Voter Violation Charges Against Three Black Panthers Dropped by Obama's Justice Department

It's been awhile since November's elections but I remember the big deal in the media over some alleged voter intimidation by three Black Panthers at polling places, one holding a nightstick. They were charged with violating the voter rights act by using coercion, threats and intimidation. Here is what has been said about it:

"...were accused of trying to threaten voters and block poll and campaign workers by the threat of force - one even brandishing what prosecutors call a deadly weapon."

"...violating the voter rights act by using coercion, threats and intimidation. Shabazz allegedly held a nightstick or baton that prosecutors said he pointed at people and menacingly taped it. "

"...they hurled racial slurs at both blacks and whites."

Democrat Bartle Bull, who worked as a civil rights lawyer in the south in the 1960's, said it was the most blatant form of voter intimidation he had ever seen. In his affidavit, Bull wrote "I watched the two uniformed men confront voters and attempt to intimidate voters. They were positioned in a location that forced every voter to pass in close proximity to them. The weapon was openly displayed and brandished in plain sight of voters." He also said they tried to "interfere with the work of other poll observers ... whom the uniformed men apparently believed did not share their preferences politically," noting that one of the panthers turned toward the white poll observers and said "you are about to be ruled by the black man, cracker."

The charges that had been filed for these violations were recently dropped by Obama's Justice Department.