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Posted: Tue Sep 13, 2005 5:40 pm Post subject: LAPD Shut Down Dead Prez/KRS Hurricane Katrina Benefit Show

A Few Things to Ponder-LAPD Shut Down dead prez/KRS Benefit Show

By Davey D

Los Angeles, Sept 10th) It started out, as a beautiful thing…Not only was it beautiful, it was historic and on many levels political. To be honest it seemed almost too good to be true. We’re talking about this past Saturday’s sold out outdoor concert in South Central LA featuring Dead Prez, KRS-One, Self Scientific and Ras Kass. All these folks came together to perform a special benefit concert for Hurricane Katrina victims

Initially this planned concert was supposed to address the issues surrounding 9-11 and assess where things were 4 years later especially as it pertained to young people and communities of color. Once the Katrina disaster hit, all those involved including thaFormula.com that sponsored the concert, used the gathering as a way to raise money and resources for hurricane victims. At the same time, the political nature of the concert would not be lost, because as we all know, Katrina opened up a huge can of worms on poverty, race and class. Hence, artists as well as many of the various community groups that were present at the event would address those issues.

So here we are with a couple of thousand people from the hood coming out to support a worthy cause and get inspired by some of Hip Hop’s dopest acts. The make up of the crowd was mostly Black and Brown, with everyone vibing in harmony and thus shattering the overblown stories of Black-Brown friction in LA.

Fidel Rodriguez, who hosts Divine Forces Radio on Friday Nights on Pacifica’s KPFK, kept things in step and set the tone by dropping an array of facts about the shady-behind the-scenes-antics of both local and national politicians. The cool thing about this, was folks were eating it all up as Fidel blasted away about Katrina clean up contracts being awarded to Vice President Dick Cheney’s old company Halliburton.

Fidel also dropped some knowledge about LAPD including the sorted history of police Chief William Bratton and the increased militarization of the police. He also spoke about how a lot of folks in the hood were being depicted as potential terrorists and how there was new laws on the books that allowed the President to keep one in prison indefinitely after he slapped them with a label ‘enemy combatant.

Folks were all up in the place soaking everything up. By the time I arrived KRS had already ripped it big time… Well known DJs like Mark Luv of the Zulu Nation held it down on the ones and twos and Ras Kass took the stage and repped in a major way.. On deck after Ras Kass was dead prez and judging by the enthusiastic applause it was clear folks came to see them.

So Ras is rocking his set when suddenly everything is thrown off by the loud noise of LA’s infamous ‘ghetto bird’ (police helicopter). At first, everyone thought the copter was just flying by, when suddenly it circled around and flashed its big floodlights on the peaceful crowd. It made a couple of more passes and then almost on cue, the entire crowd started chanting ‘@#%$ the Police’ and put their middle fingers up to the sky.

It was still unclear to most attendees as to why the police copter was flying around. During the commotion, Ras Kass announced that he was being shut down as organizers took the stage and told the stunned crowd that the police were stopping the event and that everyone should leave peacefully because LAPD was outside the venue waiting to bust some heads. It was at that point that the police copter flew even lower and beamed its search light on everyone. You could hear the officers barking on their bullhorn from the copter that everyone needed to leave in an orderly fashion. Of course this left, people very upset, especially when no clear reason was being given as to why the event was being shut down.

There were no fights or any sort of drama. There was no alcohol being served. The concert was at a venue owned by the people who run thaformula.com. In addition, it was in a warehouse district away from residents. This meant that noise complaints could not be factor in the decision making by the police.

The concert organizers tried their best to calm everyone down. They seemed very concerned that nothing would get out of hand as the crowd filed out chanting real loud ‘@#%$ the Police’. A few of the Latino homies had enough and let their anger be known. They were heated and ready to do something, and organizers had to calm them down and dissuade them for engaging in a fight where they were out gunned. When folks left the venue and hit the streets, they were met by a huge line of police cars and at several dozen officers dressed in riot gear with bully clubs drawn.

One thing about LAPD for those who don’t know, is that they train all year for this sort of stuff. They have the militarism and intimidation tactics down to a tee. When you left the venue all the chanting stopped because it was clear that LAPD had strategically positioned themselves and had literally surrounded the venue and the people. The whole thing reminded me of gauntlet line with the police on a mission to intimidate. Some had their helmets pulled down and moved alongside of the crowd in a menacing manner. They were like a jarring occupying force-no different then the street gangs they're supposed to regulate. These cats just totally poisoned the air and ruined the spirit of the night. You felt like any moment they were going to attack. They were looking for a reason-any reason to show off and use their fire power and military tactics. At one point everyone braced when a passing car ran over a bottle. Everyone including LAPD thought it was thrown as a phalanx of officers quickly moved from across the street toward the leaving crowd.

The whole time this is going on, everyone is trying to figure out what’s the reason for the show of force. Of course, we all know, there's always been an ongoing campaign to dehumanize, provoke and cause dissension in communities of color. One would think, if there were a legitimate reason to shut down the concert, that it could’ve been communicated differently. After all, this was a benefit concert.This was being done when everyone was being asked to come together and do not for self, but for the greater good.

Now, this particular concert didn’t have all the fan fare and hype of the BET telethon that came on the night before. There weren’t any major TV outlets or newspaper on hand even though the event was widely publicized and the venue sold out. This was basically folks from the hoods of Southern Cali trying to help out folks who really bad off in the hoods of New Orleans. Anyone who had criticism about Hip Hop would've been proud that night to see everyone stepping up and doing what needed to be done in times of crisis. One would think that such efforts would be supported and encouraged.

A fellow writer, named Ani, rolled up and tried talking to one of the officers to find out why they were coming at everyone sideways. She told them it was a benefit for hurricane victims. According to her, the officer made some snide remark and was dismissive. She’s currently writing about this as well. I will be placing a call to Chief Bratton’s office later on this morning to express my displeasure with the way this was handled. This should not be what our tax dollars are used for…

As all this was going down, I could not help but think of all the reports I have heard from so called ‘refugees’ aka displaced people from New Orleans who have come on our airwaves and talked about police suppression being directed at them during their greatest time of need-in the aftermath of Katrina. Here we are trying to raise resources and do for self and its obvious such efforts were not supported by LA finest-at least the guys who showed up that night.

Maybe they were upset to see Black-and Brown communities getting along and chilling with each other. Maybe they hated seeing KRS, dead prez, Afrika Bambaataa, Ras Kass and all sorts of , Hip Hop folks spanning the range in one place, building with one another. Perhaps they hated seeing folks who are accused of always looking for handouts –doing for self. Who knows?

What we do know is that over the past few months southern Cali cops has been doing all sorts of crazy things including recently brutalizing Nation of Islam Minister Tony Muhammed. A couple of weeks ago the police shot a little baby girl to death. We’ve seen the police shoot more then 100 rounds at an unarmed motorist during a routine traffic stop.. The list of atrocities is a long one. All of this is happening in the backdrop of new legislation that grants the police more power.

All I know is that a great event was cut short by a bunch of taxpayer-supported goons who used intimidation tactics as opposed to simple humanasque-respectful exchange. However, I guess this is to be expected when you don’t control the politics and economy of your neighborhood.

According thaformula.com organizers there will be a rescheduling of the dead prez concert. We’ll keep you posted on the new dates as well as what sort of explanation we get for last Saturday’s police antics.

The author of this isn't telling us things that probably explain the truth of the matter. The author didn't indicate whether the organizers of the concert acquired any required permits, whether there were sanitation requirements that weren't met, whether there were medical requirements that weren't met.

Thousands of people just can't suddenly decide to hold a concert somewhere in populated areas -- or even remote areas -- without making sure that the health and safety of the participants are considered, and if the organizers here didn't acquire the proper permits, well fuck them, please. They were hoist by their own petards.

Now if the organizers _had_ acquired the proper permits, comformed to the white man's rules and complied with the usual dictates for such a venue, then the police would be enacting just another Republinazi fascist assault against non-whites, nothing new to Los Angeles, nothing new to Iraq, nothing new anywhere. If that were the case, well fuck the police, please, and file crimnal charges and civil charges if at all possible.

One other things that bothers me about this article: English. Or actually the fragmenting of English that gets used so much by blacks and Latinos.

"Folks in the hood." "Hanging together." "Chillin."

Don't non-whites have it hard enough fiunding equality, finding jobs that pay a reasonable wage _without_ speaking like English is a second language? "I be tellen' you" and "He be done gone" and all that crap... How can anyone who speaks like that think he or she can step into some Republican corporation and get a job working in the data processing department even if the person is qualified?

It boggles my my mind -- from my priveleged white position, yes -- that non-whites are _still_ using such bad English, concocting such ignorant-sounding phrases, _deliberately_ expressing themselves so much these days as uneducated despite the fact that so many _are_ educated. One's language, the use of certain words and phrases can make or break a successful job interview, and after reading this article, I'm once again amazed that so many people haven't caught on, are still spewing ebonic crap, keeping THEMSELVES down through what comes out of their own mouthes.

Sorry. I'm white, I may not understand. But don't think I've been given everything I have just because of it. I starved for years, worked my ass off studying while working in a machine shop, as a cashiere for Builder's Emporum, did data entry into computers. I fought for every meal for years and worked to make something of myself, and one of the first things I learned was to speak ENGLISH if I was to get any employer to give me a minute's interview.

And while I'm at it, what stupidity to wave that ol' middle finger and shout obscenities at the fascists when they already hate every non-0white they see. Yes, the cops are the enemy half the time, but let's not forget that they're also the good guys half the time. They're not always the enemy and some would like to deal fairly with the citizens they're supposed to protect.

During the anti-war / anti-racism protests in Los Angeles, I've thanked the police officers lining the street, thanking them for keeping the peace and behaving themselves.

The next time the fascists come to squash a group of non-whites, why the hell not give them the _peace_ sign for once, chant about the need to _love_ one another, chant something about _equality_ and human rights, respect for one another regardless of the tone of one's skin?

I read this article and I thought two things: We're not being told the truth, here, and that non-whites are doing just as much to keep themselves down as the system is.

My opinions, of course, and only my opinions, not representing any one else's. Still I could wish that non-whites would make a massive effort to not embrace ebonic crap, not embrace violent rap, and try to integrate and work toward equality from a positive stand point.

You tell 'em, Fred. Besides, the cops were enraged because they were not allowed to perform at the event.

They had a great act; while singing they were going to dance around pretending to beat people to death with clubs. Great guys.

I've been reading Fred's posts for quite some time and besides the pent up rage that he expresses just beneath the surface of his posts it's also more than a little obvious that Fred has "issues" with people of color.

I remember when Fred complained that he felt "uncomfortable" at the Baldwin Park-SOS protest because their weren't enough white people around.

Besides, anybody that immediately give the cops the benefit of the doubt doesn't do very much critical thinking.

"During the anti-war / anti-racism protests in Los Angeles, I've thanked the police officers lining the street, thanking them for keeping the peace and behaving themselves."

While I'm glad to hear you are anti-war and going to protests. I don't know why you are thanking the LAPD. It sounds like you’ve gone to some of those sanitized permit marches in Hollywood or Downtown. Those are not real protests they are peace parades. If you ever find your self in a real protest you will not be thanking the police. You will be running away or getting arrested. You need to go to a G8 or WTO convergence or a convention protest to see this first hand. It’s a police state and those cops you are thanking at marches are not your friends. They can beat up and get away with it. And they will do just that if given the order.

Also the police do not keep the peace at permit marches, it’s the peaceful protesters and monitors of the organizers that keep the peace. And if there is violence, 90% of the time it’s the cops or the under covers that cause it.

I recommend you check out the Indymedia produced movie about the 2000 DNC and also a film called the Miami Model and you will get the idea. Also check out the stuff that went down last year in New York at the RNC 2004.

Rice clearly has a "them and us" view of race. And he clearly believes that the main reason that "they" are having so much trouble is because they are not similar enough to "us."

His remarks regarding how people of color should make themselves as white as possible, suppressing any unique cultural identity and expressions, in order to get "good jobs" in the white man's world thoroughly illustrate this position. And his comments blaming victims of racism for victimizing themselves through unique linguistic expressions clearly show that he has no idea of language as a living thing, but instead would like to freeze things exactly the way they are now in the white community, and then impose that same monocultural standard across the entire breadth of our (white and non-white) communities.

Rice says "Sorry, I'm white, I may not understand." That statement itself is racist. It is literally racist with respect to white people, but through irony becomes racist against people of color; he says so much with such an economy of words. And no, he does not understand, but it has nothing to do with his being white; it has to do with his own predjudice.

What is the real difference between what Rice has written and his simply coming out and saying "if you monkeys could just act a little more like us, we wouldn't have to put in those big cages at government expense?" He shows no respect for diversity, no respect for the rights of others, no interest in, or even curiosity about, other cultures. He recommends conformity and legitimizes repression of those who fail to conform to his standards.

All in all, Mr Rice, you have a lot to learn about life. Because without diversity, there would be no life.

"I read this article and I thought two things: We're not being told the truth, here, and that non-whites are doing just as much to keep themselves down as the system is."

although people did call Fred out for his backward analysis, I couldn't let the above remarks go. Non-whites are doing as much to keep themselves down as the system is?! are you serious? So it's black and brown folks' fault that the public school systems in their communites are completely underfunded with out of date books, that black kids sit in jail with ridiculous penalties for marijuana use, while the same 'crime' by a white kid from the subuurbs gets a slap on the wrist or nothing at all. That liquor stores line the streets and drugs are intentionally pumped into their communities.

you can't just say things like that- i would love to hear you defend that statement, please!

"Still I could wish that non-whites would make a massive effort to not embrace ebonic crap, not embrace violent rap, and try to integrate and work toward equality from a positive stand point."

Oh yeah- that's right people of color aren't working towards positive social change- that is ridiculous -there is an entire history of resistance and social justice work led by people of color in the US from slavery to this day.

do you realize that the above is a general statement about entire races of people- and this is the type of subtle racist bullshit that people of color fight against everyday, even amongst people on the "left"

wake up fool - this country was built by european settlers at the expense of the near genocide of the native indian population, and then developed using the forced labor of african slaves. This, my friend, is the foundation of the US and this racist legacy still stands strong today, whether you want to see it or not.

"Still I could wish that non-whites would make a massive effort to not embrace ebonic crap, not embrace violent rap"

Last I checked white kids in the suburbs are what make gangsta rap such a multi-million dollar industry. Fred needs to get out more and maybe go into therapy and admit he's a (not so) closet racist. The first step is admitting that you have a problem.

He used this story as his excuse to vent about all the things he doesn't like about communities of color.

Most of his comments are based on stupid stereotypes.

whites in this country will never see it as victims do. we don't expect you to understand our communities. that's the problem. you're too busy thinking you have all the answers but don't know shit about the people who live in these areas and the conditions they face everyday. you don't need to understand how we talk. it's not for you to understand.

definitely keep us posted about the reshudeling of dead prez. Walk like a warrior.

why didn't the organizers have security? no not security to deal with the crowed that wasnt needed because it wasnt that type of crowed that would be beafin with eachother. the organizers should have had security to protect the crowed against the LAPD. the police have shown up in full force at past dead prez shows just like this one. why wasnt this anticipated for this show? why was there only 1 entrance and exit. if the LAPD would have rushed in it would have been a slaughter. this isnt a jay-z concert. this isnt some cool mtv rap thing. this is dead prez. this is revolutionary hip hop and revolutionary hip hop attracts a crowed thats ready to be organized for revolution. with this in consideration the organizers should have taken this event more seriouslly. you can talk revolution. you can talk social justice. you can talk all these nice wonderful things as much as you want but its nothing if you dont put it into practice. what happend at the dead prez show just went to show all of us that we need more than just MCs , and raps. we need to get serious about this. the force that stood out in the streets in riot gear with a helicopter flying over head is a force we are up against. an occupying army. so stop playing games. the organizers should have had a security to protect the people against the police. they should have been at least 30 deep and posted up on every corner. there should have been video cameras as well as a legal aid or lawyer standing by. if this was held on private property then take advantage of it and us it against them on every turn. the people who attended this event were put into a dangerous situation that could have turned out very ugly. if youre all about getting people organized and all about justice and all about revolutionizing your community then show it. talk is cheap. put your words into action. a crowed was there ready to be organized that night. and it was waisted. it was thrown away. it was a defeat plain and simple. hopefully this could be a lesson learned and a mistake not to repeat. that night confidence was lost , potential soldiers were lost. If we are to mobilize we must mobilize correctly , mobilize the way you would on a battle field because thats what we are on today. a battle field. occupied territory. so stop playing games. we are all organizing for something here and it's nothing to be halfassed about. be discplined and be prepared to protect yourself and your community at any given cost, day or time. do this and maybe a revolution just might start happening in this country .. because as far as I can see , we are losing.

yeah seriously g-cash-money-rice-dzog...don't you realize that "standard" english just happens to be the vernacular spoken by the current ruling class? if the hip-hop generation ran things, we would surely see a new dialect of american english, let's call it "urban english," reflected even more than it is now in poetry, drama, fiction, academic articles, etc...remember that our own beloved english language started out as an ugly, guttural germanic dialect oh so many centuries ago, which then plagiarized thousands of vocablulary words from French, Latin, Greek, and so on.

I believe that Davey D has an English degree from UC Berkeley. His writing style is just that -- a style.

His political analysis is generally astute, and he's been a political columnist in some major papers (I forget which, but they were the regular kind you buy for a quarter from a box, with the Macy's ads inside, not just political ones). He's also got a great track record as a DJ and public affairs programmer on radio.

His career is a great template for media activists. He reminds me of Fidel Rodriguez, minus the unusual new age spiritual trip.

After wriing my response, I had to re-read the article to verify Fred's accusations. Fred's incorrect about the use of "ebonics" by Davey D. The article's written in standard written English, with some idioms thrown in for style. Fred's article had more errors, and, overall, was written in a more vernacular style. Next time, Fred should pick on someone who's actually using ebonics.