May 28, 2009
Posted: May 28th, 2009 07:00 PM ET

From

WASHINGTON (CNN) – The Justice Department is dropping charges against the New Black Panther Party for Self-Defense and two of its members who were allegedly involved in voter intimidation on Election Day at a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania polling station.

A Justice spokesman said the department decided to take this action after winning an injunction earlier this month against a third member, Samir Shabazz, that prevents him from ever brandishing a weapon outside a polling place again as he was charged with doing last November.

Shabazz was one of the three persons, along with the New Black Panther Party for Self-Defense, charged with voter intimidation last January in a lawsuit filed under the Voting Rights Act. Shabazz will not face any jail time or a fine.

“Claims were dismissed against the other defendants based on a careful assessment of the facts and the law,” DOJ spokesman Alejandro Miyar said in a statement. “The Department is committed to the vigorous prosecution of those who intimidate, threaten or coerce anyone exercising his or her sacred right to vote."

On Election Day, two men in uniforms stood outside the polling station with one of them holding a police-style baton weapon and saying he was providing security there. Justice has alleged that person was Shabazz.

In January, Justice said in a criminal complaint that the chairman of the New Black Panther Party for Self-Defense confirmed its members were stationed at that location as part of a nationwide effort to deploy people at polling stations.

The Justice Department says The New Black Panther Party for Self-Defense is distinct from the well-known Black Panther Party of the 1960's.

UPDATE: Malik Shabaaz, chairman of the New Black Panther Party for Self-Defense, told CNN Friday that Samir Shabaaz is no longer a member of the organization, and that his organization does not support voter intimidation.

"We want to thank President Obama and his administration for dropping charges against us that were vindictively brought by the Bush administration," Malik Shabaaz told CNN. "We don't condone any type of illegal activity at polling stations."

Shabaaz said the members in Pennsylvania were not acting under the direction of the national party.

(Updated at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, May 29 with New Black Panther Party response)

Filed under: Uncategorized


George Tiller - Page 6 - Christian Forums   June 1st, 2009 2:14 am ET

[...] Originally Posted by Joachim I would call what they were doing in Philadelphia during the election as terrorism. They kicked that guy out of their organization for that– the one weilding a club at the philly voting station is no longer a black panther. CNN Political Ticker: All politics, all the time Blog Archive – Justice Department drops charges in ... [...]

Flagrant discrimination against White voters | Ipsa scientia potestas est   May 31st, 2009 10:59 pm ET

[...] May 28th, according to CNN.COM, one of the named defendants and chairman of the New Black Panther Party for Self-Defense, Malik [...]

Justice Department drops charges in New Black Panther Party voter intimidation case | Black Politics on the Web   May 29th, 2009 12:50 pm ET

[...] Click here for more... [...]

The Broken Spectrum Of The World - Delivered » Justice Department drops charges in voter intimidation case   May 29th, 2009 11:43 am ET

[...] in Elections, The News, Judicial/Crime at 9:42 am by Stephen WASHINGTON (CNN) – The Justice Department is dropping charges against the New Black Panther Party for Self-Defense [...]

joe   May 29th, 2009 10:49 am ET

wonder if a couple klansmen were standing outside a voting place trying to intimidate people if the case would be dropped against them. . i'd say not.

skyhawkdriver   May 29th, 2009 8:45 am ET

Wow..what a shock..the justice department of a 1/2 black president sets free members of the so called new black panthers for intimidating voters..this is right up acorns alley..and I bet they are all dimwitocrats also..another shining example of change we can believe in

lkb   May 28th, 2009 11:33 pm ET

No surprise here...anything goes to get Obama elected.

Eric   May 28th, 2009 11:07 pm ET

Nobody should be loitering outside any polling place period. The only intent possible is to be seen as a member of a group and that IS a form of intimidation. Admitting it was the intent to be seen at as many places as possible eventually will enable a message to be sent that we are everywhere and we see who you are too. Justice is low on IQ or high on power to the panthers.

Carl   May 28th, 2009 10:53 pm ET

HOPE al this CHANGE is what you idiots voted for. This is not the same country I grew up in. Thanks to all them MTV college idiots voting to "rock the vote" ! Hope you enjoy graduating and using that diploma to work at Burger King flipping burgers you morons !

educated   May 28th, 2009 10:41 pm ET

What about the robo calls in texas telling people to vote on wednesday. This guy was an idiot. But they also aren't going after the "god-fearing" people in texas who had an organised effort to mislead thousands.

Greg from Philly   May 28th, 2009 10:39 pm ET

What they did not tell you is that these gentlemen are homeless men who claim to represent the NBP party which really does not exist. Our local newspaper ran a story on this guy and he is totally nuts..Come on CNN do your homework..

anton   May 28th, 2009 10:28 pm ET

It's all about the color of the skin

No Incumbents 2010   May 28th, 2009 10:27 pm ET

Look out ACORN, you might not be necessary in the future.

Pat, CA   May 28th, 2009 10:09 pm ET

What about ACORN and "the vigorous prosecution of those who intimidate, threaten or coerce anyone exercising his or her sacred right to vote." Guess because ACORN "delivered" for Obama they're "off limits"? What a despicable sham Obama and ACORN are !!!!!!!!!!!

Keith in Austin   May 28th, 2009 10:07 pm ET

Eric Holder is taking care of his Bros while Obama looks the other way. Brilliant! I guess it's curtains here in Crackerville.

GuyInVA   May 28th, 2009 10:05 pm ET

In other news, charges against Charles Manson were dropped because he promised never to do it again.

JD   May 28th, 2009 10:04 pm ET

Seems that Eric "Nation of Cowards" Holder has his own racist predispositions. I'm sure he would have acted very differently if it'd been white men brandishing those firearms and intimidating voters. But since the offenders were African-American, he sees nothing wrong with their terrorist acts.

Typical liberal hypocritical conduct. (I know, I know...redundant.)

Razor Willy   May 28th, 2009 10:03 pm ET

It's good to know the Black Panthers are still in action. I wish them all the best. Keep those whities in check.

Miek   May 28th, 2009 9:40 pm ET

The question is, why was the Justice Department picking on the Black Panthers in the first place, when ALL they where doing was inimidating people at gunpoint while attempting to vote.

Chris   May 28th, 2009 9:37 pm ET

This is yet another sickening day in Mr. Obama's term. How racist can we get when we let this happen?

Traci   May 28th, 2009 9:24 pm ET

Oh please, if it was a white man then the blacks would outraged screaming for his head. People seem to forget that OBAMA is 1/2 WHITE.

Larry S.   May 28th, 2009 9:22 pm ET

Uh, excuse me but wasn't it then and isn't it now already Illegal to "brandish" a weapon. Just what sanction did the Justice department impose that wasn't already there? Oh, never mind these were New Black Panther Members. Sure hope one would brandish a weapon towards me sometime. Nuff said.

Big Willie   May 28th, 2009 9:18 pm ET

Super job. Love our new AG.

Big Willie   May 28th, 2009 9:07 pm ET

What do you expect from our Black AG. His plans are to settle scores with White folk. Blacks will get a free ride from the Justice Dept the next 4 years. So all us Blacks have 4 years to settle any injustice you think may have happened over the last 233 years.

No Incumbents 2010   May 28th, 2009 9:04 pm ET

I guess it's all in the way you spin things.

Matt   May 28th, 2009 8:54 pm ET

Send him to jail and get the guns off the street! BAN HANDGUNS.

rick   May 28th, 2009 8:53 pm ET

Where is the Justice in America these days.
What has become of our country?

phoenix86   May 28th, 2009 8:46 pm ET

Another victory for totalitarianism in the USA. That's change that Obama is really delivering on.

Chicago Red   May 28th, 2009 8:22 pm ET

@rachel May 28th, 2009 7:57 pm ET
Guess they accomplished what they set out to do intimidate people
Shut Your sour Puss!!!

Right Leaning Independent   May 28th, 2009 8:15 pm ET

Is this a joke?? Dropping the charges – is that political payback for the intimidation?

Mari( maybe one of my comments will be posted)   May 28th, 2009 8:15 pm ET

So sad.

Michiel W   May 28th, 2009 8:14 pm ET

What a crock!!! Is this that new world order? Someone "brandishes" a weapon in order to intimidate people into voting a certain way, and the punishment is to tell them not to do it again? Further proof this country is going to hell in a hand basket!

warlance   May 28th, 2009 8:08 pm ET

Black Panthers, hmmm..... Barack Obama...... Michelle Obama...... Hmm, I wonder why the charges were dropped against BLACK Panthers. Hope Grey Panthers get the same deal. Ain't that right Rev. Wright.....

rachel   May 28th, 2009 7:57 pm ET

Guess they accomplished what they set out to do intimidate people.

Chris   May 28th, 2009 7:51 pm ET

Um...hmm, so now the one guy's not allowed to do something that was illegal in the first place?
Yeah, they sure took care of that problem.....

DaBird   May 28th, 2009 7:51 pm ET

Eric Holder got to someone to support his bro.

Jimmy the Greek   May 28th, 2009 7:46 pm ET

Eric Holder (African American) drops case against the New Black Panther Party....

Nooooo! Shocking!

Just proves Eric Holder is a coward. He is afraid of prosecuting someone of color.

Peter (CA)   May 28th, 2009 7:44 pm ET

OK I"m going to agree with what the right wingers are going to say.
HOw is getting an injunction against brandishing a weapon outside a polling place a "win"?

Groups like this give us all a bad name. There should have been much more severe punishments for this behavior.

annie for Palin   May 28th, 2009 7:43 pm ET

Yep, they gotta let them go free -obama may need their services again in 2012.

No Hillary = No Obama   May 28th, 2009 7:40 pm ET

Shabazz – just that last name and you know trouble is around the corner.

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