By: Donald V. Watkins Copyrighted and Published on October 14, 2024 An Editorial Opinion Crisis management firms do a wonderful job of putting mascara on ugly blemishes. Here is a classic example how they work. The Birmingham police department, which is severely understaffed, is in the midst of a law enforcement crisis. Public safety in the city has collapsed. The department is struggling to prevent skyrocketing daily homicides and frequent mass shootings in the city. The staffing shortage has also severely hampered the department's ability to solve these homicides, mass shootings, and other violent crimes. How did the police department get in such terrible shape? The answer lies in Mayor Randall Woodfin's first budget presentation in May 2018. An independent media organization named BirminghamWatch lays it out for us: "The Birmingham Police Department will receive roughly $4 million less than it did in last year’s budget, dropping from $98,026,464 to $93,944,712. That’s largely because 47 positions from the department are being eliminated, including one deputy police chief, 17 corrections officers, two correctional supervisors, four park rangers and five public safety dispatchers, among others." Over the years, Mayor Woodfin eliminated more police department positions. Eventually, Woodfin funded only 725 of the 912 police positions required for adequate public safety in Birmingham. Even then, the number of sworn officers working in the department kept shrinking until it reached about 400 officers a few months ago. Today, Mayor Woodfin is attempting to duck responsibility for the police staffing shortage by saturating the media with a slick PR campaign that makes it look like he is doing something about the problem he created. Woodfin's efforts in this regard are too little, too late. Thanks to Mayor Woodfin, Birmingham has ascended from the No. 3 most dangerous city in the U.S., as ranked by Forbes Magazine , to the " Murder Capital of the U.S ." No amount of crisis management or PR campaigning changes this sad fact. Mayor Woodfin's PR campaign is NOT a sincere attempt to save Birmingham from its long, slow, painful death. Instead, it is a self-serving attempt by Woodfin to save his re-election chances in 2025. Privately, Mayor Woodfin knows that he messed up in a big way by gutting his police department. However, Woodfin believes he can successfully hoodwink his Birmingham political constituents one more time, as he has done so many times in the past. Can he?

By: Eric Hall Copyrighted and Published on October 13, 2024 A Guest Contributor’s Editorial Opinion   Elections have consequences, and everything is political. In our contemporary discourse surrounding crime and community safety, it is crucial to dissect the underlying factors that contribute to the escalation of violence in marginalized neighborhoods. The assertion that violent crime has become an intrinsic aspect of Black culture is not only misleading but also dangerously reductive. The true root problem for Black communities is poverty, a condition exacerbated by decades of detrimental policy decisions that have systematically marginalized these populations.   The impact of policy decisions on the socioeconomic landscape of Black communities cannot be overstated.  When policymakers close schools in these neighborhoods, it is not merely a logistical decision; it represents a profound disinvestment in the future of these communities.  For instance, in Birmingham, Alabama, the decline in student population has been staggering.  In 1985, the Birmingham school system boasted over 75,000 students; by 2014, that number had plummeted to under 25,000, and today it stands at less than 22,000.  This significant decline has led to a corresponding decrease in state funding, which has resulted in the elimination of critical programs such as fine arts, vocational training, and advanced placement courses.  These programs were not merely enrichment activities; they represented essential avenues for upward mobility, providing scholarships and fostering a middle class within Birmingham.   The legacy of community advocates like Otis Dismuke, who dedicated 32 years to mentoring youth and supporting families through educational initiatives, exemplifies the importance of investment in community infrastructure.  Dismuke recognized that education is a fundamental pillar for community vitality. Yet, the current administration, under Mayor Randall Woodfin, has faced scrutiny for further cuts to funding for Birmingham City Schools, a decision that exacerbates the systemic challenges confronting our communities.   Moreover, the 2011 closure of several community clinics by the Jefferson County Health Department illustrates the extent to which policy decisions have marginalized these communities.  These clinics were critical for addressing mental health issues, pediatric care, substance abuse, and parenting resources—essential components of a holistic approach to community health.  The continued disinvestment in our neighborhoods is a driving force behind the crime we observe today.  Bad policies lead to death, dilapidation, disease, despondency, and despair—all clear indicators of poverty.   The marginalization of communities through poor policy decisions not only increases poverty but also creates a vicious cycle that can lead to mortality.  Economic deprivation often correlates with higher rates of violent crime, substance abuse, and mental health crises.  When communities lack access to quality education, healthcare, and employment opportunities, the resultant social disintegration fuels an environment where crime becomes a perceived option for survival.  This is not merely a cultural phenomenon; it is a direct consequence of systemic neglect and disinvestment.   The intersection of poverty and crime is well-documented in sociological literature. Research indicates that economic hardship significantly correlates with increased rates of crime, particularly violent crime.  A study by the National Institute of Justice found that areas with higher poverty rates experience elevated levels of violent crime, particularly among youth. (National Institute of Justice, 2018). This relationship underscores the imperative for policymakers to recognize that addressing the root causes of poverty is essential for reducing crime rates.   Furthermore, the lack of access to healthcare services exacerbates these issues. Communities that are stripped of resources often have higher incidences of untreated mental illness and substance abuse, both of which are closely linked to crime.  According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), individuals with untreated mental health issues are more likely to engage in criminal behavior (SAMHSA, 2021).  The closure of clinics and community health resources in Birmingham has consequently left many vulnerable individuals without the support they need, thereby increasing the likelihood of involvement in crime as a coping mechanism or survival strategy.   The most egregious aspect of this systemic failure is the accountability evaded by politicians who perpetuate these cycles of disinvestment while blaming the victims of their policies. Rather than taking responsibility for the structural inequities that have been systematically introduced, some officials gaslight the very communities they have failed. They shift the narrative towards parenting and personal responsibility, ignoring the broader socio-economic factors at play. This rhetorical strategy not only deflects accountability but also perpetuates the stigma surrounding poverty and crime.   It is imperative that we recognize the profound consequences of these policy decisions. Poor policies lead to a cycle of poverty that breeds violence and despair, ultimately resulting in death.  As a society, we must advocate for policies that prioritize investment in education, healthcare, and community resources.  This investment is not merely a moral obligation; it is a foundational requirement for breaking the cycle of poverty and violence that has plagued so many communities.   In conclusion, the notion that violent crime is a cultural trait rather than a consequence of systemic disenfranchisement must be challenged vigorously.  We must hold our elected officials accountable for their role in perpetuating policies that marginalize communities and increase poverty.  Only through a comprehensive reevaluation of our approach to community investment, education, and healthcare can we hope to dismantle the systemic barriers that lead to crime and despair.   To achieve meaningful change, we must advocate for equitable policies that prioritize funding for education and community resources.  This means investing in schools that offer not only core subjects but also vocational training, arts programs, and mental health services. By fostering a robust educational environment, we can empower future generations with the tools they need to succeed and thrive, thus reducing the allure of crime as a means of survival.   Additionally, restoring community health clinics and expanding access to affordable housing and healthcare services is paramount.  These facilities serve as critical touchpoints for individuals seeking mental health support, substance abuse treatment, and preventive care.  Research shows that when communities are equipped with accessible healthcare, they experience improved overall well-being, which correlates with decreased crime rates.  A holistic approach to community health that addresses both physical and mental health needs can help break the cycle of poverty and violence.   Moreover, we must engage in community-driven initiatives that prioritize the voices and experiences of those most affected by these issues.  Policymaking should involve the communities it seeks to serve, ensuring that their needs and perspectives are central to the decision-making process. This collaborative approach not only fosters trust but also empowers residents to take ownership of their communities, ultimately leading to more sustainable and effective solutions.   Furthermore, it is critical to hold elected officials accountable for their actions. This accountability needs to extend beyond just voting. It involves active participation in local governance, civic engagement, and advocacy for policies that reflect the needs of the community. By demanding transparency and responsibility from our leaders, we create a political culture that values the well-being of all constituents, particularly those in marginalized communities.   In closing, the consequences of bad policy decisions in Black communities are grave and far-reaching.  Poverty, disinvestment, and systemic neglect have created an environment where crime flourishes as a misguided means of survival.  This cycle must be broken through intentional and equitable policy reforms that prioritize education, healthcare, and community resources.   As we move forward, let us remember that the health of our communities is not merely a reflection of individual choices but a testament to the collective responsibility we all share in shaping a just society.  Only by addressing these root causes can we hope to create a future where all communities are empowered to thrive, free from the shackles of poverty and violence. The time for action is now; we cannot afford to let another generation suffer the consequences of neglect and disinvestment.

By: Donald V. Watkins Copyrighted and Published on October 6, 2024 An Editorial Opinion Birmingham has experienced three mass shootings since February 2024 and none of them has been solved.   On September 21, 2024, four people were killed and 17 others were injured in a mass shooting in the Five Points South nightlife district. In February, four men were killed in a drive-by shooting near a car wash.  In July, four were killed and 10 others were injured in a drive-by shooting at a birthday party hosted by a nightclub. On February 28th, police arrested a man whom they believe is the drive-by shooter in the February 16th mass shooting, but they have not arrested the kingpin who ordered the mass shooting.   There is a $100,000 reward offered for helping police find the killers in the Five Points South attack. Yet, no arrests have been made in this horrific crime.   The city’s police force is severely understaffed.  Birmingham currently employs about 400 of the 912 sworn officers it needs to provide adequate police protection. The number of police officers required to be fully staffed is based on the city's unique configuration of being located in two Jefferson and Shelby Counties, its 151 square miles of territory within the city limits, and its 99 neighborhoods and communities within the city limits.    The current and former Birmingham police chiefs have repeatedly and publicly stated that the city needs 900 or more police officers to provide adequate public safety in the city.  The Fraternal Order of Police agrees with this figure. The police department’s own website (as of May 2024) shows that the city requires 912 sworn officers.  Yet, in recent years, the city has only budgeted for 725 police officer positions. Presently, Birmingham is No. 3 on the Forbes list of the most dangerous cities in the U.S. At its current pace, Birmingham is on track this year to record the highest number of homicides in the city’s history.   What is worse, high-profile murders are not being solved.  For example, on July 12, 2023, a gunman entered Birmingham Fire Station No. 9 and fatally shot firefighter Jordan Melton . The gunman severely wounded firefighter Jamal Jones .  Fifteen months later, these violent crimes remain unsolved.  The case has gone cold. The person with the sole statutory responsibility for enforcing public safety in Birmingham is Mayor Randall Woodfin .  Right now, Woodfin is failing in this responsibility. Woodfin is also gaslighting city residents on the number of officers employed by the city.   It is apparent to concerned citizens throughout the metro-area that the Birmingham police department lacks the capability to patrol the city’s 99 neighborhoods and communities in Jefferson and Shelby Counties in an adequate and effective manner.  It is also obvious that the department is struggling to solve its backlog of mass shootings and high-profile murders in the city. Both of these public safety issues are directly tied to poor leadership in City Hall and the staffing crisis that plagues the police department. The collapse of public saftely in Birmingham has only emboldened the dangerous street gangs and drug trafficking cartels that now control the city's streets.  Unless there is a change in leadership at City Hall, Birmingham will surely move up on the Forbes list to become the most dangerous city in America in 2025.

By: Donald V. Watkins Copyrighted and Published on October 10, 2024 Amid the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene two weeks ago, far-right Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Green (R-Georgia) suggested that the U.S. government has the ability to control inclement weather.  Green shared this post with her 1.2 million followers on X: “ Yes, they can control the weather. It’s ridiculous for anyone to lie and say it can’t be done. ”  The “ they ” to which Green referred is the U.S. government.   President Joe Biden wasted no time in calling Green's remarks “ ridiculous " and " stupid. "  Here is Biden’s statement:   "Marjorie Taylor Greene, the congresswoman from Georgia, is now saying the federal government is literally controlling the weather, we’re controlling the weather. It’s beyond ridiculous. It’s so stupid. It’s got to stop."   So, can the U.S. government control or modify inclement weather? Yes, it can.   “ Weather Modification ” is described in Wikipedia and discussed at length.   The U.S. government is the world’s leader in weather modification.   Here is Wikipedia ’s overview of weather modification:   “Weather modification is the act of intentionally manipulating or altering the weather. The most common form of weather modification is  cloud seeding , which increases rainfall or snowfall, usually for the purpose of increasing the local water supply.  Weather modification can also have the goal of preventing damaging weather, such as hail or hurricanes, from occurring; or of provoking damaging weather against an enemy, as a tactic of military or economic warfare like  Operation Popeye , where clouds were seeded to prolong the monsoon in Vietnam.  Weather modification in warfare has been banned by the United Nations under the  Environmental Modification Convention . ”   I was briefed on the U.S. government's weather modification program in 2006 when accounting giant KPMG was conducting due diligence in connection with my attempted acquisition of Evergreen International Aviation . At the time, Evergreen was a “Black Ops” contractor for the Department of Defense. ( KPMG Due Diligence Report , at pages 15 and 32 ). Evergreen possessed a specially modified 747 SuperTanker that had the technical capability to conduct clandestine weather modification operations, if ordered to do so. (KPMG Report, at page 20 ). The "pros" and "cons" of the government's weather modification program were explained to me in person by Evergreen's founder and CEO, Delford Smith . The same information was provided verbally to KPMG by Smith. (KPMG Report, at page 7 ).   Marjorie Taylor Green may be wrong about many things, but she is right about the U.S. government’s ability to conduct weather modifications on hurricanes, hail storms, tornadoes, and other inclement weather conditions whenever the President of the United States declares that it is in the nation’s best interest to do so.

By: Donald V. Watkins Copyrighted and Published on October 3, 2024 An Editorial Opinion   Across the Birmingham metro-area and throughout the nation, people are talking about Birmingham’s increasingly violent street crime and its recent spree of mass shootings.  I have been bombarded with questions about who has the statutory power, authority, and duty for enforcing Birmingham’s public safety laws.   Article IV, Section 4.06 of Birmingham’s Mayor-Council Act of 1955 (as amended) says Mayor Randall Woodfin “ shall have power and shall be required to: (1) Enforce all law and ordinances .... ”.  This is the first duty listed for the mayor in the Act because it is the most important one. No other governing official of the city has this statutory power, authority, and duty.  The Mayor-Council Act is posted on the city's website . The relevant excerpt from the Act appears below: By statute, the collapse of public safety in Birmingham today is a Randall Woodfin problem.  Only Woodfin has the statutory power, authority, and duty to fix it.  The rest of us are merely onlookers, concerned citizens, and well-wishers. If Mayor Woodfin will not or cannot provide adequate police protection to the residents of Birmingham, the Mayor-Council Act gives city voters the power to oust Woodfin at the end of his mayoral term in 2025 by voting for someone who will restore law and order in Birmingham.   Since 1955, every mayor who was elected under Birmingham’s Mayor-Council Act understood his awesome power, authority, and duty to provide public safety in the city.  Other than Randall Woodfin, no mayor elected under the Act allowed the city of Birmingham to join the dreaded list of the 15 most dangerous cities in America.  Woodfin stands alone on that mountaintop.   Since February, Birmingham has experienced three mass shootings and almost daily homicides due to gun violence. Today, Birmingham is No. 3 on the Forbes list of the 15 most dangerous cities in the U.S.  We can debate the causes of Birmingham's public safety crisis all day long, but only Mayor Randall Woodfin has the statuory power, authority, and duty to fix it. This problem will not be fixed if Woodfin continues to spend all of his time trying to: (a) shift blame for this crisis to other public officials, (b) hoodwink city residents about the severity of the crisis, and (c) silence his critics.

By: Donald V. Watkins Copyrighted and Published on October 2, 2024 An Editorial Opinion   Amid a breakdown in public safety in his city, Birmingham, Alabama Mayor Randall Woodfin -- once again -- seems incapable of telling the truth about the strength and capabilities of the Birmingham police department.   Yesterday, Woodfin misled the public, again, on the number of sworn officers required to fully staff his police department.  Woodfin claims that 851 officers are required to provide adequate police protection in Birmingham.  Woodfin also claims the city has 377 officers available for patrol.  Finally, Woodfin claims the city is only shortstaffed by 63 patrol officers.   Of course, Woodfin’s claims are flatly contradicted by the police department’s website, as well as media interviews given by two of the city's police chiefs and other city officials.   Here is the police department's website (as of May 2024). It specifies the number of sworn police officers ( 912 ) and support staff ( 325 ) required to adequately police the 151 square miles of Birmingham's territorial limits.  According to inside sources, the city employs about 400 sworn officers today .  As such, the department is understaffed by 512 sworn police officers. Yesterday, Woodfin claimed that the department is understaffed by only 63 officers is disingenuous. Some people would call this statement grossly misleading or an outright lie.   On June 28, 2018, Birmingham Police Chief Patrick Smith said this about the number of officers needed:   “There are usually over 900 (officers) but those numbers need to be higher because we have to have officers to address the basic services of the 911 calls for service, in addition to those to conduct very strong investigations to make sure the criminal justice system has the opportunity to hold people accountable.”   On September 6, 2022, new Police Chief Scott Thurmond declared that his department needed about 900 sworn officers to be fully staffed. At the time, the city only budgeted for 738 sworn officers.  The next day, Chief Thurmond confirmed to the Birmingham Times that the number of sworn officers needed to fully staff the police department was 900 .   On May 16, 2024, City Council President Darrell O'Quinn reported that the police department, which only had  725 sworn police officers positions funded in the new city budget, had about 296 vacancies.   On May 22, 2024, Fraternal Order of Police Vice President Lawrence Billups siad the number of sworn officers needed for ful is staffing was closer to 900 or 1,000 . Billups's statement aligns with the number quoted by Police Chiefs Smith and Thurmond.     “ There’s a lot of numbers out there that are just false ,” Woodfin told the Birmingham City Council on Tuesday. Woodfin is hiring a PR firm to quash what he says is false information about the number of sworn officers needed to provide public safety in Birmingham.   Either Chief Patrick Smith, Chief Scott Thurmond, the Birmingham Times (which receives city funding), Darrell O’Quinn, Lawrence Billups, and the police department's website (in May 2024) are all lying about the police department staffing numbers, or Woodfin is.   Who do you believe?  The Birmingham mayor who went to Washington and talked to Congress about getting high on marijuana and engaging in kumbaya sessions as an approach to solving the city's skyrocketing homicides, or the police department's website and litany of city officials who have repeatedly warned the public that Birmingham needs 900 or more sworn police officers? As for me, when people show me who they are, I believe them.  When they repeatedly lie to me, I distance myself from them.   Regardless of who you believe, one critical fact is undisputed -- Birmingham is the third most dangerous city in the U.S. in 2024, according to Forbes Magazine .

By: Donald V. Watkins Copyrighted and Published on September 3, 2024 An Editorial Opinion   For the first time ever, the U.S.-backed and armed government in Israel is dictating to America and the rest of the world whether its campaign of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide within the Territory of Palestine will continue.  These crimes, which are ongoing, are fully documented in a May 2024 State Department report .   This is a classic, highly visible, and embarrassing case of the tail wagging the dog.   Embattled Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, an internationally recognized “ thug ” and designated “ war criminal ,” has effectively humiliated President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris with respect to their weak and timid efforts to end the Israel-Hamas War.  “ No one will preach to me ,” declared Netanyahu to Biden, Harris, and others over the weekend.   What was the Biden-Harris response to Netanyahu's tongue lashing ?  There was none.  They took this very public tongue lashing like weak leaders usually do.   On Monday, 800,000 Israelis went on a nationwide strike aimed at forcing Netanyahu to end the Israel-Hamas War.  What was the Biden-Harris response to this massive protest?  There was none. Netanyahu knows that, once the war ends, he will be arrested, tried, convicted, and imprisoned for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.    The Genocide in Gaza is Horrific   Since October 7, 2023, Israel has dropped more than 85,000 tons of American-made bombs on the Palestinian civilian population in Gaza.  Israel has bombed churches, hospitals, schools, homes, office buildings, governmental infrastructure systems, and refugee camps.     Over 40,000 Palestinian civilians, including 20,000 babies, infants, and children, have been killed by American-made weapons of war.  Over 92,400 civilians have been wounded.  Over 2.3 million Palestinians have been driven out of Gaza and are at-risk of famine.   For nearly a year, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have actively aided and abetted a documented campaign of genocide perpetrated by Netanyahu and other known Israeli war criminals against innocent Palestinians in Gaza.     Jewish special interest groups in the U.S. have a dictatorial grip on U.S. policy towards Israel.  In 2024, these groups have poured over $100 million into Congressional races and presidential campaigns to place a chokehold on America’s response to Israel's campaign of genocide in Gaza.   After Biden and Harris accepted their share of campaign donations, Netanyahu felt free to publicly “ bitch slap ” them for “ preaching ” to him.  The Political Fallout for Kamala Harris   Will Kamala Harris pay a price at the polls in November for her obvious support of Netanyahu’s campaign of genocide in Gaza?   Yes , because she has possessed the power to stop it for over 11 months.    The horrific genocide in Gaza is televised nightly on the news.  Videos and pictures of dead, mangled, and disfigured Palestinian babies, infants, and children are all over Twitter.  For all intents and purposes, Benjamin Netanyahu and a large cadre of "thugs" within the Israeli Defense Forces enjoy killing, maiming, and torturing innocent Palestinians.   This genocide issue may cost Kamala Harris the presidency, much like COVID 19 cost Donald Trump re-election in 2020.  Among the undecided independent voters we have privately polled in the six swing states , this issue is hurting Harris . Is it too late for Kamala Harris to stop the death and destruction caused by Netanyahu's genocide? No, but her time for doing so is running out .   The lesson in leadership here is simple: No leader of an allied nation that gets tens of billions of dollars in U.S. foreign aid and military weapons each year should hurl a public " no one will preach to me " insult at a U.S. President and Vice President without getting his/her butt kicked publicly.   For reasons that I do not understand, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris appear to be unwilling or unable to adjust Benjamin Netanyahu’s condescending attitude towards them and his unbridled arrogance towards America. There is a difference between supporting Israel and supporting Netanyahu. America can and should support Israel's right to exist without supporting Netanyahu's bloated arrogance and campaign of genocide against the Palestinians. Apparently, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have NOT learned this important lesson in international affairs.   At its core, this is not a political dilemma. It is a genocide problem that is televised around the world in real time. It is also another high-profile failure by Joe Biden and Kamala Harris to show strong leadership in international affairs in a situation where innocent lives are being lost on an unimaginable scale.  Finally, Netanyahu's tongue lashing of Biden and Harris is a reminder to American politicians in Washington that “ not all campaign money is good money .” Any money that requires a U.S. President and Vice President and members of Congress to sell their soul is NOT worth taking.

By: Donald V. Watkins Copyrighted and Published on September 26, 2024 An Editorial Opinion AL.com , which claims to be the largest media organization in Alabama, is owned by the Alabama Media Group, which also publishes digital editions of the Birmingham News, Huntsville Times, and Mobile-Press Register newspapers. The Alabama Media Group is owned by Advanced Publications, Inc.   Advance Publications, Inc.  is a private American media company owned by the families of  Donald Newhouse  and  Samuel Irving Newhouse Jr. , the sons of company founder   Samuel Irving Newhouse Sr.   Advance Publications owns other publishing-relating companies, including  American City Business Journals, MLive Media Group, and  Condé Nast, and is a major shareholder in  Charter Communications  (13% ownership),  Reddit  (42 million shares), and  Warner Bros. Discovery  (8% ownership).   Donald Newhouse, whose net worth is estimated at $11 billion , was ranked No. 29 on the Forbes magazine list of the world’s richest Jewish billionaires for 2022. Prior to his death in 2017, Samuel Irving Newhouse, Jr., had an estimated net worth of  $9.5 billion and was ranked the 46th richest American by Forbes in 2014.   Begging for Dollars   Despite their wealth, the Newhouse media clan is begging for dollars to keep their Alabama media affiliates afloat.  For example, AL.com runs ads everyday begging for money to: (a) keep AL.com free for all readers, (b) support around-the-clock statewide and local news coverage, and (c) back its “nationally recognized, awarding-winning investigative journalism.” The Newhouse Media Empire Has a History of Pandering to White Racism in Alabama   The Newhouse media empire has a long and documented history of pandering to white racism in Alabama (and other Southern states).  In his 1994 book titled, " Newhouse: All the Glitter, Power & Glory of America's Richest Media Empire, " author Thomas Maier lays it out for us. Here is an except from his book. As confirmed by Thomas Mayer, the Newhouse-owned Birmingham News played a prominent role in championing white racism in Alabama during the 1950s, 60s and 70s.  The News was an original participant in the FBI’s infamous COINTELPRO program (1956 to 1972) to discredit Black leaders of the civil rights movement in Alabama. An example of the News's COINTELPRO anti-civil rights work is depicted in this June 1967 editorial cartoon demonizing Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and his non-violent civil rights movement that supposedly killed innocent white Alabamians. During the 1980s, 90s, and 2000s, the Birmingham News platformed thousands of anonymous comments from readers to articles about my landmark legal cases in Alabama in which these readers labeled me as a “snake," “clown," “race-baiter," “crook," “criminal," “thief," and “low-life.”  In 1999, the News openly portrayed me as a blood-sucking insect that then-Birmingham Mayor Bernard Kincaid squashed. The News profiteered from a disgusting form of “click bait” journalism that trashed successful Black political, civic, and business leaders who, in turn, became “ red meat ” for the carefully cultivated body of white racists within the News's readership.   Alabama Media Group Affiliates Perpetuate the Vestiges of COINTELPRO in the Modern Era   The Birmingham News has never publicly disclosed or disclaimed its major conflict of interest with me. I was the presiding judge on a three-judge arbitration panel in 2002 that assessed a $16 million Judgment against the News for intentionally defrauding a group of its distributors, all of whom were White.  In 2004, the Judgment was affirmed by the Alabama Supreme Court . Payment of the fraud Judgment was NOT covered by insurance.   Following the $16 million arbitration award against the News , the Alabama Media Group embarked upon a relentless campaign to discredit and destroy me.   On November 29, 2018, and again on Christmas Day in 2018, The Birmingham News team, operating under the brand name AL.com, reached a new journalistic low.   On these dates, they fabricated and published a racist quotation claiming Richard Arrington, Jr., who is Birmingham’s first Black mayor, paid me during the late 1980s and early 1990s to “kick white people’s ass.”  The fake quotation was attributed to me.  Two-time Pulitzer Prize columnist John Archibald, who is now a member of the Pulitzer Prize Committee for Journalism, fabricated the November 29th version of the fake quotation.  AL.com Managing Editor John Hammontree wrote and published a Christmas Day article that repeated this fake quotation.   Under the threat of a defamation lawsuit, AL.com retracted Archibald’s fake racist quotation and issued me a public apology on January 13, 2019.   Epilogue   The billionaire Newhouse media family that once used the Birmingham News, the Huntsville Times, Mobile-Press Register, and AL.com as commercial vessels for spewing racial hatred in Alabama are now begging readers in the state for dollars to stay in business.   One of the targets of this racial hatred – Donald V. Watkins – now operates a thriving, 240,000 viewers per month, ad-free, racially diverse, free digital news media network with tens of thousands of devoted readers in Alabama and hundreds of thousands more around the world.  We do not seek or accept money from advertisers, content providers, syndicators, or anybody else Coupled with the digital media platforms owned and operated by other Watkins family members, we are able to provide hard, independent, unbiased journalism to more than one million readers on a daily basis without begging anybody for dollars to do so. Beware: Whenever New York billionaires panhandle working class Alabamians for money to keep their media empires operating in the state, something is mighty wrong. Hint: They likely view Alabamians as a class of backwards, uneducated, unsophisticated, bigoted fools who can be easily lied to, hoodwinked, and manipulated.

By: Donald V. Watkins Copyrighted and Published on September 29, 2024 An Editorial Opinion   Birmingham, Alabama is caught up in the deadly grip of gang violence. Presently, two heavily armed drug trafficking street gangs are fighting for control of Birmingham’s revitalized, predominantly white Southside and the area surrounding the University of Alabama at Birmingham.  This territory is considered a “honey pot” for competing drug trafficking gangs in Birmingham.   In 2006, the city closed its South precinct station in the Highland Avenue area. A few years later, the city closed its Five Points South police sub-station, which was directly across the street from where the Saturday Night Massacre occurred a week ago.  Today, Birmingham’s Southside is virtually unprotected, thanks to a police force that employs only 400 of the 912 sworn officers needed to provide adequate public safety within Birmingham’s 151 square miles of territory.   Lame-duck President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and Birmingham Mayor Randal Woodfin met in Washington last week to announce a presidential executive order that restricts machinegun conversion devices and un-serialized, 3D-printed firearms.  This presidential initiative will NOT make a dent in Birmingham’s gang-related homicides, mass shootings, and street massacres.   Birmingham’s problem is NOT complicated: The city lacks the police officers needed to protect its residents.  The police department is understaffed by 56% (or 512 officers) . Police patrols within the city's 99 neighborhoods and communitiesare are virtually non-existent.   Presently, rival gangs are putting more heavily armed thugs on the streets of Birmingham than Mayor Woodfin provides in sworn police officers.  What is worse, these gang members are willing to give up blood in order to get blood from rival gang members.   Because the city's police force is so severely understaffed, rival gangs rule the streets of Birmingham and engage in murder, mass shootings, and massacres at-will.   Mayor Woodfin has no plan of action to restore the city's police force to 912 sworn officers .  Instead, salary money that is earmarked in the annual city budget for the unfilled police positions is routinely redirected by Woodfin to pet projects for the “over-the-mountain” crowd and his political friends who provide vendor services without deliverables.   In addition to the Saturday Night Massacre in Five Points South a week ago, the bodies of homicide victims continue to pile up daily on the streets of Birmingham. Gang warfare in Birmingham is also killing residential and commercial property values in the city and surrounding suburbs.   Tren de Aragua is Here Tren de Aragua , a powerful transnational criminal gang that originated in a Venezuela prison, has made its way to Birmingham, Alabama.  This gang is much more violent than the Bloods, Crips, MS-13, and Disciples who ruled the streets of Birmingham during the last seven years. They are wreaking havoc in the city.   Having overrun Birmingham's streets with ease, the very gangs that glorify cop-killing and engage in murder as a right of passage for gang initiation are now eying Birmingham’s Southside, Lakeview nightlife district, and suburban communities as fertile territory for expanding their criminal enterprises.  These gangs view Birmingham’s dwindling law enforcement response to their increasingly violent drug dealing, robberies, carjacking, theft-rings, murders, drive-by shootings, and massacres as weak, timid, and reactive.   Unfortunately for Birmingham residents, they are right.  Law enforcement personnel, state and federal prosecutors, and many state and federal judges in the Birmingham-metro area are afraid of these increasingly violent street gangs.  The gang that was targeted and hit in the Five Points South Saturday Night Massacre is already planning its retaliation.  The only question is when, where, and how many innocent victims will be killed during this retaliatory strike.  Mayoral press conferences in Birmingham, White House visits, and slick PR gimmicks on social media will not make Birmigham safe. More police boots on the ground will.

By: Donald V. Watkins Copyrighted and Published on April 7, 2022 An Editorial Opinion Clarence Thomas has been a huge embarrassment on the U.S. Supreme Court for more than 31 years. President George H.W. Bush nominated Thomas to replace Justice Thurgood Marshall, the Supreme Court's first African-American justice. Prior to his appointment to the nation's highest court, Justice Marshall had achieved an outstanding record as a civil rights attorney. He had also argued several landmark cases before the Court, including Brown v. Board of Education, the 1954 case that ended legally enforced racial segregation in public schools. Prior to joining the Supreme Court, Clarence Thomas had no significant achievements in the field of law beyond graduating from law school and serving in several patronage jobs in Washington government agencies that were reserved for black Republican political hustlers and their home-bred "Uncle Toms." Thomas is widely regarded in the nation's African-American community as the ungrateful beneficiary of an endless series of affirmative action initiatives, starting with his admission to law school and ending with his appointment to the Supreme Court bench. Throughout his lackluster legal and judicial career, Clarence Thomas, who is weak on intellectual acumen, has prided himself on his outstanding ability to serve as an ingratiating, subservient "bellhop" for far right-wing conservative groups in America. Thomas has gleefully assumed the mantle as the nation's premier "Uncle Tom." Legal scholars have rated Clarence Thomas as one of the four worse Justices in the history of the Supreme Court. He joins the company of former Chief Justice Roger B. Taney, who authored the famous 1857 ruling in the Dred Scott case holding that black Americans, whether freed or slaves, had no rights that white men were bound to respect. Clarence Thomas has taken the Dred Scott ruling to heart. In researching this article, I did not find a single case in which Clarence Thomas ruled in favor of a black plaintiff in a civil rights or voting rights case during his 31 years on the Supreme Court. What is worse, Clarence Thomas has voted to impose the death penalty on black defendants in criminal cases where all eight of the white justices on the Court (progressives and conservative alike) ruled that intentional prosecutorial misconduct and overt racial bias tainted the legal proceedings in the trial court. Does Clarence Thomas Sell His Vote on the Supreme Court? Clarence Thomas is in the news, again. Recent media reports have surfaced that call into question Thomas' misconduct as a Supreme Court justice. Apparently, various conservative advocacy groups with an interest in cases pending before the Supreme Court have hired Thomas' wife, Virginia, to serve as a "consultant" in these cases. Virginia Thomas worked behind the scenes to achieve the desired outcome in these cases, and she was paid handsomely for her work. Clarence Thomas never disclosed this glaring conflict of interest, and he never recused himself from these cases. It is unclear how much of the money that was paid to Virginia Thomas in these cases found its way into Clarence Thomas' pocket. What we know for sure is this: The money found its way into the Thomas's household. A review of the cases tainted by this highly suspect arrangement reveals that Clarence Thomas always voted with the side that lined Virginia Thomas' pocket. At its core, this shady financial arrangement is the judicial version of a "pay-to-play" scheme at the U.S. Supreme Court, and it happened on multiple occasions. It is unethical judicial conduct that is criminal in nature. Today, nobody is policing this ongoing and unsavory "pay-to-play" scheme where Virginia Thomas rakes in the money for the cases of interest to the couple, while Clarence Thomas: (a) participates in judicial conferences on these case, (b) lobbies fellow justices for the votes needed to achieve the desired outcome, and (c) casts his vote as directed by Virginia. Virginia Thomas is Clarence Thomas' Publicly Acknowledged "Best Friend" and "Other Leg" In describing his loving relationship with Virginia Thomas, Clarence Thomas uses an apropos analogy that a "one-legged man cannot run." He openly concedes that Virginia Thomas is his "other leg" and "best friend," and this is why he has been so successful (in his mind) as a Supreme Court justice. It is clear that Clarence Thomas loves his wife dearly and that she is the driving force in his life. Clarence Thomas strives to implement Virginia's right-wing activist political agenda from his seat on the Supreme Court. The two legs in this interracial marriage are running hard and fast for far right-wing conservatives in the "political thicket" and on the federal bench. It is equally clear that Virginia Thomas controls Clarence Thomas' vote on the Supreme Court. Virginia's power over Clarence Thomas is derived from (a) his undying love for his wife and (b) his engrained, life-long, racial inferiority complex, which Clarence Thomas tries to mask under the cloak of conservative jurisprudence. The spousal love between Clarence and Virginia Thomas is a beautiful thing. However, Clarence Thomas' growing pattern and practice of selling his vote on the Supreme Court is not. Does Clarence Thomas' "Uncle Tom" Status Elevate Him Above the Law? Clarence Thomas' solid credentials as an "Uncle Tom" appear to elevate him above the nation's criminal laws and above any obligation to comply with judicial ethics. If Clarence Thomas had not been the greatest living "Uncle Tom" in America today, he would have already been indicted, tried, convicted, and sentenced to federal prison for his part in the couple's ongoing "pay-to-play" scheme. It is obvious that Clarence Thomas has no personal integrity, or regard for judicial ethics, or appreciation for the integrity of the Supreme Court. Thomas is a longtime political hustler who has been highly successfully in hustling white right-wing conservatives in Washington for personal gain. This is how and why Thomas became a Supreme Court justice 31 years ago. Someone will have to clean up Clarence Thomas' public corruption and ethical mess. Remarkably, Thomas has single-handedly soiled the Supreme Court's stellar reputation for independence, integrity, and judicial ethics, for the first time ever. In the process, Clarence Thomas has also defecated on judicial ethics and the rule of law. The stench from Clarence and Virginia's unlawful "pay-to-play" scheme is unbearable. Epilogue The irony of Clarence Thomas' twisted world of far-right conservative politics is this: Thomas claims to be an "originalist" who interprets the U.S. Constitution as it was originally written more than 250 years ago by the Founding Fathers, all of whom were rich white men. Some of these men were notorious slave owners and physical abusers of women of all colors. There is no express right in the Constitution that gives a black man the right to marry a white woman. In fact, blacks and women of all colors had no rights in the original version of the Constitution. Blacks came within the ambit of the Constitution's protections in 1865, 1866, and 1868. Women came within its ambit in 1922. Interracial marriages between blacks and whites like the one Clarence and Virginia enjoy were unlawful and outright criminal in this country until 1967. Fortunately, a forward-looking U.S. Supreme Court struck down all prohibitions on interracial marriages in the case of Loving v. Virginia (1967), thereby freeing Clarence Thomas to bask in the warm glow of Virginia Thomas' love. Under Clarence Thomas' expressed "originalist" judicial philosophy, the Loving v. Virginia case, which benefitted the Thomases personally, was incorrectly decided because it rests on the principle of judicial activism. Clarence Thomas and many southern conservatives also hold the same "originalist" judicial view about Brown v. Board of Education. Obviously, there is nothing in the Constitution, or its amendments, that says black students have a constitutional right to attend the same public school with white students and sit in the same classrooms with them. In Plessy v. Ferguson (1896), the Supreme Court held that blacks did not enjoy a Constitutional right to end racial segregation in public schools and public accommodations. In 1954, Brown v. Board of Education overruled Plessy v. Ferguson. Adhering to his "originalist" philosophy and consistent with his demonstrated disdain for protecting the civil and constitutional rights of black Americans, Clarence Thomas would have voted with the majority of justices in the Plessy v. Ferguson case. Likewise, in Clarence Thomas' "originalist" view, the right of blacks (and other racial minorities) to vote, hold office, and otherwise participate in the electoral process does not exist, as was the case from 1619 to 1865, and is unenforceable under the Fifteenth Amendment, as was the case during the racially oppressive Jim Crow era from 1877 to 1965. In 2013, Clarence Thomas proudly joined a 5-4 majority of justices on the Supreme Court who gutted the 1965 Voting Rights Act and ushered in a renaissance period of disenfranchisement for black and brown Americans that continues to the present. In the end, Clarence and Virginia Thomas have revealed who and what Clarence Thomas really is -- a run-of-the mill crook with solid and trusted "Uncle Tom" credentials who hustled his way to a seat on the U.S. Supreme Court. Far right-wing conservatives created this embarrassing "pay-to-play" tar-baby. In the eyes of an increasingly frustrated public, Clarence Thomas has undermined the independence of the U.S. Supreme Court and stained its stature, forever. All articles are shared on Facebook and Twitter. If you would like to follow Donald Watkins, please click on these links and hit the follow button: https://www.facebook.com/donald.v.watkins https://twitter.com/donaldvwatkins

By: Donald V. Watkins Copyrighted and Published on September 28, 2024 An Editorial Opinion This week, the Biden/Harris Department of Justice (DOJ) charged New York City Mayor Eric Adams with bribery and fraud offenses as part of a "long-running" scheme that has upended politics in America's largest city.    Adams is alleged to have accepted illegal gifts worth over $123,000 from Turkish citizens and at least one government official, which he did not disclose on his annual ethics forms.  In exchange, Turkish officials are alleged to have sought favors from the mayor, including help skirting safety regulations to open a consulate in New York, according to prosecutors.   In Washington, Justice Clarence Thomas has been selling his vote on the U.S. Supreme Court for 32 years.  In the last 20 years, alone, Thomas received over $4,000,000 in undisclosed "gifts" for himself, his wife, his mother, and his adopted son from billionaire “friend” Harlan Crowe. It is no coincidence that Crowe is closely tied to the litigants who benefitted from Thomas's vote on the Court. The "gifts" to Thomas, which were undisclosed at the time of the "gifting" but unearth through investigative reporting over the last three years, have made Thomas a proud and arrogant multimillionaire. Biden/Harris-appointed prosecutors at the DOJ have given Clarence Thomas a prosecutorial "pass" on his proven bribery and fraud conduct . Yet, they are prosecuting Adams over $123,000 in alleged bribery and fraud conduct. This is a classic example of weak political leadership and selective prosecution .   The White House and Vice President Kamala Harris (who touts her credentials as a former prosecutor) must explain, right now , why Clarence Thomas is immune from criminal prosecution, but Eric Adams is not.  In America, we cannot have two vastly different standards of justice for bribery and fraud offenses involving public officials.

By: Donald V. Watkins Copyrighted and Published on September 22, 2024 An Editorial Opinion Sean “Diddy” Combs is in the “Hole” at the federal detention center in Brooklyn, New York. Here is what daily life looks like for Diddy in detention:   Diddy is not wearing his designer clothes and eyeglasses.  He is wearing a prison uniform and a pair of nasty, used prison-issued underwear.  Diddy can change underwear following each one of the three showers he is allowed to take per week.  Diddy is handcuffed whenever he is taken to the shower.  He is escorted to the shower by two guards, each one of whom must hold one of his arms.  The face clothe and towel provided to Diddy are just as nasty and unsanitary as his prison underwear.  His shower stall is a small, filthy, unsanitary coffin-like cell with a nozzle for the water.  He cannot adjust the water’s temperature. The toilet in Diddy’s cell is metal and it can only be flushed from the outside by a guard. Until his toilet is flushed, Diddy must endure the smell of his urine and bowel excrement. Despite bullshit presidential campaign slogans about “ America First ,” the Bob Barker Company in Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina uses its 29-year business monopoly with the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) to supply all 122 federal prisons, detention centers, and transfer facilities with the low-quality, high-price, foreign-manufactured goods that Diddy uses in the "Hole" every day.  These items include toothpaste, toothbrushes, razors, shaving gel, body wash, soap, deodorant, handwash, shampoo, conditioner, grooming products, combs, brushes, nail clippers, lotion, hand sanitizers, toilet paper, over-the-counter medicines, inmate uniforms, underwear, socks, shoes, sheets, blankets, towels, wash clothes, writing paper, pencils, mailing envelopes, and a host of other foreign-made products on the commissary list. The sacred monopoly contract between the BOP and the Bob Barker Company cries out for a federal criminal investigation. Yet, nobody will touch it. Diddy’s family and friends cannot call him on the phone.  Diddy may only call individuals who are on his list of approved contacts.  Because Diddy did not have advanced warning of his arrest, he probably did not memorize the phone numbers of the family and friends he wants to call. Diddy may write family members, if he has their mailing addresses and stamps. They may write him, but their correspondence must conform to a litany of strict BOP rules governing incoming inmate mail or it is rejected. The BOP falls under the supervisory jurisdiction of the U.S. Attorney General.  No Attorney General since Janet Reno has had the “balls” to reform the federal prison system.  Fans of former Attorney General Eric Holder , the first Black Attorney General, should know that he did absolutely nothing to improve the nasty, filthy, and overcrowded conditions of the federal prison system that now houses Diddy. Diddy's commissary pledges are extremely limited and will not begin until an inmate account has been set up for him, which could take weeks. If Diddy becomes mentally unstable during his stay in the "Hole," detention facility officials will simply strap him down on an evaluated slab and assign inmate orderlies to sit outside his cell door to watch him all day and night through the small window in his cell door. They will use force to feed Diddy, if necessary. BOP officials will disrespect Diddy’s lawyer because most lawyers do not raise hell with trial judges about the horrific conditions their clients experience in federal detention centers and prisons.   My Experience in the “Hole” was Somewhat Different from Diddy’s Because I was Prepared for It.   The BOP placed me in the filthy, rat-infested, black-mold-spewing, dirty drinking water "Hole" at three of its facilities from May 2020 to March 2021 and January and February 2022 . Their stated goal was to stop me from (a) writing and publishing my articles on corruption within the federal criminal justice system and (b) helping inmates win their freedom.   I never stopped writing and publishing these articles.    BOP officials let me out of the "Hole" only AFTER senior management officials determined that I could not be "broken."  Each time I was released back into the general prison population, I was applauded by inmates and prison guards alike.   There were three reasons why I was able to survive my time in the "Hole.”  First, I had survived the longest and loneliest 3 years of my life when I desegregated the University of Alabama's law school from 1970 to 1973.  At the time, the university was infested with hardcore racists who exhibited their non-stop racism to those of us who were desegregating the law school. My challenging experience at the law school gave me the inner strength I needed to survive 3 years of the harshest treatment anyone could mete out to me anywhere.   Second, in 2012, I visited the tiny cell where Nelson Mandela spent 18 of his 27 years in prison in the “Hole.”  Mandela slept on a thin mat on a concrete floor and used a bucket for a toilet.  Mandela survived this inhumane treatment and became president of South Africa.  The memory of my visit to Mandela’s cell enhanced my inner strength throughout my ordeal in the "Hole." Third, I stayed very busy in the “Hole” writing dozens of articles for publication on my Internet platforms, including “ The Miracle at USP Atlanta . ”  The officers who guarded me made sure these articles were mailed out to my editor for publication. I also handled the legal work that freed over a dozen prisoners from the “Hole” and dozens more from the prisons that housed me.  The last of 48 inmates I freed during my three years of captivity as a federal prisoner is Alphonso Woodley, Sr. , a former inmate at the Federal Prison Camp at La Tuna, Texas who was subsequently transferred to a federal prison in Kansas.  On June 30, 2024, Forbes Magazine profiled Alphonso Woodley’s landmark case. The BOP miscalculated Woodley's release date and held him in captivity beyond his release date .  The Forbes article explains how and why a brave federal judge in Kansas ruled in Woodley's favor.  Woodley’s case has cleared the way for the release of thousands of wrongfully detained federal inmates. This level of activism from the “Hole” showed prison officials that they NEVER had power over my mind; they only had custody of my body.  “Freedom” is a state of mind. It is the absence of fear.  I was NEVER in the prison of fear.   All of my heroes in the international civil and human rights movement were imprisoned for far longer periods of time than me.  Some of them were tortured in prison. Some were assassinated after they were released from jail.  Imprisonment in the “Hole” is survivable when your mind is strong and your spirit is free.