Akron cop fired over threatening online post about Minister Farrakhan
By Michael Z. Muhammad, Contributing Writer | Last updated: Feb 20, 2019 - 12:37:28 PM
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Akron Police Officer James Anthony was recently fired for posting an online threat aimed at Nation of Islam Minister Louis Farrakhan.
Former Akron Police officer James Anthony
On February 9 he was fired by the Akron Police Department for his conduct. The 23-year veteran had been on paid administrative leave while the investigations into his actions took place. Mr. Anthony audaciously posted on his Facebook page asking “How is it that no one has offed that dipshit asshat, Farrakhan?” The October 30, 2018 comments followed the tragic Pittsburgh synagogue shooting that left 11 dead three days earlier.
Akron Police Chief Kenneth Ball issued the following statement regarding the firing:
“The mission of the Akron Police Department (APD) is to enhance quality of life through crime prevention, enforcement of laws, promotion of safety, and reduction of fear.
Actions by police officers that imply or demonstrate bias, work in direct opposition to this mission and will never be tolerated. Akron police officers are held to a high standard of conduct and integrity both on and off duty. Akron residents must have confidence that officers serving our community will treat all people with dignity and respect. Following a full investigation of certain Facebook posts by Officer James Anthony and in accordance with the recommendation of Chief Kenneth Ball, Mayor Horrigan determined that Officer Anthony's social media posts meaningfully impacted the efficient operation of the Police Department in the discharge of its public mission, and therefore, terminated his employment.”
“I believe officer Anthony's termination was warranted and just. We have a group of fine Akron police officers, and it is unfortunate that the actions of one has put a cloud over many good officers,” said Akron City Councilwoman Tara Samples, reported News 5 Cleveland.
In a telephone interview with The Final Call, Student Minister Steven Muhammad, Akron’s Nation of Islam local representative stated, “We were in the process of drafting a letter to the mayor concerning the status of the investigation and lack of communication when the decision came down. We remain concerned.”
Appearing before the Akron City Council on November 5, Student Min. Muhammad addressed the threats, telling council members that racism, hatred, and vitriol could lead to conduct unbecoming of an officer. There are many who work for the Akron Police Department who are sincere, determined to protect and serve, he told the council.
“We believe Mr. Anthony represents a thinking in APD and since they posted their statement today, it will give us a chance to request follow up with a third party more convincingly. We are asking for some sensitivity training for the department that will humanize the lives of young Black males in general as well as other poor and oppressed people in the city,” said Student Min. Muhammad.
“We do want to thank the mayor and the police chief for their attention on this matter even though it was not the outcome we would have preferred. We do not want to dismiss what they have done and the steps they have taken,” he added.
Deadmau5 Goes Nuclear After Twitch Ban Over Homophobic Language
2/13/2019 7:09 AM PST
Breaking News
Famed DJ Deadmau5 says he will NOT apologize for using homophobic language while streaming on Twitch -- saying the slurs were only "intended to insult a f*ckin asshat who was being a f*cking asshat."
The man behind the megahit "Ghosts 'N' Stuff" got hit with a temporary suspension from the video game streaming site after reportedly referring to a troll as a "f*cking c**k-sucking stream sniper f*g" while playing PUBG.
Deadmau5 believes the ban is unfair -- and fired off a fiery new statement announcing he will no longer work with Twitch ... which is a HUGE deal considering he has 500,000 Twitch followers.
But, the statement is far from an apology ... in fact, he DEFENDS the offensive language he used during his live stream and accused Twitch of having a "double standard" when it comes to meting out punishment.
"I'm not going to stand for twitch's double standard when it comes to censoring and suspending me for harmless sh*t," the DJ said.
"While we've had some fun partnerships here and there, and they were a great company to work with... im gunna have to cut this one short. I dont have the capacity to deal with that kind of sh*t."
He added, "While what i said was generally toxic as f*ck, and not an ideology i hold closely to my moral standing by a f*ckin longshot."
"While it was intended to insult a f*ckin asshat who was being a f*cking asshat.... it wasnt 'directed at an entire group of people who have a sexual orientation that differs from my own'. f*ck off with that sh*t."
"I know who i am, and i dont have to f*cking sit here and cry and defend my f*cking self with the obligatory 'IM NOT THAT PERSON, I AM SORRY' reflex. If im sorry for antying, im sorry that we live in a world where bottom feeding pieces of sh*t can sit there starring at a monitor, watching me play videos games, and just waiting for someone to get tilted so he can get a few fucking clicks. thats what i'm sorry for."
And, if you think Deadmau5 is bluffing, you're wrong -- he's already deleted his Twitch channel.
Deadmau5 finally apologises for homophobic slur: ‘This was my worst moment’
Deadmau5 has apologised for using a homophobic slur (Picture: Getty Images)
Deadmau5 has apologised for using a homophobic slur, after deleting his Twitch channel in protest of being suspended.
The DJ had hit out at the streaming platform for suspending him after he used the word ‘f**k’ while playing PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds.
In the same comment, reports allege that Deadmau5 had used a homophobic slur that he had initially refused to apologise for, instead saying he had ‘intended to insult a fuckin asshat who was being a fucking asshat’.
Now, Deadmau5 – real name Joel Thomas Zimmerman – has issued an apology following backlash for the offensive language.
Deadmau5 has said using the slur has been his ‘worst moment’ (Picture: Getty Images)
TMZ reports Deadmau5 has said of the incident: ‘I know what I said was wrong, and my hastily composed non-apology was an insult to injury.
‘I realise that trying to somewhat dismiss it as “gamer culture” was even worse. I don’t know why I did that. But I do know it was stupid and insensitive and I feel even more ashamed. This was my worst moment.’
He continued: ‘It was all around an incredibly irresponsible and insensitive thing to say nonetheless. Especially for someone who has a reach.
‘What I said was incredibly stupid, and I don’t actually hold those beliefs, at all. I let some gamer get the best of me, and in that moment I completely lost control.
The DJ is now planning to stay out of the spotlight (Picture: WireImage)
‘Sometimes I just fuck up. I do mean well. And I’m at least man enough to know when I’ve fucked up. And I’ve fucked up.’
Deadmau5 has said he is going to remain out of the spotlight until he ‘knows he is a better person’.
Deadmau5 had been playing PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds alongside SmaceTRON when their location was exploited through ‘stream sniping’ – a method where gamers target streamers by following their stream on a second screen.
EDM reports Deadmau5 said: ‘Is that some fucking c*ck-sucking stream sniper f**?’.
Twitch suspended his account and Zimmerman deleted his channel in protest. He cancelled partnerships with Twitch and said he wants no affiliation with the platform.
More: Entertainment
In a now deleted Reddit post, the Ghosts ‘n’ Stuff producer wrote following his suspension: ‘While it was intended to insult a fuckin asshat who was being a fucking asshat…. it wasn’t “directed at an entire group of people who have a sexual orientation that differs from my own” fuck off with that shit.
‘I know who I am, and I don’t have to fucking sit here and cry and defend my fucking self with the obligatory “IM NOT THAT PERSON, I AM SORRY” reflex.
‘Of course there’s a huge line between being tilted as fuck over a video game and saying some shit vs. mobilising a fucking belief standard with what ACTUALLY is hate speech.’
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