Blackface performer plans fundraiser for 6 indicted officers

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Blackface performer plans fundraiser for 6 indicted officers

Brian Witte, Associated Press
Updated 5:40 pm, Wednesday, July 22, 2015

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — A former Baltimore police officer is planning to perform an Al Jolson routine in blackface to raise money for the six Baltimore officers who have been indicted in the death of Freddie Gray.

Bobby Berger, whose performances as Jolson created tension with the department in the 1980s, said Wednesday that 610 tickets have been sold in eight days at $45 each for the Nov. 1 fundraiser.

Berger says he doesn't believe there is anything racial about his routine.

But an attorney for the Baltimore City Fraternal Order of Police says officers don't support it. Michael Davey says it's put the officers in a bad position without their knowledge. Gray was black.



Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/us/article/Blackface-performer-plans-fundraiser-for-6-6400434.php

[villager]

1. Well at least there's a kind of horrific honesty about it.

As more and more people see exactly what and who their "law"men (and women) really are...

[Anansi1171]

2. Agreed. Im thankful- if some one can take video of those entering the event...-nt

[seveneyes]

8. Why not just criminalize the act and its attendees ?

Then they all could be carted off to jail. Eventually we will achieve the new world order.

[Anansi1171]

11. Its there right to be disgusting bigoted pigs.

It's my right to criticize.

[Chakab]

16. You should be more subtle if you want to keep this shtick up without people

catching on.

[niyad]

19. nah, most of us caught on almost immediately. but, we need the laughs.

[msanthrope]

3. what the fuck is wrong with the 610 people? nt

[restorefreedom]

4. they should wear brown bags over their heads to go in there.

should be ashamed of themselves. but they are not. I really think the election and reelection of President Obama has just sent some of the racists and crazies over the edge, and they don't even care anymore if anybody knows that they're racist.

[Chemisse]

7. I agree.

It used to be an ill-concealed flaw. Now people openly display their racist hatred.

[Gormy Cuss]

10. Only if their white hoods are at the dry cleaners. n/t

[freshwest]

15. That was my first thought. Why not really show what they are? Wait, they just did... n/t

[marble falls]

6. He had to have bought the first 500 for himself.

[rpannier]

9. Buy a ticket, boo, throw garbage and leave

Not before getting pics of everyone in attendance who's enjoying it and post it to facebook

[restorefreedom]

5. 610 kreetens

and yes i mis spelled it on purpose.

as they would.

[christx30]

12. I look forward to mid-December,

when this guy does the perennial holiday favorite "The Whitest Christmas Ever".

[heaven05]

13. these racist pigs

have in the last six years finally have shown their true color. People are not going to be intimidated by that color ever again. These cowards can fall. They can be hurt like they want to hurt and they can die like they want to kill.

[MisterP]

14. Jolson the integrationist who used blackface to show up the plight of Black folk and how

they were persecuted worse than even Imperial Russia's Jews?

[Octafish]

17. I hope someone takes a picture.

It would help some see that there is something "racial" about the routine.

[Eugene]

18. Ex-cop and blackface performer's fundraiser for officers in Freddie Gray case canceled

Source: Baltimore Sun

Ex-cop and blackface performer's fundraiser for officers in Freddie Gray case canceled

By Kevin Rector
The Baltimore Sun
JULY 22, 2015, 11:28 P.M.

A Glen Burnie venue on Wednesday abruptly canceled a planned fundraiser for the six Baltimore police officers charged in the arrest and death of Freddie Gray after the scheduled entertainment — a former Baltimore officer singing in blackface — drew sharp criticism.

Bobby Berger, 67, who was fired from the city police force in the 1980s after his off-duty performances in blackface drew the ire of the NAACP, had said he wanted to revive the act to help the families of the officers.

He said he had sold 600 tickets at $45 each to the bull roast scheduled for Nov. 1 at Michael's Eighth Avenue, where he and several singers planned to perform as guests dined.

In his performances, Berger impersonates Al Jolson, a white entertainer from the 1920s, '30s and '40s best remembered for his blackface performance of "Mammy" in the film "The Jazz Singer."

But after news of the event began spreading Wednesday, Michael's posted a statement on its website saying the event would not be held there.

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Read more: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/freddie-gray/bs-md-ci-fundraiser-black-face-20150722-story.html