustice that the Black community has continued to face, with men, women and children suffering murder after murder at the hands of street vigilantes and police officers who have played the role of jury, judge and executioner. And while I do believe in the rule of law and the righteous carrying out of justice, it is an outright insult to the Black community to demonstrate such an utter disregard and contempt for Black life in America.

As victims of state sponsored brutality, from plantation patrols to police forces, Blacks in America are and have been without sanctuary in law or its enforcement thereof. The continued onslaught against Black life in America shows the blatant contempt that the system in its entirety has for those who are classified in America as Black. As an individual who strives to be a man of peace, truth, justice, love and respect in Torah, and seeking to redress the grievances that are present with the Black Community in America, I find it absolutely hypocritical that the BFOP statement has been issued without providing any clear evidence to date of how Freddie Gray died in police custody. But it is such statements as these that provides me with the insight that what is taking is place is nothing less than the incitement of the Black community to riot by the powers that be in order to justify the rounding up and hauling off of the Black community to FEMA Camps where only the Most High knows what then will take place. Our best bet, as a community, is to find ways to further distance ourselves from the clear and present dangers that lurk in governmental structures in order to ensure our survival, and not fall to the traps that are being set for us. For it is only until we we are able to insulate ourselves from the existential threats that have been assailing us for the past 400 plus years in America, that we will be able to thrive as we once did before in our homelands from where we were stripped and forced to suffer in the most nightmarish of conditions in the blood drenched land of police killing sprees and home of the institutionally enslaved.
Today is a low spot in the lives of Love & Hip-Hop star Mendeecees Harris and fiancee Yandy Smith.
The reality TV star found his future in a guilty plea where he will serve between 5-40 years for drugs – heroin and cocaine. He will also have to pay a fine of $5 million for running a drug ring that operated in upstate New York. He will be free until sentencing in August.
Yandy and Mendeecees will get married live on a special episode of “Love & Hip-Hop” next month.
He will have to give all of his LAHH paychecks to to the state in the form of restitution for his crimes.
There has been quite a furor over Iggy Azalea and her lyrics! But the latest allegations are not going to bode well with anybody! A recent vid suggests she is a straight up biter and has stolen raps from none other than Kendrick Lamar! Remember when Kendrick said the following to Billboard: “She’s doing her thing. Let her. People have to go through trials and tribulations to get where they at. Do your thing, continue to rock it, because obviously God wants you here.”
The future is looking great for Top Five actress and Love & Hip Hop Atlanta star Karlie Redd. Today it was confirmed with Local Choice Spirits that she signed a liquor deal worth over a million dollars where she will also have 25 percent ownership share in her own brand of liquor.
Now fans of the Love & Hip-Hop star around the world will soon be able to experience rum the way Karlie enjoys it.
Local Choice CEO Paula Hewlette anticipates that Karlie Redd’s brand will be a multi-million dollar brand based on projected sales. The deal was orchestrated by KD McNair and her business manager Dora Din.
The Trinidadian born star is extremely excited about the opportunity saying, “As I build my brand empire, I realize it is important to take the time to celebrate important milestones. What better way to do it than with the new Karlie Redd Rum! It is important for me through this platform to entertain, promote the safety of drinking and give back to my community.”
TMZ reports that Redd will be involved in the entire brand making process. The rum has yet to be named but Redd is thinking of running a social media contest to give her fans a chance to name her first release of the rum alcohol.
Recently the DMX did a show in New Jersey, and while waiting on his flight at the airport with some other patrons he apparently caught the Holy Ghost and delivered a sermon.
DJ Skee broke the news on his Skee TV show. He also spoke on the internal war within the music industry.
Atlanta’s London Jae New Mixtape drops. London Jae has recently been in the publics eye due to him signing to B.O.B. and his No Genre label. London Jae wanted to give the fans what they were looking for so he delivers “Better L8te Than Never”. It doesn’t seem like London Jae is late at all with the sounds of this mixtape, hosted by DJ Scream, DJ Swamp Izzo and featured guest appearances from B.O.B., Scotty ATL and more.
A University of Central Florida student was shot by officers with a Taser after going on a shirtless rant during an apparently bad LSD trip, an incident caught on police body cameras. John Cain, 21, had pulled the fire alarm at UCF’s library Sunday and ran outside yelling for help when fellow students tried to calm him. As the students waited for campus police to arrive, witnesses were heard on the video saying Cain told them he took LSD and needed help. He also kept removing his clothing. When officers arrived, body cameras showed them confront a shirtless Cain, who put up a brief fight before he was shot with the Taser and taken into custody.
A freshman Republican congressman was caught on video threatening to knock out a conservative protester during a demonstration outside his office last week.
Protester: “You told me you didn’t vote for amnesty and you did. I looked it up on the Internet,” the man said as he shook the congressman’s hand. “You lied to me.”
Congressman: “Mike, if you touch me again, I’ll drop your a$$,” Knight replied after the man slapped him on the shoulder.
An Arkansas truck driver has pleaded guilty to trading $50,000 worth of lunch meat for crack cocaine. Larry Ron Bowen was sentenced on Monday to a year of inpatient drug treatment and six years of probation, the Memphis Flyer reports. He also must pay $18,500 in restitution.
Black-ish star Tracee Ellis Ross has some big features in mind for the show’s second season. During a panel to celebrate the show’s first season, Ross said she would love if Kanye West guest starred on an episode and shook up her to Dre, played by Anthony Anderson, marriage a bit.
“I think he should be a doctor working with my character, Rainbow,” Ross told The Hollywood Reporter. “Dre gets worried Rainbow is going to have an affair with him, but Rainbow has no interest.”
The two have been longtime friends and Ross appeared in his visuals for “Touch the Sky” and “Kanye’s Workout Plan.”
While Ross wants West, the show’s creator Kenya Barris has Justin Bieber in mind.
“For some reason I feel like Bieber would be a great person to bring into Zoey’s life,” Barris said. “He would be the kid a father wouldn’t necessarily want their daughter to date. I’ve seen some funny comedic stuff he’s done.”
Catch Black-ish on ABC on Wednesdays at 9:30 p.m.
Chicago rep Brewski release his new album just over a week ago. With the project, we heard a hard-hitting, standout track titled “Blake Griffin.” Today, as he embodies the tenacity of the Clippers’ superstar power forward, Brewski matches the intensity of the single with an equally rowdy visual. The Confidence LP is currently available on iTunes.
After being behind bars for over four months, Bobby Shmurda and Rowdy Rebel will be headed to trail on June 25th, XXL reports. The two Brooklyn spitters along with 13 other members of their GS9 crew were charged with over 100 charges including attempted murder, conspiracy, assault and drugs and weapons charges.
The two attended a court date today (Apr. 22) where the statement and surveillance video that led to Rowdy Rebel’s attempted murder charge was requested as well as paperwork from Bobby’s 2014 gun charge that was dropped.
Rowdy and Shmurda’s bail remains at $2 million. If someone comes up with their bail, they will be released from Riker’s Island before their trial begins.
“What I would want is some reasonableness to take place and that this young man can be given a reasonable bail and get out,” their lawyer Kenneth Montgomery told XXL. ”But I know what we’re up against. We’re not up against reason. We’re up against the rule of law.”
While imprisoned the 20-year-old phenom is up for two awards at the 2015 Billboard Music Awards which include the Top Streaming Song and Top Rap Song for his “Hot N—a” track.
The Internet era has given people the ability to tamper with their true identity. Social media has become a highlight reel, creating an inflated version of those around us. While there are a number of fools out there who can’t back up that tough talk, there’s still some who are true to their word. Among those are North Carolina’s Fluent, a rapper committed towards staying on his path, devoid of smoke and mirrors. For his latest leak, “Run With Me,” Flu connects with Fred the Godson, and singer/songwriter, J. Harris, over a banging, horn heavy instrumental provided by longtime collaborator, J. Cardim. Fluent speaks on the fakers that he’s come across on his journey to the top. “Run With Me” is the latest leak taken from Fluent’s Supreme Victory 2 (SV2) LP, which is produced entirely by J. Cardim, and set to include features from the likes of French Montana, Sean Kingston, Chevy Woods, Red Cafe and more. SV2 is set to drop this May…stay tuned!
There have been a host of artists to take off from the Western Pennsylvania city of Pittsburgh over the last few years with artists like Mac Miller, Wiz Khalifa, and Chevy Woods developing productive careers of touring and recording sold out shows. Up next in the city of black and yellow comes Young Nate, the product of a music family where his father Ron and owner of Steel City Records has had several successful movements in the city known for producing champions like the Steelers.
Kicking off his release of content over the next few months Young Nate is planning the release of Welcome to the Wildman mixtape which will feature songs of all original material. With videos for songs like “Time Zones,” “TTB” and “Like an AK” Young Nate has a host of material he’s planning on releasing. “Right now we just shot a video for my song “Time Zones,” so we’re just going to release videos to promote the tape,” Young Nate just explained. “It’s mostly features from my team but we are really excited about the release.”
Scott King is back as he jumps on Raekwon’s classic “Incarcerated Scarfaces” instrumental and goes to work…
Hip Hop Legend Big Gipp gears up to hit the road on a multi-city tour in support of his forthcoming album, “Zagga” to be released this summer on Epic Records. The tour kicks off April 27th in Seattle, WA and continues down the west coast through Oregon, California and Nevada; more dates are being added weekly so be sure to stay tuned to www.gippzagga.com for updates and to purchase tickets. In the meantime, go check out the funny, upbeat, and colorful music video for Gipp’s debut record, Beautiful Lover featuring Eric Benet. Beautiful Lover, directed by Calmatic Films, sees Big Gipp and Eric Benet as partners in a male gigolo service al a Deuce Bigolow the movie. Head over to iTunes now to purchase the infectious track and gift it to your Beautiful Lover.
A man was rescued from the tracks at a Washington Metro station after his wheelchair rolled off the platform. Surveillance video shows two bystanders jumping onto the tracks to lift the man and his wheelchair back onto the platform Tuesday afternoon at
the U Street station. Metro says the man who fell had a bloody mouth but no other visible
injuries. He was taken to a hospital for treatment.