Leader of Your Black Muslim Bakery Launches Website And Continues To Deny Involvement In Reporter's Murder

The leader of Your Black Muslim Bakery, Yusuf Bey IV, in custody for a series of crimes not related to the murder of Chauncey Bailey, has launched a blog with the help of family and friends. In the blog he continues to deny any involvement in the murder of Bailey, defends his friendship with Stg. Derwin Longmire and complains about biased media coverage. In July a police video showed Bey IV describing Bailey's murder in detail - yet he denied being at the scene. In his blog he posted an apology to Bailey's family and friends for mocking and laughing at Bailey's death. He also explained his behavior by saying it was a natural reaction because Bailey had written "hurtful news articles" about his father, the late Yusuf Bey. The Oakland Police Department said that Bey IV and other suspects do not have access to the Internet nor have free time to use a computer. Reporters Without Borders launched a petition last week urging the US Attorney General to intervene in the case to provide an independent investigation. The request came after evidence of police corruption obstructing a resolution in Bailey's murder case. Please, Sign the petition First anniversary of Chauncey Bailey's murder: impunity still prevails
On the eve of the first anniversary of Chauncey Bailey's murder, Reporters Without Borders is very disappointed that the investigation has not made any progress. Instead, the case has become more complicated as aspects surrounding the motives for Bailey's murder have been unleashed. Evidence, some recorded by the police and some uncovered by investigative reporters, points at someone other than the currently accused defendant as a potential perpetrator(s) and/or mastermind(s) of the crime, and suggests that local police officials may be protecting those responsible for Mr. Bailey's death. Reporters Without Borders also disapproves of Oakland Police Chief Tucker and Deputy Chief Howard A. Jordan's unwillingness to talk to the media. The press freedom organization is launching a petition calling for "Justice for Chauncey Bailey" and urging the Attorney General of the United States of America to take the lead in the case. "All those responsible for the murder, the perpetrator(s), the mastermind(s) and those protecting them, must be brought to justice," states Reporters Without Borders in the petition. "This important case must be taken away from the local officials and brought to the federal level in order to avoid further bias, pressure and conflicts of interests, and, to allow a thorough and impartial investigation." "Chauncey Bailey was killed because of his work as a journalist" added the organization. "Murders of reporters are rare in the United States. In informing people and denouncing public wrongdoings, the news media play an important role in the checks and balances that are essential to any democracy. The justice system has to send a strong signal to those who would silence the media, and show them that impunity will not prevail. We call upon press freedom supporters to sign the petition to show public support for a swift resolution of the murder". On August 2nd, 2007, Bailey, the late editor for the Oakland Post, was walking to work when he was gunned down by a masked man in downtown Oakland. The day after, the police department raided the facility of Your Black Muslim Bakery, suspecting some of its employees were involved in the killing, as well as other unrelated felonies. A group of young men who worked at the Bakery and were adopted by Yusuf Bey, the founder of the bakery, were already well-known because of involvement in previous crimes, ranging from vandalism to kidnapping. The leader of this particular group of young men was Yusuf Bey IV, of the Bey family. Bey IV and others were apprehended that night. Devaughndre Broussard, the youngest and newest member of the Bakery employees, confessed to killing Bailey, after an unrecorded conversation with Bey IV without the presence of an officer. Broussard later recanted and his lawyer, LeRue Grim, stated his client's confession was coerced. As of Friday, 1, August, Broussard was scheduled to begin his trial on 19 September 2008 at 9:00 a.m. No one else has been charged even as an indirect participant. Bailey's murder was prompted by his work as a reporter, specifically on his story regarding the bakery finances and their possible link to police corruption. The story was never published because certain information could not be verified. Oakland Post's Publisher Paul Cobb received police protection earlier this year after being told that a contract had been put out for his murder. There has been growing evidence that the leading investigator, Stg. Derwin Longmire, has been protecting Bey IV. Saleem Bey, Bailey's secret source about the bakery finances, spoke about Oakland's Police Department's reputation for corruption. Recently, a video recorded by a hidden camera at the police department showed Bey IV describing in detail how Bailey was killed but denying ever being at the murder scene. Bey IV also talked about Sgt. Longmire's intention to protect him and the bakery. After the video's release, Bey IV said he knew the police were recording him and that he made false statements to mislead them. Alameda County District Attorney Tom Orloff stated recently that he will not pursue an investigation about Bey IV's possible involvement in the Bailey murder, because he already faces life in prison for other crimes. Orloff later retracted these comments by saying that pursuing an investigation on Bey IV's unrelated crimes would buy time to develop a case regarding his connection to Bailey's murder, and that such information might come out during Broussard's trial. Sign the petition