[CitizensTruth] MEDIA ALERT - Arkansas Democrat leader slain

[Walterb306 at cs.com]

All,

Urgent need to demand coverage of slaying.

Beverley

Area Democrats respond to death of state chairman
www.nwanews.com/nwat/news/68096/

Gov. Mike Beebe said in an e-mail statement that Arkansas lost a great son 
and that he lost a great friend when Bill Gwatney, chairman of the state 
Democratic Party, died from gunshot wounds Wednesday. 
His Washington County colleagues agree. 
"I'm absolutely stunned," David Whitaker, chairman of the Washington County 
Democratic Party, said. "Bill was just a super guy, and I just can't imagine 
anyone wanting to do this to him."
According to an Associated Press story, a gunman entered the Arkansas Democr
atic Party headquarters a little before noon on Wednesday and asked to speak to 
Gwatney. The story stated that, after a short wait, the gunman left the 
waiting room, entered Gwatney's office and shot the chairman three times. 
According to the report, Gwatney was rushed to the hospital where he died at 
about 4 p.m. 
Moments after the shooting, the man pointed a handgun at the building manager 
for the Arkansas State Baptist Convention, seven blocks east of the 
Democratic headquarters. Police chased the suspect into Grant County, south of Little 
Rock. Near Sheridan along U. S. 167, the suspect avoided spike strips set in 
the road, then drove into a ditch to avoid another roadblock. Police eventually 
rammed the truck, spinning it. A state police unit also rammed into the 
vehicle, and shots were fired by the Arkansas State Police. The AP also reported 
that the suspect was killed in a police shoot-out in Sheridan. 
Beebe was en route to Springdale on a private jet when he heard about the 
shootings. 
"There is deep pain in Arkansas tonight because of the sheer number of people 
who knew, respected and loved Bill Gwatney. Along with thousands of other 
Arkansans, Ginger (Beebe ) and I are trying to come to terms with such a shocking 
and senseless attack. We ask all Arkansans to keep the Gwatney family in your 
thoughts and prayers," Beebe said in his statement. 
John Logan Burrow, Democratic representative on the Washington County 
Election Commission, called the tragedy a "terrible, terrible thing."
"He has been an exemplary leader for the state Democratic party," Burrow 
said. "He lead us into a whole new era of unity.

buzznet sent by Sparrows since 18 hours 4 minutes Gov. Mike Beebe said in an 
e-mail statement that Arkansas lost a great son and that he lost a great 
friend when Bill Gwatney, chairman of the state Democratic Party, died from gunshot 
wounds Wednesday. John Logan Burrow, Democratic representative on the 
Washington County Election Commission, called the tragedy a "terrible, terrible 
thing." "He has been an exemplary leader for the state Democratic party," Burrow 
said. "He lead us into a whole new era of unity." Note: I posted this story 
again only b/c of the last sentence made by Burrow, "He [led] us into a whole new 
era of unity." I found this statement interesting, especially since we know 
the Dems right now are not unified. I guess we don't need any more unifiers, 
huh? Especially not in Arkansas. 


   
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