COLOR OF CHANGE – BAISDEN FLAP A DISTRACTION SAYS MYCHAL BELL’S ATTORNEY
by A.man.I
My Urban Report received a letter from Mychal Bell’s attorney Louis Scott.
Scott appears to be responding to the ongoing chatter surrounding radio talk show host Michael Baisden’s inaccurate comments about the donations ColorofChange received for Bell’s defense fund.
I am quite distrubted that the Color of Change has selected this time to launch its offense against Michael Basien and Marcus Jones. It comes at a very bad time since it was launched almost exactly one month before the trial no Mychal Bell set for December 6, 2007. The fight between the internet and the detract radio can do nothing but detract from the real issues relating to unfairness within the judicial system. This may cause the public’s attention to be focused upon the fight rather than the legal, social and justice issues of the case.
The public may be detrasted from the fact that their are real people faced with real injustice. I sincerely hope that distrations relating to money isses will not overshawdow the serious legal issues which strike at the heart of the legal systemin the United States. The central issue b efore trial is: Can a child citizen of the United States be tried twice for the same offences, by the same judge, in the same courthouse, in the same state, in the same city.The courts will be caled upon to decide if we will aband9on the concept of double jeopardy completely!
Sincerly,
Louis G. Scott
Attorney at Law
This is how Color of Change responded:
We have not launched an offensive in any way against Michael Baisden or
Marcus Jones. On the contrary, Michael Baisden allowed Marcus Jones on his show to attack ColorofChange. Comments by both were construed by listeners to mean that Color of Change had not allocated the money donated for the defense of the Jena 6 to lawyers.Those comments were completely untrue, and both Mr. Baisden and Mr. Jones knew that before they made them.
Faced with these allegations, we posted copies of deposited checks to attorneys on our site, along with letters of authorization from family members to disburse those funds to legal teams. This includes a letter signed by Marcus Jones and a check to Louis Scott himself. We also posted audio of what was said on the Baisden show, should there be any doubt as to what was said. You can access all of that here:
www.colorofchange.org/jena/baisden
What do you think? Distraction for the Bell case, or damage control for ColorofChange?
Can there even be a question? Thanks to Mr. Baisden’s reckless and unfounded accusations, ColorOfChange has been forced to fight for its institutional survival. True, they are being forced to do damage control; but the damage was hardly self-inflicted. Mr. Basiden, on the other hand, is completely responsible for his current problems. The solution: Baisden has Rucker on his show; Baisden issues a real apology; the two men kiss and make up, and we all move on.
Why do Baisden apologist keeps calling responding to his attack and upholding the truth about Color of Change an attack on Baisden?
Are these people loco? Why do they think people should be able to lie on other people and tear down one of our best grassroots organizing institutions; and we’re just supposed to say it’s alright because of whom they are?
Yes it’s a distraction, and Baisden and Marcus Jones needlessly and callously caused, for which they should both be very ashamed. Unfortunately, they are not.
Nonetheless, evoking the good of Mychael Bell, and using this young man once again to forward personal self-interested agendas, will not work as shield to cover their reprehensible actions.