Kentucky Man May Face Charges of Threatening President

Phillip Bailey, 21, is the chairman of the University of Louisville Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee. But you’d never know it from the comments he posted to a Web site Monday in response to a previous post from a person who suggested that the looters plaguing relief efforts in New Orleans should be shot. The Webs site, Coulution.com, was created by black students on the University of Louisiana campus as an online component to of an independent newspaper. In a thread dealing with the situation in New Orleans, there was a post with the subject line "Animals in New Orleans." The writer discussed how in his opinion, the poor black people in Mississippi and the New Orleans area had been transformed into primitive, ruthless animals. In his post, he wrote, "if we shoot some of those scumbags, most of the looting would subside."

Bailey posted a response entitled "Devils in Washington, D.C.," where he wrote that rather than a criminal offense, looting can be a matter of survival. In his response, Bailey wrote that many victims of the hurricane were simply looking for the necessities they required to stay alive. He added that families stranded by Hurricane Katrina should take whatever they need to stay alive, adding that they should "shoot every copy, National Guard, and politician who stands in your way, including George W. Bush, if need be."

On Tuesday, a Secret Service agent went to interview Bailey and federal investigators are now determining whether Bailey should be charged with making threats against the President. If charged and convicted, he could face up to five years in prison. Even still, Bailey says he stands by his statements. "Because of the context, that conversation fits in perfectly with the response, too." Speaking to the media, Bailey added, "The statement is not a call to violence. It’s a call for survival." Ricky Jones, the chairman of the Pan-African Studies program at the university, stands behind the comments of his student. "I have no problem with what he said, and we welcome any investigation that is very public," Jones said. "I think these are intimidation tactics and moves made by extreme political ideologies to suppress free speech in this country."

Bailey echoed his mentor’s sentiments by saying, "I think this just shows how far to the right this conversation has gotten, and how far to the right this country has gotten, to take it to this extremity." He pointed out that his post was not intended to be literal, but rather to point out the dire circumstances that may be fueling the intense emotions of the looters in New Orleans. "The conversation is about police officers keeping people from getting food and water, and basic living necessities." Bailey said.

Ironically, Bailey and Jones are slated to speak at a Louisville-area church this month, in a forum to promote non-violence. Local activist Christopher 2X had some words of advice to offer Bailey before his appearance at the conference, saying that Bailey should take time to consider his words before speaking in public. "He didn't take into consideration how to master any rage he might have felt from the comment, and that's very unfortunate," 2X said.