Blames threats on Imus censorship climate
(CBS) NEW YORK WCBSTV.com learned early Saturday that the National Action Network has increased the Rev. Al Sharpton’s security due to a number of death threats in the wake of the firing of radio host Don Imus by MSNBC and CBS Radio.
There will also be added security at the National Action Network’s headquarters in Harlem.
“We have no way of knowing the seriousness of these threats, but they have intensified greatly in the last two days as Rev. Sharpton was figured prominently in the firing of Don Imus,” Attorney Charlie King said in a statement early Saturday morning.
“Since Rev. Sharpton survived a personal assassination attempt where he was stabbed, we take any and all threats, especially at this volume, very serious. Therefore, all may be comfortable that we will not take the safety of our staff or that of our President lightly.”
Sharpton was stabbed in the chest by Michael Riccardi on Jan. 12, 1991, as the Reverend was leading a protest in the Bensonhurst section of Brooklyn. Sharpton later filed suit against the city accusing the NYPD of failing to protect him. The two sides eventually settled.Sharpton took up the cause of the members of the Rutgers University women’s basketball team after Imus referred to them as “nappy-headed hos” on his radio show last week.
Sharpton told CBS 2’s Marcia Kramer on Friday that just hours after he met with CBS Chairman and CEO Les Moonves on Thursday he got a call that Imus was getting fired.
“I remember saying to Mr. Moonves, ‘if you said it, you’d be fired. Does he have more rights than you?'” Sharpton said.
Part of Sharpton’s power and visibility comes from his National Action Network — with its half a million supporters across the country, and his ability to mobilize both opinions and protesters.
http://wcbstv.com/topstories/local_story_104002437.html
When Shaprton claims such dramatic problems, we should keep in mind his role in the Tawana Brawley hoax, where a black female alleged rape at the hands of whites. The hoax raised serious chaos and had the potential to destroy the lives of the men accused, much like another hoax, the Duke “rape” indictments. Sharpton, Jackson and the gang appear to be riding the Imus situation to take pressure off themselves for what they helped do to the innocent Duke players, who were caught up in the kind of racial hysteria “leaders” such as Sharpton live off of. Also keep in mind that “hate” hoaxes in non-white interests are very common. While a few loose nuts may have threatened hoaxer Sharpton, we doubt that even if they did, there’s anything for him to worry about.