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A Controversy is Brewing in Jackson Ms: City Councilman Ken Stokes Invites Cop Killer to Speak
WLBT 3 ^ | 01/28/05 | By J.P. Hervis

Posted on 01/29/2005 3:46:04 AM PST by WKB

A Controversy is Brewing in Jackson A Controversy is Brewing in Jackson

He was convicted in the death of a Jackson police officer nearly 25 years ago. Next week he will speak inside city hall. Imari Obadele was invited by Councilman Kenneth Stokes to speak at a black history program Tuesday, and his appearance is causing quite a stir.

The scene was chaotic on Lewis Street in August of 1971 hours after Jackson police officer William Louis Skinner was gunned down during a house raid on Lewis Street .

“I heard the shooting. I was there when skinner got shot," said former JPD chief Jim Black.

The 32-year veteran of the Jackson Police Department was in the hospital when Skinner died.

"It was very emotional for all the police officer that were there," Black said.

Police and FBI agents were serving an arrest warrant. Inside were members of the Republic of New Afrika , a separatist militant group. Twenty-six-year JPD vet Jimmy King was nearby.

"It was quiet all of a sudden; sounded like a small war going on," said King.

"You just didn't lose an officer like that. It was very traumatic," Black stated.

In 1972, RNA president Imari Obadele along with several others was found guilty in the killing of Skinner. He served nearly six years. On February 1, 2005, Obadele will stand inside Jackson City Hall in front of an audience to talk about the RNA eleven.

"I think it's an abomination a slam on the good black people of Jackson and the good white people of Jackson," expressed Black.

The speech is part of a black history program. His host is city Councilman Kenneth Stokes.

"To me this would be like promoting Byron De La Beckwith. It's just a travesty," stated King.

The police training facility in Jackson is named after William Louis Skinner, remembering and honoring his service. But his colleagues say the invitation by a Jackson city councilman of Obadele will have the opposite affect.

Black says, "He is absolutely showing no respect for the man and woman who have given their lives in the line of duty."

Inside the training facility, Skinner's picture sits in between others who paid the ultimate price. Above is a sign saying lest we forget. Skinner's colleagues haven't forgotten, and their memories fuel emotional disappointment. An assistant to Councilman Stokes told WLBT he was out of state. When we offered to do a phone interview, she contacted him and Stokes declined. Just before 6:00 p.m. WLBT received a statement from Skinner's son justice court judge bill skinner. He says quote: "For more than 33 years my family and I suffered the loss of my father. This is not a black and white issue; it is a right and wrong issue. The fact that the city would celebrate a convicted felon who murdered my father tells me this is not the best of the new south."

City officials say this not a city-sponsored event. Councilmen have the right to invite speakers into city hall. Mayor Harvey Johnson released a statement saying he learned Friday about the event.

"The mayor's office has not been and will not be involved in the planning and implementation of this event," he said.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; US: Mississippi
KEYWORDS: copkiller
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1 posted on 01/29/2005 3:46:05 AM PST by WKB
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To: WKB

FRY MUMIA


2 posted on 01/29/2005 3:47:01 AM PST by Drango (To Serve Man.....IT'S A COOKBOOK!)
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To: selucreh; RebelDS; The Loan Arranger; Malichi; L98Fiero; ducks1944; LoudRepublicangirl; smonk; ...

A Beleive it or not from Kenneth Stokes Mississippi
Ping
Clarion Ledger Link
http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050129/NEWS01/501290353/1002


3 posted on 01/29/2005 3:48:19 AM PST by WKB (3! ~ Psa. 12 8 The wicked freely strut about when what is vile is honored among men.")
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To: WKB

Moral relativism in all its glory. Served nearly six years for killing a policeman, now free as a bird and invited to speak at black history event while his victim rots in the ground. Words fail.


4 posted on 01/29/2005 3:51:15 AM PST by hershey
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To: WKB

The guy served 6 years for murdering a cop. He has served his time.----- Sarcasm.------


5 posted on 01/29/2005 3:51:21 AM PST by sgtbono2002
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To: WKB

And if anybody doesn't like it....




your a racist.


6 posted on 01/29/2005 3:53:50 AM PST by digger48
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To: digger48

You are


7 posted on 01/29/2005 3:54:22 AM PST by digger48
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To: hershey

Kenneth Stokes is the one who "needs killin"


8 posted on 01/29/2005 3:57:45 AM PST by WKB (3! ~ Psa. 12 8 The wicked freely strut about when what is vile is honored among men.")
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To: WKB
I remember this well. About par for course for that bunch in Jackson isn't it?
9 posted on 01/29/2005 3:57:50 AM PST by gulfcoast6 (The Lord is my Shield and Protector)
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To: gulfcoast6
About par for course for that bunch in Jackson isn't it?


Esp Stokes. He is the worst of the worst in that bunch
and this proves it beyond a shadow of a doubt.
10 posted on 01/29/2005 3:59:15 AM PST by WKB (3! ~ Psa. 12 8 The wicked freely strut about when what is vile is honored among men.")
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To: WKB
Jackson, Detroit, Memphis, and Washington D.C. are cesspools of crime. Anyone wish to estimate the population ethnicity of each city with a high crime rate? Who glorifies the crime, drug dealing, making ho's out of women, and violent crime? Poor poor oppressed people? Methinks the foxes have gotten control of the henhouse.
11 posted on 01/29/2005 4:39:34 AM PST by vetvetdoug
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To: WKB

"A Controversy is Brewing in Jackson Ms: City Councilman Ken Stokes Invites Cop Killer to Speak"

That was YOUR headline


This is the headline from WLBT 3, the website you refer to:

"A Controversy is Brewing in Jackson"


This is the headline from the cLARION-LEDGER, a website linked to in reply #3:


"Man convicted for role in '71 officer killing asked to speak"


Some quotes from the Clarion - Ledger article:

"Along with Obadele, six others were convicted for their involvement. Obadele spent more than five years in prison for conspiracy and other charges."

"Obadele wasn't charged with murder. He was found guilty of conspiracy, assaulting a federal officer and using a weapon in a felony."

"This man was not even at the house when the shootout was taking place," Stokes said.


Your Post is a shining example of why the rules say don't alter headlines.

I don't doubt that that this guy Obadele is a really bad actor, but your alteration of the headlines to incite your wanted reaction is no less repugnant and puts you in the same class of people as Stokes.

This is exactly the kind of thing that gives the opposition legitimate ammunition to use against FR. If you were a stand up guy, you would, at the very least, have the Admin Mod change the headline to what was written, but what you really ought to do is ask to have the whole thread pulled and start all over.


12 posted on 01/29/2005 4:49:06 AM PST by VMI70 (...but two Wrights made an airplane)
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To: VMI70

Give me a break. It's people like you who are destroying the free speech aspect of this site. Go proof read your local paper or something.
TAW


13 posted on 01/29/2005 6:28:23 AM PST by Malichi
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To: WKB

The Jackson city council is the governmental equivalent of the Jerry Springer show, I'm sad to say.

MM


14 posted on 01/29/2005 7:27:18 AM PST by MississippiMan (Americans should not be sacrificed on the altar of political correctness.)
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To: WKB

The people of this town should take notice of who attends when this man comes to speak.


15 posted on 01/29/2005 7:31:01 AM PST by thathamiltonwoman
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To: Malichi

Well, I guess making stuff up, or at the very least, grossly mischaracterizing it, is free speech now days. Is it that way at DU?
We here try to pride ourselves on accurately representing the subject to be discussed.


16 posted on 01/29/2005 7:54:52 AM PST by VMI70 (...but two Wrights made an airplane)
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To: WKB

This about sums up what I try in vain to explain to the social liberal do-gooders on this forum about my hometown and what it's like at the ground zero of race relations.

It ain't Cosby.


17 posted on 01/29/2005 8:12:01 AM PST by wardaddy (I don't think Muslims are good for America....just a gut instinct thing.)
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To: vetvetdoug; WKB; digger48

Ya'll are all racists and I'm tellin!


ROTFL


18 posted on 01/29/2005 8:13:13 AM PST by wardaddy (I don't think Muslims are good for America....just a gut instinct thing.)
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To: VMI70

Are your through now?


19 posted on 01/29/2005 8:15:10 AM PST by WKB (3! ~ Psa. 12 8 The wicked freely strut about when what is vile is honored among men.")
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To: WKB

Depends...


20 posted on 01/29/2005 8:26:04 AM PST by VMI70 (...but two Wrights made an airplane)
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