Arts organization honoring convicted felon Michael Vick

The Virginian-Pilot is reporting that the Southeastern Virginia Arts Association (SEVAA) will present convicted felon, Michael Vick with an award at their Black-Tie Honors Gala next month in Norfolk.

According to reporter Cindy Clayton, the Norfolk-based group sent out a press release announcing the award, which states Vick has “epitomized the meaning of ‘hero’ not only by his unparalleled accomplishments on the football field, but more importantly, by his relentless resilience in overcoming the obstacles he has faced in his career, defying the odds and naysayers, and becoming a true example of life success for all to emulate.”

The group’s official website (SEVAA.org) provides the following information: “SEVAA is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the arts and culture of African-Americans in the Hampton Roads, Virginia region. The organization focuses on five disciplines: visual arts, dance, music, literary arts and theater. SEVAA sponsors activities that promote and assist artists and cultural organizations; encourages increased participation in the arts by African-American artists and arts organizations; serves as a channel of communication for its membership, and works to generate increased support for the arts.”

This reporter tried to reach SEVAA for comment, but their phone number has been disconnected.

In September 2007, a Surry County grand jury affirmed two state charges against Vick…one count of unlawfully torturing and killing dogs and one of promoting dogfights. Each felony charge could have resulted in a five-year prison term.

Vick eventually pleaded guilty to one count under a plea deal and not guilty to the other, and that charge was dropped. Surry County Circuit Judge Samuel Campbell approved the plea agreement and sentenced Vick to a three-year suspended jail term and probation.

Vick actually went to prison after pleading guilty to a federal conspiracy charge of bankrolling the dog fighting operation. He served 18 months of a 23-month sentence at Leavenworth federal prison.

When police raided Vick’s house in Surry County in 2007, they found 65 dogs (nearly all pit bulls), a dog-fighting pit, blood-stained carpets, and various equipment commonly used in dog fighting.

One of the items found on Vick’s property was a ‘rape stand’ which is a device in which female dogs are strapped into and restrained, to allow a male dog to breed with her.

According to the federal indictment, when dogs at Vick’s Bad Newz Kennels lost a fight, or failed to perform well in ‘test matches,’ they were routinely killed by methods including electrocution, hanging, drowning, and in at least one case by “slamming” the dog’s body onto the concrete floor. In one session in April 2007, at least eight dogs were killed through these methods.

Vick took part in these executions along with his partners Purnell Peace, and Quanis Phillips. The indictment detailed a March 2003 incident, in which a female pit bull who had just lost a match was killed. Vick and Peace decided to kill her by “wetting the dog down with water and electrocuting her.”

 

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