Southern Christian Leadership Conference Honoring Michael Vick This Weekend at National Convention
The SCLC should be ashamed! The very organization that fought for human freedom and respect is now honoring a man known for torture and abuse. What’s next? Putting Idi Amin on the SCLC letterhead?
This falls under the “What the hell are they thinking” category! I have been a supporter of racial equality for pretty much most of my life. I have always respected the SCLC for their heroic origins. But this recent action to HONOR Michael Vick must have Dr. Martin Luther King vomiting. It sure had that effect on me!
Even if Vick is NOT found legally guilty for the torture and murder of over 60 plus innocent dogs he has a history of public crudeness and stupidity that would make many mothers want to ground their adult children permanently. And the fact that the SCLC would want to honor this misbegotten and overpaid twit (okay I’m being polite) does nothing for him but drags the SCLC name through Vick’s bloody mud.
You don’t save someone like Vick who already thinks he’s above the law and common decency by honoring him. That only tells him that he is okay and he is being persecuted by people who don’t like him. Once again, the Vick indictment and outcry is not about racism. Those of us continuing the call for his prosecution aren’t doing this because he is African- American; we want justice for the dogs he has murdered, both directly and by his involvement in dogfighting.
Thanks to Diesel Blue for barking in this news from WSBTV.com.
SCLC To Honor Vick At Atlanta Convention
POSTED: 1:17 pm EDT August 3, 2007
ATLANTA — While he waits for his trial related to dogfighting charges to start, Michael Vick will be honored by the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.
SCLC President Charles Steele announced Thursday during a news conference that the group will find a way to honor Vick during its national convention that began Friday.“We will recognize Vick for being an outstanding human being,” said Steele. “We will work with anyone who opens their heart and arms to us.”
The president of the SCLC told Channel 2’s JaQuitta Williams the organization will honor Vick by praying for him. Steele said supporting people in need is what the SCLC has been about for the past 50 years.
“We’re in support of Michael as a human being,” SCLC president Charles Steele said. “Right now, he’s feeling discarded, ostracized by people who are rushing to judgment. It’s our responsibility to save him.”
Steele said he did not know if Vick will attend any of the events at the conference.
Follow this link to read the rest of the article and watch the video.
OH, GIVE ME A BREAK. Michael Vick is feeling “discarded and ostracized” because he is a sick, awful disgrace to the human race. End of story. Any group that wants to be associated with him is fine by me. Let them be dragged down under the waves with him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hmmmm…….I wonder if the poor dogs that were fought and killed felt discarded.
They came in many colors …..are they on the list to be honored or saved?
The way some “Christians” welcome the Devil amazes me. Obviously they’re not really Christians at all but Devil worshipers?
I find honoring him is just ridiculous and will only make his head bigger. I don’t understand this move by them at all.
should be hang sick man pit bulls are trained to fight not born to.most are loving pets had 2 were very loving
Purely disgusting. Did the SCLC similarly “honor” O.J. Simpson after a civil court found him accountable of two vicious murders? Poor O.J.! He, too, was vilified by the public and the press alike, so I guess that, regardless of the depravity of his crimes, he too deserves to be honored, by the same rationale as used to justify Vick’s being so “honored.”
In the past there have been many dogfighters and dog abusers, both black and white, who we “activists” (I’m so sick of being called an “activist” — how ’bout “decent, caring human being”?)…many abusers who we “activists” have quite visibly and vocally campaigned against, and I don’t recall the SCLC clamoring to honor any of these other black animal murderers.
Let’s see…there was the case of DeShawn Brown who was charged in the torture death of the 10-month-old puppy, Mercy, who was stabbed, doused with gasoline and set on fire. DeShawn Brown is black, and arguably “innocent until proven guilty”. “Activists” screamed loud and long against DeShawn Brown, in seeking justice for Mercy.
Then there was Russell Watson, 17, who was charged with the brutal beating of Rakim, a 1 y.o. Pit Bull, with a baseball bat. The assault against the defenseless young dog was caught on video inside a Philadelphia laundromat. Again, “activists” screamed loud and long for justice for Rakim. As with the Vick case, protests were held at the courthouse where Watson appeared and thousands of letters of outrage written to local police and the prosecutor’s office.
Both DeShawn Brown and Russell Watson were black. Never did I hear of the SCLC come to the defense of these young men, let alone “honor” them in any capacity. Both these young men were poor and anything but celebrities prior to their heinous acts of brutality. Could it be the reason, pray tell, that the SCLC is treating Vick so differently from Brown and Watson, is due to Vick’s wealth and celebrity? Race is certainly not the reason the SCLC is protecting and defending and honoring Vick, or else they’d have jumped the bar for Brown and Watson, too. But they didn’t. No, indeed, they did not. So it appears that the SCLC’s honoring of Vick has nothing to do with race or compassion (for Vick, not the dogs he murdered), but has everything to do with seeking to share in the spotlight of Vick’s fame and unashamed greed for Vick’s money (hey, maybe in return for the SCLC’s support of Vick, Vick will donate *generously* to the SCLC).
Excellent points Lucy!
The SCLC (whoever that is) can’t find a single better honoree than Vick? This should tell you everything you need to know about the SCLC.
If you would like to contact the SCLC president & CEO Charles Steele, his email address is: president@sclcnational.org. The group’s mailing address is SCLC, PO Box 89128, Atlanta, GA 30312 and their telephone number is 404.522.1420. This is from their website, whose intro is a quote from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: “We are called to speak…for the victims of the nation…” Lets keep the ‘victim” out of “Vick” and let this group know how we feel!
The Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) has sadly become a ship of fools.
Here is a copy of the email that I sent to Charles Steele, the president of the SCLC, regarding the possible honoring of Michael Vick:
Good morning Mr. Steele.
I read something a few days ago that I found quite disturbing. According to an article in the Houston Chronicle, your organization is considering honoring Michael Vick during your convention. To say I am shocked would be mild. To say I’m appalled is totally inadequate.
Contrary to statements made by some, this is NOT a racial issue, and those of us who fight for the humane treatment of animals are offended by that inference. The issue at hand is the immoral, inhumane, and downright cruel behavior of some men for their so-called “entertainment�. The practice of dog fighting is completely reprehensible, and there is no legitimate argument that can justify it. I personally don’t care if the person or persons involved are black, white, green or purple. Wrong is wrong in any color.
I understand that he has not been convicted yet, and I agree he should get a fair trial. I also know that there is detailed testimony of the incidents that occurred on his property, and that at least one of his fellow defendants has “talked�…..so to naively believe that he had nothing to do with these heinous acts and had no knowledge of them is insulting to say the least. Most of his business relationships have been either suspended or severed because the companies do not want anyone with such a reputation to be affiliated with them and the image they wish to portray. Even the NFL has him on the back burner for now.
Please tell me how drowning, electrocuting, and body slamming dogs until they are dead is the act of a “Christian� man? How is torturing them to make them mean, then forcing them to fight to the death the act of a meek and gentle Christian man? We are to be stewards of the earth and of God’s creations. We were not given permission to abuse or destroy them, nor do I think the God I believe in would approve of that sort of cruelty in the name of entertainment. It’s all about money, I’m sure you know. Money and prestige. Hmmm….I think pride would play a big part in that, as would greed. Aren’t both of those things specifically addressed in the Bible as things that are destructive and can bring ruin to a man? Not to mention the moral issues.
Dr. Martin Luther King was a great man of great vision. I admire him greatly for all that he achieved and for the sacrifices he made in the name of freedom and civil rights. To even mention Michael Vick’s name in the same sentence as Dr. King is absolutely WRONG. This man is NOT an example of the type of person your organization, or any organization, should promote. I seriously doubt Dr. King would have approved of his actions or his attitude. His arrogance shows no bounds. You’re aware, I’m sure, that when he passed a group of protesters outside the courthouse on his arraignment day, he said something I can’t repeat and “flipped them off�. That shows a total lack of remorse, complete arrogance, and an ego larger than any man should have.
This is NOT a man to be honored. This is a person (I can’t call him a real man) who should be ashamed of himself and humbly ask for forgiveness. If he did that and truly meant it and changed his way of doing things, most would be able to forgive him. Instead, he made it blatantly clear what his opinion is. He basically said “f*** you� to anyone who spoke out against him. Arrogant. Selfish. Greedy. Immoral. Dishonest. Self-serving. Cruel. ….NOT the words that should be used to describe a man of character, but they are the words that best describe Michael Vick.
Please reconsider honoring this person. He does not deserve, nor would he appreciate it. It would only send him a message that he can do whatever he wants and it’s okay. All I ask is that you think about this situation and come to the logical, moral and ethical conclusion.
Thank you for your time and attention,
When Vick passed a group of protesters outside the courthouse on his arraignment day, he said something that can’t repeat and “flipped them off?. I agree that shows a total lack of remorse. This man should in no way be honored, but the SCLC should pray for him. He needs it!
Oh, that’s nothing, look at this:
If the HTML doesn’t work here is a link:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1016/1019106525_4316481883.jpg
Here is a copy of my email:
Dear Mr. Steele,
As a Christian I am shocked by you honoring such a terrible excuse for a human being.
I was present the day of his arraignment in Richmond, and as he was departing in a white SUV he took the time to flip his middle finger at myself and a friend of mine.
Mr. Vick had bragged about breeding Pit Bulls in an article in Sports Illustrated at one time, the kennel had a website sharing the same name: http://www.VicksK9Kennels.com. His breeding kennel that he was so very proud of, shared the same Moonlight Road address that the drug bust and dog fighting rings were found. The website is no longer active, nor is the torture or killing of innocent dogs.
Michael Vick isn’t someone to honor. He is not an example that our children should follow or admire. If Dr. King were alive today I doubt he would be honoring someone who gave no regard to God’s creatures.
Shame on ALL OF YOU.
RE: the Virginia Beach SPCA poster. It has been debunked and determined to be a fake. Too bad it has been so widely circulated, as it makes the Virginia Beach SPCA, an organization dedicated to helping animals, look undeservably bad.
Link that debunks the Virginia Beach/Michael Vick poster:
http://www.searchmarketinggurus.com/search_marketing_gurus/2007/08/michael-vick-di.html
They should be ashamed to do anything for this person. Vick should feel like he has been tossed aside-he needs to feel some pain for what he did. When others are rushing to distance themselves from him why they want to do anything for him is beyond me. The sooner Vick is in jail the better off the game of football will be. Thanks to all the companies who have pulled support of Vick and pulled his products-the public will remember who stood up for animals and what is right. How morally bankrupt is this SCLC anyway?
Obviously, the man has no moral guide, otherwise what was going on could not have happened whether or not he was “aware” of it. Of course we know the truth will come out about how “innocent” he was. Well we hope it will, never can be certain with these celebrity types. At least enough of us worked together to get Nike to drop him! Best way to touch folks like him if you can’t get them to pay for their crimes through time in jail, is in the pocket. BTW, here is a link to someone who has helped doggies, see if you can help just a little bit. http://www.housedreaming.net. If you don’t want to or think it is dumb, don’t get mad, just help someone else. Surprised at how many folks will give a bum a buck and then get mad at someone who is genuine. Oh well up to you. Keep up the fight! We all have to keep putting pressure on folks to stiffen up the laws and make sure we spread education of proper care and treatment of all God’s creatures.
Sincerely,
MC
My god, there have got to hundreds and thousands of people who work tirelessly for others that surely deserve an honor before this scumbag. I believe in a fair trial, but even if he is never convicted in a court of law, come on! He has 52 Pit Bulls at his house?! With “rape stands and blood all over the place! What else could possibly be going on?! SCLC just needs to look a little farther to find FAR SUPERIOR role models to honor and endorse!!
Unbelievable. As soon as groups such as these stop seeing black vs. white and seeing people for their actions as the federal prosecutors have, then and ONLY then will we have equality. Would these groups come to the defense of Tom Brady or Brett Favre in the same situation? The actions of the SCLC only furthers the racial divide in this country by asking mainstream America to give Vick a pass for his behavior. They send a message that his actions are acceptable and that he is allowed to function in society at a lower standard due to his race.
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