Chapel Hill man say daughter’s controversial photo taken ‘out of context’ – WRAL TV 5

The Political Agitator response: First of all I believe in Freedom of Speech but I be damn if anyone can tell me what should be offensive to me. I can think for myself and do not allow others to speak for me unless I give them permission. I will not argue with anyone about how I feel so I ain’t even going there wasteing my time. But I will let you know why I feel like I feel and it is up to you how you receive it.

Chapel Hill, N.C. — The father of a student at East Chapel Hill High School said Wednesday that his daughter did not mean to offend anyone in late April when she posted a photo to social media of two Confederate flags with the caption “South will rise.”

A contentious scene unfolded outside the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools offices Wednesday morning when Ronald Creatore arrived to defend his daughter and ask questions of concerned students, parents and community members who were holding a news conference to call for punishment in the incident. Creatore said the meaning of his daughter’s post was taken out of context. (Source: Read more)

PRESS RELEASE: CBC Chair Releases Letter to Baltimore Fraternal Order of Police Expressing Concern over Comments Made by Gene Ryan

May 5, 2015

Mr. Gene S. Ryan, President
Fraternal Order of Police
Baltimore City Lodge No. 3
3920 Buena Vista Avenue
Baltimore, Maryland 21211

Dear Mr. Ryan:

I write to express my disappointment after reading your May 1, 2015 letter addressed to Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby. My professional career prior to being elected to Congress involved thirteen years as Resident Superior Court judge and two years as Associate Justice on the State Supreme Court, a total of fifteen years in the judiciary. My thirty year legal career and decade as a Member of Congress has provided me with insight into how our court system should work and the interplay between the individuals who have the responsibility to administer justice.

Your request for a Special Independent Prosecutor is illogical and unfounded in the law. Your statement that “none of the officers involved are responsible for the death of Mr. Gray” is reckless and irresponsible. You do not have the ability to make those determinations. It will be a jury verdict of Baltimoreans that will decide these cases after the parties present substantial evidence of guilt or innocence, not the Fraternal Order of Police.

Your letter states that you have full faith in Ms. Mosby’s professional integrity yet you conclude that a conflict of interest exists by her office investigating the case. You specifically cite a personal and professional relationship between Ms. Mosby and defense counsel. You went on to state that the lead prosecutor has connections with the local media. And, finally, you recklessly state that the political career of Ms. Mosby’s husband will be impacted by her participation in these cases. These frivolous and inflammatory statements are repugnant to any citizen with knowledge of our criminal justice system.

Prosecutors in every jurisdiction across the country have relationships with the local bar but exercise their duty to prosecute cases without allowing those relationships to influence their zealousness in prosecuting the case. Rules of Professional Responsibility do not prevent a lawyer from participating in a case because of a friendship with the lawyer for the opposing litigant.

Mr. Ryan, you have an important responsibility to advocate for law enforcement officers who serve our communities. That responsibility requires you to be assertive and present relevant facts for fair consideration of the issues in controversy. Your sacred responsibility is violated when you make accusations that do not lead to actionable violations of the Rules of Professional Responsibility.

You have damaged the good reputation of your organization in writing the letter, releasing it to the media, and making accusations that amount to nothing more than propaganda intended to interfere with the proper administration of justice. Undoubtedly, prospective jurors have read your letter which suggests that you could be trying to improperly influence public opinion in these cases.

I respectfully ask that you reconsider your statements and make the necessary corrections. These are serious cases which should proceed to trial using the customary procedures involved in other felony cases in the City of Baltimore and jurisdictions across the country.

Thank you very much.

Very truly yours,
G. K. Butterfield
Member of Congress

Sex, Drugs and Poverty in Red and Blue America – New York Times

The Political Agitator response: Well can’t wait to see how this get twisted!

Take the statistics in the first chart, which was produced from data collected and analyzed by Child Trends, an organization that conducts research on the quality of children’s lives. It shows that for the last few decades the out-of-wedlock birthrate among African-Americans — exceptionally high at more than 70 percent — has risen less rapidly than the white rate. Among African-Americans, the out-of-wedlock birthrate has gone from 57.3 percent in 1980 to 71.4 percent in 2013, an increase of 25 percent; the white rate over the same time period has gone up 205 percent, from 9.6 percent to 29.3 percent.

The highest rates of white teenage pregnancy in the 30 states with available data are in red states. While the national white teenage pregnancy rate in 2010 was 38 per 1,000, white rates were at least 10 points higher in nine states: Oklahoma (59), West Virginia (64), Arkansas (63), South Carolina (51), Alabama (49), Mississippi (55), Tennessee (51), Kentucky (59) and Louisiana (51). Each of these states cast decisive majorities for Romney in 2012. (Source: Read more)

Edgecombe board opposes schools split – Rocky Mount Telegram

The Political Agitator response: Makes no sense to undo this. See lawsuit dated 1991: Press Release from Rep. Shelly Willingham, NC House District 23: Some Nash County Commissioners’ Actions Will Re-Segregate Local Schools

TARBORO – The Edgecombe County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Monday against a proposed split of the Nash-Rocky Mount Public Schools system.

The vote puts Edgecombe commissioners in line with the Edgecombe County Board of Education, Nash-Rocky Mount Board of Education and Rocky Mount City Council in opposing the split.

In a 4-3 vote on April 20, the Nash County Board of Commissioners barely approved a proposal requesting the N.C. General Assembly realign the Nash-Rocky Mount system along county lines.

The plan would undo 1992 legislation that merged Tarboro city schools system with Edgecombe County Public Schools and created Nash-Rocky Mount Public Schools. (Source: Read more)

Edgecombe County Public Schools Regular Monthly Meeting Monday May 11, 2015