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False allegations on the Michael Baisden Show

Marcus Jones - the father of Mychal Bell, one of the Jena 6 - was a guest on Michael Baisden's syndicated radio show on Monday, November 5th. Marcus Jones and Michael Baisden used the occasion to attack and slander ColorOfChange.org and our executive director. Baisden continued to do so on November 6th. Both Baisden and Jones made several false and misleading statements which have raised the concern of many of our members.   

Update: Baisden's "apology"

Click here to see our response to members.

Clip from November 5th show
Clip from November 6th show

TAKE ACTION: Call on Michael Baisden to apologize and set the record straight, here.

Here are the facts:

  • ColorOfChange.org has disbursed $210,809.90 of the $212,039.90 collected as of the last reporting period (October 4th). These distributions cover all invoices we've received from the young men's legal teams to date. $33,150.00 was sent to Louis Scott, Marcus Jones' son's lawyer on October 7th (Scott was able to request $35,339.98 but only provided an invoice for $33,150).

    Here are images of the deposited checks to the defense teams, proving they received the funds.

  • The Jena 6 families are all aware of how we raise money and how we distribute it. We make payments to their attorneys at the families' sole direction. Within 24 hours of receiving written authorization from the family, along with an invoice from an attorney, we send checks for up to 1/6 of the total amount donated (1/6 for each of the Jena 6 families).

    Here are the authorizations signed by the families, starting with Marcus Jones'.

  • Michael Baisden claims to have a letter signed by all the Jena 6 families that implies that ColorOfChange.org is acting against the wishes of the families. This is false. One parent who signed the letter says that it made no mention of ColorOfChange whatsoever. Two families say they did not sign the letter at all.

    Here is an email sent to Michael Baisden's team by one of the parents who did not sign the letter, asking to see a copy of the letter.

  • ColorOfChange.org is known by all the Jena 6 families. Our executive director, James Rucker, has met with the families on at least five occasions in Jena and has positive relationships with all of them, with the exception of Marcus Jones.

    Michael Baisden's staff know this, because we put them in touch with Jena 6 families with whom they had no relationship.

  • Michael Baisden and his staff know the facts. James Rucker has talked with Baisden directly, and at his direction, with Pamela Exum, his business manager, and Yvonne Gilliam, his publicist. From the start, we have explained our procedures to Baisden and his staff; we had them verify payments were received by lawyers; we had them verify our process with the lawyers and families--it was in response to an inquiry they started, driven by Marcus Jones' accusations almost two months ago.

    In fact, Yvonne Gilliam faxed us Marcus' Jones authorization to release funds. It makes it clear that Baisden's staff knew that Marcus knew ColorOfChange.org and that he had asked us to direct funds to his attorney.

    In mid-October, Yvonne Gilliam, who works for Baisden indicated by phone that every lawyer she'd contacted had received their checks.

  • Marcus Jones stated that David Bowie contributed $10,000 to ColorOfChange.org's fund and Baisden let the accusation stand. Bowie's contribution was made to the NAACP for Jena 6 legal defense and was widely reported--ColorOfChange.org never came in contact with this donation. A link to the NAACP's press release about that donation is here: http://www.naacp.org/news/press/2007-09-18/index.htm.
     
  • Michael Baisden has shown a reckless disregard for the truth. Marcus Jones has been making false allegations about us for months. However, responsible journalists check facts and then report accordingly. We've fielded inquiries from CNN, the Tom Joyner Morning Show, Black America Web, and others, based on Marcus Jones' allegations--they all concluded the claims were without merit and refused to give him a stage to speak.

    Despite knowing the reality of how ColorOfChange has managed the fundraising and distribution process, Baisden has joined with Jones in launching baseless attacks.

  • ColorOfChange.org exists for one reason: to organize and amplify the political voice of Black America and our allies. Michael Baisden claims to share this goal but he is using his show to recklessly attack an organization that has a clear record of doing the real work he claims is important, in Jena and beyond.

 

TAKE ACTION: Call on Michael Baisden to apologize and set the record straight, here.