Another Call To Action: It Is Past Time To Teach Racist Bar Owner A Lesson In Economics 101

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Because of City Councilman Adam McFadden's courageous stand on behalf of the local Black Community, and his stand against individual and institutional racism and police brutality --- an Alexander Street bar owner and reported white supremacist, Ronnie Davis and his allies are engaging in conscious, systematic, calculated, coordinated efforts to destroy Councilman McFadden's political career.

Update on the proposed action

An Open Letter To The Local Black Community And Potential Supporters:

Am I alone, or are there others within our Community who are as pissed off as I am concerning the article below from today's Democrat and Chronicle?

I think that it is important for us to acknowledge that it has been a long time since any governmental official has taken a clear, open, public stand on behalf of our community,our people --- and has brought to the forefront issues that impact our lives in the most negative ways on a daily basis, including and especially individual and institutionalized racism. If we are paying attention, and if we are not too weak-kneed and mentally "slavish" to acknowledge and appreciate it --- we will have to admit that this is exactly what City Councilman Adam McFadden has tried to do over the past year that he has been in political office.

I am writing to prick your consciences, and to remind you that the so-called "altercation" with Alexander Street bars owner Ronnie Davis (who, according to some sources, can be likened to a white supremacist) in October --- was not an isolated incident. Don't you remember that prior to the Alexander Street incident, Councilman McFadden had openly and publicly raised the issue of Black people in Rochester being subjected to the same type of treatment by law enforcement officials as our brothers and sisters in Apartheid South Africa? Don't you remember that he talked openly and publicly about a situation that he witnessed at a Black bar on Thurston Road, in which the New York State police used a patrol car to herd black people on a sidewalk, as if they were cows, sheep, or some other type of lower animals? Don't you remember that this was Councilman McFadden's major point, i.e. that patrons of white-owned entertainment establishments are generally treated differently, i.e. more humanely, than those of Black-owned establishments? Don't you remember that he raised the issue that in the vicinities of some white-owned establishments, patrons are reportedly allowed to violate laws such as the open container law and smoking marijuana?, which I have personally witnessed --- just driving past certain areas. Do you think there's any possibility that Ronnie Davis' three bars on Alexander Street might represent one of those vicinities that the Councilman was referring to, in which patrons are allowed to break laws? Remember who patronizes those establishments for the most part --- young, white, middle class, suburbanites, and probably a smaller group of mainly whites who are so-called "urban" by choice. In fact, on Friday and Saturday nights --- that whole area turns into a social playground for mainly urban and suburban, white, middle class youth and young adults.

In addition to all of this, don't you remember that Councilman McFadden has been leading a community wide effort via the Community Policing Advisory Committee, which he established in May of this year, to help bring about greater effectiveness and accountability on the part of the Rochester Police Department relative to critical public safety issues within our Community --- such as the open-air drug market?

So, I repeat --- the so-called "altercation" with reported white supremacist Ronnie Davis is indeed not an isolated incident. In fact, the situation is looking more and more like an attempted modern day lynching at worst, or a concerted, calculated move to put an outspoken Black man back in "his place" at best. We know how this goes. We have witnessed this type of tactic over and over again. So, I am writing to ask, are we going to sit idly and "slavishly" by (once again) and allow the emasculation and alienation of a brother who is clearly swimming against the tide relative to his commendable efforts to represent our best interests?

If Davis was sincere or had good intentions relative to resolving this much-sensationalized incident --- he wouldn't be insisting that Councilman McFadden has "to face up to what he did," especially since the Councilman has already done that (weeks ago) --- when he went before the media and issued an open, public apology for acting "in a manner unbecoming a council member." It's clear that the reported white supremacist wants Councilman McFadden's head, i.e. his intentions are to destroy the Councilman's career as a public official.

So, I am writing to propose that unless Councilman McFadden is thoroughly satisfied with the outcome of the Court proceedings on Tuesday, and even if he is satisfied --- it's time to teach Ronnie Davis a lesson in Economics 101 by showing up in sizeable numbers with protest signs when the Alexander Street social playground opens for business this coming Friday evening. Finally, I am writing to ask are you with me?! Please respond.

Sincerely

Howard J. Eagle

P.S. Maybe Ronnie will threaten to "send his security guards around the corner" to beat me. If so, (in self defense) I will take pleasure in doing that which has caused the uproar --- pulling my belt off and spanking him like a child.

This is a printer friendly version of "Councilman faces charge after Oct. 31 argument" from the Democrat and Chronicle

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Councilman faces charge after Oct. 31 argument

Jeffrey Blackwell
and Patrick Flanigan
Staff writers

City Councilman Adam McFadden is facing a harassment charge stemming from an altercation with a bar owner in October.

McFadden retrieved an appearance ticket at the city Public Safety Building on Wednesday after a judge issued an arrest warrant. He is due in City Court on Tuesday to answer the charge of second-degree harassment, a violation.

"I'm not Young Buck," McFadden said, referring to the rap star charged with assault and attempted murder in a stabbing at last week's Vibe Awards in California.

The arrest stems from a verbal altercation between McFadden and Rochester bar owner Ronnie Davis on Oct. 31.

McFadden admitted in a public apology to Davis and Rochester police that he threatened he would "pull my belt off and beat you like a child."

McFadden and Davis, owner of The Jungle, Coyote Joe's and Alexander Street Pub, met with an arbitrator Tuesday to seek a resolution. But Davis said the councilman lied, telling the arbitrator that Davis first threatened him.

He said he is pursuing the criminal charge to protect himself, his family and businesses and to document the confrontation.

"I don't need him as a City Council member being vindictive about this," Davis said. "If I were to give him a free pass on this, it would open up the door for him to do it again. ... He's going to have to face up to what he did."

McFadden said he's looking forward to court so the truth about the incident can come out. He said he apologized because he acted in a manner unbecoming a council member. But he insisted that Davis threatened to "send his security guards around the corner" and beat him â€” before his belt comment.

"The mediator told him he had a weak case, but he said the only thing that would satisfy him is if I resigned," McFadden said.

According to New York Penal Law, a person is guilty of second-degree harassment if "he or she strikes, shoves, kicks or otherwise subjects such other person to physical contact, or attempts or threatens to do the same."

Violations carry a sentence of up to 15 days in jail. But they are more often disposed of with an adjournment in contemplation of dismissal, which means the charge is dismissed after six months if the offender doesn't break any laws in that period.

JBLACKWELL@DemocratandChronicle.com

PFLANIGA@DemocratandChronicle.com

Includes reporting by staff writer Rick Armon