Results tagged “reverendalsharpton”

The Daily News adds a new detail to the "road rage" arrests of Dominique Sharpton and Kathy Jordan—the daughter and ex-wife of the Reverend Al Sharpton. Apparently 23-year-old Dominque was pulled over by cops after allegedly driving through a red light, so she called her mother who "rushed to the scene to find Dominique in the back of a police car, Sharpton's attorney said." The women argued with the cops, eventually being taken to the stationhouse and charged with "disorderly conduct and obstruction of governmental administration." Their lawyer said, "It seems they were arrested simply because they asked why the ticket was being given." The Reverend Al, aside from his Tweets yesterday, remains quiet on the issue.

According to the Post, the ex-wife and daughter of the Reverend Al Sharpton "were arrested [Friday] night after berating a pair of Harlem cops who pulled them over for running a red light in the wrong lane to get around their slow-moving, unmarked cruiser." The incident began at West 110th Street and 8th Avenue, when Dominique Sharpton, allegedly frustrated by the unmarked cruiser, "honked her horn and tailgated the vehicle" and then "furiously swerved across the double yellow line and sped through a red light to get past the cop car."

This might be music to the Reverend Al Sharpton's ears: ESPN reports, "Rush Limbaugh is expected to be dropped from a group bidding to buy the St. Louis Rams, according to three NFL sources."

Saturday's weekly meeting of Reverend Al Sharpton's National Action Network was a little extra spirited yesterday, the gathering being used as a birthday party for the Rev, who was turning 55. But the festive occasion didn't stop Bill Thompson from using it as a pitch to its attendees to make sure they lend a hand to a campaign that could use it. Thompson said, "We have 32 days until the election, 32 days. Over the next 32 days, I need each and everyone of you involved in the election, knocking on doors, grabbing your friends, saying to your neighbors, 'We can take this city back and put someone in City Hall who can stand up and fight for all of us.'" Hope he at least brought a card.

       

Yesterday, music legend Michael Jackson was buried at Forest-Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California, ten weeks after his death. While the attendees were limited to two hundred family members and friends (including ex-wife Lisa Marie Presley, Corey Feldman, Macaulay Culkin, Barry Bonds, and Chris Tucker), the Reverend Al Sharpton kept his Twitter followers appraised of the services, Tweeting, "I am sitting at the burial services of michael jackson. I am talking to actress lisaraye mc coy who was at NAN when MJ came and tom mesereau," "What MJ went through was so unfair, yet he succeeded. In the end, he was the biggest artist ever. He faced the headwinds but he made it," "I just spoke at the conclusion of tributes. Gladys knight sang her heart out. Now we prepare to lay him top rest," and "MICHAEL JACKSON HAS BEENb LAID TO REST." Sharpton has defended Jackson's reputation and was at the Brooklyn MJ celebration last weekend.

Last week, noted Harvard academic Henry Louis Gates was arrested in Cambridge, Massachusetts, after a neighbor described a man trying to "pry" open a home's front door. It turned out that Gates had locked himself out his house; cops claim Gates was belligerent and refused to show ID while Gates claims he did show ID yet was still arrested for disorderly conduct (apparently for allegedly being belligerent, which he denies). The charges were dropped, but Gates wants an apology from the cop, "If he apologizes sincerely, I am willing to forgive him. And if he admits his error, I am willing to educate him about the history of racism in America and the issue of racial profiling." And the Reverend Al Sharpton was incredulous, "I’ve heard of driving while black, and I’ve heard of shopping while black. But I’ve never heard of living in a home while black." The Harlem minister added he would fight for Gates, "If this can happen at Harvard, what does it say about the rest of the country? Henry Louis Gates is the pre-eminent African-American scholar in the country. If they can do this to him, imagine what they can do to a kid in Roxbury."

Congresswoman and likely Senate candidate Carolyn Maloney may have stepped in some serious S-word. While giving an interview to the publication City Hall, Maloney was discussing Kirsten Gillibrand's stances being all over the map and relayed a story from a voter on the issue of language in the schools: "I got a call from someone from Puerto Rico, said [Gillibrand] went to Puerto Rico and came out for English-only [education]. And he said, ‘It was like saying n—r to a Puerto Rican.’” City Hall emphasizes that Maloney used the "full racial slur." Talk about bad PR! Well, if Jesse Jackson wasn't going to let Nas use the N-word, you knew Al Sharpton would waste no time in having words for Maloney. The Reverend, who has already endorsed Gillibrand, said the utterance was "alarming and disturbing at best" and wants her to out the person who said this "so we know that in fact this conversation did occur and the way in which it occurred." Maloney was quick to back away from the comment, saying, "I apologize for having repeated a word I find disgusting. It's no excuse but I was so caught up in relaying the story exactly as it was told to me that, in doing so, I repeated a word that should never be repeated."

Just over a week after an undercover NYPD officer fatally shot 49-year-old Shem Walker, loved ones and community leaders gathered around his mother's Clinton Hill stoop, the site of the deadly altercation in which the details still remain unclear. Bitterness over the incident was clearly in the air yesterday with the harshest words coming from Councilwoman Letitia James, who said, “I say to the NYPD, get your lies straight." The Brooklyn DA's office is currently investigating the shooting as the identity of the officer remains unknown—just that he is a seven-year NYPD veteran and is also black. A minister at the vigil yesterday said, "Police officers are paid to protect and serve, but they are also paid for their judgment. Too often it is the case that their judgment is off with people of color." Tonight a funeral will be held for Walker at Full Gospel Assembly of God with Reverend Al Sharpton delivering the eulogy.

Last night, Bill O'Reilly had two very vocal figures discuss Michael Jackson on his show last night—Rep. Peter King (R-Long Island), who blasted the media attention devoted to a "pedophile" "lowlife", and Rev. Al Sharpton, who told Jackson's children that there was "nothing strange" about their father. First, O'Reilly had King on; O'Reilly pointed out that Jackson was acquitted of molestation charges and that settling the other case "doesn't mean you're admitting anything" (which the talk show host knows about first hand). King responded:

Bill, I would say an adult male who sleeps with young boys is a child molester. If nothing else, he's molesting and abusing their psyche. How are those children going to possibly grow up normal after spending nights in bed with Michael Jackson? So — and I would say also there's not a daycare center in the United States that would be allowed to hire him...

Continue reading "O'Reilly Has Rep. King, Rev. Sharpton Discuss Michael Jackson"

       

Yesterday, millions of people watched the Michael Jackson memorial—whether at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, at screenings around the country (including a few in NYC), or online. One woman in Times Square told the Post, "It's such a sad day, but it's nice to be with people who feel like I do," while another said, "This is like someone in my family has died. I've just been a wreck all week. I can't stop shaking." And the Reverend Al Sharpton delivered strong words at the memorial in L.A., telling Jackson's children, "There weren't nothing strange about your daddy. It was strange what your daddy had to deal with but he dealt with it," which brought Sharpton a standing ovation.

       

Last night, Amateur Night at the Apollo Theater was dedicated to the memory of Michael Jackson, one of the biggest stars to be discovered at the legendary West 125th Street venue. Impersonators and fans took turns showing off MJ moves. Here's video from USA Today of some of the highlights:

                  

Yesterday, thousands of Michael Jackson fans waited to celebrate the pop legend's life at the Apollo Theater. They waited hours to enter the venue where Jackson and his brothers were discovered in 1967—they cried, sang, danced, and cheered in his memory. According to the Daily News, the Reverend Al Sharpton "scoff[ed] at critics who continue to portray" Jackson as a "freak and child molester" in his "fiery eulogy painting the entertainer as a trailblazing phenomenon," saying, "Michael opened the door to us and we won't let them close the door on you."

The Apollo Theater is ready to open its doors between 2 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. for mourners to remember music icon Michael Jackson. During 45 minute intervals, 600 mourners at time will be allowed inside the theater where Jackson and his brothers won Amateur Night in 1967. The mourners will be able to leave memorabilia and flowers, while Jackson's music will be played along with video tributes. Mourners can also sign the tribute wall outside the theater. Under the Apollo's marquee, Reverend Al Sharpton will be leading a moment of silence at 5:26 p.m.—Jackson's time of death—and give a eulogy. On Wednesday night, there will be a moonwalking component during Amateur Night at the Apollo. Apollo Theater Foundation President Jonelle Procope said, "We at the Apollo thought it was important to put these events together to give Michael's fans the chance to remember him as the consummate entertainer that he was." The Apollo Theater is on West 125th Street, between between Adam Clayton Powell (7th Avenue) & Frederick Douglass Blvd (8th Avenue).

Just in case you were wondering, the Reverend Al Sharpton is headed to California to be with Michael Jackson's family—his spokesperson said, "Reverend Sharpton is on his way to Los Angeles to meet with Michael's parents and siblings and to talk about the needs to preserve and protect Michael's legacy." Sharpton, who spoke outside the Apollo right after Jackson's death was announced, will lead a moment of silence and read a eulogy for the pop singer during the Apollo's tribute to Jackson, planned on Tuesday. Between 2 p.m. and 9 p.m., 600 mourners per 45-minute interval are invited to leave memorabilia and flowers and remember Jackson's life. And on Wednesday, the Apollo's Amateur Night will feature a moonwalking competition. Apollo Theater Foundation President Jonelle Procope said, "We at the Apollo thought it was important to put these events together to give Michael's fans the chance to remember him as the consummate entertainer that he was."

       

After the news of music legend Michael Jackson's sudden death yesterday, New Yorkers expressed their grief and remembered the "King of Pop" all over the city. The Reverend Al Sharpton issued a statement, "A friend of Michael's for the last 35 years, I call on people around the world to pray for him and his family in the hour... I have known him at his high moments and his low moments and I know he would want us to pray for his family," and later held court outside the Apollo Theatre—which is where the Jackson 5 was discovered—where he said, "I watched him sell stadiums out. Michael Jackson made culture accept a person of color way before Tiger Woods, way before Oprah Winfrey, way before Barack Obama. Michael did with music what they later did with sports, and in politics and in television and no controversy will erase the historic impact." Here's video:

Over the weekend, State Senate Democrats met at the Reverend Al Sharpton's National Action Network headquarters in Harlem to discuss sharing power with the Senate Republicans. Senator Hiram Monserrate (D-Queens) also spoke on Sharpton's radio show—and compared himsel to Jesus. The Daily News reports that besides saying he was the target of a political jihad, Monserrate also said, "You know, I'm never gonna compare myself to anyone in the biblical context...I remember Jesus himself, when he saw that in the temple there were merchants setting up shop, [he] began to turn over a few tables along."

After two full weeks of the coup turned stalemate, now various outlets report that Governor David Paterson may step in. According to the Daily News, "Unless a deal is reached between the Democrats and Republicans to get back to work, Paterson will call a special Senate session for Wednesday... Aides said the governor has a list of 42 bills - including one to extend the mayor's control over the city schools - that need action by month's end." The Senate GOP claims they don't need a special session "because most of those bills the governor speaks of are already on active lists that we've attempted to take up all week," while the Democrats offered a power-sharing agreement, "Our proposal for an equitable operating agreement will allow us to get essential work done and pass legislation that local communities need to survive." Also in Senate Democrat news: An emergency summit is planned for tomorrow—at the Reverend Al Sharpton's Harlem offices. Paterson is expected to attend.

State Senator Hiram makes it two days in the row on the cover of the Daily News: After his Mets-Yankees game appearance with fellow dissident Democrat Senator Pedro Espada Jr., now Monserrate is making waves by telling the News he's going to vote with the Democrats, just one week after he and Espada helped Republicans take control of the Senate. The lawmaker from Queens broke the news to Daily News columnist Juan Gonzalez, saying, "I'm coming home."

Today, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand continued to bolster her support for 2010, announcing endorsements from Rep. Gregory Meeks as well as the Reverend Al Sharpton. Sharpton's statement begins, "In less than five months, Senator Gillibrand has demonstrated an ability to bring people together, listen to their challenges, and forge solutions to the problems they face. I was impressed that the day after being selected to replace Hillary Clinton in the Senate, she came down to the House of Justice in Harlem to hear the real concerns of the voiceless." PolitickerNY reports, "The endorsements by Sharpton and Meeks are useful to Gillibrand, who has been trying to make inroads with a black community wary of her past conservative position on gun control," and an adviser said that Gillibrand worked for their support, "One of the first people she met with was Sharpton, she's talked to him regularly and reached out to him." So far, Reps. Steve Israel and Carolyn McCarthy have said they will not run against Gilibrand; Rep. Caroline Maloney is reportedly considering a primary challenge.

Yesterday, about 250 people marched in Harlem during a rally for Omar Edwards, the off-duty police officer who was fatally shot in Harlem by a fellow cop. Edwards, who was black, had been pursuing a man suspected of breaking into his car with his gun drawn; his shooter, police officer Andrew Dunton, was white. According to the Reverend Al Sharpton said, "We're not here to play the race card. We're trying to stop the card from being played on black law enforcement."

President Obama must have felt like he was hosting an improv comedy parlor game of Party Quirks this afternoon when he welcomed to the White House Mayor Bloomberg, the Reverend Al Sharpton and former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich. The trio was there as part of the nonprofit group, the Education Equality Project. The meeting also included NYC Schools Chancellor Joel Klein, who despite co-founding the project, was not deemed worthy of any of today's AP photo opportunities—stick to events headlined by Randi Weingarten if you ever want to be remembered, Joel!

The NY Post reports that the Federal Election Commission is fining the Reverend Al Sharpton and his advocacy group $285,000 for "violating a slew of federal election rules during his 2004 bid for president... In a decision to be made public next month, the Federal Election Commission found that Sharpton's Democratic primary campaign accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars in contributions from private sources."

Mayor Bloomberg appeared at the Reverend Al Sharpton's National Action Network Convention and called the reverend a "calming influence on the city." The Mayor added, "I don't agree with him everything but on balance I've become, over the years, a Sharpton fan." But even with that praise, Sharpton is still backing City Comptroller Bill Thompson for mayor. Sharpton did tell the NY Times that Bloomberg made an effort with the black community, unlike Ed Koch, "Koch gave us such good reasons to vote against him. That’s not the case with Bloomberg. Even on issues where we disagree, the mayor reaches out to us, so there isn’t that hostility." The Times' article focuses on how the mayor's re-election is making an "aggressive" push to appeal to black leaders and, in turn, voters; one political consultant pointed out, "Every black Democrat who votes for Bloomberg is like two votes. It’s a vote the mayor gets and a vote that Thompson was counting on."

Yesterday afternoon, film director Spike Lee joined the Reverend Al Sharpton and hundreds of others to protest the NY Post's decision to run an editorial cartoon featuring a dead chimp killed by police. Lee said of the paper, "Shut it down... It's not just black folks. It's an insult to everybody."

Two days after controversy erupted when the NY Post ran an editorial cartoon that involved a dead chimp killed by police and a reference to the federal stimulus package, the NY Post has finally apologized. In a way.

About 200 people gathered outside the NY Post's offices in midtown Manhattan to protest the Sean Delonas-drawn editorial cartoon showing a dead chimp, shot by police who say, "They'll have to find someone else to write next stimulus bill." The protesters shouted, "Shut down the Post! Shut down the Post!"

Two young men were arrested Friday for the Election Night beating of a black teenager on Staten Island soon after Obama's victory had been announced. Eighteen-year-olds Ralph Nicoletti and Bryan Garaventa allegedly yelled "Obama!" when they pulled up alongside 17-year-old Alie Kamara and attacked him with baseball bats that left bleeding from the head. The two were charged with hate-crime assault and criminal possession of a weapon. Other charges may follow and police are still looking for two more suspects involved with the crime. Federal prosecutors may get involved with the case and Reverend Al Sharpton has spoken to Kamara's mother about pushing the US Justice Department to take action.

After an audit by the Federal Election Commission, Al Sharpton is being forced to pay back almost $500,000 for what they have deemed illegal campaign contributions during his 2004 run for president. The FEC is nailing Sharpton for not delineating between donations for his campaign and money coming in for his National Action Network. The report says that "virtually no effort was made" to show which funds were for which.

A judge found the Reverend Al Sharpton and seven other protesters guilty of disorderly conduct. Sharpton had organized a number of civil disobedience events around the city to protest the acquittals of three police officers whose gun fire killed unarmed Sean Bell in November 2006. Sharpton had promised to shut down the city with the protests, which was situated at bridge and tunnel crossings and over 200 people were arrested, though most of the cases were ultimately dismissed. WNBC reports that Sharpton and the other defendants were sentenced to time already served (Sharpton had served 5 1/2 hours in jail).

Yesterday, federal prosecutors confirmed to the Daily News that they dropped the criminal probe into the finances of the Reverend Al Sharpton and his non-profit, the National Action Network. The feds, which had been investigating since December, has left the matter to the IRS, which estimates the non-profit owes "between $2 and $9 million" in back taxes (Sharpton has already paid back $1 million to the IRS). And he still owes a lot in city and state taxes. Sharpton told the Daily News, "I have learned that everybody is not necessarily out to get you. And, I hope [prosecutors] have learned that everybody who questions the system is not trying to beat the system."