Midazblu's Blog

Family Wants Justice In 21-Year-Old's Taser death July 24th, 2008 Winn Parish, La., Police say that race had nothing to do with the way they handled the suspect Taser death ignites racial tensions Not far from Jena, La., suspicions of a cover-up mount WINNFIELD, La. - At 1:28 p.m. last Jan. 17, Baron "Scooter" Pikes was a healthy 21-year-old man. By 2:07 p.m., he was dead. What happened in the 39 minutes in between--during which Pikes was handcuffed by local police and shocked nine times with a Taser device, while reportedly pleading for mercy--is now spawning fears of a political cover-up in this backwoods Louisiana lumber town infamous for backroom dealings. Even more ominously, because Pikes was black and the officer who repeatedly Tasered him is white, racial tensions over the case are mounting in a place that's just 40 miles from Jena, La. Jena is the site of the racially explosive prosecution of six black teenagers charged with beating a white youth that last year triggered one of the largest American civil rights demonstrations in decades. And in a bizarre coincidence, Pikes turns out to have been a first cousin of Mychal Bell, the lead defendant in the Jena 6 case. No novelist could have invented Winnfield, a place so steeped in corruption that they built a local museum to try to sanitize it all.

Nigeria coach orders short back and sides for Olympic team Jul 25, 10:22 am EDT LAGOS (AFP) - Nigeria's Olympic football coach Samson Siasia has warned his players that he expects short hair and correct clothing for the Beijing Games, a federation spokesman said on Friday. Siasia, known as a stickler for discipline, believes that his players are devoting too much time to their elaborate hairstyles, time which he believes could be better used in fine-tuning their performances. And the coach goes as far as to claim that players with short hair are more aerodynamic and so find it easier to find their rhythm on the pitch. Nigeria, the Olympic champions in 1996, are drawn with the Netherlands, Japan and the United States in the first round of the Olympic tournament.

Everyone,

Stay with me as I slowly expose the flaws and dirty tactics within the State of Louisiana. I am frustrated, and have decided to expose them by means of my blog for now. As time progresses so shall I. My rights have been violated because of my coming forward and reporting corruption in the LA/ Department of Health and Hospitals. As I move forward I pray for guidance from the Most High. I am a firm believer that one can learn from history by researching the errors stemming from events of the past. By placing my thoughts on BP, gives me a sense of refuge (within my own place and time). Brother Martin taught us that "violence is not the answer."ALWAYS's. However, my thirst and fight for equality and justice for people of color can be compared to Bro. Malcom to some degree. My zeal to withstand the struggles of life in crucial times by holding on to hope might be compared to that of Bro. Mandela while being imprisoned. Yet my relentless urge to be heard can only be compared to one of the most influential women of color, Angela Davis. I am on a journey with no end, just hope. As I sit and pray, I ponder on how a circle (ring) of individuals actually believes that "Gods Eye's are not watching them " as if they were above the law. " No one is above the hand of God." With that said let me get back on track. I am not a preacher nor do I proclaim to be anything close. I just love God! I can hear my Cajun/Creole Granny's voice, repeatedly reminding me as a child that "God don't like ugly and he aint' too crazy bout' pretty." Which is the next matter, I want to place in the minds of the readers; let me clarify my position on racism. If you don't love yourself how will others love you? Now with that rhetorical question at hand, please think on it and let it "simmer for a while." "We were all created equal-by the same God." "My skin is my sin." (Ice Cube. Priority 1993) Midaz

The background investigation and records checks for Secret and Top Secret security clearance are mandated by Presidential Executive Order (EO). The EO requires these procedures in order for a security clearance to be granted; the FBI does not have the ability to waive them. Secret Clearances A Secret security clearance may be granted to those persons that have a "need-to-know" national security information, classified at the Confidential or Secret level. It is generally the most appropriate security clearance for state and local law enforcement officials that do not routinely work on an FBI Task Force or in an FBI facility. A Secret security clearance takes the least amount of time to process and allows for escorted access to FBI facilities. The procedure is as follows: FBI performs record checks with various Federal agencies and local law enforcement, as well as, a review of credit history. Candidate completes forms SF-86 and FD-258. Once favorably adjudicated for a Secret security clearance, the candidate will be required to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement. Top Secret Clearances A Top Secret clearance may be granted to those persons who have a "need-to-know" national security information, classified up to the Top Secret level, and who need unescorted access to FBI facilities, when necessary. This type of clearance will most often be appropriate for law enforcement officers assigned to FBI Task Forces housed in FBI facilities. In addition to all the requirements at the Secret level, a background investigation, covering a 10-year time period, is required. Once favorably adjudicated for a Top Secret security clearance, the candidate will be required to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement.

(CNN) -- A prisoner killed in a Maryland county jail on Sunday was a victim of "vigilante justice," Prince George's County Chief Executive Jack Johnson said. Ronnie White, 19, was in custody in connection with the death of a police officer. 1 of 2 Ronnie White, 19, died of strangulation and asphyxiation and had two broken bones in his neck, an autopsy showed. An attorney for White's family said that because White was being held in solitary confinement at the Prince George's County Correctional Center, a corrections officer would have had to let whoever killed the prisoner into his cell. His death came two days after his arrest in connection with the death of Prince George's County police Cpl. Richard Findley, who died Friday after being struck by a truck. Authorities believe that White was driving the truck, which was thought to be stolen. Police were attempting to flag it down when Findley was struck. "The killing of the officer is absolutely abhorrent, but also, Mr. White was presumed innocent and deserved his day in court just like any other citizens," Johnson said Monday night. "We live in a constitutional democracy, and no one has the right to be judge and jury." The FBI's Baltimore field office said it has opened a civil rights investigation into White's death. The Justice Department said Tuesday that federal prosecutors have been in contact with the state police and FBI as well as county prosecutors and the department's own Civil Rights Division. "In support of the Prince George's County State's Attorney's Office, which intends to retain lead responsibility for the criminal investigation, the U.S. Attorney's Office will provide guidance and legal advice to the officials looking into the death and seeking to develop evidence of criminal violations," the department said in a written statement. Johnson said Monday that he had requested that the Maryland State Police conduct an independent investigation into White's death. White family attorney Bobby Henry said there are only two ways someone could get into solitary confinement. Watch why death has outraged family Don't Miss WBAL: Prisoner's death ruled a homicide "You either have to be buzzed in from the booth -- I believe it's called the control booth -- you need a key from there, or you have to get a key from one of two officers who were assigned to his unit on that day," Henry said. The attorney said a "yet to be identified person or persons took it upon themselves to be the judge, jury and executioner for Mr. White." "The family of Ronnie White is absolutely, unequivocally outraged, incensed and deeply saddened that the life of their loved one could be taken so cold[ly], so callously," Henry said Tuesday. "Something is dreadfully wrong with the system." County authorities have said that police are not suspects and that seven corrections officials and an unspecified number of supervisors were the only ones authorized to be in White's cell. None has been suspended or removed. There were no surveillance cameras in the area of the jail where White was being held. White had not had the opportunity to meet with an attorney, Henry said. A physical conducted when White was processed revealed no health issues, according to Johnson. He was checked regularly in his cell and appeared fine when corrections officers saw him at 10:15 a.m. Sunday. When officers brought him lunch 20 minutes later, he was unconscious and without a pulse, Johnson said. Henry said White's family was not notified of his death until several hours after it occurred. They were told to go to Prince George's Hospital to identify the body, he said, but upon arrival were told the state medical examiner's office had taken custody of the body and it had been taken to Baltimore. "At this very moment, the family has not even seen the body of their loved one," Henry said. "They have been denied the opportunity to start the grieving process which naturally must occur." He said White's family is calling upon the Department of Justice, the FBI, the Maryland State Police and county officials "to conduct a thorough and exhaustive investigation into all of these tragic events, beginning with the events of Friday, June 27, and continuing up until this time."

Whistleblower Protection Act (WPA) for federal employees who engage in "whistleblowing," that is, making a disclosure evidencing illegal or improper government activities. The protections of the WPA apply to most federal executive branch employees and become applicable where a "personnel action" is taken "because of" a "protected disclosure" made by a "covered employee." Generally, whistleblower protections may be raised within four forums or proceedings: (1) employee appeals to the Merit Systems Protection Board of an agency's adverse action against an employee, known as "Chapter 77" appeals; (2) actions instituted by the Office of Special Counsel; (3) individually maintained rights of action before the Merit Systems Protection Board (known as an individual right of action, or IRA); and (4) grievances brought by the employee under negotiated grievance procedures. On March 9, 2007, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform reported H.R. 985 (110th Cong.) H.Rept. 110-42, the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2007, which would amend the WPA by providing protections for certain national security, government contractor, and science-based agency whistleblowers, and by enhancing the existing whistleblower protections for all federal employees. Subject Matter of Disclosure.

The statutory language of the whistleblower protections requires the disclosure to (a) evidence (i) a violation of any law, rule, or regulation, or (ii) gross mismanagement, a gross waste of funds, an abuse of authority, or a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety; and (b) not be prohibited by law or Executive Order, except when the disclosure is made to the Special Counsel or to the Inspector General of an agency or another employee designated by the head of the agency to receive such disclosures.