Fighting Racial Injustice in Arlington
- By Staff Writer
- Published 08/11/2009
- Community
- Unrated
ARLINGTON- Brother Kofi Taharka, the National Chairman of The National Black United Front (NBUF) spent two days in Fort Worth, Texas at the Tarrant County Criminal Justice Center for the begining of the trial of 66-year-old Grace Head. She is a White woman charged with aggravated assault and property damage with the possibility of hate crime enhancement for her attack on a Black couple. Head’s defense is not guilty by reason of insanity.
On Wednesday, Aug. 5, Kay “Silk” Littlejohn gave testimony of the White supremacist/racist assault launched against her and her fiance, Broderick Gamble in December of 2007. Gamble and Littlejohn, moved into their Arlington home in the summer of 2005. It was burned to the ground.
Fire officials ruled it an accidental blaze caused by an iron that was left on. Over the next two years the couple found dozens of dead animals thrown in their yard and witnessed other experiences with racist overtones. Two days after the attack by Head, Gamble was called by a neighbor to his home where he found the words “KILL” and “DIE NI***” spray-painted on his garage doors.
Although Head had posted bond the police said they didn’t know who did it. Testimony revealed that Head sicked her attack dog on the couple and proceeded to blind side Littlejohn with a two by four in the confusion. Littlejohn said Head yelled, “You going to have to move or die, ni*** b*** one way or the other you ni*** ain’t never going to live in this house.”
Several 911 tapes were played of multiple calls made to police by a frantic Littlejohn imploring them to get on the scene to stop the attack. When police finally showed up, Littlejohn testified that a officer asked the Black couple what they did to the White woman. Head was originally charged with aggravated assault, criminal trespass and failure to identify herself to a police officer.
Jail Supervisor Sgt. B. Bates concluded a 2x4 was not considered a deadly weapon; therefore he dropped the original charge to simple assault. Head was then released on $4,000 bond and was not charged with a hate crime even though Lt. Blake Miller told the media, “It was clearly a racial tirade [that] Head went on”, adding that Head refused to leave the couple’s property even after an officer ordered her to do so.” The dramatic court testimony on Aug. 5, caused Littlejohn’s children to leave the court room and gripped the jury.
Reportedly when Head showed up, after Gamble found tools missing and property destroyed, she admitted trashing the yard and asked what Gamble intended to do about it. He said he repeatedly told her to leave his property. She responded by using the n-word and calling his wife vulgar names, he said.
The jury has three Blacks among the seven women and five men. Taharka joined Dallas/Ft. Worth organizers and activists in their support of the family and demands for justice. Among the attendees were the spokesperson for the End Racism in Arlington Group, Dr. Frederick D. Haynes, III, senior pastor of Friendship West Baptist Church of Dallas Texas; Thomas Muhammad, civil rights/community activist; Dr. Michael Bell, senior pastor of Greater Stephens 1st Church of Fort Worth Texas; Attorneys Chokwe Lumumba and Imhotep Alkebulan, from Jackson Mississippi along with other civil rights activists and supporters of the End Racism in Arlington.
On Wednesday, Aug. 5, Kay “Silk” Littlejohn gave testimony of the White supremacist/racist assault launched against her and her fiance, Broderick Gamble in December of 2007. Gamble and Littlejohn, moved into their Arlington home in the summer of 2005. It was burned to the ground.
Fire officials ruled it an accidental blaze caused by an iron that was left on. Over the next two years the couple found dozens of dead animals thrown in their yard and witnessed other experiences with racist overtones. Two days after the attack by Head, Gamble was called by a neighbor to his home where he found the words “KILL” and “DIE NI***” spray-painted on his garage doors.
Although Head had posted bond the police said they didn’t know who did it. Testimony revealed that Head sicked her attack dog on the couple and proceeded to blind side Littlejohn with a two by four in the confusion. Littlejohn said Head yelled, “You going to have to move or die, ni*** b*** one way or the other you ni*** ain’t never going to live in this house.”
Several 911 tapes were played of multiple calls made to police by a frantic Littlejohn imploring them to get on the scene to stop the attack. When police finally showed up, Littlejohn testified that a officer asked the Black couple what they did to the White woman. Head was originally charged with aggravated assault, criminal trespass and failure to identify herself to a police officer.
Jail Supervisor Sgt. B. Bates concluded a 2x4 was not considered a deadly weapon; therefore he dropped the original charge to simple assault. Head was then released on $4,000 bond and was not charged with a hate crime even though Lt. Blake Miller told the media, “It was clearly a racial tirade [that] Head went on”, adding that Head refused to leave the couple’s property even after an officer ordered her to do so.” The dramatic court testimony on Aug. 5, caused Littlejohn’s children to leave the court room and gripped the jury.
Reportedly when Head showed up, after Gamble found tools missing and property destroyed, she admitted trashing the yard and asked what Gamble intended to do about it. He said he repeatedly told her to leave his property. She responded by using the n-word and calling his wife vulgar names, he said.
The jury has three Blacks among the seven women and five men. Taharka joined Dallas/Ft. Worth organizers and activists in their support of the family and demands for justice. Among the attendees were the spokesperson for the End Racism in Arlington Group, Dr. Frederick D. Haynes, III, senior pastor of Friendship West Baptist Church of Dallas Texas; Thomas Muhammad, civil rights/community activist; Dr. Michael Bell, senior pastor of Greater Stephens 1st Church of Fort Worth Texas; Attorneys Chokwe Lumumba and Imhotep Alkebulan, from Jackson Mississippi along with other civil rights activists and supporters of the End Racism in Arlington.