Published by Keedies Corner

Written by Bruce Walton Jr

” Sixty-seven-year-old Marshall “Eddie” Conway was freed from the prison in Jessup on Tuesday. It came after state prosecutors agreed to change his life sentence to time served and probation” – Fox News

” Marshall ‘Eddie’ Conway, 67, was freed from the prison in Jessup, Maryland on Tuesday after serving four decades for killing a police officer” – http://www.dailymail.co.uk

” Former leader of Black Panthers released from prison after 40 years

CBS NEWS Mar 4, 2014 10:35 PM EST”

There was a media uproar yesterday when rapper “Lil Boosie” (Real name Torrence Hatch) was released from Louisiana State Prison in Angola.  Hatch first arrived at Angola in 2008 after pleading guilty to a third-offense marijuana possession charge. Since then, he faced numerous accusations, including a highly publicized murder trial in the 2008 killing of Terry Boyd. Hatch was acquitted of first-degree murder in Boyd’s death in May 2012

Later that day, an internet “meme” surfaced seeming to bash the education of the African American community. It read ” I am Eddie Conway. I was a leader of the Black Panther party. I hold 3 degrees, and served 44 years for a crime I didn’t commit. Did you know I was also released from prison today? Anyway, free Lil Boosie”

Contrary to what the meme insinuates, Conway was not released as an innocent man. He was given time served for his crime after they agreed that the prosecution didn’t present a proper argument.

The insinuation from the argument is that people are praising a “gangster rapper” who promotes guns, violence, drugs and ignorance but aren’t celebrating the release of an African American activist. Well, lets break down the facts.

Although it was widely assumed that Marshall “Eddie” Conway was innocent, he was not released as an innocent man. He was released on terms that he served his proper time for the murder of the cop. His latest trial stated that the prosecution didn’t present proper argument and his life sentence was reduced. Hatch was acquitted on his murder case. So, according to the law, Hatch isn’t , if at all, much more of a criminal then Conway when it comes to their cases. Not saying this is true, but we are just going on facts.

The biggest concern is 1) Why didn’t Conway get as much media coverage as Boosie? and 2) Why did some media outlets promote Conways release 2 days afterwards? (On Hatch’s release date)

We appreciate all our African American activist and to the ones who were unjustly prosecuted because of the fear of their power and control, we praise them. Its just sad to see African Americans bash each other do to misleading media and lack of knowledge. Hatch’s release was promoted on almost every major media outlet. Even Sports Center announced it. Yet, Conways release was swept under the rug. Imagine that.

The facts are not to make Conway look guilty and make Hatch look innocent. It is to simply plant knowledge so that people, especially African American (since thats who it generally targets) won’t bash each other. We should educate each other. This meme shouldn’t have been used to bash people. It should have beeen used to educate our community. Promote them to learn the facts of every situation and to also make it our priority to find out about any other “Conway’s” that have been wrongly accused because they were Black activist. The media, just as this situation, may not care as much about these situations so we need to make it our business to promote it ourselves. Not use it as a weapon to dismantle and divide the people even more.

We know the media has their way of striking controversy and though we may never know the truth behind these two questions, the only thing we can pray is that you educate yourselves people. Thank God that both of these men are home to their families. God Bless