Jackson Free Press

This story will appear in this week's print edition.

Christopher Walker told the Jackson Free Press three weeks ago that either someone from his old Wood Street neighborhood would shoot him, or he would shoot one of them. And he blamed that inevitability, as he characterized it, on his former mentor, Mayor Frank Melton.

That prediction proved prescient Friday when Craig Spiva was shot three times in his back, the back of his head and in the buttocks on Maple Street, near the corner of Wood, with a small-caliber handgun—but survived after surgery at University Medical Center. Law enforcement has previously linked Spiva to a crime group that police call the "Wood Street Players."

Spiva's Wood Street friends are saying that Walker came after him; Walker is saying that a group of men came after him and that he is the one who called the police afterward while he hid from them in an empty house. Police-scanner chatter prior to the shooting Friday indicated that people around Wood Street were looking for Walker.

Walker, also known as Smiley, says that he came out of the store at Maple and Wood streets, and a white car and a blue or green van full of men screeched up in front. As they jumped out with guns, he said, he started running down Maple Street.

"I know who it was," Walker said Saturday. "It was guys from Wood Street. They shot him (Spiva) trying to shoot me." Walker said he didn't have a gun and ran into an empty house where he called police and City Hall repeatedly, "but they kept me on hold for damn near 30 minutes."

"I called Frank's office; Frank still ain't called me back, yet. I called Shirlene (Anderson); she weren't in her office." Whoever he got on the phone, he said, he told them, "I'm over here at the corner of Maple and Wood, and those n*ggers are trying to kill me. Y'all need to help me."

But nobody responded, he said.

Spiva's friends tell a dramatically different story. On Monday, Albert "Batman" Donelson told the JFP that his friend Spiva had gone into the store to get a soda pop; when he came out, "Smiley shot him." In an interview in his hospital room Monday, Spiva told WAPT much the same story: He came out of the store, saw Walker, walked past and tried to get in his car. When he did, Walker started firing, and he ran down Maple. Three shots hit him before his brother, Dedrick Dodds, and Albert Donelson's cousin, Natasha Scott, picked him up near Pleasant Avenue.

Scott said Monday that she had picked Dodds up at his probation office, and they were coming up Wood Street when they saw Spiva running and Walker running behind him, firing. As they stopped, she said, Walker got into a maroon Camry with dark windows and drove away.

The rumor is that the two "had words" before the incident, she said, adding that Walker hangs out often in the area.

Donelson sees a more sinister motive, pointing back to Melton's close relationship with Walker, even saying that he believes the mayor could be behind Walker's action. "This guy's done something he has no business doing," said Donelson, who says he is staying out of trouble since he left federal prison on a weapons charge. "I really believe Frank put him up to it. ... He shot that boy for nothing."

Both Donelson and Scott complained that police did little on the case even though witnesses were pointing to Walker—and had not sent a detective out to interview witnesses as of Monday. Spiva said detectives had finally shown up Monday to interview him, and they have him under guard. Police had issued no arrest warrant as of Monday night, and Spiva said that he will sign an affidavit against Walker.

On Friday afternoon, shortly after the shooting, Melton told WAPT that Christopher Walker wasn't involved in any shooting and echoed his 2006 warning that "Batman," as he calls Donelson, is out to get Walker.

Walker said Saturday morning, however, that Melton had not returned any of his calls—and blamed Melton for putting him in harm's way now by trying to get him to testify against the alleged Wood Street Players in 2006. "That man's started all this," he said in a call to the JFP.

A Paranoid Web
Whatever is true about the Spiva shooting, Walker, 23, predicted a gun battle between him and Wood Street men in a longer interview with the Jackson Free Press about his own rough-and-criminal past and his frustrations with Melton. The mayor, he says, has gone from being his mentor and protector to a man he says won't return his calls or give him help now that he is out of jail on a federal drug charge. Walker, who was on probation in 2006 for a drug charge, returned to prison last year after failing multiple drug tests during the time Melton was presenting him to the world as a star witness in a murder trial.

When he talks about his past of drug dealing—which he first did, he said to put himself through school—Walker doesn't shy away from describing the horrors of his chosen profession.

"I worked for my money, although I did it the wrong way," he said last month. He had a 3.2 grade-point average when he left Lanier, and likes to use detailed chess analogies to explain what he thinks is happening all around him.

Walker believes that members of the "Wood Street Players" are targeting him because Melton—when he was director of the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics—"used" him, as Walker puts it, to try to send members of the alleged crime group to prison for cold murder cases. He said he believes Melton went after the Wood Street men in order to get publicity.

Melton tried to present Walker as his star witness in the murder trial of "Batman" Donelson, his brother Terrell Donelson and brother James Benton, who were accused of killing Aaron Crockett in 2000. They were acquitted after District Attorney Faye Peterson withdrew Walker as a witness, saying he had lied to the grand jury about being there when Albert Donelson supposedly called his brother from jail, ordering a hit on Crockett.

Walker now admits that he did not actually witness Terrell Donelson taking that call from his brother even though Melton desperately wanted him to testify to that scenario last year.

Peterson also provided Circuit Judge Bobby DeLaughter with a sheath of documents filed by defense attorneys showing that Melton had been very generous with Walker—renting him an apartment, giving him a Frank E. Melton credit card to use at will, allowing him to handle weapons at his home and giving him cash as requested during the year or so leading up to the April 2006 trial.

Because he cannot leave Jackson under terms of his probation, Walker said he believes one of the "Wood Street Players"—whom he says recruited him to sell drugs while he was at Rowan Middle School—is likely to kill him because Melton made him so public after bringing him in while at MBN and then befriending him in such a public way. At the time, Walker says, he trusted Melton to look after his safety.

In interviews in April 2006, Melton said he had to protect Walker because the state does not offer witness protection, even though some people were worried about him "tampering" with a trial.

Melton defended his actions passionately then in interviews, saying that he did what he had to do to "protect" Walker because Mississippi doesn't provide a witness protection program.

"Under no circumstances could I leave him out there to be killed," Melton told the JFP, adding: "Dern right. I did rent him an apartment, give him a credit card, (and) gave him money as recently as yesterday."

This was days after Melton had introduced Walker to the Jackson Free Press at his home on April 2, 2006, on the eve of the Donelson-Benton murder trial, saying, "Now, Donna, I want you to talk to Chris. He's a good kid." At the time, Walker says now, he was not living in Melton's home, but had free rein to come and go.

That night, he believes, Melton had asked him to come over to show him off to the JFP. Benton defense attorney Robert S. Smith was there, and said that Melton had arranged a meeting between him and Walker because the young man was about to testify against his client Benton.

By the next Sunday, April 8, the men were acquitted, and Melton led media on a "manhunt" for the same young man who had been coming and going from his home, saying that he needed to arrest him for being an accessory to an earlier shooting. By the next day, Melton had Walker tucked into the Jefferson Davis County Jail for the evening—but he was soon out and, in fact, hanging out again on Melton's sofa when the Jackson Free Press went to Melton's home for an interview on Good Friday.

Walker says now that Melton was angry at him because he didn't want to testify about something he did not actually witness and "kidnapped" him and took him to another county.

For his part, Donelson said he is trying to go straight and that he is safe inside his mama's house whenever his probation officer comes calling. And he's suspicious that it is taking so long for JPD to respond to the Spiva shooting.

"If they say I, Albert Donelson aka Batman, shot somebody three times in the back, how long do you think it'd be before they picked me up?" he asked Monday.

Melton has changed his number to an unlisted number and could not be reached for comment Monday night.

If you have further information to add to this story, please call Donna Ladd at 601.362.6121 ext. 5, or e-mail [e-mail missing].

Clarification: Christopher Walker was on probation for a weapons charge in 2006, but had a earlier non-adjudicated cocaine possession on his record. Probation was revoked after he failed drug tests last year. See this earlier story for explanation.

Previous Comments

ID

97136

Comment

This. Is. Unbelievable. Great digging, Donna. As usual in these cases, somehow, some way, the road inevitably leads back to Melton! Sadly, I really believe the worst is yet to come! BTW, did you mean Jefferson County or Jefferson Davis County?

Author

Kacy

Date

2007-11-19T22:24:11-06:00

ID

97137

Comment

“I worked for my money, although I did it the wrong way,” he said last month. He had a 3.2 grade-point average when he left Lanier, and likes to use detailed chess analogies to explain what he thinks is happening all around him. This sort of thing always saddens me. I hate to see an intelligent person with lots of potential head down a path like this. He could have been much more.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-11-19T22:38:12-06:00

ID

97138

Comment

Jefferson Davis. Thanks, Kacy. I'll fix.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-11-19T22:46:26-06:00

ID

97139

Comment

So, the Crime Boss leads us to believe that he's out trying to save the young men of Jackson, but when they don't do what he wants them to do, he leaves them out high and dry, even if it results in their own deaths. I'm gonna show this article after it goes to print to a diehard fan of Frank's and see if I can get her to change her mind.

Author

golden eagle

Date

2007-11-19T22:59:00-06:00

ID

97140

Comment

I would like to thank all the voters of Frank Melton's for bringing us this wonderful man, mentor, and mayor. We doubted you at first, but time has shown you guys at the Advocate, and the NJam gang, knew what was best for the citizens of Jackson. Please keep up the good work, so we may reap more benefits from the gifts this man bestows upon Jackson almost daily. We were fools to ever second guess your reasons for putting Melton in office. From stealing water for the YMCA pool to stiffing girls out of scholarship money; everything this man touches turns to gold. A regular day Midas is he! God really looked down on us and blessed us this one. Please, give him a great big bus stopping hug when you see him from me. luv, pike

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-11-19T23:34:07-06:00

ID

97141

Comment

I swear, I don't believe any of them. None, including the mayor, have enough credibility for me to believe they are telling the truth. God only knows what the story is!

Author

Michele

Date

2007-11-20T01:35:44-06:00

ID

97142

Comment

Wow. Send this article to the FBI. Now.

Author

LawClerk

Date

2007-11-20T06:28:12-06:00

ID

97143

Comment

I don't know who is telling the truth, either. But I do hope, and pray, that someone does something before another man comes up dead.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-11-20T07:23:04-06:00

ID

97144

Comment

This is some good work. Call the FEDS.

Author

Cliff Cargill

Date

2007-11-20T07:30:18-06:00

ID

97145

Comment

For the record, folks, it's not a journalist's job to call law enforcement unless it's to ask questions.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-11-20T08:29:32-06:00

ID

97146

Comment

Someone needs to copy this to Heraldo Rivera!! I couldn't believe HR had Frankie Melodrama on his show after the trial……

Author

Truthseeker

Date

2007-11-20T08:49:54-06:00

ID

97147

Comment

"For the record, folks, it's not a journalist's job to call law enforcement unless it's to ask questions." I know, I'm just sayin' :-) Geraldo is terrible. He softballed ol' Frank on that show and made it seem like everyone is out to get Frank. Terrible.

Author

LawClerk

Date

2007-11-20T09:13:49-06:00

ID

97148

Comment

"Walker on the Run" I'm confused by this headline as I don't see the topic addressed in the article itself, other than the larger implication that Walker thinks certain Wood Street people are out to get him. Is that the assertion? Is he on the run from the law right now even though there is no charge against him yet? Is he hiding from Wood Street people? Did I completely miss the point? More simply: is Walker running now? If so, who from?

Author

dvc

Date

2007-11-20T09:34:41-06:00

ID

97149

Comment

Is there an even bigger picture to this story? Could it be that there is a hit list for Wood Street Gentlemen who can give testimony about the business deal with melton and the "contract" with the City of Jackson? This has been listed as one of the issues being investigated by the FBI. When melton was charged with sexually violating two youngsters some years back, both of them ended up being killed. According to melton, it was because of their involvement in drugs. Just thinking. Just asking.

Author

justjess

Date

2007-11-20T09:44:35-06:00

ID

97150

Comment

It's one of those JFP headlines with a variety of meanings that, ostensibly, become more clear when you read the story. It could be taken a number of ways; the police may be seeking Walker; Wood Street may be looking for him; most importantly, he's "on the run," arguably, from his own past. He's been "on the run" in the past from Melton (when he was looking for him and took him to Jeff Davis County). When I thought about it this a.m., I thought I should have called it "Man on the Run" because it would cover even more bases.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-11-20T09:53:58-06:00

ID

97151

Comment

BTW, the JFP is not speculating about anyone's motives here, nor do we agree or disagree with any statements made by anyone in this piece, or in the comments that follow. We also welcome further comments from anyone with involvement in or knowledge about this story. Please get in touch with me directly at the above number or e-mail address.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-11-20T09:55:29-06:00

ID

97152

Comment

Gotcha. I was taking it in a narrower context based on the events of the last few days. There certainly are some interesting, and ominous, threads becoming more illuminated in all this mess. Ya'll be careful up there.

Author

dvc

Date

2007-11-20T10:07:37-06:00

ID

97153

Comment

That's OK. I understand the question. I perhaps should have added a question mark. But I don't mind explaining. Thanks for asking, and for the comments.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-11-20T10:12:44-06:00

ID

97154

Comment

Geraldo is terrible. He softballed ol' Frank on that show and made it seem like everyone is out to get Frank. Terrible. That was the softballest of all softball interviews I'd ever seen, read or heard. If only the G really knew what's going on.

Author

golden eagle

Date

2007-11-20T10:13:25-06:00

ID

97155

Comment

“I called Frank’s office; Frank still ain’t called me back, yet. I called Shirlene (Anderson); she weren’t in her office.” Whoever he got on the phone, he said, he told them, “I’m over here at the corner of Maple and Wood, and those n*ggers are trying to kill me. Y’all need to help me.” It's a beautiful day in Jackson when a hardened criminal can contact the Mayor and Chief of Police at will - then have the balls to bitch when they won't talk to him. Yea! SafeCity!

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-11-20T10:18:31-06:00

ID

97156

Comment

Agreed re the Geraldo show: They saw an opportunity to do a so-called tough-on-crime segment without ever realizing how big of fools they would look for doing it.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-11-20T10:24:14-06:00

ID

97157

Comment

If Walker thinks his life is in danger, he can ask for permission to move and have his probation supervised where ever.

Author

Jennifer2

Date

2007-11-20T10:24:22-06:00

ID

97158

Comment

According to what he told me, Jennifer, he does not know that and was told otherwise. Again, I'm just the messenger of what various people are saying.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-11-20T10:26:22-06:00

ID

97159

Comment

.."It's a beautiful day in Jackson when a hardened criminal can contact the Mayor and Chief of Police at will - then have the balls to b**** when they won't talk to him. " Pike..you or I are supposed to be able to contact the mayor of chief if need be. Its everyone's right as a citizen. Every citizen regardless of status should be afforded access. Are you saying Walker should NOT be able to contact the mayor or anyone should not be able to because you or I think he/she is a criminal. That is the problem with politicians today.

Author

trusip

Date

2007-11-20T10:32:56-06:00

ID

97160

Comment

I believe what Pike is saying trusip is that a hardened criminal usually doesn't have the cell phone number of the mayor of a a city nor the police chief of a city. You are right. We can all call the office of the mayor and chief and ask to speak with them. I work for the mayor and for the ex police chief and I didn't/don't have their numbers. It seems kind of screwed up that a thug and yes I can say thug becuase I have dealt with Walker personally has those direct numbers and I don't....All though I can promise you that I don't want the mayors number.

Author

The truth

Date

2007-11-20T10:44:40-06:00

ID

97161

Comment

thug is a glmorized term now. Its synonymous for "black" in mainstream America, white America, and upper crust black America. So I dont pay much attention when people use it in these terms. I dont know Walker. you do but regardless why use the term. And does it bother you HE has the number and you dont becuase you work for him/and the former chief. Are you saying you should have it and certain people should not? as you said...we all have that right and should exercise it. Its about access.

Author

trusip

Date

2007-11-20T10:54:34-06:00

ID

97162

Comment

Walker now admits that he did not actually witness Terrell Donelson taking that call from his brother even though Melton desperately wanted him to testify to that scenario last year. When and to whom did Walker admit this?

Author

Randy Harris

Date

2007-11-20T10:58:10-06:00

ID

97163

Comment

Yeah, I don't like the word "thug," either, trusip. For me, the problem becomes way too black and white (and not about race, but certainly that, too). For instance: At what point does a young man with Walker's or Donelson's past become a "thug"? Or, a white kid in North Jackson? At the point that they don't have parents equipped to be (a) direct them, (b) feed them or (c) get them out of trouble? And complicating matters even further is a situation, such as the one with Melton, where certain "criminals" are evil and others are "good kids." What kind of scenario does he create when he pits, say, the older kids of Wood Street against, say, the younger ones? Even if he means well, this seems like it's playing with fire. Also, to add more food for thought, if Melton is going to dramatically help and defend a young man like Walker when he needs him to testify against someone he is not trying to help, then what does it do to the young person when that support system is no longer there? Again, I am casting no judgment, but I have long said that these are complicated scenarios and that just whining about "thugs" and "Frank" taking care of them is missing the damn bigger picture. The stakes are high, folks. And if we want to help the young people of Jackson, we need to engage in what's going on in their communities. All of it.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-11-20T11:02:34-06:00

ID

97164

Comment

Randy, he told me in an interview that he did not witness that. I thought that was clear from the piece.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-11-20T11:03:18-06:00

ID

97165

Comment

Trusip said "thug is a glmorized term now. Its synonymous for "black" in mainstream America, white America, and upper crust black America." Let me ask you this Trusip. Who glamorized the word "thug" as a black term? Certainly I did not. When I think of thugs I think of people that do not care about anyone except themselves. People that don't care to contribute to society. Thugs can be white, black, hispanic, korean. It doesn't matter. I think that you have a chip on your shoulder. To answer your other question about the phone number. I don't believe it is the police chiefs job to have phone conversations with convicted criminals, known drug dealers and alleged murderers on a daily bases. People in power at police departments should be against that element and not cohort with that element. And by "element" I mean the criminal element. I don't want you putting words into my mouth again. If you are getting shot at...Are you going to call the mayor's cell? Are you going to call the police chief's cell. I don't think you will. I think you will call 911. I can promise you that Ole Shirlene wasn't about to run out of her office and get into the line of fire....

Author

The truth

Date

2007-11-20T11:15:58-06:00

ID

97166

Comment

Thank you truth, for seeing the obvious in my post. But, I don't mind anyone disagreeing with me either. Go at it. Walker isn't the only example of a first class criminal that has access to the mayor and chief that you and I don't. I'll say it again... Yea SafeCity!

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-11-20T11:16:03-06:00

ID

97167

Comment

BTW, I didn't say anyone glamorized the word "thug" here; I think people are expressing frustration in their own ways. However, I still maintain that trusip's point is a good one to consider, and I challenge everyone to consider the whole "thug" picture. People are not born thugs. They become thugs based on their environments and what is expected of them by society and the people closest to them. If you want to stop future "thuggery," you need to figure out the conditions that create them, and then tackle those conditions. The first step is for Jackson to stop assuming that young people in West Jackson are criminals until proven otherwise. It's way too simplistic to just shake our heads at the company Melton keeps, now and in the past. There is nothing new there; people knew this when he was elected. He could argue, correctly, that he is doing exactly what he told/warned people he was going to do. I back him up on that one. The "how" of his tactics have been surprising at times, but not the "what." Of course, people were hearing what they wanted to hear, and he is good at hynotizing people in such a way that they don't consider the actual words he says, or whether they make any sense. What was really remarkable was to watch the media not challenge or factcheck even his most ridiculous assertions. I felt like I was on Mars.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-11-20T11:23:18-06:00

ID

97168

Comment

Exactly Donna. In these cases "thug" is simply a buzz word that allows the user to belittle the person involved. Every soul no matter what evil has been done can be salvaged. None of these kids were born bad. none of them are the 666 spawn of Satan bred to come here and do evil, thus some good is in them. And again truth I didnt put words in your mouth. no I may not have the mayor's number to call in a crisis. If I did, Id use it. And further Im not mad that Walker has that number are you? And pike..what constitutes a first class criminal? is it like mail? first class, second class. Im just wondering why the uproar about Walker having the mayor or chief's number? could the chief not have been instrumental in trying to help Walker or do you condone putting them to the wasteside? thats what law-enforcement does, they deal with those that have run afoul of the law. but does that mean only locking them up or does that mean helping to make them go straight?

Author

trusip

Date

2007-11-20T11:30:52-06:00

ID

97169

Comment

I didn't mean you said that the word thug was glamorized ladd. I am talking about the post from trusip at 1054 hours. I have to agree with you too ladd. All young people that live in West Jackson are not criminals. I worked that area for four years. Ninety percent of young people in that area are great, hardworking, school attending law abiding citizens. You can't pick who your parents are or where you live. You have to make do with what life gives you. But....there comes a time in your life that you have to choose how you want your life to continue. Just because your mom smokes crack and your dad sells drugs does not mean you have to follow suit. As a you grow you know what is right and what is wrong. Your choice is not entirely based on how you grew up. That doesn't give you an automatic out to the life of crime. However so many people blame their unfortunate childhood for their reason for turning to a life a crime. I have seen many many people come from bad families that live a great life as an adult. It's about choice!!!

Author

The truth

Date

2007-11-20T11:38:06-06:00

ID

97170

Comment

If Walker thinks his life is in danger, he can ask for permission to move and have his probation supervised where ever. Not being able to leave the state is one thing; not being able to leave the city? Wow! That's a first for me. He can't even go to or Clinton or Northpark if he wanted to.

Author

golden eagle

Date

2007-11-20T11:39:46-06:00

ID

97171

Comment

Trusip I appreciate you teaching me something. I will never call a criminal a thug again. I will just call them a "bad bad boy" or a "bad bad girl." Instead of arresting them I will just put them in time out for 15 minutes. I can't believe that you said if you had the phone number of the mayor you would call him if you were in a crisis. Do you think Frank is going to come to a shoot out. I promise you don't want his two body guards shooting around you. Especially Wright. He couldn't hit the side of a barn.

Author

The truth

Date

2007-11-20T11:46:37-06:00

ID

97172

Comment

But....there comes a time in your life that you have to choose how you want your life to continue. Just because your mom smokes crack and your dad sells drugs does not mean you have to follow suit. I agree with that, truth. BUT that doesn't take away the responsibility of the rest of us to help shine a light and not to make matters worse by playing games with their lives. Otherwise, I don't think we need to devolve into sarcasm here. Truth is, this is a good discussion, and everyone is contributing something important. None of this is black or white. Let's work together.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-11-20T11:53:59-06:00

ID

97173

Comment

Hello Everyone. I must admit that I often enjoy reading the articles posted on this site. I find more information and a bigger insight here that I ususlly don't find elsewhere. I commend you for such in depth journalism. However, there are two things you can do to make your work more effective. The first is to eliminate the Ledger bashing. I read both CL and JFP on a daily basis. Both resources contribute greatly to my desire to "stay informed". Both have a unique way of relaying information and keeping readers loyal and desirious of more. Therefore, there is no need for one to put down or try to discredit the other. JFP spends a lot of time bashing CL. If JFP would take that energy and channel it elsewhere, JFP would attract a larger audience and produce even more effective journalism. Secondly, as part of my desire to learn more...know more, I sometimes scroll down from the article of interest and read the posts. This has also been a great means of learning and understanding. One thing I have noticed is that everytime "trusip" interjects a thought or opinion...the flow of worth and effectiveness begins a quick downward spiral. If the posts would remain focused on the issues at hand and not conform to any obvious intent to disrupt or create confrontation....again effective journalism would continue its reign. Just a little objective insight. JFP, you are doing a wonderful job. Continue on.

Author

orchid69sprig

Date

2007-11-20T11:56:24-06:00

ID

97174

Comment

Come on Donna.....I just wanted to dabble into the world of sarcasm just a little. My idol Ray Carter gets to do it. Why can't I???? I have to give a shout out to my favorite blogger Ray....

Author

The truth

Date

2007-11-20T12:05:59-06:00

ID

97175

Comment

Thanks for your comments, orchid. I will tell you, though, that we will not stop criticizing The Clarion-Ledger, or other media, until they start playing a more responsible role in the community. (We don't "bash"; that implies criticizing without merit.) A big part of our role as "alternative" media is to challenge poor media, especially corporate non-locally owned media, to take their role as the Fourth Estate int he community seriously. This is part of our mission, and will not stop. We would be abdicating our responsibility if we did, as well as the tradition of alternative media in America. As for channeling energy other places: We have no problem doing that as well. It's not either-or. It takes none of our "energy" to be critical of poor media coverage; in fact, the overwhelmingly positive response we get about media-literacy efforts is invigorating. Your response is, by far, in the minority. Our audience and our newspaper are growing exponentially—due in large part to our investigative, nonpartisan approach to journalism and our role as a watchdog in the community (including of media). In other words, people really like to be challenged by our media criticism, and tell us that constantly. It's one reason a lot of people pick up the paper and read the Web site. The Clarion-Ledger itself recently released results of a local readership audit that it commissioned that returned a higher readership number than even the national Media Audit has for us—they found that our readership is over 60,000 in a single week. (I can get the exact number and post it.) As for trusip, I think s/he is adding a lot to this discussion; perhaps we define "downward spiral" differently. I understand the point about the thread staying focused, though—and that's why you and I are going to need to take this sidebar to a different place if you want to continue it. We are way off-thread. BTW, Todd has a great publisher's note coming out later today focusing on The Clarion-Ledger's "coverage" of crime in Jackson. That would be a great place to pick the discussion of media literacy back up and post any further comments on the topic you brought up. See you there. Now back to the previously scheduled discussion.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-11-20T12:07:04-06:00

ID

97176

Comment

OK, truth. I get it. But not everyone else does. ;-) This is a serious topic, and I want everyone to take it seriously. That's all. Carry on.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-11-20T12:07:48-06:00

ID

97177

Comment

At what point in THIS discussion orchid haveI strayed from the issues onhand. All of my points have stayed on the topic of Walker and this article. and here on this site..If you veer, you get re-routed quick! so Im think Im ok. thanks for your comments though. Ill watch that. I just speak to the clas issue that always comes up. It seems as if some feel they are more "worthy" of having access than some others. Which is what I gathered from those posts.

Author

trusip

Date

2007-11-20T12:09:38-06:00

ID

97178

Comment

Exact JFP readership figure, per The Clarion-Ledger: 64,332 Their source: 2007 Jackson Market Study

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-11-20T12:11:27-06:00

ID

97179

Comment

You haven't strayed, trusip. *I* will tell you if/when you do. Carry on.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-11-20T12:12:13-06:00

ID

97180

Comment

Trusip I am sorry if I have offended you in any of my posts. I just like it when people get passionate about what they believe in. It doesn't matter what your opinion is as long as you are passionate about what you believe in. Just think, if we all had the same opinion the world would be a boring boring place.....

Author

The truth

Date

2007-11-20T12:16:42-06:00

ID

97181

Comment

Very interesting conversation people. I see some love or concern for the less fortunate from Trusip I didn't see before. Apparently, I had read her wrong. Truth, "I got the gift, and I got to use it."

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2007-11-20T12:36:16-06:00

ID

97182

Comment

observing it all.

Author

NewJackson

Date

2007-11-20T13:37:45-06:00

ID

97183

Comment

Funny how you can make a factual comment, and people take it to extremes. Walker is not the only example of a convicted felon that can go in and out of Mayor Melton's office and home at will. The list is long. It includes Vidal Sullivan, Michael Taylor, Jeremy Bibbs, and Walker just to name a few. Being able to contact the Mayor and chief has been a bone of contention since he was elected. Even Council members joked on radio, and in print, that they couldn't contact Melton without going through Blunston! So, the fact that this young man complains to the press that Melton and Shirlene won't call him back after he may have shot someone in a gang dispute is absurd, and an embarrassment to this City - any city! It's like some posters here take the Ledger route, and forget all the stories and facts about Melton; so when you do make a poignant comment (even with a little tongue in cheek) you get worked over the coals, and baited into a race argument. Not me. Not this time folks! BTW: Walker is not a "harden" or a "first class" criminal. He's a fucking criminal! Pike! FTW!

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-11-20T15:20:31-06:00

ID

97184

Comment

Pike, it might be that some folks are focused on the idea that Melton gave so much to Walker, including complete access and excuse-making, beginning back before he was accused of much worse than being involved with drugs. I mean, calling Walker a "thug" or whatever is fine and dandy—he doesn't exactly deny that side of himself—but the conversation could go further and higher than that if we can acknowledge that even Walker is a human being just like everyone else involved in all this, and then figure out how to keep these kinds of chains of events from happening to young people in his circumstance. Or, at least that would be my goal. I can't speak for others. And we can do that while stipulating your point that it is bizarre that young men like Chris Walker have had better access to Melton than others with less of a criminal past. I've had young people from the Wood Street area say to me: Why those kids? Why doesn't he help us? Where the race dynamic does come into play is that, at the point before Walker was accused of a violent crime, people would still have called him a "thug" for being messed up in drugs, or for dressing a certain way, or whatever. (Remember all Melton's britches-earring rhetoric?) At the point where some rich white guy's kid was doing the same thing, he would be called messed up and "tragic" and in need of help. And he may well be whisked away and his record wiped clean. I think what some of us are saying is that that very difference, or discrimination in perception, at the point that it occurs can and will send the so-called "thugs" on the downward spiral, even as it offers the well-to-do white kid a way out. It then thus widens the cultural and racial gap, and feeds back into the stereotypes about black kids. To hear Walker tell it, he never had a way out—although Melton clearly seemed to make him think there was one, for a while.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-11-20T15:36:26-06:00

ID

97185

Comment

I never called Walker a thug in my posts! I made a comment that a "harden criminal" has better access than you and me to the mayor. Now how anyone, but a person who was familiar with the case at hand, would try to infer that I was going "racist" on this is absurd! I write so people can read and judge for themselves. I like to think people from outside Jackson read these posts and stories. My comments would have played out just the same if we lived in Idaho, and all the players were white. This is about a person, not a race. I have backed out of so many thug arguments on this board just for the reasons being posted. Sure some people think anyone from the streets is a thug. But, how we got to that on this blog based on my original post is mind numbing to me. People can either read the adjectives being used as they intend to be or put words into my posts. In this case, "hardened" equates to habitual, repeated, skilled, learned, perpetual, and convicted. But, thug... I don't think so.

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-11-20T16:03:15-06:00

ID

97186

Comment

I'm curious. What about those who wish to call themselves thugs? The "thug-life" is glorified in so many forms of entertainment, why shouldn't observers who don't participate in that behavior use that word. It's out there for all to see. I would say if one wishes not to be called athug, then don't act like a criminal. If you rape, rob, kill and sell drugs...you're a thug.

Author

Cliff Cargill

Date

2007-11-20T16:14:55-06:00

ID

97187

Comment

Glad you asked Cliff! Thug is not the same as THUG-LIFE from an entertainment or loving perspective. In other words, when they say it they mean something different than you do. It's like Kamikaze saying Nigga is not the same as Nigger. The first one being an endearing term and the later being degrading. Now I don't beleieve any of that crazy sh1t, but they say it's different. It makes me laugh. They shold are some crazy young ______ no matter how you spell the word. Straight up!

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2007-11-20T16:28:23-06:00

ID

97188

Comment

I rescind or recant this post, especially the last sentence. Poor taste.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2007-11-20T16:40:06-06:00

ID

97189

Comment

Also, it is a classic defense mechanism against stereotypes to "take back" the word and turn it into something empowering and take away its negative power to hurt and belittle; other examples are "queer," "fag," "b!tch," "chick," "n*gga," for instance. But that doesn't mean that the word isn't still insulting or belittling when used for its original purpose. Hell, the N-Jammers even tried to turn my derisive term for them into something they're proud of and now call themselves (which causes me great amusement to see those guys taking back an insult from me). And the best insults ever hurled at me are all the labels that Richard Barrett has attached to me. ;-) I would say if one wishes not to be called athug, then don't act like a criminal. You might still be missing the point, Pike. You might be an exception, and I can believe you are, but the word is used in a very discriminate manner in society over all. And regardless of how it's meant, if your consideration of the problem of crime stops at whether someone is a "thug," rather than how he became one, then you're not going to be part of the solution for the future, regardless of how well-meaning you are. It's important to remember that our society can punish a criminal and learn from him at the same time, but unfortunately America tends to be a binary nation. And we all lose as a result.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-11-20T16:47:44-06:00

ID

97190

Comment

Oops, I was talking to my buddy Cliff instead of my buddy Pike. Sorry, guys.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-11-20T16:53:23-06:00

ID

97191

Comment

Agreed. I know what they're trying to do. I doubt it works though within the larger community. It might even be backfiring on them. I'm all for considering the reasons people wind up where they are. Even the country is for considering the reasons people fall short when the Right people are affected, addicted or interested in large enough numbers. When a condition affects or seems to affect only a small worthless community supposedly looking for handouts, help they can't merit, and/or still self-destructing then it's a their problem not worthy of real understanding, treatment, consideration or redress. When alcohol, drugs, medical situations or other conditions strike the wrong people they're mostly up shoot creek. I just finished reading a book called "medical apartheid" that details countless abuses in the scientific community for centuries of certain people for the sake of others, but not the health or safety of sick poor minoroties who suffered from all kinds of medical conditions, and needed help sorely.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2007-11-20T17:13:27-06:00

ID

97192

Comment

Hi everyone it's been a long time. I hope you are all well. I've so enjoyed reading your comments. Anyway I've read alot of comments like "call the FBI." Fact of the matter is the FBI and the downtown DEA office (there are two groups in the Metro Jackson area) worked with Frank on the so called "MBN Cold Case." Other file titles included but not limited to "Batman, Donaldson and the Wood Street Players." The investigative skill level in these investigations was "suspect" at best. When are the DEA and FBI going to made accountable for the time and resources spent (tax payer dollars) on these "failed" investigations? Almost forgot another interesting fact. At the time Frank and his "task force" was working these investigations the United States attorney's office was "on-board." Which means, they were going to prosecute the cases? Let's ask these agencies the "hard" question - What happened to the federal portion of these investigations, not the local case that was declined by Faye Peterson (and rightfully so). Something new to consider, I hope anyway. Regards, Larry

Author

Larry

Date

2007-11-21T15:29:35-06:00

ID

97193

Comment

A "thug"used to be depicted in the comics as a man, usually white, unkempt, a small black mask with eyeholes, and a blackjack handily stuffed in the back pocket. The appearance of these "thugs" let the reader know it was person who was out to hurt or rob someone. The dirt on their clothing was signified by a slanted tic-tac-toe symbol. I never thought of the word as having a racial overtone. Perhaps it is a generational thing.

Author

ChrisCavanaugh

Date

2007-11-21T18:35:13-06:00