You Can Call Him Al, Again
Just when I thought we on the verge of having a serious discussion about police conduct and community-police relations, one of the world’s greatest race hustlers may be making a return engagement to Indianapolis to stir up the masses, collect a check, and then bolt like a thief in the night.
I have it on very good authority that the Reverend, and I use the term loosely, Al Sharpton is returning to Indianapolis next week. Although it’s still unclear what Sharpton’s mission will be, apart from collecting another check, I am told by reliable sources he will lead a protest march against the Indianapolis Metopolitan Police Department and launch a “voter registration” drive, which really means get enough people registered to throw Greg Ballard out of office.
The last time Al was here, the Baptist Ministers Alliance, led by “Black Pope” Stephen Clay reportedly paid his up to $25,000 for his appearance to lambast the Department over the Brandon Johnson excessive force case. I’m still trying to figure out what good that visit did? Brandon Johnson never got counseling for his trouble. His mother was still out of a job. And I can assure you neither Al Sharpton nor the Baptist Ministers Alliance paid to have Brandon’s dental work done.
So once again, apart from playing politics and collecting a check that won’t be spent on a decent haircut, why is Al Sharpton coming to town? I can’t think of any substantive reason. But at least it will be fun to watch, and I hope he and I can pick up where we left off last time.
