Black Westchester Magazine presents The People Before Politics Radio Show Episode 110 With your hosts Damon K. Jones & AJ Woodson and Co-Host Cynthia Turnquest-Jones
Guests: Anthony Olskool Mitchell, Naz ForevaBlessed Dun, Linda and Wilfred Dennis
Topic: MVPD, Senseless Gun Violence in Mount Vernon, and the grief of those who lose loved ones to gun violence, Sunday, January 22, 2017
Black Westchester Magazine presents The People Before Politics Radio Show – Episode 108
With your hosts: Damon K. Jones & AJ Woodson and Co-Host Dr. Robert Baskerville
Our Guests This Week: Corey Pegues, author of Once A Cop, Glenn Scott, Anthony Olskool Mitchell, John R Jones Jr and Don Starchild Moore (4 RETIRED officers of the Mount Vernon Police Department)
This Week’s Topic: The State of the MVPD and the Lack of Leadership in the Department
Stop, drop, shut ’em down, open up shop Oh, no, that’s how Ruff Ryders roll
White Plains — Billed as a birthday bash concert for Ruff Ryder CEO Darren Dean, better known as Dee and referred to as The General by everyone in the Double R camp, The Ruff Ryders (DMX, The Lox, Drag-On, Swizz Beats & Sean Cross) brought Hip-Hop back to the Westchester County Center, Saturday night.
We right here We’re not goin anywhere
The 5,000-seat multi-purpose arena in White Plains was about full to capacity with the exception of the center upper section of seats that are furthest from the stage. Yonkers was in the house, which is to be expected since that’s the home base of the Ruff Ryders operation. The people came to see DMX return for a long-awaited homecoming concert at the Westchester County Center.
Power 105.1 FM was posted out front, greeting concert goers as they arrived. The voice of Westchester, DJ Tri-State Jericko, set things off and entertained the crowd between acts on the ones and twos. Several lesser-known acts graced the stage, displaying their skills each like a ball player in the summer league vying for a position on the main roster. The newest member of the Ruff Ryders fam, Sean Cross, started off the Double R lineup.
Then, back from a ten-year hiatus was Bronx-born and bred rapper/actor Drag-On, who made a rare appearance, came out to perform, and celebrated The General. The ‘Down Bottom’ rapper jumped off the stage to perform in the crowd up close & personal. It may have been ten years since he took the stage, but you can tell the crowd appreciated the love, and they gave it right back as he ‘Spit These Bars.’
When the crowd heard, ‘It’s Showtime!,’ they knew it meant Swizz Beatz was about to take the stage next. He performed a few of his hit tracks like ‘Money In The Bank,’ as the DJ played a few of the many hit singles he performed from other artists. Swizz brought The General to the stage, who was greeted by a cake and everyone wishing Dee a Happy Birthday.
Greeted by a shout-out from Tri-State Jericko when they entered the VIP Area in front of the stage, the Black Westchester Magazine/ People Before Politics Radio crew was in attendance, including Cynthia Turnquest-Jones, Rashad Bilal, Dr. Robert Baskerville aka Brooklyn Bob, and Priscilla Echi, who was holding it down for the Double R Camp.
The Lox took the stage next and showed why they get love in the streets for the past few decades, and it aint fade one bit. While DMX was the main attraction everyone came to see, in the multi-headlined show, in my opinion, Sp, Jada, and Sheek gave the best overall performance of the night hands down. They ran thru the classics and had the crowd give love for the loss of Tupac Shakur and B.I.G.
Come on, uh, uh What’cha really want What’cha really want, what D-M-X, uh, uh Come on, Ryde or die Ay yo, ay yo, ay yo What’s my name? DMX and I be the best You see the rest they lookin like they need a rest
With that said, you can’t have an official Ruff Ryder show without The Dog. DMX batted last and hit a grand slam running thru his extensive catalog. X switched back and forth from the emcee and Earl the Apostle a few times during the show. Much like the Apostle Paul, one of the most well-known apostles in the early days of Christianity, DMX took the Gospel to the Gentiles, which in 2016 is the hip-hop listening youth of America. Yo, he may not look, nor sound like ya average black preacher, but he planted seeds in the crowd like a follower of Christ is supposed to. Even ending his performance as he has many times before with a powerful prayer.
Being the biggest on the County Center stage for the night did not stop X from giving a few lucky ladies the shirts off his back, literally. First, he blessed one female fan with the sweat rag he used on his bald head, then he took off the red t-shirt he started out the show with and gave it to another female fan, and lastly, he took off the white wife beater and blessed yet another female fan. Each of the three females appeared to be greatly appreciative. End the show shirtless, as he often does, was appreciated by his female fans as well as the rousing response.
When he performed ‘What They Really Want’, almost every female in the house sang the track word for word, and when he ran down the names, the DJ dropped the music, and you could hear the female fans running down the names louder than DMX. The mixed crowd, made up on mostly of Westchester residents, appeared to really enjoy the show.
The Empire Strikes Back concert showed one thing for sure, why The Ruff Ryders is still one of the tightest cliques and most talented hip-hop crews out there, even three decades later…
From the torn heart of a man. I was asked to read a piece titled “The Double-Edged Sword Society” by a friend of mine. I met this educator maybe three years ago. His passion to lift our youth is what drew us close. Conversations of how to fix this mess or just tell me what can I do–has been always a part of our journey. He writes about the black community, law enforcement, and finish talking about the enemy. Luis Miguel Lopez is 29 years old. He was born in Staten Island, but raised in Brooklyn in the Williamsburg Section. He became infused into the education field 10 years ago and entered into the haven of classroom teaching three years ago.
Black Westchester Magazine present to you a piece by Luis M. Lopez “Double-Edged Sword Society”
Luis M. Lopez and the Black Community “The world we live in has become cold. We live in the new middle ages. Barbaric acts of violence being met by more barbaric acts of violence. My brothers and sisters of color find no rest in the free world. Throughout the years, you began to grant them privileges as though they were some sort of child. Granting my brothers and sisters the right the vote, the right to equal education, and a list that surpasses the borders of this country, and yet, they aren’t granted anything at all. A person of color becomes the natural prey. Black people’s existence has been predetermined in this country because of the embedded perception that if they’re black they are guilty, if they’re black they are hostile, if they’re black they are wrong. Our country has hidden its agenda to make it appear that my black brothers and sisters are of equal standing. This is contradicted by the actions of a very select few of law enforcement officers and many of our law makers. Unite, not only as a black community, but as humans. We all want fair and equal treatment. Our children deserve the privilege of walking the streets without being harassed by virtue of their appearance. Families of my Black brothers and sisters should never have to worry about the safety of their loved ones because they are considered “targets”. Defeat this oppression by unifying as a people. Lin Manuel Miranda says it best, “…and love is love is love is love is love is love is love cannot be killed or swept aside.” Fill your communities with love. Preach education and be the guardian of each other’s children. The saying “united we stand, divided we fall” doesn’t hold more weight than it does now. We need to stop the mindset of “divided we stand, united we fall”. Bring everyone around you together and stand as people. True love and peace is all I hope for my black brothers and sisters.”
Luis M. Lopez and Law Enforcement Community “Imagine your task is to protect the world that wants vengeance upon you. Allow that thought to marinate. My brothers and sisters in blue, your integrity is challenged and your lives are even more at risk. The careless, thoughtless, and irresponsible actions of the so few “officers” have stained the honor of the badge. Let us not be fooled, real people with real live, with real debts, with real families are out on these streets serving and protecting us each and every day. Yet a war is raged against them all, and I feel for you my brothers and sisters in blue. The carelessness of the officers that take the lives of the innocent should never go unnoticed and never go unpunished, but do we punish the whole for the folly of a few? My brother and sisters in blue, the country has taken up arms against you and even with those odds, you persevere to defend what is right. My family and friends are among those I consider my brothers and sisters in blue. The fear of not knowing who is targeting you and having to protect regardless is the true reality of the brothers and sisters in blue. I honor and respect the badge and the things the majority of law enforcement officers do. Placing blame on the whole seems like a foolish thing to do. In turn, I continue to hope and pray that my cousins come home safe from their daily law enforcement duties, I pray my friends get to come home to their families after their tour of duty, and I pray that this dark cloud that looms over their heads moves away, because it isn’t every law enforcement officer’s fault. This is a call for all my brothers and sisters in blue to stand together with my black brothers and sisters to display unity amongst this terrible divide. Let us all see the common enemy. The system rigs things to play in its favor and, now more than ever, I have seen it come to pass. A clear line has been made in the sand. Brush that line aside, my brothers and sisters in blue. You are just as much a human as my black brothers and sisters. Let us not forget that we are a people and as a people, unity is the only course to take. In the words of Dr. Maya Angelou, “Courage, the most important of all virtues because without courage, you can’t practice any other virtue consistently.” It will take courage to stand together and show the enemy you will not be made a pawn and you stand for what is right.”
Luis M. Lopez and The Enemy “When the sun shines bright, we wear sunglasses to block the rays because it is hard to deal with the light. That is how our justice system works. People are blinded by what lawmakers want to do and because they are, they don’t see the hidden agendas these lawmakers want to push. Exposing these lawmakers is the key to repairing these injustices. When there is an “officer” using excessive force to apprehend anyone they should be held responsible and be dealt with like anyone else who would be charged for such actions. My black brothers and sister along with my brothers and sisters in blue need to unite to filter out lawmakers that help these “officers” who are blatantly careless with their actions get off clean while my black brothers and sisters are abused to no end. We need to revert back to a time where we demanded our lawmakers to take swift action or step aside. When a wound is bleeding, you apply pressure to stop it. We need to apply pressure on our lawmakers to make sure everyone is being treated equally and to ensure justice is served. I am not talking about justice being served to please the masses. I want equal prosecution of law breaking individuals, such as the officers that took away innocent lives, and the individuals who took the lives of innocent officers. It is a double-edged society we live in. Our brothers and sisters in blue must serve and protect neighborhoods and communities that rebel against them and my black brothers and sisters must be weary of where they are and what they’re doing for fear of being targeted. Lawmakers need to be held accountable because this country has a hostile pot brewing and unless action is taken and change is implemented, we are preparing to see a second civil war.”
The left forum conference 2016! The conference has steadily grown over the years. There is a full room waiting to hear “A Father Perspective on Police Terrorism Against Children of Colour: Aberrations or Everyday Occurrences?”
I am sitting with Andrew Joseph Jr., father of Andrew Joseph III. The year was 2014 as Andrew stood to get on a ride. His team mates were being arrested and he went to inquire. The Gang task force was on the scene. Andrew was known as “Pee-Wee”. Pee-Wee picked up his friend show and hat and passed it to him. An academically intelligent 8th grade student who was slated for Holy Confirmation the next day responds to his friend and said, “I see how the officers are treating you.” The Gang Task Force officer questioned Andrew and made him pull up his shirt to see if he had any “Gang Tattoos”.
The school district gives students the day off and free passes to attend Student Day at the fair. As a result, tens of thousands pack into the fair each Student Day, and that has resulted in unruliness. In 2014, it led to violence. Deputies arrested 12 people and ejected 99 others.
Andrew Joseph III was then told to get into the car and they dropped him off 2 miles from the fair. The 14-year-old was killed trying to cross I-4 to return to the fairgrounds to meet his ride, his was hit by a car. The owner of the car never stopped. The owner who was 19 had the remains of Andrew on the grill of his car. The owner was never fined or ticketed.
This event Honoured the men who Mr. Murphy collaborate with while achieving the mission of The Tayshana “Chicken” Murphy Foundation. Males who are standing despite the pain were HONOURED today.
The Tayshana “Chicken” Murphy Foundation was formed in honor and loving memory of Tayshana Dejenea “Chicken” Murphy. Tayshana was a high school basketball star and basketball playground legend who on the early morning of September 11th met her physical demise by two executioners. The reason for creating this foundation is to add on her legacy in which her spirit will live forever as well as serve at risk teens likely to be victims of violence.
Mr. Murphy felt that that getting his family and close friends involved would help him touch more lives in the community. With the help of family and friends the foundation is creating youth support programs and support other organizations who have similar programs to serve our young people in communities across New York City and eventually the Nation.
Black dresses, black shades, black ties for a Black Father in Jamaica, New York. Tears pouring out as sobs and a scream for an answer. How does a traffic stop end up with someone picking out a casket? Tillman and another passenger had been searching for a parking spot when they were stopped. According to the officers, Tillman had an open beverage. Allegedly, he was chased by the two plainclothes officers.
George Tillman, another causality of the NYPD. Honored as a 32-year-old loving father of five, husband, son, and a very good family man. George was fatally shot by NYPD officers early Sunday, April 17th, in the morning during a traffic stop in Ozone Park, Queens.
A neighbor indicated that Tillman was visiting from Maryland for a birthday party. Relatives stated, “They pulled him over. He ran, and they shot him.” Ordinary stops. Ordinary talks. Ordinary reaction. It seems to be the customary condition.
Various stories published stated that Tillman reached the corner of 135th Street and 116th Avenue when he neared a second unmarked police car carrying three officers. According to police, Tillman reached for his gun and four officers opened fire, shooting him multiple times in the chest. EMS rushed Tillman to Jamaica Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
The videos from various people who reside in the area tell a different story. The contradiction shows George Tillman being shot while laying on the ground.
[Editor note: The Queens District Attorney cleared the officers in the killing of George Tillman. Two years later, the movie “The Hate U Give” was inspired by Tillman’s death at the hands of the NYPD.]
Tina Reynolds, the Co-Founder and Chair of WORTH (Women On the Rise Telling HerStory) speaks on reproductive justice and the challenges, issues and perceptions concerning women who are incarcerated and impacted by the criminal justice system at a quarterly P.A.U.D. (Pan-African Unity Dialog) meeting, Saturday, April 2, 2016.
WORTH (Women On the Rise Telling HerStory) is an advocacy/consultant group composed of currently & formerly incarcerated women, who have the expertise and understanding to engage, navigate and challenge policy and perceptions concerning incarcerated women.
Reynolds (a formerly incarcerated woman) and 17 other women started this organization when they came to the conclusion that women’s voices were missing from policy conversations about issues facing incarcerated or formerly incarcerated women and their families.
“Because I have the experience of having been incarcerated,” Reynolds shares, “I can tell you that many women in this situation have tenacity — they don’t give up regardless of what they are facing. Some currently and formerly incarcerated women are also not afraid to push the envelope. Whatever the challenges they face, they feel strongly that their voices must be heard and changes made. Women go through an incredible self-transformation as part of this process. Women who are formerly incarcerated and are working to change policy are on the rise; this is why we believe so strongly in WORTH. There is a huge shift from experiencing the oppression of being incarcerated to being empowered to change policies.”
When thinking about how to protect your livelihood or build the financial resources you will need to live life as desired, it often starts with clarifying what you want to achieve, what you value, and how uncertainties can affect plans and aspirations.
To get you on the road to financial security, here are 10 questions you’ll want to ask first.
What is important to me?
Clarify what’s truly important to you – the people you care about, the aspirations you have, the things you want to protect, and the support you’d like to give to others. Whether you reflect on this question by yourself, with family members, or alongside a financial professional – answer this first, as it will create the framework around which your financial strategy can be built.
Who depends on me today and who might depend on me tomorrow?
This question should be at the core of your decision-making process and should be answered well before you consider what you may need. Spouses, partners, and children are often thought of as the most obvious dependents; however, there can be others – for example, parents, in-laws, or siblings who, due to age, disability, or other circumstances, may be unable to care for themselves. Even individuals without a family have dependents – namely, themselves – since their well-being depends on their own ability to earn an income. With your list of current and potential dependents in hand, you will be better prepared to plot your course toward greater financial security.
Who is providing for my dependents now?
Does someone in your family provide valuable non-financial support to those you care about? Think of the stay-at-home parent – they may not support their family with earned income, but the support they do provide is just as valuable as any paycheck. If a stay-at-home parent were unable to provide that support, it would surely be expensive to replace. Account for all who provide essential financial or non-financial support to your dependents.
What risks have I overlooked or not fully considered?
People may concentrate on the risk of premature or accidental death and overlook other risks to their well-being and livelihood (for example, a breadwinner unable to work due to illness, an aging parent unable to care for themselves, a retiree dealing with rising healthcare costs, a business owner faced with a succession problem). As you work to construct your strategy, be sure to think broadly about the financial risks you face today, or may face in the future.
Are my plans flexible enough?
There are ways that financial product solutions can be structured to provide future flexibility and adjust to your evolving needs. When speaking with your financial professional, ask about flexible solutions that can be upgraded (or downsized) as events in your life unfold.
How do I pick the right financial professional?
When choosing a financial professional, work with someone who is not only competent but also inspires your trust and confidence. The best financial professionals are good listeners who seek to fully understand your circumstances and financial objectives before proposing possible solutions. They should have access to product solutions from many fine companies, should clearly explain how they get paid for their services, and should provide references upon request. Make sure your financial professional has a solid support network behind them since those affiliated with a strong, reputable firm will likely have access to better resources to support your changing needs.
How do I pick the right financial services company?
Based on your specific needs, your financial professional should present product solutions from companies that they highly regard and with which they have had positive experiences. Just as you will want to align yourself with a strong, reputable financial professional, you will want to do the same about financial services companies. In many cases, products will be used to address financial needs and objectives that last for decades, if not a lifetime. To help ensure that your financial product providers will be there when you (or loved ones) need them, work with strong, stable companies that have received high marks from independent rating agencies such as A.M. Best, Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s, and Fitch.
What if I already have a plan?
Even the best financial strategies should be revisited and updated regularly, generally at least once a year. Common life events such as marriage, having children, changing jobs, or even moving, can affect your existing approach. So, too, can just having another birthday – particularly if it means you have reached a financial milestone, such as the year you can begin collecting Social Security, receiving Medicare benefits, or taking distributions from your retirement accounts. An experienced financial professional should regularly review your strategy with you, to help ensure that it remains aligned with your objectives and appropriate for your circumstances.
What is the downside of putting this off?
Developing a financial strategy is a critically important activity that should not be rushed; however, there is a fine line between not rushing the process and not focusing on it at all. By putting this off, we expose ourselves and our families to unnecessary risks and lost opportunities – be it by not safeguarding our lifestyle from unexpected events, by not ensuring our livelihood and legacy while in a position of health and strength, or by not capitalizing on even one extra day to build and protect our retirement nest egg. By actively focusing on this process, you can help protect your interests and shape your future.
What am I waiting for?
You should now know what to consider as you develop your financial strategy and how to secure the best resources to turn that strategy into a reality. Perhaps most importantly, you should now understand how to avoid common pitfalls that lead some to take what may be the greatest risk of all – the risk of doing nothing. Take the next step by doing additional research on your own or seeking guidance from an experienced financial professional.
Provided by Rashad Bilal, a financial representative with The Bilal Group LLC, who represents MassMutual and other companies; courtesy of MassMutual
Ms. Sharonne Salaam (mother of Yusef Salaam of The Central Park 5—now the Exonatered 5) comes to People Before Politics Radio to discuss her efforts to fight for the rights of the wrongfully convicted like her son, how this ordeal affected her and her upcoming visit to Mount Vernon on Tuesday, August 18, 2015, for a Town Hall Discussion of the death of Raynette Turner
