Tonight a very dear friend of mine is staying in a safe house somewhere in Louisiana. Why? Because she dared to speak out. Because she saw the ugly face of racism and said something about it. Because she was going on radio tonight and talk about it.
I first met Annie and her husband Buddy Spell while posting on a political forum. We became friends and eventually started our own forum.
Her and Buddy were instrumental in starting Cindy Sheehan on her road to Crawford. They were there with her in the ditch in the beginning.
Buddy and Annie are lawyers and Annie is the president of her local NAACP chapter. She's a fiery redhead that can be as sweet as can be but when you get her going she's a bulldog.
They also have suffered from Hurricane Katrina living in Covington La. just north of Lake Ponchatrain. It is just such suffering that brings her to this dilemma.
Sheriff Jack Strain of Slidell La., in response to questions about a triple murder at a trailer park in Slidell. Made the remark that "people with dreadlocks or ?chee whee? hair cuts could expect a visit from his deputies". This, along with other racist remarks from the Sheriff, have sparked calls for his dismissal.
Annie was to go on radio tonight and talk about this, but has now been taken to a safe house because of death threats against her. Before this she may have had a tough sell but I think this is just another sign of how racism and bigotry are still alive and well in Dixie.
Say a prayer for Annie if you would. Here are some links so you can read more on the story.
http://www.crooksandliars.com/...
http://www.crooksandliars.com/...
http://politicalswitchboard.invisionzone.com/...