Michael Baisden questions credibility of ColorofChange.org; group responds to accusations
Categories: African-American, Justice/Law Enforcement, Media
Written By: Shawn Williams
On Monday of this week, Marcus Jones -father of Jena 6 defendant Mychal Bell- made strong statements about a group that has helped raise funds for the accused teens. Jones claimed that $10,000 was unaccounted for by the group ColorofChange.org who was working with the families of the Jena 6 long before the story made national headlines.
Baisden on Monday, and again on Tuesday, said he and some of his staffers got the feeling that someone they talked to at Color of Change was "shady", and that something wasn't right. It's a shame that Mr. Baisden would make such statements about a group that has done so much to help people that they didn't even know before all this started. The bully pulpit he now has is powerful, and demands responsibility of the person who wields that power.
I'll have more on this as the story develops, but I'd like to post a message that ColorofChange.org Executive Director James Rucker sent to the group's members.
Letter regarding false allegations on the Michael Baisden Show on 11/5 and 11/6
Marcus Jones - father of Mychal Bell- was a guest on Michael Baisden's syndicated radio show on Monday, November 5th. They used the occasion to attack and slander ColorOfChange.org and our Executive Director. They made false and misleading statements which have raised the concern of many of our members. It's sad and frustrating to have to focus on this issue when there is real work to be done to support the Jena 6. It is very important to us that our members know the truth. We encourage our members to call on Michael Baisden to explain himself. If you have any questions, please email us at info@colorofchange.org. Below is the letter we've sent to members who have inquired.
Dear ColorOfChange.org member,
Thanks for your email. The allegations that Marcus Jones made yesterday on Michael Baisden's show are very troubling to us and we are glad to have the opportunity to share what's going on with you.
To date, Mr. Jones' son's lawyer, Louis Scott, has received $33,150 via the ColorOfChange.org Jena 6 Legal Defense Fund. Mr. Jones is aware that this money was sent to his son's legal team because he signed the paperwork authorizing the payment.
Mr. Jones has made statements challenging ColorOfChange's fundraising repeatedly over the last few months. We have worked hard to communicate with him and he has refused to engage us–we have attended a meeting with all the families which he walked out of; I personally hand-delivered him a letter detailing how funds would be distributed; and we have given information to several people who are close to Mr. Jones, including Louis Scott, Mychal Bell's lead attorney; several of Michael Baisden's staff members; and, at the request of Rev. Sharpton, to the National Action Network Field Director, asking them to make sure he was aware of how funds were being used. I have talked with Marcus, in person, on at least five separate occasions, in Jena, LA.
One hundred percent of the funds raised by ColorOfChange.org on behalf of the Jena 6 go to legal defense for the 6 young men. Donations received by check get processed by us and then sent on to the Jena 6 Defense Committee which is run by the young men's families. Donations by credit card and proceeds from t-shirt sales go into a dedicated ColorOfChange account with Wells Fargo Bank. The funds are then divided 6 ways and we make payments from that account directly to legal teams when we receive authorization from the families. As of the last accounting period, we had paid $210, 809.90 from that account to the legal teams of the 6 young men and have sent over $13,000 in checks to the Defense Committee. This process has been reviewed and documented by ColorOfChange.org legal advisors and vetted by several attorneys working on behalf of the Jena 6.
In order to maintain a level of transparency and accountability with our members who have donated to the fund, we created a page on our website that details how the Jena 6 legal defense money is distributed. Below is a link to that page:
http://www.colorofchange.org/jena_fund/info.html
ColorOfChange.org has explained the distribution of Jena 6 legal defense funds repeatedly, both in written communication and verbally, to Michael Baisden's staff, particularly addressing Mr. Jones' concerns. In fact, Mr. Baisden's staff obtained Mr. Jones' signature on the letter authorizing release of funds to Louis Scott, and followed up with the other young men's attorneys to confirm that they had received their funds from us. His team knows that we have distributed money to the young men's legal teams. We are disappointed that Michael Baisden would allow Mr. Jones to come on his program and continue his attempts to attack our integrity. Mr. Baisden's choice to allow us to be attacked without speaking to us first, or giving us the opportunity to respond, especially given all the information we've shared with his staff, makes us question his commitment to fairness and full disclosure about this issue. It also brings up questions of libel. Further, his acceptance of Mr. Jones' statement that ColorOfChange.org had obtained the $10,000 donation made by Davie Bowie to the Jena 6 is deeply problematic. David Bowie's contribution was made via the NAACP to their Jena 6 defense fund and was widely reported–ColorOfChange.org never came in contact with this donation. A link to the NAACP's press release about that donation is here: http://www.naacp.org/news/press/2007-09-18/index.htm.
ColorOfChange.org will continue to work to bring about social and political change in our community. And we will do whatever is necessary to maintain our good name and the credibility of our organization and our work. It is very important to us that we be a trusted member of the black community so that we can be an effective vehicle for change.
Thank you again for supporting the fight for justice for the Jena 6. We value the trust you placed in us and I hope that this addresses your concerns. Please let me know if you have any further questions for us.
– James Rucker
Executive Director, ColorOfChange.org
November 7th, 2007 at 5:02 pm
ColorOfChange seems to be real good at fabrications and distorting the truth.
November 8th, 2007 at 11:58 am
ColorofChange.org have done nothing wrong, and you left a bullsh*t comment like that with nothing to back it up.
shameful.
November 8th, 2007 at 12:14 pm
Jawai:
Why, precisely, do you think Color of Change is dealing in fabrications and distortions? How could they possibly be more transparent? It is Mr. Baisden who has some hard questions to answer; his position is completely untenable and he needs to admit as much. In particular, Baisden needs to have James Rucker on his program, he needs to allow Mr. Rucker to explain the situation, and then he needs to submit a public apology to his national audience. If Baisden doesn’t can’t take these simple steps is should be written off as a charlatan and a cheap sensationalist. Simple as that.
November 8th, 2007 at 3:25 pm
Thanks Shawn for this post. Many people are trying to give Baisden the benefit of the doubt. But I think everybody must come face to face with the truth. Did the Jena 6 families authorize and collect the funds they requested from Color of Change? The records show they did. So, what’s with Baisden?
November 8th, 2007 at 3:31 pm
I agree with Alan. Baisden has an ENTERTAINING show, the Jena 6 effort was great. But this is another in a series of flat out lies and false accusations. The first was the Bill O’reilly ‘mix tape’, then the one-sided Overstock.com thing, then the totally uninformed thing with Star Jones and now this thing with colorofchange.org. Mike is proving to be an opportunistic sensationalist. He is A PIMP IN THE PULPIT himself, his pulpit is the airways.
November 9th, 2007 at 11:09 am
Baisden still hasn’t responded to any of ColorforChange responses. He was quick to get on the radio and blast ColorofChange and James Rucker…calling him shady…so where is the PROOOF? ColorofChange is sending emails with links to cancelled checks..signed authorizations….AND emails from Jena 6 parents stating they don’t know what the hell Michael Baisden is talking about. I have a hard time believing these folks would go through all that trouble to fabricate documents knowing the light has already been shined on them. But hey…if I’m wrong I would like a well researched response from Mr. Baisden and some proof. Something more than “I talked to him on the phone and he sounded shady” THAT sounds shady to me.
November 9th, 2007 at 1:40 pm
I received the email yesterday from the colorofchange.org and I didn’t believe Baisden actually said those things when I first read it. I’ve supported colorofchange.org since I first heard about their existence in July, when I was trying to get the Jena Six issue out to the national media. They have accomplished great things with Hurricane Katrina victims, and have worked very hard in getting the Jena Six case out to the public. Since then I’ve followed their organization and their activities and I believe they are an above-board, honest group of people. For Michael Baisden to discredit them, is disgusting and selfish! I’m just sick about it.
Colorofchange.org has collected over $200,000 for the defense fund of the six boys, and paid it directly to the attorneys. For Mychal Bell’s father to come on there and say the families aren’t getting the money - OF COURSE THEY AREN’T, the ATTORNEYS ARE who are the ones supposed to be getting it. We all know what happens if you just hand over cash to individuals…they don’t use it the way it was meant to be used. For Michael Baisden to discredit these hard-working, honest people so HE can raise the money for the defense just seems egotistical and wrong to me. I listened to the audio clips, and Baisden indeed says colorofchange.org is “shady” and completely discredits them. If we don’t all work TOGETHER and quit fighting and tearing each other down, NOTHING will be accomplished.
Here is an email I sent to the Michael Baisden show. If you would like to send one also, you may send it to Michael’s executive producer, Kaye Byrd at: kaye@michaelbaisden.com
Dear Mr. Baisden,
I am one of the original bloggers who tried and tried to get the Jena Six situation out to the mainstream media last July. Colorofchange.org was right there with me, trying to get people to listen. It happened, the word got out, and you were instrumental in organizing what I call the “Monumental March on Jena” on September 20, 2007. I was never so proud as to see 20,000 people all organized for one cause - fighting against injustice in America! It’s great that you are collecting money for the defense fund for the boys, but colorofchange.org has been doing that for months also. To discredit their organization is just plain wrong. Of COURSE the families don’t see the money, as Marcus Jones stated…it wasn’t meant to go to individuals, it was meant to go to the DEFENSE, i.e. THE ATTORNEYS! Which is where it went! Good grief, if we can’t all pull together towards a common cause, NOTHING will get done. Tearing each other down is definitely not promoting harmony. PLEASE apologize to colorofchange.org on your show, as they are a good, honest group of people and don’t deserve to be accused of wrongdoing, or lumped in with actual Internet fraudsters which we all know ARE out there!
Carolyn Willis, Founder
AmericaIsWatching.org
carolynw@americaiswatching.org
November 14th, 2007 at 3:55 pm
ATTN; Michael i provide security i provided the security to the LT Governor of new york David Patterson at the inaugration back in january Rev.AL Sharpton knows me and my partner Salih very well,if there anyything i can do for you or brother AL Sharpton please feel free to contact me 347 845-1802 or 516333-1925 James A. Washington I got your back good brothers and you guys are doing an excellent job see you in D.C. ON friday
January 9th, 2008 at 9:27 am
Dear Mrs.Byrd, Jan.9,2008
I am writting this In behalf of my 21 year old son Shawndric J.Williams. Who has been fasley accused of murder In Louisville Kentucky. There were three arrested one white female, one black female and my son. The white female Carla M.Sower who was offered the Alford Plea which she got a slap on her wrist with a sentence of ten years 20% severed and eight years probation.The two black are being tride for the Death Pentaly. Shawndric has been in Jail for 23 months with no trial. There Is no Edivience or DNA to link him to this case. He ask for a fast and speedy in Jan.2006. They have gone for trial about six times and keeps getting set back. We are looking again on Feb.8th,2008. There Is a possible to be set back again. He has a Good Laywers but I feel this Is a racial matter. When two lives of black people hang In the hands of Injustice, also Ms. Sower family Is In the law system- Her grandfather was a police officer that was hurt in the line of duty and then served the rest of his time in the court offices with the state of Kentucky. Please help. I’m a single mother who has been to Kentucky twice seeking juctice for the rights of my son. Please take this matter in conceration to help free another Inocent black young man. I would really like to talk to someone soon. Here is my home number 903-891-4492 or my work number is 903-891-8712 my hours of work are from 4am-12pm.It doesn’t matter what time u call but Please call. I want to THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONCERATION.
Sincerly,
Pamela K. Fox