Sunday, December 2, 2007

Gee, what color are they?

The Antique Market on North State Street was robbed Saturday morning according to The Clarion-Ledger:
"The suspects asked to see a coin collection. Then, one of the men pointed a handgun at the owner?s head and demanded money.
Even though the store owner complied, the suspect fired a shot, said Jackson police spokesman Sgt. Jeffery Scott. The bullet changed paths after it struck a wedding band the store owner was wearing, Scott said. The store owner sustained non life-threatening injuries as a result of the attack.
Scott did not name the store owner but did say the owner reported the suspects stole between $6,000 and $8,000.
One suspect was described as middle-aged, tall and slender. He was wearing a dark-colored coat. The other was described as short and stocky and wearing a dark-colored shirt.
Anyone with information about this case should contact the Jackson Police Department at (601) 960-1234." http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071201/NEWS/71201012

So there are two individuals on the loose who stole several thousand dollars and shot the store owner yet the newspaper doe NOT report their race. This brings to mind Ronnie Agnew's spirited defense of the newspaper's decision not to print the race of the man who raped the Ridgeland jogger a few years ago. In an unintended display of irony, The Clarion-Ledger ask for people with information to contact JPD. Hey stupid, it might help if we knew their race, along with their hair color and other physical features. Nice to know that your policy of not disclosing the race of suspects trumps public safety. If they commit more crimes, you will bear some responsibility.

Hope you can live with it.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Completely agree; not disclosing the race of the supsect is a stupid policy. IMO, this policy results from the hypersensitivies of those in the media who are afraid that reporting the race of suspects might bolster stereotypes. Maybe, maybe not. Regardless, for reasons of public safety, it should be reported.

Kingfish said...

Ronnie Agnew even wrote a column defending their decision not to publish the race of the rapist. I lost a lot of respect for him that day.

Tom Head said...

I'm not sure how useful it would be to say "keep an eye out for two black males, one tall and middle-aged, one younger and short." I probably would have reported the races of the attackers if it were up to me, especially if I reported their ages and height, but the description is so uselessly vague that I can't see how it would help.

("Officer! Officer! There are two black males that just came in--one's middle-aged and short, the other's younger and tall!" "Uh, okaaaaayyyyy...")

Kingfish said...

then the CL deserves criticism for not publishing a better description.

Anonymous said...

Here's out I think it helps: it automatically excludes from the suspect pool people who aren't of that race. So, to the extent it is two black makes, none of us have to waste our time being on the lookout for two white makes. In other words, in instantly and automatically excludes a great percentage of people. IMO, that IS helpful.

Tom Head said...

I don't really see how "watch out for two black males" is helpful, since there are approximately 65,000 black males living in this city and 64,998 of them didn't rob the Antique Market. But certainly if I'd written the rest of the description, I would have mentioned race, too, along (one hopes) with more useful information.

Anonymous said...

Here is what I know. Community policing uses citizens as the eyes and ears of the local police force. If the description is purposefully vague in order to be politically correct then please don't expect your citizen watchers to be effective.

Politically correct garbage in will do nothing but to guarantee garbage out.

Anonymous said...

While I see your point (I was anon above except the post immediately above this) re: the numbers, I disagree with the conclusion that that means it wouldn't be helpful. There are a lot of people with dark hair, but I think we would all agree that even if that was the only descriptive element we had, we'd include it. I don't see why we shouldn't do the same with race. It's helpful because - like all other characteristics that are shared by large numbers of people - it narrows the pool of suspects. The only reasons I see used to not include it are ones based on political correctness, and to me, that's substantively outweighed by the potential helpfulness in apprehending a supsect.

Tom Head said...

I'm not worried about political correctness; I am a little worried about the cumulative effects of 2,000 newspaper stories per annum in which the culprits, identified only as black males, are the same 30 or 40 people. Tell me what they were wearing. Tell me if they had any facial hair. Tell me how tall and how old they are. Without that information, it doesn't really matter whether they're black or white--I'm not going to be able to spot them anyway, am I?

Anonymous said...

The CL is a laughingstock. It is not in a league anywhere near a legitimate paper. Papers in other states do not report like this. In addition, the newspaper articles are written about things that a first grader already knows. As a former Jackson, Ms. resident it saddens me that crime has gotten so bad there, and that things have been allowed to go on as such for such a long time. I used to visit the Antique Market. I wish the owner well. Hope that he moves out of Jackson to a safer area soon.



Recent Comments

Search Jackson Jambalaya

Subscribe to JJ's Youtube channel

Archives

Trollfest '09

Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


Note: Security provided by INS.

Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

Note: Security provided by INS
.