The Mizzou Campus Protests (2015) are those by Black students at the University of Missouri. On November 9th 2015, right-wing radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh informed his listeners:
“For those of you who are just now getting attuned to what’s happening during the day the University of Missouri’s embattled president has resigned. His name is Tim Wolfe. He just quit, just resigned because of committing the crime of being a white male.”
The Black players on the Missouri Tigers, the university’s football team, had refused to play in any future games till Wolfe stepped down. There was one coming up this weekend. The university stood to lose $1 million. The Tigers bring in $35 million a year.
But Wolfe’s “crime” was not in being a White male, but in doing nothing about the rising racism at the university despite protests.
For example:
- On September 11th 2015, Payton Head, the Missouri Students Association president, was called the N-word by White students.
- On October 5th, the Legion of Black Collegians were practising a play when a White male took the microphone and called them the N-word.
- On October 24th, a student drew a swatsika – in human shit.
All this at a “liberal” university.
When Concerned Students 1950 wrote letters and asked for an investigation into these incidents, Wolfe did nothing.
When Concerned Students 1950 locked arms in front of his car to get his attention to talk to him, Wolfe – called the police.
Eight days ago Jonathan Butler went on a hunger strike. He said he would not eat till Wolfe stepped down or was removed.
Still Wolfe did nothing.
Then the Black football players said they would not play or even go to practice till Butler ate again. Their coach and the whole athletic department stood behind them.
Within 48 hours of missing their first practice, Wolfe stepped down. Like that.
There are four campuses of the University of Missouri (aka Mizzou). The protests took place at the campus in Columbia, Missouri. It is two hours from Ferguson, where Michael Brown, an unarmed Black teenager, was gunned down last year by a White police officer. That led to months of protests in Ferguson. Some of the Mizzou students took part in those protests. The police officer got off – and meanwhile back on campus racism was getting worse.
The state of Missouri in 2011 was 12% Black. The university is only 7% Black. Although the university was founded in the early 1800s, it did not admit Black students till 1950. Thus the name: Concerned Students 1950.
So what now? One of the main demands of Concerned Students 1950:
“We demand that the University of Missouri creates and enforces comprehensive racial awareness and inclusion curriculum throughout all campus departments and units, mandatory for all students, faculty, staff, and administration. This curriculum must be vetted, maintained and overseen by a board comprised of students, staff, and faculty of color.”
They also want the faculty and staff to be 10% Black within in two years. They want the univesity to do more so that fewer marginalized students drop out. Etc.
– Abagond, 2015
See also:
- Twitter: #Mizzou
- Yale protests
- #BlackOnCampus
- The N-word
- Ferguson
- Michael Brown
- other protests this year:
- Elizabeth Eckford
- White Liberal Guide to Black People
546
WTH is wrong with our world today? A professor from Yale calls Ben Carson, “Coon of the Year” and nothing happens to her. Yet the President of a University has to quit because someone else used racial epithets. WOW.
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I’m glad the football players took a stand, because that is all people care about is football. People don’t listen until the black folks that are making them money do not play. If more athletes would follow suit a lot could be done.
It is very telling when students wrote letters and protested nothing was done, but the moment they messed with their money he stepped down. Black folks should do other things to mess with their money to get things done, because us talking, marching, and protesting isn’t going to impact as much as taking away the money. That is how the bus boycotts became successful not them just talking about it but taking money away from the company then they were heard.
They want black folks to play the sports and bring in money all while ignoring the issues they face.
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I am so proud of these students – so fuckin’ proud of them. This should be a lesson to all Black athletes from high school to the pros – you all hold all the power. When it comes to these people and their money they’ll anything to keep that money coming in. That Tom Wolfe didn’t care about people before and he sure as shit don’t care now. But that money was gonna get funny and they can’t allow that.
I wish being a white male was a crime maybe then that criminal dope fiend Rush Limbaugh could get arrested then. He got some effing nerves on him.
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@ Johnathan – As LoM stated, her words were an exercise in free speech coming from an employee (which she later denied saying). Yale is also setting aside $50mil over the next five years to increase diversity. Their leadership is handling the problem themselves at the private university.
The leadership at the public Mizzou failed to respond to valid complaints (maybe the students were planning on using the wording in Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act?) issued by students who had a right to study in a safe environment without harassment.Despite their terrible record this year – the football business mattered.
In both cases the phasing out of older racist views has been addressed.
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So this is free speech http://www.thecollegefix.com/post/24523/
and really a safe environment. Thats a crock and you know it! What were they going to start killing blacks? Where I am from if you called someone a N word you would get your azz kicked. Now other people get fired. What was he suppose to do anyway?
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Lets just say you’re right ad their is white privilage what do you suggest is done about it? BTW why is racism a bigger problem now with a black president than it was before we had Obama?
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@ Johnathan – I don’t think that racism is a bigger problem, I think it’s the same but with Obama those who pander to racists (both Black and white) have a bigger target so they can be more vocal and demonstrative.
What was the leadership at Mizzou supposed to do? I don’t know. Maybe they could have taken the complaints seriously and dismissed those who violated university student conduct policies.
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@ Pumpkin
Oh yes. I will probably do a post on it. Lord of Mirkwood already has.
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I don’t understand the whole hunger strike thing. Why is that useful? I mean if somebody said they weren’t going to eat until I did what they wanted I’d say well here’s a sandwich anyway, good luck with that. Like that Bobby Sands guy in Ireland, died from it, completely pointless. What are we supposed to then blame the people who didn’t do what he wanted for his death then? It’s ridiculous. Like a kid who threatens to hold his breath. Shrug.
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You see guys, its the money (power)not the skin color. They sacrifice black bodies to their green god; but when a black body says “hell no!!!” they resign. I am so proud of that guy.
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@ Pumpkin – Yeah, a strong HBCU system would be beneficial. The thing is that most have such low endowments that resources are scarce. One of my cousins recently retired as Dean of one of the New Orleans school’s. Many of these schools are still supported by donations from non-Black corporations.
Most blue-chip and five-star athletic talent goes to the more general universities.
Even many of the brightest Blacks end up going to a more prestigious IVY for their post-grad.
At this time, the HBCU system cannot compete on it’s own.
I guess when people were fighting for integration that they didn’t plan on the eventual talent drain from Black neighborhoods, businesses and institutions.
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@ Lord of Mirkwood
I did vaguely hear about the Cecil Rhodes statue. What I have heard more about are the student protests against tuition increases.
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@ Jonathan
I think Whites have become more openly racist under Obama. Even in 2009 it was already noticeable. I doubt that Whites in their hearts have become more racist. I think they just feel less need to hide it.
As to Wolfe, he should have taken the student complaints seriously and looked into it. That is part of his job. He gets paid big bucks for it. The students were right to demand his resignation.
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@ Pumpkin
I agree. The sort of White people who would wear blackface are the very sort who would not take anything Black people say seriously. Almost by definition. So this “initiate dialogue” model of free speech does not work in practice. Add to that their White fragility. Everything, EVERYTHING, is set up to protect their precious feelings, so they rarely find themselves at the wrong end of “free speech”.
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Free speech until you wear a Nazi uniform.
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Would it be useful to make it a university requirement that everyone must take and pass (no exemption, even to black students) a course in Black American studies? I say this because virtually all the students there, even many of the black students, may never have studied it. All they learned was white American ethnic studies in high school and in the media. Part of it will be about the history of race relations on campus and the 1950 issue. But at least some of it will have nothing to do with white people at all.
I also think it should not just be black American studies, but all university students should have a fundamental grasp of Asian, Native, Latino and Muslim American studies also – a required passing score to graduate.
Also required: white ethnic studies from a POC lens.
If the whole student body must take it, then we can be assured that more POC faculty would be present.
Maybe universities would then start requiring that these all be taught in high school.
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As with any victory the question becomes, ‘now what?’.
The students took months to get the attention of the ‘…racist, football worshiping culture’, whereas the team’s involvement settled the issue in less than 48hrs (along with the requisite media coverage).
Most of their demands will not be met (see: The Machine @ Alabama) so they have to be careful not to overreach.
Most are used to begging for equality and justice – I only hope they have a focused and concise model and training as not to squander any newly acquired social capital.
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@hunglikejesus
Yes, I wish professional players would adopt that mentality. Problem is they probably feel they have too much to lose, whereas students aren’t compensated.
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The university president resigned because he didn’t have a clue about dealing with racism. His resignation only underscored the lack of political will to deal with racism in the ENTIRE state.
Watching “Morning Joe” this morning I was stunned by Joe questioning his token black panelists about the problem/solution while cutting off any reply mid-sentence. This type of, self-serving insular white supremacist “monologue” is only making matters worse by ignoring the problem of racism on campus while blaming the victims.
The multi-camera staging showed that all the white panelists were nodding in agreement with Joe as he lambasted his 2 black panelists.
It was truly disgusting.
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@ Black SciFi
Insular – you got that right!
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“Most of their demands will not be met (see: The Machine @ Alabama) so they have to be careful not to overreach.
Most are used to begging for equality and justice – I only hope they have a focused and concise model and training as not to squander any newly acquired social capital.”
.
Like most things, if at first you don’t succeed, try – TRY – AGAIN!!!
At the very least the students learned, without any doubt, that the system (machine) does have an Achilles’ heel.
If their demands aren’t met, now or later, they now know what weapon
(MONEY!) they should employ to achieve their goals.
All it takes is will, and a unified organization.
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@ Fan – Well…. As long as the timing and conditions are right.
Nine deans had complained about the leadership earlier in the month, 26 faculty members questioned the leadership abilities of Wolfe and Lofton as well. The hunger strike and protests were not even on most people’s radar before the football team decided to to jump into the fight. The coach and the rest of the team supported their Black team members and then ESPN picked up the story.
It was a perfect storm of unfortunate (for the university) events.
This was just a battle not the war.
The conferences (and especially the SEC) are preparing plans now to prevent this from spreading.
What are all the Black athletes going do? Create athletic juggernauts at HBCU’s? That could have been done without this incident – they already chose not to go that route.
Any victory has a limited shelf life.. I just hope these students have the skill required to actually build on this victory to create and sustain a lasting change for the better.
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“This was just a battle not the war.
The conferences (and especially the SEC) are preparing plans now to prevent this from spreading.
What are all the Black athletes going do?”
@UBJ
Blacks (ALL OF US) might now better recall the overall effectiveness of boycotts circa the ’60s that forced the white power structure to the discussion table. It got some things changed!
We (collectively) have tremendous power (our money) at our disposal, if we dare to sacrifice our individual wants, today, for our greater collective benefit, tomorrow.
The challenge is getting enough of us on board .. moving, acting, doing in concert with our objective.
Organization.
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@ Fan…
I completely agree. The problem is and has been that blacks collectively have to realize that money is power. That we have to stop the flow of cash to them to see any real change.
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@ Fan – I fully understand that.
The financial power of Blacks is expected to be $1.1 trillion this year but not much of this is spent on these universities. The ‘…racist, football worshiping culture’ is what made the difference in this case.
But even they have a limited scope of influence. ( The unionization of athletes at Northwestern seems to be limited to that university only. Conference’s and states are aligning to prevent the spread of such unions. Larger stipends, four year scholarships (as opposed to the year-to-year), and better health insurance are more common since the ruling.)
The multi-racial regular students would be freezing while watching a guy die of organ failure if the high profile, athletes would not have stepped in.
As I said. I hope the students don’t overreach.
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They worship football more than they care about black people that play that game. It so disgusting.
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Never let them break your spirit. We had cowards like them who came with the Bible then broke our backs with whips. But even their creed of supremacy and togetherness could not hold their hateful hearts together. Before long they were dividing themselves into Jew, German, English, Irish, Pleb, servant, King; that was when we knew they could bleed, they could cry, they could suffer lose. We said ENOUGH! before long they were running helter skelter back to the dark place they came from. VIVA AFRICA.
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I wouldn’t have had given a shit either. Fucking publicity stunt.
Now we’re getting serious. If you want to affect action from a sick, narcissistic, materialistic society, you either have to cause narcissistic injury , or put your hand in their pocket.
Now why Black-Americans are so eager to assimilate into,and receive recognition from said sick, narcissistic and materialistic society…….
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@ sharinalr – But it has to start locally and with individuals. It’s going to cost money and resources and many people will lose.
I just had a talk with a bunch of Black business owners, politicians and church people about the benefits and philanthropy we do through our club.
Most of these people have benefited from my work yet few of them do more than show up for the photo-op and media attention.
I was told by another business owner (he owes me money from covering some of their business debts) that I should buy a new car to show everyone how ‘blessed’ I am. I explained that I wanted a new s-class but by rolling in a two year old Maxima I could afford to put a deserving kid through college.I donate more by myself than these eight or nine.people donate put together. The reason for the meeting was to discuss the possibility of everyone getting together so that we could all make a lot of money hosting a Christmas party. When I explained that I don’t go to church to pray FOR blessings that I go to see how I can BE a blessing, I was called dumb. (My club’s parties raise money for families and charities. We actually lose money this time of year) When I explained that I have enough and that I’m not acquisitive nor aspirational and that my life was not just about ‘me’ – I was told that I that I needed to act like a ‘boss’. I was told that I need to accept the buildings being offered by white developers even though I like that I’m not beholden to anyone.(My Wednesdays are set aside for the white contingency of politicians, business owners and others to come talk to me on MY terms.) Many Black people define their success and value by the definitions of others.
Honestly. I KNOW I’m right when it comes to the way to.facilitate change in my current town. The thing is that it’s going to cost a whole lot to.do it.
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@Uglyblackjohn
“But it has to start locally and with individuals. It’s going to cost money and resources and many people will lose.”—True, but in actuality individuals have been actively doing it for some time. They can’t do it alone and it requires others realize that money talks. If change is wanted, then sacrifices have to be made. Effort has to be put forth.
“Many Black people define their success and value by the definitions of others.”—Exactly! And that mindset keeps them in the same worthless routine that is doing nothing more than damaging the black community. Too many black people are just looking for the quick fix money route and not the long turn stability. Hence pushing sports on kids for the hope of them becoming a football or basketball super star. Afraid to speak out in regards to injustices for fear of losing that materialistic favoritism they have gained.
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“I was told by another business owner (he owes me money from covering some of their business debts) that I should buy a new car to show everyone how ‘blessed’ I am.
….
….
When I explained that I don’t go to church to pray FOR blessings that I go to see how I can BE a blessing, I was called dumb.”
@ UBJ
I learned in my childhood that most people are me, Me, ME FIRST, me second, me third, me fourth, me fifth and so on. I wondered why after having so much of their basic/immediate needs met did they still require THAT MUCH me, me, me, me, me…?
Never mind what the greed mongers in your circle say about what you ought to be doing… or that you’re dumb for doing this or that (unselfish) thing. You don’t need to act like a boss. You need to surround yourself with those who know/recognize who your BOSS is, those who know where your instructions come from. Those who follow, really follow the same BOSS you do.
Those OTHER people you have to take like a grain of salt! Or drop ’em like hot potatoes!
People like you are “ODD” according to the “good” and “normal” folks.
Odd and dumb (unselfish ones with no hidden agendas) are few, rare.. but they are still out there. You seem like you know what YOU’RE supposed to do.
Those “normal” and “good” people want you to be just like them.
You’re making them very uncomfortable because they know you’re closer to the bar, so to speak, than they will ever be.
Be the dumbest person you can possibly be!
Embrace the odd and dumb folks. They will have the same BOSS you do, and like you – they won’t be trying to be a boss! lol
Keep leading by example. 🙂
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The thing is that groups can get more done which is why I try to include others whenever possible.
My town is more than 50% Black but very few have any power or influence and many have no access to either. People make the money but they still have no wealth.
Which is why I stress that there has to be a plan after one has his needs met. One has to know, ‘what next’ after every battle or else no lasting change will exist.
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I get offers from white-owned businesses and old money from white families all the time. They want to partner with me to help Blacks but the Blacks just seem to get on board after they hear that the whites want to be involved. I have lunch with one of the richest old ladies in the state and she offers to sponsor everything I do but she understands when I decline because of my reasoning that I want Black people to learn to work together to help other Black people first.
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”
“The thing is that groups can get more done which is why I try to include others whenever possible.”
“I decline because of my reasoning that I want Black people to learn to work together to help other Black people first.”
” I stress that there has to be a plan after one has his needs met. One has to know, ‘what next’ after every battle or else no lasting change will exist.”
.
UBJ, I understand this. I can relate to this.
Just keep doing what you’re doing, following and doing *YOUR* instructions… even if they make no sense at all to you, or contradict someone else’s instructions.
Should you reason? Yes.
But don’t always trust in your own reasoning,
There’s a season for everything. Even groups… and others.
You’re covered!
And you’re got!
In the meantime just keep putting one foot in front of the other as you continue to walk through the impossible.. waiting on the Boss to develop and make the plan known.
All is well (even when it seems not).
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So now there are threats of physical harm to all the black students at University of Mizzou. It’s about to get real ugly. I hope everyone has planned accordingly. I commend these students for their heart and bravery.
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Mr.Banks challenge to hunger strike was met by disbelief by Mr. Wolfe and large numbee of the white students. Mr.Wolfe voiced a statement about deversity and sensitivity training in April 2016. Mr Wolfe was confident. Mr.Banks would not endure to the end. Imo the larger powers are more astute they probably surmised among themselves that alot of black players on alot of teams(top25) probably are dealing with the same type of issue ie.concerns being discounted being told their perceptions are not valid. If they had balatantly mistreated the situation it would spread to all the teams in the top25. Untold BILLIONS would have not been made by those at the top. The money powers will imo be looking at ways to try and curtail the students power. The statement that if they were undefeated or had only 1 loss they would not have considered not playing is a strawman arguement designed to soothe bruised egos. There were plenty of top25 teams in the straw arguments position but thought of damaging the fragile economy made those in power decide against playing chicken.
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*Originally Posted By mstoogood4yall
I’m glad the football players took a stand, because that is all people care about is football. People don’t listen until the black folks that are making them money do not play. If more athletes would follow suit a lot could be done.
It is very telling when students wrote letters and protested nothing was done, but the moment they messed with their money he stepped down. Black folks should do other things to mess with their money to get things done, because us talking, marching, and protesting isn’t going to impact as much as taking away the money. That is how the bus boycotts became successful not them just talking about it but taking money away from the company then they were heard.
They want black folks to play the sports and bring in money all while ignoring the issues they face.*
Very true. Could not have said it better myself
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http://twitchy.com/2015/11/11/mizzous-student-body-president-apologizes-for-scaring-everybody-with-false-kkk-on-campus-rumor-screenshot/
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The guys who posted these threats have been apprehended.
http://abcnews.go.com/US/suspect-detained-allegedly-posting-online-threats-missouri-campus/story?id=35126012
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LOL “Stand my ground!” What makes him think its his “ground” to begin with?
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http://www.foxsports.com/college-football/outkick-the-coverage/is-the-entire-mizzou-protest-based-on-lies-111115
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The only thing these people understand is fear and money. Black people have tremendous buying power and could really wield some power. The football team causing them to lose money got their attention. The general racism that the other white student exhibit is difficult to resolve. I believe that the majority of whites are racist but at University of Mo. the felt free to make others’lives miserable. What to do about that I don’t really know but the only thing they understand is some type of reprisal.
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@Jonathan
It is fox news. They have been trying to convince people it is a hoax even after two of those who engaged he the threats were arrested.
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@satanforce
‘Stand your ground’ means the state is not obliged to press criminal charges in the event of a killing in certain circumstances:
http://criminal.findlaw.com/criminal-law-basics/stand-your-ground-laws.html
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http://civilliberty.about.com/od/guncontrol/a/Missouri-Gun-Laws.htm
“Missouri is a castle doctrine state with a “stand-your-ground” law. The state enacted a castle law in 2007 that removed the duty to retreat for persons who are attacked within their home or vehicle. The new law justifies the use of deadly force when victims reasonably believe their lives to be in danger, and provides them immunity from civil and criminal action.”
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Having been to Florida too many times , I know what the gentleman was alluding to. But , the only the way somethung like taht could work is if he went out of his way to provoke a confrontation. As he was was not in his home or vehicle, he must feel that he is entitled the campus itself.
One wonders if some of these stories are fake. How much fact-checking is done before they hit Twitter? It would good to find a way to make fake stories that can be used to incite Black-Americans, and their opponents to act in ways that would be used to achieve higher ends. Some of us would be wise to study how ideas spread, crowd manipulation, media manipulation in the Web 2.0 age etc.
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The CIA has been using such techniques for years!
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i think it’s called hate crime/terroristic threats
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My work was stolen and a decision was surreptitiously made in less than 24 hours against my favor. I KNOW……..
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