While Twitter continues to storm Don Lemon for his controversial endorsement of an act deemed unconstitutional, an angry activist – fed up with Lemon’s destructive comments about blacks – recalls when the embattled CNN Anchor was the victim of a violent racial profiling.
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You wouldn’t know it based on his recent resounding endorsement for the controversial stop, question and frisk law, but in 2001, CNN Anchor Don Lemon – who at the time was a general assignment reporter for WCAU-TV (Channel 10) – was the victim of “shopping while black.” Reports say that after Lemon purchased a compact disc player from the now defunct Tower Records in Center City Philadelphia, he was followed two blocks to his car by a white security officer and was “roughed up” and “accused of shoplifting.”
Seemingly unable, or unwillingly, to remember the traumatic experience that he claims caused him “physical injuries, embarrassment, emotional and psychological trauma, headaches, dizziness, anxiety, depression and post-traumatic syndrome,” Lemon this week during his regular slot on the Tom Joyner Show said although police aren’t polite when conducting stop and frisk, that tampering with the formula that has reduced crime in New York City will cause the crime rate to creep back up, and thus the big apple would lose tourist dollars.
“Would you rather be politically correct or safe and alive,” Lemon asked rhetorically.
An outspoken activists I spoke to who lived just a stone throws away from Don Lemon when he resided in Philadelphia, said it was hurtful to hear Lemon endorse stop and frisk, given the fact that when Lemon filed a lawsuit seeking punitive and compensatory damages “in excess of $50,000,” Lemon’s attorney, Richard K Washington Jr., came to him for assistance in staging a protest.
“Tower Records was notorious at the time for harassing young black men. In 2001, when Don Lemon had his face pushed to the ground and the officer told him to “shut the f*ck up ni**er,” his lawyer came to my condo, and asked for help. I didn’t know Dom personally, just from watching him on Channel 10 News, and from the few times he covered our direct actions. Nonetheless, we stuck our necks out, because the cause is bigger than the person,” explains Racial Unity USA Founder Asa Khalif.
READ: Activist Asa Khalif Goes After Rosie O’ Donnell
An activist who owns properties in both New York City and Philadelphia – two big cities with stop and frisk laws on the books – Khalif, who’s been making headlines recently for his work in the Tomayo McDuffy case, says that stop and frisk was proven that it didn’t have anything to do with the decline in crime in the big apple, but it has, he mentions, “increased the number of lawsuits against the city.”
READ: Stop, Frisk, Repeat?
“These officers, who swore to protect the community, have instead bought their personal bias and bigotry into neighborhoods, and have begun harassing and dehumanizing people of color.”
READ: Black Woman Harassed by Racist Cops While Witnessing Stop and Frisk
Pointing to the fact that Lemon’s lover is a white man, Khalif says he’s certain that if Lemon had to carry the burden that other’s do when loving a black man, his tone would be completely different.
“If he had a black lover he would face the same fears that black people – regardless of their sexual orientation – are confronted with daily; like will my loved one be stopped when purchasing a belt from Barney’s, or be killed when attempting to buy skittles from a 7-11. Don Lemon, without question, is a self-hating Negro. And when you’re struggling with self-hatred the way he is, you’ll do anything to show that you’re a good little ni**er, even assuming the position and letting the white slave master climb your back.”
Although Khalif understands Lemon grew up in a “privileged bubble,” where the “inner city never effected him,” he says there’s no reason for him to use his bully-pulpit to pass judgment and make destructive comments about the African-American community.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if Don Lemon becomes a regular on Fox News because of his ridiculous statement,” Khalif adds sarcastically.
Khalif stresses that no matter how Don Lemon tries to present stop and frisk with a nice, fancy bow, the bottom line is the policy is morally and constitutionally illegal.
“Lemon’s pants weren’t sagging when his head was slammed into the ground 12 years ago. I’m not a doctor or anything, but I’m sure some of the marbles are still lose after they slammed his pussy into the pavement. He must’ve woken up he thought he was a white man; maybe he needs his head slammed again in NYC to remind him who he is. It doesn’t matter how white his lover is, he’s still a black man in America!”
Thanks for reading. Until next time, I’m Flood the Drummer® & I’m Drumming for JUSTICE!™
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