The decline of Michael Vick's public image began in April of 2007 when his cousin Davon Boddie was arrested outside a nightclub for possession of marijuana with intent to sell. Boddie gave his home address to police as 1915 Moonlight Road, Smithfield, Virginia. This property was owned by Michael Vick at the time. Police conducted a search of the property as part of the drug investigation and stumbled upon all the makings of a dog fighting operation. They found blood splatter, pry bars and dog breeding tools, among other items. Along with animal control officers, they removed a total of 66 dogs from the property.
Disturbing details of abuse and murder of dogs at the hands of Michael Vick and his business associates Purnell Peace and Quanis Phillips came out as the investigation progressed. The US Department of Agriculture documented this cruelty in a 17 page report released in 2008. The report revealed that "Vick, Peace and Phillips hung approximately three dogs who did not perform well in a "rolling session," which indicates the readiness of a dog to fight". Also according to the report, the three men hung the dogs "by placing a nylon cord over a 2 X 4 that was nailed to two trees located next to the big shed. They also drowned approximately three dogs by putting the dogs' heads in a five gallon bucket of water." After failing a polygraph test, Vick recanted his original statement saying he was not involved in the actual killing of the dogs and admitted to his participation.
The Surry County grand jury charged Michael Vick with one count of unlawfully torturing and killing dogs and one count of promoting dogfights. Both are felony charges. Vick took a plea offer from federal prosecutors, pleading guilty to federal conspiracy charges and avoiding additional dogfighting charges. He was sentenced to 23 months in jail for his participation.
UPDATE 7/18/12 The "Boycott Modell's for their involvement with Michael Vick" Facebook page is up to 484 likes and growing. Three similar pages calling for the boycott of Modell's have also sprung up as well as a Facebook group and two petitions.
Change.org Petition To Modell's CEO Mitchell Modell: Stop Modell's from Selling Michael Vick's New Product Line
Forcechange.com Petition To Modell's CEO Mitchell Modell: Stop Modell's Sporting Goods from Selling Michael Vick 's New Clothing Line
For more on Michael Vick and Modell's click here
I am one of those individuals who posted on Modell's Facebook page. I also sent an email to the company's Customer Service Department at their head office in New York. It is bad enough that Modells Sporting Goods is selling Vick's new clothing line, but to have him actually come in person to promote the clothes at the company's stores in Philadelphia is beyond belief. Vick has perpetrated horrific crimes against animals and does not deserve any positive publicity. He is a convicted felon who should not be considered a role model for anyone -- neither man and certainly not beast. There are now more than 840 comments on the Modells Sporting Goods Facebook page and the number is increasing. And yes, a boycott Modells movement has begun. 18 months in jail was just a slap on the wrist for what he did to his four-legged victims.
ReplyDeleteModell's Facebook page response to all the negative comments:
ReplyDeleteModell’s Sporting Goods is a family oriented business that believes in core values such as hard work, sportsmanship and respect. All of which we share with Michael Vick’s V7 Apparel. Although we don’t condone what was done in the past, we do support the progress Michael Vick has made.
We look forward to extending our "Be Local" initiative with V7™ Apparel by donating a portion of V7™ sales to the local Philadelphia Charter of the Boys & Girls Club of America.
I heard Casey Anthony and OJ Simpson are looking for a new line of clothing as well. Will they be out in the fall or will they not line your pockets as much as Vick will. You should be ashamed of yourselves!
ReplyDelete