New Black Panther At Philly Polls Nothing Happening, NBPP In Houston, That Is Another Story.

New Black Panther At Philly Polls Nothing Happening, NBPP In Houston, That Is Another Story.

A member of the New Black Panther Party was spotted by a local Fox station today at the same polling location at which he was videotaped two years ago. His presence at that facility in 2008, along with a nightstick-wielding colleague, led to a controversial voter intimidation case that has dogged the Obama administration for over a year and a half.
Fox provided a photo of the individual and reported that he was seen outside the polling place “wearing a pin that indicated his party affiliation, along with a black hat, sunglasses and leather coat.”
 
The individual appears to be Jerry Jackson, who had a poll-watching certificate back in 2008 and was originally named in the civil voter intimidation case bought in the waning days of the Bush administration. The Obama administration did not pursue the case against Jackson or the national party, but did obtain an injunction against fellow NBPP member King Samir Shabazz, who carried a nightstick.
Charles Mirarchi of the City of Philadelphia confirmed to TPMMuckraker on Tuesday that Jackson holds a poll-watching certificate for 2010. The Philadelphia Republican Party was not yet aware of Jackson’s presence at the polling location when contacted by TPMMuckraker.

The man who appears to be Jackson was not holding a weapon today, and there are no reports thus far that he was doing anything illegal. Shabazz, who was carrying the nightstick in 2008, did not appear to be with Jackson at the polling location. The injunction bans Shabazz from coming within 100 feet of a polling location with a weapon. But the fact that the member of the fringe extremist group is back at a poll watcher at the same location that sparked such controversy in 2008 could add fuel to the investigation by the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights and the broader investigation into the enforcement of voting laws by the Justice Department’s Inspector General. Republicans are expected to launch an investigation as well if they take back the House of Representatives.more TPM

Philadelphia wasn’t the only American city graced by the presence of New Black Panthers today. They were also active in Houston. Texas law prohibited the New Black Panthers from bursting into a polling place. They are not allowed within 100 feet of the polls for any reason except to vote or if they are credentialed poll watchers, which they weren’t. This illegal behavior was repeated at multiple polling places in Houston.
Quanell X is the Houston version of King Samir Shabazz, the chairman of the local New Black Panthers. His legal name is Quanell Abdul Farrakhan. Before that, it was Ralph Evans.
Mr. X led a squad of at least five New Black Panthers, including members in New Black Panther uniforms, into Houston polling places, including precinct 202, illegally.more