NAACP leaders urge fairness for Vick

[tylerd]

ATLANTA - NAACP leaders urged public restraint Monday in judging Michael Vick before he has his day in court.

R.L. White, president of the Atlanta chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, said the Atlanta Falcons quarterback has been vilified by animal rights groups, talk radio and the news media and prematurely punished by his team and corporate sponsors.

"If Mr. Vick is guilty, he should pay for his crime, but to treat him as he is being treated now is also a crime," White said at a news conference. "Be restrained in your premature judgment until the legal process is completed."

Vick has pleaded not guilty to charges of sponsoring a dogfighting operation.

On Monday, Tony Taylor, a co-defendant in the case, pleaded guilty in Virginia to federal dogfighting conspiracy charges in a plea agreement with prosecutors. Purnell Peace of Virginia Beach and Quanis Phillips of Atlanta face similar charges and are scheduled for trial Nov. They remain free without bond.

Businesses have been quick to recoil. Nike suspended its lucrative contract with Vick and Reebok stopped sales of his No. 7 jersey. In addition, two trading car companies withdrew Vick items.

White plans to contact Vick to see what assistance the Atlanta NAACP chapter can offer. White predicted that public opinion may worsen in the wake of Taylor's plea deal.

Until then, he said he would keep an open mind and encouraged others to do the same.

Georgia NAACP President Edward Dubose thanked Vick for his community service and the money and excitement he has brought to Georgia as a Falcon. Dubose said Vick is being prosecuted in the court of public opinion before he has had a chance to defend himself.

"We're not condoning bad behavior, but Michael Vick is innocent until proven guilty," Dubose said.

Atlanta chapter member Bernadette Allen attended the news conference and also a rally Sunday to support Vick.

"The man is entitled to due process under the law, as is any citizen," Allen said.

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just a quick question. why does the naacp urge us not to judge vick on one hand, but offers to assist him on the other??? if the public shouldn't presume he's guilty, why does the naacp presume he's innocent?

i think it's great that he's losing his endorsement deals. may he pay through the nose for his abuse and stupidity.

 

[Anzik]

I bet those pit bulls didn't care what color Vick is.

 

[Bannister]

just a quick question. why does the naacp urge us not to judge vick on one hand, but offers to assist him on the other??? if the public shouldn't presume he's guilty, why does the naacp presume he's innocent?

Because once upon a time you were presumed innocent until you were proven guilty.

 

[tylerd]

Because once upon a time you were presumed innocent until you were proven guilty.

a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.

i was pointing out the contradiction of naacp atlanta chapter president white. he asked people to reserve judgement, but he himself didn't practice what he's preaching.

i'm pretty sure that a federal indictment means they got you by the nads. that's why his major endorsement deals are drying up. that may also be the reason everyone is presuming vick guilty but reserving judgement should be a two way street.

 

[Bannister]

a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.

i was pointing out the contradiction of naacp atlanta chapter president white. he asked people to reserve judgement, but he himself didn't practice what he's preaching.

i'm pretty sure that a federal indictment means they got you by the nads. that's why his major endorsement deals are drying up. that may also be the reason everyone is presuming vick guilty but reserving judgement should be a two way street.

What I was pointing out was that you are supposed to be presumed innocent until you are proven guilty which is why they are offering assistance. I know it technically is a contradiction, but that's the way it goes. Reserving judgement should be a two way street, but according to our legal system it isn't. You are innocent until proven guilty.

 

[foolkiller]

Do you have their statement regarding the Duke Lacrosse rape case? I wonder if it had the same wait and see approach.

 

[tylerd]

Do you have their statement regarding the Duke Lacrosse rape case? I wonder if it had the same wait and see approach.

i think the feds have a little more evidence than a junkie exotic dancer's claims.

 

[Bannister]

I never said I thought the guy was innocent. I am just saying that is the way it goes. I personally think he had at least some involvement given that he was indicted by the feds.

 

[wofford29]

Considering the success rate of federal indictments, which I believe is around 95% last time I checked, I'd say it's pretty safe to assume he's guilty. They don't indict at this level unless they have something substantial on you.

 

[tylerd]

What I was pointing out was that you are supposed to be presumed innocent until you are proven guilty which is why they are offering assistance. I know it technically is a contradiction, but that's the way it goes. Reserving judgement should be a two way street, but according to our legal system it isn't. You are innocent until proven guilty.

i agree that the principals of the law and the constitution should be upheld, but they rarely are in today's world. it seems the only people that are demanded fair and equal treatment and receive it are usually the child molesters, rapists and murderers.

i fear the naacp will try to make this issue into something race related. doesn't matter if you're black, white, red or yellow. a dirtbag with no compassion for lesser species is a dirtbag, no matter what race, creed, color, religion or sexual orientation. did you know that a majority of mass murderers started with killing domestic animals?

vick's teammates were told not to speak with the media but i saw two interviewed on espn on saturday. both said they backed vick 100% and like vick didn't think this issue was a big deal. they also quoted vick as thinking after some time has passed, this will all blow over. a public figure with no respect for public outcries, the law or the federal government is absolutely dangerous.

 

[Viking28]

Do you have their statement regarding the Duke Lacrosse rape case? I wonder if it had the same wait and see approach.

THAT is what I was thinking also, did they presume the Lacrosse players innocent until proven guilty. NOPE.

 

[tylerd]

THAT is what I was thinking also, did they presume the Lacrosse players innocent until proven guilty. NOPE.

the indictment wasn't federal. and the Durham District Attorney, Mike Nifong that indicted the duke players was forced to resign.

 

[Anzik]

Now lets hope the same thing happens to this prosecutor: https://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1185040507206380.xml&coll=7

 

[tylerd]

Now lets hope the same thing happens to this prosecutor: https://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1185040507206380.xml&coll=7

can you imagine these kids serving more time than vick? yow!!

 

[foolkiller]

Does it really matter if it is a federal or state crime. Also presumption of innocence is for the jury to take into account not really a mandate for the general public.

 

[Viking28]

the indictment wasn't federal. and the Durham District Attorney, Mike Nifong that indicted the duke players was forced to resign.

Was does it matter if it was fedeal? Nifong didn't have to resign until way later, WHAT I was saying is the NAACP jumped right on the players assuming they were GUILTY. They didn't come on the scene urging fairness did they? They came on the scene saying they were guilty.

 

[tylerd]

Was does it matter if it was fedeal? Nifong didn't have to resign until way later, WHAT I was saying is the NAACP jumped right on the players assuming they were GUILTY. They didn't come on the scene urging fairness did they? They came on the scene saying they were guilty.

federal prosecution does not issue an indictment unless they have you by the short hairs. that's the difference. in the highly publicized cases i've seen, the naacp's moves are self-motivated and always have their own best interests in mind, whether justice is served or not. assisting vick maybe like taking a cruise on the titanic for the naacp. this just in. looks like someone's in deep dooty!

https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-vickco-defendant&prov=ap&type=lgns

 

[Viking28]

federal prosecution does not issue an indictment unless they have you by the short hairs. that's the difference. in the highly publicized cases i've seen, the naacp's moves are self-motivated and always have their own best interests in mind, whether justice is served or not. assisting vick maybe like taking a cruise on the titanic fro the naacp. this just in. looks like someone's in deep dooty!

https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-vickco-defendant&prov=ap&type=lgns

What I'm saying is NAACP only ask fairness for one group while condemning another group with no evidence. Whatever it is Federal, state whatever they only see one color.

 

[tylerd]

Does it really matter if it is a federal or state crime. Also presumption of innocence is for the jury to take into account not really a mandate for the general public.

pleading the case of innocent until proven guilty is just a delay for the inevitable. vick won't be able to play dumb in november because that just won't float. it does matter that it's a federal crime because the u.s. government won't make mistake after mistake like local or state prosecution that has people like OJ still walking free after dna evidence proving his guilt. a 95-96% conviction rate should have vick out of the nfl and into prison where he belongs. i mean, you don't have to watch the whole movie to figure out the couple having sex are the first to taste the murderer's axe.

 

[tylerd]

What I'm saying is NAACP only ask fairness for one group while condemning another group with no evidence. Whatever it is Federal, state whatever they only see one color.

i have to agree 100%. reverse discrimination should have the same disdain as discrimination itself.