12 DEC 05: THE SEARCH CONTINUES
A memorial service at Lakebottom Park Sunday marked two years since the killing of Kenneth Walker. Compared to the big civil rights march of last January, the turnout was very small - which again proves the only person who can attract a crowd in Columbus on a Sunday is Roy Bourgeois.
One TV station counted about 100 people at the Kenneth Walker memorial service. The other counted "more than 50." Considering last week's Pearl Harbor Day program attracted about 40 people, does this mean most people no longer care about the Walker case? Or should free food have been served at Lakebottom Park, too?
Based on what I saw on the evening news, this memorial service was NOT a "One Columbus" moment. Almost everyone there was African-American. And Muscogee County Sheriff Ralph Johnson must be doing that promised "racial outreach" in other ways - like finding an African-American counselor for his son.
Reginald Pugh of the Urban League assured the audience at the memorial service that his group continues to search for justice in the Kenneth Walker case. He'd be happy at this point simply to find ANY justice, who will hear appeals....
Georgia NAACP President Ed DuBose said the effort for justice in the Kenneth Walker case has "still a long way to go." So does Tookie Williams's bid for the Nobel Peace Prize -- but that doesn't mean that's going to happen, either.
The widow of Kenneth Walker said two years later, she's still waiting for "the truth" about what happened to her husband along Interstate 185. Wait until her federal lawsuit goes to trial - and she hears at least two different versions of it.
Cheryl Walker says she's forgiven former deputy David Glisson, for killing her husband two years ago. Amazingly, no law enforcement agency seems to have done that - or Glisson would be back at work by now.
(This raises a logical question - has David Glisson forgiven Kenneth Walker's family, and local civil rights leaders? I suppose it's hard to forgive someone who's still trying to bankrupt you.)
I can hear some of you now - you're saying if Cheryl Walker REALLY has forgiven David Glisson, she should withdraw that $100 million lawsuit. But you're apparently a bit confused. It's the Sheriff's Department she hasn't forgiven yet....
Kenneth Walker's widow plans to keep holding annual memorial services until his death is resolved. And Ed DuBose says the family should receive "compensation" for Walker's death. Will some publisher please give Cheryl Walker a break, and sign a book deal with her?
So what about the defendant's side of things? I checked the "Friends of David Glisson" web site at post time -- but found it wasn't working. Talk about empathy with the former deputy's cause....
I predicted more than a year ago that Oprah Winfrey would do a program on the Kenneth Walker case -- but it still hasn't happened. Perhaps that's because a lawsuit is pending. Or perhaps it's because she can't figure out the right thing to give everyone in the audience, based on this topic.
BLOG UPDATE: Well, what do you know - my latest Columbus Water Works bill shows I used no water AGAIN in November! This makes two months in a row! [18 Nov] Maybe I should thank all the ants which scared me away from the shower for a few days.
Now for other short Sunday scenes:
+ Phenix City police arrested four teenagers, on charges of breaking into cars during Saturday's Bi-City Christmas Parade. I can hear the defense attorney's explanation now - that they were trying to remove all the "Happy Holidays" signs, to purify things.
+ "The Corner News" weekly paper visited an Auburn business which offers car washes, haircuts and tanning. If you have a convertible, I suppose you can do all these things without stepping out of your car - but what would be the proper order?
+ The Peaceful Baptist Church telecast on WCGT showed several empty pews at the back of the sanctuary. Perhaps this is what makes it so "peaceful" -- tired worshipers can go lie down and take a nap.
+ Instant Message to Buffalo Rock: I tried your new Diet Dr. Wham drink for the first time Sunday, and.... welllll.... dude, where's my wham? I noticed no wham. I felt no wham. I've seen more "whammy" on the Game Show Network.
BURKARD'S BEST BETS: Gas for $1.99 a gallon at Marathon, 20th and Summerville Road in Phenix City.... turkey breakfast strips for one dollar a box at the Opelika Kroger.... and only two weeks left to outsmart the crowds, and buy New Year's fireworks in Russell County early....
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