” Martin Luther King Jr., Letter from Birmingham Jail, April 16, 1963.
On a personal note. Would your son or daughter be able to handle this situation?
Subject: What Happened to Some on the Way to Jena 6 Rally
–PLEASE READ
This is why we should always be on the road to solve the ” Jena & gt; Six’s”
in America . This was forwarded to me. Hope you forwarded to your friends.
Something similar to this has happened to me.
I had the pleasure and duty to attend this rally. I hope that we all
understand the importance of our attention to the injustices that are at work
in our criminal justice system and the nation at large. Some may view the
disparate treatment of African-American males as an African-American problem.
From unequal treatment in restaurants, to questionable negotiation
processes in the financial realm, inappropriate lunch and cocktail hour
conversations, to my most recent encounter with our ugly American past this Wednesday night on the way to the rally in Jena , Louisiana … There are many places in America
where justice, fairness and equality are not blind. I’ve been profiled many times
before, but this one is worth telling. To the two men that were there with me
that night, we became more than friends that night. I’m proud to have been
there with them.
TYLERTOWN , MISSISSIPPI WELCOMES JENA 6 SUPPORTERS BACK TO 1957
At approximately 11:30 PM, September 19, 2007, my friends (Charles Reeves
and Anthony Payne) and I found ourselves on the side of the road outside the
town of Tylertown , Mississippi . After riding for a short while behind the squad
car that emerged from the wooded roadside, he pulled behind us and promptly
turned on his lights and siren. There was no question that we were driving
lawfully, as we were driving on cruise control, five miles under the speed
limit. Ironically, we had chosen to do this to avoid being pulled over on the
notorious stretch of Mississippi road known as “Bloody 98″.
His first question as he approached the car: Do you all have licenses?
His second question: So… Where are ya’ll headed? After I responded that we
were headed to Vidalia (a town thirty miles from Jena , Louisiana where
we had hotel reservations), he continued to ask several questions regarding Vidalia.
Not one related to my registration, driving or a potential traffic violation.
But instead:
Officer 1: “So, what are you going to do in Vidalia?”
MTF: “I’m going to Comfort Suites in Vidalia.”
Officer 1: “Is that it, just going to a hotel?”, “There’s nothing to
do in Vidalia, is that all you’re going there for?”, “You have any
friends or family there?”
MTF: (cutting him off) “I’m going to a hotel in Vidalia.”
Officer 1: “So, really, Vidalia, you going anywhere else?” ,
“Can you step outside to the back of the car please”
The conversation continued at the back of the car. Fog lights blared
in my face as I became increasingly angry and antagonistic. My friends are
still in the car with fog lights beaming into the back of the car.
After several refused attempts to get me to answer something
other than “I’m going to a hotel in Vidalia”, he moved to my vehicle.
Officer 1: “So, are you aware that my computer shows that your tag is expired?”
MTF: “No it is not. I have the registration, decals and
you’re welcome to run it. Do you mind telling me what the problem is?”
Officer 1: “Well, maybe my computer’s wrong. But you were
swerving back there did you know that?”
MTF: “I don’t believe that I was, but I can’t say anything
about that. Do you want to tell me what the problem is?”
Officer 1: “Ok. Give me a minute. I’m just conducting my investigation.”
He returned to his car and came back.
Officer 1: “Do you have any drugs or illegal items in the car?”
MTF: “No, I don’t. I don’t keep illegal items in my car.
I’m an attorney. I don’t keep any illegal items on my person or in my car.
I have a bar card if you would like to see that as well”
Officer 1: “Really? What law school did you go to?
MTF: ” Howard University School of Law”
Officer 1: “Do you mind if I search your car?”
MTF: “As a matter of fact I do. No you cannot.”
At this time another squad car pulls up. Another two officers and a
young African-American male in street clothes hops out. He greets me:
“What’s up”
My response: SILENCE (In my mind, I’m saying F$%^ you and what’s up!)”.
; The irony of that… The unknown “brother”, forever known as Travares,
smooths me over with “What’s up.” as his “friends” proceed to launch a full scale
“investigation”. There are now three officers, and two people in plain clothes
outside of two police cars. Apparently, all here only to investigate the reason
we were traveling to Vidalia. Not a traffic violation, but why we were going to Vidalia.
I turn to the new officer…
MTF: “Look, your officer says my tag showed as expired (although it
was pitch black and my year decal is covered with an Omega Psi Phi frame plate)
and I was swerving. I have shown him my license, registration, tag registration
and insurance card. I am ready to take any test that you have to give.
But first, will you all please tell me what the problem is, because I do not
understand.”
Officer 2: “Well, where are you guys headed?”
MTF: “Vidalia. Do you have a problem with me going to Vidalia?”
Officer 2: “Hold on. I’m just asking you some questions. Let me talk to
your friend. Could you please step to the back of the squad car please?”
He approaches my friend in the front passenger seat and asks him out of
the car. He takes him to the other side of the second squad car and
performs a search of his person. This officer went as far as to dig into his
pockets and around the inside of his waistband. He questions him:
Officer 2: “So you guys are going to Jena huh?”
AP: “I’m going to Vidalia.”
Officer 2: “So, you’re just going to Vidalia, when are you leaving?”
AP: “Tomorrow.”
Officer 2: “So you’re just going to stay there one night and then what?”
AP: “Go home.”
Officer 2: “You do know what’s going on in Jena right?”
AP: “Yes. I do.”
Officer 2: “So you’re going to Vidalia, huh”
He then left to go and question the second passenger in the back seat.
Officer 2: “Put your hands on the headrest and don’t move them!
Where are you headed?”
CR: “Vidalia.”
Officer 2: “Where are you coming from?”
CR: ” Mobile , Alabama “
Officer 2: “How old are you?”
CR: “32″
Officer two leaves the car.
Officer one returns to me as I’m standing at the back of the squad car.
MTF: “Do you want to tell me what the problem is now?”
Officer 1: “I’m going to ask you again, so you don’t want me to
search your car.”
MTF: “No.”
Officer 1: “I’m just curious to know why you won’t let me search
your car.”
MTF: “Because you have neither reasonable suspicion nor
probable cause to conduct a search on my car. No, you cannot.”
Officer 1: “You have a nice day.”
Anthony returned to the car shortly after. We left, and were officially
welcomed to the year 1957… For thirty minutes on the side of that
road, we were part of something bigger than a random stop. We were
part of the reason that buildings burned in this country. We were a part of a bigger
struggle.
We arrived in Jena the next day, as planned. No thanks to the law officers
of Tylertown , Mississippi .
Imagine how many others faced similar circumstances while traveling on
the 20th of September. Then consider how many go through similar
experiences daily.
An attorney, a finance collections manager and a TV productions manager
were on the side of a dark Mississippi road in the dead of night surrounded by
five suspicious Mississippi law enforcement officers and the “brother” who will
forever be known as “Travares the Traitor”. There were weapons shown, shaky
hands, and the ominous smell of chewing tobacco. There were fog lights glaring.
Our only crime: Being suspected of driving to participate in a demonstration
that has become one of the purest forms of American “free speech”.
Apparently, it’s not free for all. We had nearly a hundred years of experience and
life experience to guide them through what could have been another tragic news
story.
If one of our youth was in that same predicament, would the outcome have
been the same? You be the judge? Is there still work to be done? Maybe it
was all just a coincidence.
Take note. Take heed. When appropriate… Take action. It is real.
God bless everyone who is reading this. This letter was not written in
hate or anger, but in concern. I can protect myself, what about those who
can’t?
Peace. Cause we really need it
This email was sent to frednance@clickservices.org, by info@blackstarproject.org
The Black Star Project | 3473 South King Drive, Box 464 | Chicago | IL | 60616
Chicago
