Tag

jacqueline mcclelland

Paris, TX Update~Accused Murderers Set Free, Mother Angered and Community Groups Lead protest

Originally published 6.14.09

by Jesse Muhammad

Have you heard the news? Toby Shook, special prosecutor in the dragging case of Brandon McClelland, had the charges dismissed against Shannon Finley and Charles Crostley.

They were set free on June 4. Yes, set free.

The two White males were accused of dragging Mr. McClelland over 70 feet beneath a pickup truck in mid-September down a country road.

The mother of the victim, Jacqueline McClelland, is angered and told me that “I knew something was going wrong. I am angered but I will not stop fighting.”

On June 8, a protest and press conference was called by members of the New Black Panther Party and the Nation of Islam. The heated protest drew over 200 people outside the Lamar County Courthouse. The groups are calling on the US Dept of Justice to intervene and also will be holding a follow up demonstration on July 21, which was the original start date of Mr. Finley’s trial.

Post-racial America? I think not…stay plugged in to The Final Call for more updates.

Paris, Texas Update~Jacqueline McClelland’s health is getting better

written by AQM Blog Staff

Originally published 2.23.09

Written by Jesse Muhammad

I spoke with Ms. Jacqueline McClelland, the mother of Brandon McClelland, this evening and she told me that she is walking better these days. That was good news to me.

She also told me that the trial for the two alleged murderers of her son is set to start at the end of March. There was also a very heated townhall meeting on race that took place a few weeks ago in Paris, Texas wherein she said “it got real heated up in there.”

“I am just praying that we get justice in this case”, she said.

For those that are new to my blog and may be unfamiliar with this story please click the following post:http://jessemuhammad.blogs.finalcall.com/2008/10/jasper-style-lynching-reporting-on.html

More updates coming soon.

June 30, 2015

Grand jury indicts 2 white men in dragging death; hate crimes charges still possible

written by AQM Blog Staff

Reported By Jesse Muhammad

A grand jury in Paris, Texas returned first-degree murder indictments against two white men accused in the September dragging death of a Black man. The prosecutor is still looking at whether to pursue hate crime charges in the case that has stirred racial tension.

Facing up to life in prison if convicted, defendants Shannon Finley and Charles Ryan Crostley, are being accused of killing 24-year-old Brandon McClelland by hitting and dragging him over 70 feet beneath a pickup truck after the three went on a late-night beer run across state lines.

Mr. Finley was also indicted December 11 on evidence tampering charges alleging he attempted to wash Mr. McClelland’s blood from the undercarriage of the truck. Mr. Crostley was further indicted on charges of retaliation for threatening a potential witness before he was apprehended. Both defendants remain behind bars without bail.

The McClelland family and civil rights groups have been pressing authorities to look into the murder as a possible hate crime based upon Mr. Finleyâ€™s rumored affiliation with a White supremacist group that he allegedly joined while in prison several years ago.

â€œEven with the charge of first degree murder, there may still be a possibility that these murderers of my son will be back on the streets. I want them to have life without the possibility of parole. To never get outâ€, said Jacqueline McClelland to The Final Call.

â€œThere are people who know that Shannon (Finley) is apart of a white supremacist group and I hope they are interviewed. This needs to be charged as a hate crime also because friends donâ€™t lynch friendsâ€, she said.

Special Prosecutor Toby Shook did not present hate crime charges to the grand jury but noted that “we’re still looking at things. You can always go back to the grand jury and reindict.”

(Read more about this case at www.finalcall.com)

June 29, 2015

Activism Top News

Paris Update~Brandon McClelland’s Father longs to just hear the word ‘Pops’ one more time

written by AQM Blog Staff

Written By Jesse Muhammad

Originally published 10.31.08

On Saturday October 25, the McClelland family along with a host of grassroots organizations and residents gathered at Leon Williams Park in Paris, Texas to attend an afternoon Memorial Service for Brandon McClelland. His mother, Jacqueline McClelland, could barely hold back tears.

“As I have said before, with everything in me I will fight this thing all the way through”, said Ms. McClelland.

For the first time I met the father of Brandon, Bobby McCleary, who said “A couple of times, I’ve found myself calling him just to see what he is doing. But he’s not here. I just want to hear ‘Pops’ one more time from my son.”

Mr. McCleary also told me he was in the process of getting his son a job with him at the sanitation solutions company he works for before receiving the news that his son was dead. “I was shocked to hear the news”, he said.

The two accused suspects in the case are behind bars facing charges of murder and tampering with evidence. A grand jury is set to convene on November 13.

That is four days before a massive Rally Against Hate that is set to take place on November 17. The mobilization is being led by organization such as the New Black Panther Party, Nation of Islam, NAACP, the Millions More Movement, local clergy, activists and residents.

“If this is not a hate crime, I don’t know what is”, said Deric Muhammad during closing remarks. “My mother told me if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, quacks like a duck and stinks like a duck, then it must be a duck.”

“Well this case looks like a hate crime, sounds like a hate crime and stinks like a hate crime, so it must be a hate crime”, he emphasized.

A the conclusion of the memorial, over twenty car loads of people caravaned to the scene of the crime located in Lamar County. Ms. McClelland went and touch every spot that was circled by the local authorities which marked where parts of her son’s dismantled body laid when they found Brandon McClelland on the morning of September 16….she could not hold back the tears again.

A line of roses were placed in the ground in memory of the 24-year-old and to serve as a reminder to cars passing by…..

June 22, 2015

Activism Top News

YouTube Message from the Mother of Brandon McClelland about his dragging death

written by AQM Blog Staff

Written By Jesse Muhammad

Originally published 10/27/08

On October 5, when I first met Ms. Jacqueline McClelland in Paris, we filmed this short message for her to get out to the world. Here it is! Please pass on this video and attend the Rally Against Hate in Paris Texas on November 17.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnn8-UjYPs8

June 22, 2015

Activism Top News

Grieving Paris, Texas Mother Interviews with Free Speech Radio News:: Listen To Archive!

written by AQM Blog Staff

Written by Jesse Muhammad

I am writing this blog inside of a truck in route back to Paris, Texas to attend a Memorial Service for Brandon McClelland.

I was contacted this past week by the Interim Producer at Free Speech Radio News for a potential 10-min interview to discuss my coverage of the dragging death of Brandon McClelland in Paris, Texas. I of course gave way for his grieving mother, Jacqueline McClelland, to do the interview so the entire country can further hear her pain.

The interview was conducted on Friday afternoon, October 24 and aired nationally. The mother is grateful for this interview and for those that have not had the opportunity to hear it please click the link below and listen!

We will continue to book her on more shows and post the archives of the shows right here on this blog. If anybody reading this blog has their own radio show or connections with other news outlets please email me at jesse.muhammad@gmail.com.

Was Brandon McClelland’s Death Another Texas Lynching?::News Segments

“Civil rights activists are beginning to compare the bloody murder of Brandon McClelland in Paris, Texas to the lynching of James Byrd in another small town in the Lone Star state 10 years ago. Authorities first told Brandon’s family that he was struck by a gravel truck; but the family soon learned that he was dragged at least 40 feet by a pick-up. Two white men have now been arrested â€“ and the local DA says Brandon’s death had nothing to do with race. But many disagree, and say Brandon was lynched, and authorities are doing all they can to cover-up a hate crime. FSRN spoke with Brandon’s mother, Jacqueline McClelland, about his murder.”

CLICK BELOW AND LISTEN NOW!

http://www.fsrn.org/content/was-brandon-mcclelland039s-death-another-texas-lynching/3616

June 22, 2015