Massive hat tip to Bill Hobbs. Thanks again, Bill, for getting the word out in Tennessee about Fred Phelps and his Westboro cult.
Never heard of Dwain Kyles? He was one of the owners of Chicago's E2 night club and he's under indictment for involuntary manslaughter. On February 17, 2003, 21 patrons of E2 died in a stampede at the popular Near South Side club.
E2 had been cited numerous times for building code violations, and the club had been clearly told not to allow customers on the second floor of the club. The stairwell and the front door of the club is where most of the deaths occurred. And yes, there were patrons up on that second floor that night.
According to the Chattanooga Times-Free Press, Congressman Harold Ford Jr of Tennessee, donated $1,000 from his campaign stash to his "good friend" Dwain Kyles' legal defense fund. Ford, by the way, is running for the senate next year.
Hobbs did some research, and discovered with help from an e-mailer, that Kyles was skillfull in utilizing African-American leaders as a tool to keep his out-of-code club operating.
Jesse Jackson was one of those leaders tapped by Kyles. One of the co-founders of Operation PUSH was Samuel Kyles, Dwain's father. Surprised? Then you're visiting the wrong blog.
Jackson was oddly quiet about the role of the owners of E2 in the aftermath of that tragedy. Just as he is similarly mum about the continuing leadership failure of New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin in dealing with the Hurricane Katrina crisis.
Back to E2. Toronto Raptors forward Jalen Rose has set up a foundation to aid children who lost a parent at E2 that deadly night. Rose jump-started the fund with a $25,000 donation.
Bill Hobbs thinks Harold Ford Jr. should make a donation to this fund too.
Maybe Jesse Jackson can as well.
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