As horrific as this tragic event was, it never received the national media coverage that the Trayvon Martin case received in Florida.
In the not too distant past two young people in the prime of their lives, Christopher Newsom and Channon Christian were car-jacked by five people who unmercifully brought an end to their lives. The torture that was brought against this young couple resulted in three receiving 46 counts each against them, one receiving 40 counts against and one facing federal charges as an accessory after the fact from the District Attorney General of Knox County.
Now there really is no comparison in the incident that took place with Trayvon Martin and this young couple other than all three needlessly lost their lives. However, how this young couple lost their lives can never be compared by the Trayvon Martin case. The brutality and length of torture for four days can’t be compared.
Why didn’t Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson provide counsel and help to the families of the victims? Why wasn’t the FBI been called in to investigate this as a hate crime? Why didn’t the NAACP and the ACLU called for an investigation?
The details of this young couple’s slow, horrific, tortured death is too gory to publish as it would only make you sick. This was brutality against a segment of society that would not be tolerated by other segments that would make the Trayvon Martin case look like a drop of water compared to a raging ocean if it had happened to them.
My deepest prayers are for Trayvon, Christopher, Channon and families. May all of you rest in peace.
Where were you Al and Jesse? Where was help from the NAACP and ACLU? Where was the intense national media that the Martin case received? Does anybody have an answer?
Michael Mansfield
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It's simple, Mr. Mansfield. In the case you speak of there was an immediate arrest, followed by a prosecution and conviction. The only reason the Trayvon Martin case received national and international attention is because there was no arrest, and there was no intention of making one. Otherwise, the case would have remained local like so many others like it that have taken place in Florida. Cases where at least an arrest was initially made even if a judge or jury later found the accused innocent. Duh.
For you to exploit the tragic, brutal death of these two people in an attempt at sarcasm itself is deplorable. In your own wicked attempts, you actually diminish and take away from whatever message you were attempting to convey to others. Shame on you.
Brenda Manghane-Washington
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Slow down there Brenda. Lest you become one of the “haters” you are always referring to. Mr. Mansfield may have been using the wrong case to justify his argument but he is most certainly correct in exposing the hypocrisy of the NAACP, the “Reverends” Al and Jesse, and even our President.
Have you heard of Daniel Adkins, Brenda? Unlike the police officers you constantly vilify with your hate-speech-filled tirades, I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt. You see in Phoenix, AZ on 04/04/2012, a black man and a white-Hispanic man were involved in an altercation in which the unarmed man was shot to death. Sound familiar? It should. Like the Zimmerman case, one man claimed self-defense although it was very difficult to prove he was threatened at all. The shooter was at a Taco Bell drive-thru when the mentally-challenged Daniel Adkins was out walking his dog and stepped in front of the car of Cordell Jude. Jude and Adkins had words and Jude shot Adkins to death after Adkins allegedly swung a stick at the car of Mr. Jude. Cordell Jude stayed at the scene and called 911. The police arrived to find Mr. Adkins’ dog standing over his body and no weapons at the scene other than Cordell Jude’s pistol. No stick and no damage to the vehicle or persons therein. In case you haven’t guessed by now the shooter, Cordell Jude, is a black man and Daniel Adkins was a white-Hispanic.
So, allow me to reiterate and expand on Mr. Mansfield’s question. Where is Al and Jesse for Daniel Adkins? Where is the NAACP and the wear-your-hoodie-to-school days? The special prosecutors and the President’s interference, where is that? The widespread protests and harassment of Cordell Jude by the media? Have you seen any of this because I haven’t. The “Reverends” love to insinuate that they are champions of civil rights but they, and the others I have mentioned, really just come off like common hypocrites.
One last thing. I understand many people claimed to have taken issue with stand-your-ground laws but where are THOSE people today? Another failed interpretation of the law but this one apparently happens in a vacuum. Who is speaking out for justice for Daniel Adkins? You Brenda? Has Spike Lee posted the address of Cordell Jude on twitter to nearly 300k followers? I didn’t think so.
Brian Ramsey
Ooltewah
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Plain and simple, it is selective outrage from the race hustlers.
Brian Foley
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Both of these cases are tragic and deplorable. Both of these cases illustrate the absurdity of the "Stand Your Ground" law and its murky consequences. The only difference I see is that I've heard about the Atkins case on MSNBC and various liberal websites, such as The Daily Kos and Democratic Underground. All I hear from conservative sources is why are Jesse and Al so involved?
Both are horrible acts of useless violence. This country is so full of hate, any civil discussion of issues is nearly impossible. It's truly shameful.
Herb Montgomery
Hixson