The fiscal cliff fiasco

In this "battle" surrounding the "fiscal cliff," the Democrats are hiding their true Wall Street agenda behind this phony facade of "economic populism" these over-paid muddle-headed foundation-funded middle class intellectuals like Dean Baker, Robert Reich and Paul Krugman have created for them using George Lakoff's "framing" methods embedded in red-baiting and anti-Communism in which financing militarism and wars play no part even though the largest and most overwhelming part of the federal budget goes directly to financing militarism and wars instead of being designated for human needs--- all intended to try to keep people from stampeding out from under the Democratic Party's "big tent" which prohibits the entry of movement builders unless they will submit to holding up the Dumb Donkey's settling for what the sparrows leave behind.

The one and only reason a "fiscal cliff" exists in the first place is because the cliff has been created from years and years of funding militarism and dirty imperialist wars.

Like any garbage dump turned into a "park;" the "fiscal cliff" is a Wall Street creation.

The United States Senate voted 98 to 0 for the National Defense Authorization Act... how much has been allocated for people's needs? Kind of makes it easy to figure out how your Senators voted, eh?

What a score: Wall Street 98; the people 0.

Wall Street profiteers, the merchants of death and destruction versus the people's needs.

Wall Street investors go to the bank; the people get pushed off the "fiscal cliff" unto the sharp rocks below.

Right to Work

The "Right-to-Work-for-Less" dilemma should be demonstrating to working people something is drastically out of kilter in the labor movement--- actually, something wrong with organized labor because there isn't much of a movement other than that which is led by Democratic Party hacks providing the analysis and pointing the way... pointing the way straight to hell.

I really don't think the "leaders" of organized labor, Richard Trumka and his crew of 50 or so cronies on the AFL-CIO's Executive Council have a clue as to what is going on in this country and because they are so well off themselves with their corporate executive type salaries they don't even care.

On the other hand, rank-and-file workers had better care and bring themselves up to speed on what is going on--- and going down (their standard of living)--- real fast or we are in for a real rough ride from here on out as war upon war makes us all poor.

A part of right-to-work-for-less is "At-will employment" legislation which is the PRIMARY obstacle and impediment to union organizing to begin with. Why hasn't organized labor and their Democratic Party partners rescinded "At-will employment" legislation when they have super majorities in states like Minnesota?

Why isn't the General Strike used to oppose Right-to-Work-for-Less legislation in a state like Michigan?

Why hasn't organized labor proposed a real living--- non-poverty--- minimum wage tied to all cost of living factors and indexed to inflation constantly re-calculated quarterly?

Why hasn't organized labor advocated for massive universal social programs like a national public health care system, national public child care system, re-establishment of WPA, CCC and CETA?

Why hasn't organized labor taken the lead in explaining how to fund massive government universal social programs by advocating a "peace dividend" which would result from ending these dirty wars and propping up the Israeli killing machine in addition for calling for taxing the hell out of the rich and corporate profits?

Why? Why? Why?

Because progressives have been bullied into silence by Obama's supporters. Advocating real specific solutions to working people's problems would come into conflict with Barack Obama's and the Democrat's Wall Street agenda which is the same pernicious Republican agenda of funding sprawling military bases and wars abroad defending Wall Street's interests paid for with austerity measures shoved down our throats.

Failing to see the push for "Right-to-Work-for-Less" legislation as part of Wall Street's agenda to further cripple labor is part of Wall Street's drive to bust the unions because the unions MIGHT become part of the bulwark to Wall Street's imperialist agenda both abroad and here at home.

Once the rank-and-file forces its leaders to consider using all of its weapons, including the General Strike, to fight back against what the employers are doing in this country we will begin to see some progress. But, staying tied to the tail of these Dumb Donkeys picking up what the sparrows leave behind definitely will lead labor to defeat after defeat. We need to build an alternative working class based people's party in this country similar to the most successful third party movement that has ever existed in this country the socialist Minnesota Farmer-Labor Party.

I really think we all UNDERSTAND what is at stake with Right-to-Work-for-Less legislation but do we all understand how this is part of Wall Street's agenda and that we need to now consider using all the weapons we have and create the ones we need?

Do we all understand that Right-to-Work-for-Less is part of the employers' agenda that also includes "At-will employment" and Taft-Hartley along with wars and an attack on universal social programs which need to be vigorously defended and widely expanded?

Do we all really understand that we need to bring forward a progressive agenda for real change that re-constitutes the historic coalition of working class liberals, progressives and leftists if we are going to begin winning these battles?

Do we all understand that we can't strengthen the hand of employers by supporting their candidates who are both Democrats and Republicans? Will we try to free ourselves from this two-party trap Wall Street set for us as they use the twin evils of "lesser-evilism" and fear to lure us into this two-party trap?

Do we all understand that we cannot strengthen the employers' hand by voting for their candidates and then expect to have the strength to successfully fight back?

There is a reason organized labor is always one or more steps behind this employers' attack and unable to defend its gains or win anything of substance. We had better think long and hard about what we need to do to turn things around because we are being dragged down the road leading straight to hell. 

We had better start thinking in terms of challenging Wall Street for political and economic power.

We had better start thinking about placing socialism on the table for consideration by the American people because otherwise we are doomed. Capitalism is on the skids to oblivion dragging us all down.

Social Security

Something to think about:

At 8PM a few days before Christmas 1934, U.S. Secretary of Labor Frances Perkins and five other policy makers sat down at a dining table, locked the door, and unplugged the phone. Six hours later, the framework for Social Security had been hammered out. After seventy-seven years, millions of Americans continue to benefit from this one piece of legislation.

Something else to think about:

A full employment economy will solve all problems with Social Security. Everyone pays in; everyone gets something out.

Equity or full equality?

Lots of people have heard about a big "blow-up" at a meeting in early November held in Detroit to talk about pushing for the enforcement of Affirmative Action.

I was invited to participate on a panel on Affirmative Action because I was one of the very first people to publicly oppose the racist campaign to place the banning of Affirmative Action on the ballot in Michigan and I continued to push and prod for its passage to be challenged in the courts.

Finally, the U.S. Court of Appeals struck down this racist ban on Affirmative Action. But it was struck down by a very narrow margin... the vote of one judge made the difference providing a victory of human decency over racist bigotry.

I have been under fire from this foundation-funded crowd for quite some time who are now pushing this concept of "equity" which they claim is some kind of more palatable word than "equality."

What is at issue here? A mere nitpicking over the definitions of two words that mean the same thing?

No.

"Equity" and "Equality" mean two different things. Anyone can look up the definitions in any dictionary or a legal dictionary.

These foundation-funded outfits are trying to disorient the movements fighting for full equality for the victims of racist discrimination.

"Equity" is a term being used by those who are pushing "tokenism" as an alternative to "full equality."

A concrete example of this is here in Minnesota where our good "liberal" governor a very wealthy billionaire who "works" as a "philanthropist" at his own foundation who controls just about every single civil rights organization in the state through the "grants" his own personal foundation funds, insists on using this term "equity" to evade the struggle for "full equality."

It becomes very convenient to advocate for "equity" when tokens who "make it" can then be held up as examples to make it appear progress towards full equality is taking place when nothing could be further from the truth.

Governor Dayton is trying to hoodwink people into accepting tokenism in employment here in Minnesota as an alternative to full equality and this can be seen very vividly in how he has evaded enforcing Affirmative Action on the two largest public works construction projects now being readied--- the Viking Stadium and the new bridge over the St. Croix River into Wisconsin. Each is a billion dollar plus public works project.

"Equity" is the cover for "tokenism;" striving for full "equality" is the reason for insisting on the enforcement of Affirmative Action which is intended to create "a level playing field" for ALL the victims of racist discrimination.

A number of Democratic Party politicians have brought their hacks from their foundation funded outfits out to attack me because I have explained what is at issue in this debate of "equity" versus "equality."

The Dayton family made their billions as the direct result of the racism they have enforced for decades hee in Minnesota using their wealth to create and compound that wealth as a direct result of imposing racism in the workplace even as they held up tokens to try to prove they are not racists so it should come as no surprise that Mark Dayton would now be trying to impose the tokenism that "equity" embodies in place of enforcing Affirmative Action on these public works projects.

"Equity" is tokenism.

"Affirmative Action" is about full equality for ALL peoples.

Tokens elevated with the consent and support from the oppressors can achieve "equity;" an entire group of people victimized by racism can not achieve any semblance of "equity" without having first achieved full "equality."

Barack Obama best exemplifies the kind of tokenism which leads to equity provided a person is willing to do the dirty work of those on Wall Street who reap super profits from racism.

People like Paul Robeson, W.E.B. DuBois and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. provide examples of the struggles for full equality--- they supported Affirmative Action because it enables everyone to get ahead, not just a few tokens selected by the perpetrators of racism to provide a front giving the impression the system can provide equal opportunity for everyone when the facts prove that it is the system which needs and breeds racism to thrive.

I find it interesting those who attacked me so viciously at this meeting in Detroit after I used my old friend Roy Roberts as an example of how tokens can achieve equity, especially when they use their positions they have attained as a direct result of having availed themselves of the fruits of Affirmative Action can achieve equity--- especially when they become pawns carrying out a right wing, reactionary agenda intended to halt the progress of the rest of the people who require the enforcement of Affirmative Action to achieve the kind of full equality enabling them just to get decent employment at real living wages--- never mind equity.

Tokens can rise to becoming millionaires and billionaires like Roy Roberts now placed in charge as the head dictator of Detroit's Public Schools by a thoroughly racist and reactionary Republican governor, Rick Snyder, who appointed Roy Roberts to destroy the very gains achieved through struggles around the enforcement of Affirmative Action.

Unlike these tokens like Roy Roberts who the racist employers like General Motors allowed to rise towards the top in order to use him to keep everyone else down; working people who have been racially oppressed and deprived of opportunities because of their race need to have Affirmative Action enforced--- not to become rich--- but as a matter of getting a living wage job in order to survive.

This rotten system which breeds racism as source of super profits deprived from the super exploitation enabled by racism in employment will only allow for a few tokens to achieve anything approximating "equity."

Are the massive numbers of unemployed people on Indian Reservations and people of color forced to endure the poverty of racist unemployment resulting from racism in employment willing to continue to endure their poverty in order for a few tokens to make their way to the top while shitting on those below them? This is an embarrassing question those now touting "equity" will have to explain.

"Equity" or "equality?"

"Tokenism" or the enforcement of "Affirmative Action?"

I can understand why people like my old friend Roy Roberts don't want to hear from me about the need to enforce Affirmative Action--- he knows and understands he was allowed to rise to the top provided he shit on the people below in order to prevent them from achieving full equality.

And, I can understand why Mark Dayton is so enamored with "tokenism" which he would rather we all refer to as "equity."

Once again it boils down to people versus corporate super profits.

Who wouldn't like a job of billionaire "philanthropist" sitting around all day trying to figure out what outfits should be the recipients of your foundation grants where your money will be used to more effectively control people at the bottom in a way so your corporate profits and Wall Street investments will continue to rise?

Tokenism enables those who profit from a sick racist system to continue to amass huge profits at the expense of the victims of racist discrimination in employment.

The tokens who achieve "equity" get fabulously rich; the victims of racist discrimination without the enforcement of Affirmative Action remain mired in poverty.

These goddamn hypocrites now attacking me by calling me names because they are too embarrassed to explain why they want to change the discourse of this discussion I started about "equity" versus "equality" can kiss my ass and go to hell because they are the ones who have to explain why the poverty gap is growing and widening rather than narrowing between whites and people of color.

And ultimately--- surprise, surprise--- this growing "pool of unemployed" people of color (from 30% to a high of 85% on Indian Reservations) is being used as a club by employers to drive ALL wages down. So if white workers want to join with their employers and the likes of a billionaire like Mark Dayton in opposing Affirmative Action, the laugh is on them.

In the end, when Affirmative Action is successfully enforced this pushes ALL wages up.

I do find it quite interesting three state governors---Mark Dayton, Rick Snyder and Scott Walker--- have turned loose the oh so "liberal" opportunists of the foundation crowd to attack me.

What I find even more intriguing and interesting is that Mark Dayton sought me out to support him while holding forth the promise that he would enforce Affirmative Action if I would help him become governor--- what a conniving, two-faced hypocritical bastard Mark Dayton turned out to be; showing when push comes to shove he is no different from Scott Walker or Rick Snyder.

The Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party (MNDFL) and their new super majority.

Fellow Minnesotans,

I am bringing to the proverbial public square some ideas I hope will gain widespread discussion.

I am bringing forward my ideas after my long-time experiences working in the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party; over 40 years working for peace and social justice and over thirty of those years working in the labor movement.

I share the working class ideological views centered in activism held by our two former socialist governors Floyd Olson and Elmer Benson and United States Congressman John Bernard who were elected on the socialist Minnesota Farmer-Labor Party ticket.

Like many of you, I am just plain fed up.

I am angry with politicians who have been bought off by corporate lobbyists to do the bidding of big-business be these big-businesses the forestry industry, big-agribusiness, bankers, the power generating industry or the mining companies owned by absentee Wall Street “investors” who have left us with nothing but huge open pits filled with pollution and communities mired in poverty while they abscond and make off with the profits.

I am angry and fed up that a government conducts murderous drone wars in my name.

Those who call themselves liberals, progressives and leftists who supported Obama and the Democrats who think they are going to wiggle their way into the Democratic Party in order to wrest control of the Democratic Party from corporate dominance should consider studying what is taking place here in Minnesota.

Watch very closely what transpires.

But don't just watch; participate, too. Get active.

Better yet; try to influence from a liberal or progressive pro-people anti-big business perspective what these Minnesota Democrats will do. Good luck!

The six billion dollar fiasco created and presented by Madison Avenue in the best Hollywood tradition all financed by Wall Street passed off to the world as “elections” in this great bastion of democracy is finally over.

First we were told we needed to support Obama out of fear of Romney.

Now we are told we must accept these Democrats working in cahoots with the same Republicans we were told we needed to fear lest we fall off “the fiscal cliff.”

There is no doubt capitalism is on the skids to oblivion; we are on a dangerous road leading straight to hell.

What, if anything, have working people gained by electing Democrats?

What will Minnesota Democrats do with their new super majority?

Obama and the Democrats at a national level claim they have been forced into this thoroughly reactionary "grand bargain" with the Republicans to continue these poverty breeding imperialist wars paid for through austerity measures being shoved down our throats; but what is the excuse of the Democrats here in Minnesota should they follow along Obama’s Wall Street road to hell?

What can we expect from Minnesota Democrats with their new majority?

Minnesota  Democrats, all of whom call themselves “liberals” and “progressives” now have an opportunity to earn these labels.

So far, Minnesota Democrats have shown themselves to be just as “liberal” and “progressive” as anyone supporting Obama can be; which isn’t liberal or progressive at all since Obama is nothing but one more war monger in the Oval Office.

Here in Minnesota we now have a Democratic governor plus the Democrats are now in majority control of the State's House and Senate.

Democrats now have a super majority here in Minnesota.

If Democrats ever intend to wield their influence and power on behalf of working people now is their opportunity because we saw how Obama and the Democrats procrastinated and threw their opportunity away when they had a super majority nationally.

As we so dramatically saw nationally in 2010, super majorities don’t last long--- use it or lose it.

There is nothing preventing Minnesota Democrats from bringing forward a truly progressive legislative agenda intended to begin solving the problems of the people in the spirit of the old socialist Minnesota Farmer-Labor Party of Floyd Olson, Elmer Benson and John Bernard.

There is nothing stopping the Democrats in Minnesota from bringing forward real reforms; a real “people’s bailout.”

There is nothing preventing Minnesota Democrats from becoming a national voice of advocacy for peace and re-ordering priorities along the lines suggested by the Minnesota Arms Spending Alternative Project so we have the resources to solve our many deep problems creating so much human misery: http://www.mnasap.org/

These dirty never-ending Wall Street wars are going to make us all poor; they already are making us all poor.

Does anyone really believe these Democrats will improve the lives and living conditions of working people?

We can't rely or depend on these Democrats to do anything for us; we need to stand up and articulate and demand the kind of state and country we want.

We need to participate in the budget process if we want the budget process to reflect OUR priorities.

Does anyone actually believe these Democrats with their huge majority handed to them will now enforce Affirmative Action and move to end racist inequalities in Minnesota?

Does anyone really believe these Democrats will move to eliminate poverty or at least alleviate poverty rather than making poverty worse?

Does anyone think these Democrats will remove the primary and main obstacle to union organizing in Minnesota by rescinding this draconian "At-will hiring; At-will firing" legislation presently on the books giving most employers free reign to fire any worker engaged in union organizing, defending their rights, demanding a voice at work and in their communities or fighting for full equality?

What these Democrats could do with their new super majority and complete control of the state legislative apparatus to improve the lives and living conditions of working people of all races is just about without limit or restriction--- but, what working people will be getting from these Democrats is another matter; most likely nothing but a kick in the ass and a knee on their back holding working people down.

This "liberal" Democratic Governor Mark Dayton has demonstrated very clearly what these worthless Democrats intend to do with their new found super majority power:

* Harass and intimidate public employees to no end, restrict their rights and cut their standard of living.

* Refuse to enforce Affirmative Action on public works projects including the new billion dollar plus Viking Stadium and the billion dollar bridge across the St. Croix River boondoggle; both projects which will further enrich contractors and construction companies while deny people of color, women and the handicapped the jobs to which they are entitled while providing out-of-state white construction workers with the best-paying jobs.

What we can expect from Governor Mark Dayton who came to power promising to "tax-the-rich" and enforce Affirmative Action is higher taxes on the working class and more discrimination and expanding poverty.

There are possibly two state legislators who we can count on to stand up for the rights of working people in general but probably none who will take a stand for full equality in employment. Out of the more than 200 State Legislators we had ONE we could count on to defend the rights and livelihoods of all working people in addition to promoting full equality--- this state legislator has retired. And if we look at the United States Congress we don’t even have one member of the House or Senate we can rely on to consistently defend the rights and livelihoods of working people while defending full equality in jobs, housing and education.

Neither of the Co-chairs of the Congressional Progressive Caucus have had the moral and political courage to insist on the enforcement of Affirmative Action in employment when it comes to spending public funds. Congressmembers Keith Ellison of Minnesota and Raul Grijalva should be ashamed of themselves.

The cost of health care will increase as more and more Minnesotans have no access at all to health care as other Minnesotans will "pay" for their health care with their homes.

Drone wars and the Israeli killing machine along with the militarism and wars spun by Wall Street’s merchants of death and destruction includes squandering the wealth of our Nation maintaining over 800 U.S. military bases on foreign soil protecting Wall Street’s interests as human needs go unmet.

Where are the Minnesota Democrats who will stand with casino workers employed in this hideous Indian Gaming Industry in smoke-filled casinos at poverty wages and without any protections all other workers have under state and federal labor laws?

Democrats take millions in campaign contributions out of this hideous Indian Gaming Industry while turning their backs in indifference to the growing poverty on Indian Reservations. The racist indifference of Democrats to this poverty is no different than what people are getting from the Republicans.

8th District Congressman elect Rick Nolan even went seeking support from a corrupt and violent criminal like Archie LaRose while completely ignoring the poverty being imposed on the people of the Leech Lake Indian Nation.

Rick Nolan sought, and received, the support of wife beater Kevin Leecy.

Go ahead, Democrats; celebrate your victory--- once again the people of Minnesota’s 8th Congressional District are the big losers.

Let’s remember; the Democrats of Minnesota’s 8th Congressional District were so uncaring they held their last convention in the smoke-filled Grand Casino in Hinckley, Minnesota where workers have no rights.

A very sad state of affairs in a state which once boasted of having two socialist governors--- Floyd B. Olson and Elmer Benson--- elected on the Minnesota Farmer-Labor Party ticket who made improving the plight of ALL working people and eliminating racist inequality their primary order of business; and in a country which could once boast of presidents like Lincoln and Franklin D. Roosevelt whose cabinet included such esteemed progressives as Frances Perkins, Henry Wallace and Harry Hopkins.

The time has come for a new grassroots working class based people’s party similar to Canada's socialist New Democratic Party--- a complete restoration of our own socialist Minnesota Farmer-Labor Party.

If you still don’t agree we need a new political party just sit back and watch what Minnesota Democrats are going to do with their new super majority in state government supported by Democrats in the U.S. House and U.S. Senate.

We shouldn’t sit back and watch.

What we should be doing is forming a massive “People’s Lobby” to insist these Minnesota Democrats take steps to solve our problems.

Think about this:

If Minnesota Democrats with the new super majority the working class in Minnesota has handed them can’t take small steps like rescinding “At-will Employment,” raising the minimum wage to a real living wage legislatively tied to all cost of living factors and indexed to inflation and enforcing Affirmative Action--- what can we expect these Democrats to do other than serve the interests of the mining companies and big-business?

A progressive program for real change...

* Peace--- end the wars and occupations in Iraq, Afghanistan & Libya; shutdown the 800 U.S. military bases on foreign soil. No new Wall Street imperialist wars. End drone attacks.

* A National Public Health Care System - ten million new jobs.

* A National Public Child Care System - three to five million new jobs.

* Re-establish the Works Progress Administration (WPA) - three million new jobs.

* Re-establish the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) - two million new jobs.

* Tax the hell out of the rich and cut the military budget by ending the wars to pay for it all which will create full employment.

* Enforce Affirmative Action; end discrimination.

* Raise the minimum wage to a real living wage based on all cost of living factors & indexed to inflation.

* What tax-payers subsidize in the way of businesses, tax-payers should own and reap the profits from.

* Moratorium on home foreclosures and evictions.

* Defend democracy by defending workers' rights including the right to collective bargaining for improving the lives and livelihoods of working people. Rescind “At-will” employment the main impediment to union organizing.

* Roll-back and freeze the price of food, electricity, gas and heating fuels; not wages, benefits or pensions; no more concessions.

* Defend and expand Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare; repeal Obamacare which is nothing more than the “Health Insurance and Pharmaceutical Industry Bailout and Profit Maximization Act of 2010.”

Wall Street is our common enemy.

How is Barack Obama's Wall Street war economy working for you?

Let's talk about the politics and economics of livelihood for a real change.

Organize the “People’s Lobby” to counter the interests of big-business.

Re-establish the Minnesota Farmer-Labor Party.

The entire Nation needs to be watching to see what Minnesota Democrats do with their super majority.

The fact is Minnesota Democrats with their new super majority can immediately implement four very modest and basic but important reforms forging a bond with Minnesota’s working class that won’t cost tax-payers one single penny:

1.    Rescind “At-will Employment.”

2.    Enforce Affirmative Action by attaching riders requiring its enforcement to all public works projects.

3.    Raise the minimum wage to a real living--- non-poverty--- wage.

4.    Place a moratorium on all home foreclosures and evictions.

Minnesota Democrats have repeatedly acquiesced and refused to struggle against the Republicans. Even with their new super majority these Democrats are already talking about finding “common ground” with the Republicans instead of finding “common ground” with suffering Minnesotans whose votes delivered them a super majority.

We call this a democracy yet most of us understand Wall Street has complete political and economic control over the country even though the majority of the people in this country are working class. What kind of democracy is this?

Restoring and defending democracy requires we challenge Wall Street for political and economic power.

Defending our rights and our livelihoods mean we need to make these Democrats understand that they have been handed a super majority to fix problems not buddy up with Republicans to make our problems and our lives worse.

Yours in the struggle,

Alan L. Maki
Director of Organizing,
Midwest Casino Workers Organizing Council
and
Founder, Minnesotans for Peace and Social Justice

58891 County Road 13
Warroad, Minnesota 56763

Phone: 651-587-5541
E-mail: amaki000@centurytel.net

Historic Vote on MN ASAP Resolution!

(Please forward this email to others; post to blogs and websites)

The Minneapolis City Council is poised to vote (December 6th and 7th) on the MN ASAP resolution, calling for a reduction and redirection of Pentagon spending from

war to meeting essential needs in our communities.

MN ASAP wants to thank supportive Members of the Minneapolis City Council for taking leadership on this resolution. Particularly, we want to thank Council Member Cam Gordon for moving this forward.

1.) The MN ASAP resolution will receive a vote by the Minneapolis City Council's "Intergovernmental Affairs Committee"! Please attend this vote. It's important we show the council that folks care about connecting the dots between bloated Pentagon spending and cuts to essential services at the local level.


When: Thursday, December 6th. Meeting starts at 10:00 am.

Where: RM 317, Minneapolis City Hall, 350 S. 5th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55415

Note: Contact minnesotaasap@gmail.com / 612-338-1230 for more information. Sign up on our website to receive email notifications, to personally endorse our resolution, or to volunteer. If you’re on Facebook, please RSVP to our event here.

2.) Assuming (as we do) that the "Intergovernmental Affairs Committee" passes the MN ASAP resolution, we expect a vote by the regular, full City Council the next day (Friday, December 7th). Following that vote, we will hold a press conference. Details TBD.

3.) Council Members Glidden, Gordon, Schiff, Reich, Quincy, and Hodges have agreed to co-sponsor the MN ASAP resolution in the Minneapolis City Council. We have been told to expect a yes vote from Council Members Lilligren and Goodman. Please call / email to thank them. If your Council Member is not mentioned above, please contact them and ask for co-sponsorship / a yes vote on our resolution.

Minneapolis Mayor and City Council

To locate your ward number and Council Member’s name, check this site:
http://apps.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/AddressAppSearchByAddress.aspx?AppID=WardFinderApp.

Mayor R. T. Rybak 612-673-2100 or via website http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/mayor/office/index.asp

Kevin Reich (Ward 1) 612-673-2201 or Kevin.Reich@ci.minneapolis.mn.us

Cam Gordon (Ward 2) 612-673-2202 or Cam.Gordon@ci.minneapolis.mn.us

Diane Hofstede (Ward 3) 612-673-2203 or Diane.Hofstede@ci.minneapolis.mn.us

Barbara Johnson (Ward 4) 612-673-2204 or Barbara.Johnson@ci.minneapolis.mn.us

Don Samuels (Ward 5) 612-673-2205 or Don.Samuels@ci.minneapolis.mn.us

Robert Lilligren (Ward 6) 612-673-2206 or Robert.Lilligren@ci.minneapolis.mn.us

Lisa Goodman (Ward 7) 612-673-2207 or Lisa.Goodman@ci.minneapolis.mn.us

Elizabeth Glidden (Ward 8) 612-673-2208 or Elizabeth.Glidden@ci.minneapolis.mn.us

Gary Schiff (Ward 9) 612-673-2209 or Gary.Schiff@ci.minneapolis.mn.us

Meg Tuthill (Ward 10) 612-673-2210 or Meg.Tuthill@ci.minneapolis.mn.us

John Quincy (Ward 11) 612-673-2211 or John.Quincy@ci.minneapolis.mn.us

Sandy Colvin Roy (Ward 12) 612-673-2212 or Sandra.Colvin.Roy@ci.minneapolis.mn.us

Betsy Hodges (Ward 13) 612-673-2213 or Betsy.Hodges@ci.minneapolis.mn.us



4.) MN ASAP is prepared to put up a billboard on military spending. This billboard is planned for Interstate 35, near Hinkley, MN. We have funding to keep it up for about 3 months. If you wish to contribute a donation to MN ASAP for billboards or staff compensation, visit here.



5.) Want to pass the MN ASAP resolution in your area? You can join an existing effort in: Duluth, Lakeville, Eagan, Apple Valley, Mounds View, Golden Valley, or Little Falls, or Northfield. If there is not a MN ASAP group in your area, we will help you start one! Contact us at minnesotaasap@gmail.com, sign-up here, and learn how to get started.

WHAT IS MN ASAP?

MN ASAP is a non-partisan citizen-based initiative using a simple resolution process to build political support to shift federal spending priorities from war to meeting essential needs.

MN ASAP’s goal is to build sufficient political power and influence statewide from representatives at all levels of government and from non-governmental organizations and civic groups to effectively demand a shift in priorities from war spending to meeting essential needs.

To help in our efforts, please visit "what you can do" in our site menu or email us at minnesotaasap@gmail.com. Our project is not time-consuming, compared to most issue-based campaigns. A meaningful contribution can be made within a busy schedule.

Resolution of the City of Minneapolis

Supporting Shifting Federal Funding Priorities from Military Operations to Meeting the Needs of Local Communities

By Glidden, Gordon, Schiff, Reich, Quincy, and Hodges

Whereas, in 2011 Minnesota government was shut down over disputes as to how to address a $5 billion two-year budget shortfall; and,

Whereas, Minnesota taxpayer spending for war far exceeds the state’s budget deficits with Minnesotans having spent more than $39.8 billion to fund the Iraq and Afghan wars since 2001;

and,

Whereas, the taxpayers of Minneapolis have paid more than $2.3 billion for our share of Iraq and Afghanistan war costs, including $205.8 million in 2012 alone; and,

Whereas, Minneapolis has struggled to maintain core services like public safety and infrastructure despite drastic cuts to Local Government Aid from the State of Minnesota and to Community Development Block Grants by the federal government; and,

Whereas, from 2008 through 2011, the State of Minnesota certified that Minneapolis would receive more than $70 million more in Local Government Aid than the State actually provided, resulting in painful service cuts and property taxes hikes; and,

Whereas, the City of Minneapolis has experienced a cut of over 30% in the federal government’s Community Development Block Grants funding since 2002, from $16.8 million to $10.7 million annually; and,

Whereas, in addition to these costly wars, Minnesota taxpayers are spending more than $16 billion in 2012 for our share of the base Pentagon budget, a budget that increased from $290.5 billion to $526 billion between 2000 and 2011; and,

Whereas, in 2012 59 cents of every dollar of federal discretionary spending is funding military purposes; and,

Whereas, the budget for veterans is separate from the military budget we seek to cut, and our nation has a responsibility to provide veterans with quality medical care and other support, including opportunities for meaningful jobs; and,

Whereas, our nation desperately needs to better balance its approach to national security to include the economic, social, and environmental needs of our communities, state, and nation;

Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved by the City Council of the City of Minneapolis,
That the City of Minneapolis calls on the Minnesota Congressional Delegation to support shifting federal funding priorities from military operations to meeting the essential needs of our local communities.


MN ASAP wants to thank our growing list of endorsers! Thank you to:
Saint Paul City Council (Unanimous)
Minnesota Alliance of Peacemakers: (Minneapolis, MN)
St. Frances Cabrini Parish Council (Minneapolis, MN)
United Church of Christ in New Brighton Social Justice and Outreach Committee (New Brighton, MN)
Community of Saint Martin: (Minneapolis, MN)
Minnesota Interfaith Power and Light
Women's International League for Peace & Freedom, MN Metro Branch
MN Branch of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom
Minnesota Fellowship of Reconciliation
Joint Franciscan-Benedictine Justice Committee: (Minneapolis, MN)
Witness for Peace: Minnesota
Peace and Social Justice Writers Group: (Minneapolis, MN)
Occupy Saint Paul
Grandmothers for Peace: (Minneapolis, MN)
Every Church a Peace Church: (Minneapolis, MN)
Listening House of St. Paul
Macalester Plymouth United Church PeaceMakers: (Saint Paul, MN)
Rochester Mennonite Church: (Rochester, MN)
Minnesota Peace Action Coalition: (Minneapolis, MN)
Alliance for Sustainability: (Minneapolis, MN)
WHealthy Human Village: (Minneapoli, MN)
Minnesota Break the Bonds: (Minnesota)
Minneapolis Friends Meeting (Quakers): (Minneapolis, MN)
Military Families Speak Out, Minnesota. (Minneapolis, MN)
Saint Paul Area Move to Amend: End Corporate Personhood. (Saint Paul, MN)
Minneapolis Area Move to Amend: End Corporate Personhood. (Minneapolis, MN)
Pilgrim Lutheran Church: (Saint Paul, MN)
Haiti Justice Committee, MN: (Minneapolis, MN)
Merriam Park Neighbors for Peace: (Saint Paul, MN)
Interfaith Peacemakers of Edina: (Edina, MN)
Twin Cities Peace Campaign: (Minneapolis, St. Paul, MN)
Citizens for Global Solutions (Board): (Minnesota Chapter)
Foundation for Global Community: (Minneapolis, MN)
Alternatives to War: (Saint Cloud, MN)
South East MN Alliance of Peacemakers (SEMNAP): (Rochester, MN)
Rochester,MN Friends (Quaker) Meeting: (Rochester, MN)
People of Faith Peacemakers: (Circle Pines, MN)
Friends of a Nonviolent World: (Minneapolis, MN)
Alliant Action: (Minneapolis, MN)
Democracy Matters: (University of Minnesota, Twin Cities)
U Students Like Good Food: (University of Minnesota, Twin Cities)
Saint Paul Regional Labor Federation (AFL-CIO): (Saint Paul, MN)
Iraqi and American Reconciliation Project: (Minneapolis, MN)
Ward 12, Precinct 3 (DFL Caucus, Feb. 2012): Minneapolis, MN
Precinct 15 (Caucus, Feb. 2012): Eagan, MN
Precinct 7, District 15: Maplewood, MN
Precinct 16, District 44 (DFL Caucus, Feb. 2012): (Saint Louis Park, MN)
Ward 2, Precinct 2, Senate District 6 (Precinct Caucus, Feb. 2012): Minneapolis, MN
"Super Caucus" Rural, SE MN, Feb. 2012
Ward 5, Precinct 1, SD66: (Saint Paul, MN)
Minneapolis Area and Saint Paul Area Synod Peace with Justice Committee of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
Saint Joan of Arc Church: (Minneapolis, MN)
Faith Mennonite Church: (Minneapolis, MN)
St. Luke Presbyterian Session: (Wayzata, MN)
Veterans for Peace, Chapter 27: (Minneapolis, MN)
Church Council of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church: (Minneapolis, MN)
Holy Trinity Peace and Justice Committee (Minneapolis, MN)
Lutheran Church of Christ the Redeemer (Minneapolis, MN)
211 members of the Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church (Minneapolis, MN)
Women Against Military Madness (WAMM), (Minneapolis, MN)
Minnesota Peace Project (Leadership Team), St. Paul, MN
Chisago County DFL
Senate District 17 unit of the DFL
DFL Progressive Caucus
Ward 15 Precinct Caucus (DFL, Feb. 2012): Duluth, MN
Duluth Area Move to Amend: End Corporate Personhood. (Duluth, MN).
Veterans for Peace, Chapter 80: (Duluth,MN & Iron Range)
Peace United Church of Christ Coordinating Council & Just Peace Committee: (Duluth, MN)
Minnesota Citizens Federation, North East: (Duluth, MN)
MN Health Care Coalition (MN Statewide Organization)
Northland Anti-War Coalition: (Duluth, MN)
Loaves and Fishes: (Duluth, MN)
Community Action Duluth: (Duluth, MN)
Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Duluth: (Duluth, MN)
Duluth DFL Convention: (Duluth, MN)
Duluth / Superior Religious Society of Friends: (Duluth, MN
College of St. Scholastica Center for Just Living: (Duluth, MN)
College of St Scholastica Campus Ministry: (Duluth, MN)
College of St Scholastica Earth Action: (Duluth, MN)
Twin Ports SOA Watch: (Duluth, MN)
UMD Students for Peace: (Duluth, MN)
Grandmothers for Peace - Northland Chapter: (Duluth, MN)
Occupy Duluth
Occupy Little Falls: (Little Falls, MN)
Corporation Committee, Itasca Co DFL Progressive Caucus: (Grand Rapids, MN)
Minnesota Libertarian Party (Therefore clause endorsement)


Community Leader Endorsements
Saint Paul City Council Member Amy Brendmoen
Minneapolis City Council Member Gary Schiff
Minneapolis City Council Member Kevin Reich
Minneapolis City Council Member, Cam Gordon
Minneapolis City Council Member, John Quincy
Minneapolis City Council Member Elizabeth Glidden
Minneapolis City Council Member Robert Lilligren
Executive Director of High Road for Human Rights, Mayor of Salt Lake City Utah (2000-2008), and Justice Party Presidential Candidate, Rocky Anderson
Betsy Tate Anderson, Hopkins School Board Member
Rick Nolan, Former US House Member / Candidate for the MN 8th Congressional District (2012).
Frank Moe, Environmental Activist / Former MN State Rep.
Rep. Bill Hilty, MN House District 08A
Daniel Hartman, Duluth City Council President
Sharla Gardner, Duluth City Council
Frank Jewell, Saint Louis County Commissioner, First District
Steve O’ Neil, Saint Louis County Commissioner, Second District
Joel Sipress, Duluth DFL Executive Board
Daniel Fanning, Community Leader.
Jim Northrup, Anishinaabe Author and Vietnam War Vet.
Mounds View City Council Member Al Hull
Mounds View City Council Member Sherry Gunn
Mounds View City Council Member Carol Mueller
Mounds View City Council Member Roger Stigney
Mounds View City Council Mayor Joe Flaherty

Justice for Melina Harris.

To whom it may concern;

Many people, including myself, have become aware of the grave miscarriage of justice in the case of Melina Harris. 

(See my blog post: < http://thepodunkblog.blogspot.com/2012/12/melina-harris-needs-our-help-please.html >)

The facts in this case speak for themselves.

Anyone with an ounce of common sense can see and understand that Melina Harris is the victim here of a brutal police assault; not the other way around.

It is the police who should be on trial for their felony assault on Melina Harris.

The judge should do what is right and set aside this verdict; all charges against Melina Harris should be dismissed.

No one would want their girlfriend, wife, sister, mother, aunt, grandma, fellow worker or friend treated in this brutal manner by the police with the injustice compounded by the prosecutor and the courts.

At some point someone in a position of authority will have to right this wrong, and the sooner the better for all concerned. Justice requires no less.

It is inexcusable that the United States Department of Justice has not begun an investigation into what is obviously a gross violation of Melina Harris' civil and constitutionally protected rights.

Just look at the pictures posted in my blog... does anyone think this kind of force and brutality on the part of the police was required?

To continue this prosecution and sentencing of Melina Harris makes a mockery of justice.

Obviously Melina Harris has been the victim of a frame-up here in order to protect the police from criminal prosecution. We all know how this works; the police beat someone up and then they turn around and accuse their victim in order to escape their own criminal prosecution.

Stop the sentencing; drop the charges.

Alan L. Maki

Director of Organizing,

Midwest Casino Workers Organizing Council

58891 County Road 13

Warroad, Minnesota 56763

Phone: 218-386-2432

Cell: 651-587-5541

Primary E-mail: amaki000@centurytel.net

E-mail: alan.maki1951mn@gmail.com

Blog: http://thepodunkblog.blogspot.com/

Copies of this letter were sent to the following:

Melina Harris, shyeshye@gmail.com 

Mayor Suzette Cooke, mayor@kentwa.gov

Kent City Council, councilmembers@kentwa.gov

Chris Daniels, cdaniels@king5.com

Christine Clarridge, cclarridge@seattletimes.com

Kent Police Chief Ken Thomas at, KThomas@kentwa.gov

Kent Internal Investigations, Patrick Lowery, plowery@kentwa.gov

Public Defender Kristen Gestaut , Kristen.Gestaut@acapd.org 

Washington State Clemency and Pardons Board, CPBoard@atg.wa.gov 

WW DOJ Civil Rights, Special.Litigation@usdoj.gov

Governor Christine Gregoire Fax: (360) 753-4110


Media:

KenSchram@komo4news.com,

editor@thestranger.com,

chalsne@kirotv.com, tips@q13fox.com

Melina Harris needs our help... please read, help how you can and circulate this widely. This could be you.

Melina Harris, a professional, union carpenter who lives in Kent, Washington, had a get-together with friends at her house on October 29th, 2011  Two officers were called to the house in regard to a noise complaint and as Melina explains below, the situation immediately turned violent as she tells here: 

The photos you see (see at the very bottom), are of me moments after a short minor noise complaint call, I spoke to the older officer and refused to speak to the younger officer, as he was hyper aggressive and threatening.

I and the older officer concluded that just shutting the windows would suffice. That as well as turning down the stereo had already been done, as guests had noticed the police and I talking in the yard.

The older officer told the younger cop, “We are done here” and turned to leave and walked to his car, I turned and walked quickly toward the front door, before I made it, the younger cop, stepped into my path, accosted me with his flash light and then assaulted me, hitting me hard enough to leave a hole in my face 3/4". The older officer could not and did not see the assault, as he had made if far enough down the drive, and with the slope, trees and a car parked in the way, his view was blocked. He came back up the drive in answer to a yell, (my scream for help) . To find me on the ground with the young officer straddling me.

But for Melina the story didn't end there. Instead of being able to bring to light the fact that the officer had hit her hard enough as she stood with her arm over her eyes, trying to block the flashlight, held close to her face, to put a 3/4 inch hole through her face. She was charged with assault on a police officer which is a felony charge.  She attempted to fight the charges in court, but lost.  According to Melina,  "The crime of being assaulted by a cop is a felony. Any time a situation gets out of hand and “Force” is used, the officer charges the citizen with assault, resisting or obstruction to cover their ass. Unfortunately this is also true if the officer doesn’t like what you have to say, or in this case, don’t say, and they reach out and knock you off your feet, for no better reason, than, they can. The County Prosecutors then press the charges and play the plea down game, to cover the ass of the city."

"Reality sucks that King County Washington is actually one of the worst in the nation for protecting bad cops."

Of course those who follow cases of police brutality and have suffered it know full well that the "thin blue line" symbolizes not only solidarity among their job, but all too often also symbolizes the tendency of cops to protect their own, even in cases of abuse or transgression of authority.  To many cops, the ethical difference between protecting to save each other's lives or protecting to save each other's reputation has become blurred, or even invisible.

Worse, in an effort to cover their tracks, as Melina mentions above, officers will all too often rationalize or belittle the damage done to not only justice, but to the victim's life.  As if the assault itself didn't do enough damage, the victim must also face the bizarro world possibility of the cops claiming that the victim made an assault, or threatened them in some imagined way.  This leaves the victim to defend themselves up against a group that has already established authority within the system; oftentimes cops that know the local prosecutors and judges and often have mutual respect for each other.  Judges and prosecutors will most often believe those they know and trust, no matter how outrageous the claims or the evidence to support them (in this case the pictures that Melina had of her injuries). 

Melina is facing the possibility of being sentenced to a number of years in prison; she already has a felony charge on her.  As she states,  "The maximum sentence for Assault of an officer is 5 years, maximum for obstruction is 3 years. I have no prior Felony so of course sentencing will be much less than that. "

As Melina says, "I was asked to stand and take it as far as I could to address the issue of an officer who should not have a badge. If he decked me for ignoring him, imagine what will happen when someone in Righteous indignation tells him off?"

All too often people naively think that "taking a stand" and "going as far as you can" will somehow magically make the halls of justice ring out loud and clear. Unfortunately that does not happen as the wheels of justice will only move if someone in power to move them decides to.  Unfortunately, by casting Melina not as the victim, but now in the court as the defendant fighting to disprove happenings and actions that never existed and thus are difficult to refute (try proving that something doesn't exist if someone else, especially someone with credibility, insists it does).

Melina adds, "I was also asked to try to take the civil case for the assault and maiming, and resulting medical costs, as far as I can. Truth being, I cannot address that until the criminal case has been dealt with. I will be lucky to do so before the statute of limitations runs out. The appeal will likely take 2 years to come around."

But Melina reminds that she cannot move on with a civil case until she the criminal case is out of the way, "I cannot, until I deal with the criminal charges, and then only if I win, put in a federal civil rights complaint that I was falsely arrested, falsely charged, and assaulted. Filing charges against the citizen narrows those pesky complaints down to about the same odds in our state as winning the lottery."

Presently, while Melina waits for her sentencing which will be coming up in 3 days, she asks everyone to write to the persons listed below to at least draw attention to the case.  "There are example letters now posted on the event page." (http://www.facebook.com/events/501885959845258/).  

"If you wish to write a letter, saying how you see me as a human being, to be given to the judge before sentencing."  Melina also encourages people to write to the mayor of Kent, Washington, " on your feelings about this incident and the out of control issue of police brutality."  She also has about 20 or so folks who have started a letter writing campaign to the governor asking for clemency in this case.

In the interest of further drawing attention to the issue of police brutality, Melina suggests that people write to the Department of Justice Civil Rights, pointing up the need for a more thorough investigation into the Kent, Washington police department. 

"It need not be fancy, Melina says, "it need not be long, but it will take hundreds to rattle cages to expand and up the priority of the subject of Police Brutality. Just make sure it’s from the heart, and that you add your name and mailing address. Please feel welcome to add your title, trade, local, etc. If you have a story of police brutality or misconduct, please share it in the letter."

Melina says, "I am grateful for those of you writing in, it is the only thing that is bringing this case, into the light, with others of it’s kind. Welcome are letters from near and far, those who know me just enough, and those who know me all to well."

Melina would like those who write a letter to send her a copy that she can archive for her hearing and appeal and she requests also that people cross-copy their letters to each of the different politicians and state and federal agencies responsible for over seeing and handling police abuse of authority and power.  "One bad cop can seriously screw up thousands of lives in his career. So stand I have and this is what that means and what it takes. None of this has been pleasant. I am still stuck with the fact I was maimed that evening."

"I cannot lift more than a pound or 3 above chest height, and I can’t do that very long, so of course, I cannot work as a union carpenter, until after I have surgery on both shoulder joints and then recuperate. Jobs with medical are slim at this time and so I am stuck in a common limbo, hence the work being done to address Americans lack of medical."

Please cross-copy your letters to the following people:

Melina says, "I greatly appreciated those of you who can take a few moments to write in, it will at least help shed light on the issue of Police Brutality, it is prevalent here, and in my county, the Seattle Police are under investigation as well as the County Sheriffs office (who investigated two use of force complaints in the prior whole year) for excessive use of force, and lack of reporting it."

"If you could copy and paste your letter on the event page to share with others to use as an example, it would be helpful. Some are better than others at letter writing, and seeing examples helps much."

Melina Harris, shyeshye@gmail.com 

Mayor Suzette Cooke, mayor@kentwa.gov

Kent City Council, councilmembers@kentwa.gov

Chris Daniels, cdaniels@king5.com

Christine Clarridge, cclarridge@seattletimes.com

Kent Police Chief Ken Thomas at, KThomas@kentwa.gov

Kent Internal Investigations, Patrick Lowery, plowery@kentwa.gov

Public Defender Kristen Gestaut , Kristen.Gestaut@acapd.org 

Washington State Clemency and Pardons Board, CPBoard@atg.wa.gov 

WW DOJ Civil Rights, Special.Litigation@usdoj.gov

Governor Christine Gregoire Fax: (360) 753-4110

Cover letter for Pardon Petition

I suppose it would help to explain why your office has incoming with my name in it if I backed up a bit. Police union, Thompson statement, Police Chief

 

In 2004 some tradeswomen in the Seattle/Tacoma area wanted to start a local tradeswomen org to mentor and support the few women we had in Washington State, we met through the end of 2005 and in 2006, I had come back from running work on the east coast and spent a month granting what was asked for. I has said, when I turned 40 I would give 5 years back to the world. 

Tradeswomen are still at 2%, the same numbers they were at in 1978, when President Carter gave the executive order to address the issue. 

I incorporated it, built a website, got a P.O. Box, bank account, business cards, filed with the state charities and other agencies, and put in our request that was later granted to become a 501C3 nonprofit, and paid for most of it. As we didn’t know how to run a tradeswomen org, we reached out on the internet and found that the other orgs were not connected. As a solution to that, I started the Sisters Alliance Project, networking the women in trades and women in construction groups and orgs, and the women at large, as far as we could reach, sharing news, projects, programs, ideas, photos, issues, solutions, etc. This effort breathed life into existing orgs, turned The Women Build California conference into Women Build The Nation conference, it helped start new orgs, like the first tradeswomen nonprofit in Australia. It expanded, shared, started and grew programs and projects from coast to coast. 

April of 2011, the org was struggling with local politics due to winning international recognition from our industries largest data management company, McGraw Hill Engineering News Record, by making news maker of the year, as well as dealing with severely limited funding due to the fall of the industry. Two local industry leaders did their best to take the org out. I am sure you understand that there are still plenty of men who take offence to women with influence or power. I took sisters with me to NY for the Awards in Times Sq, set up a East-West Coast Gathering at the oldest trades school in NY, brought the conference organizer from the California Building Trades as well, and worked on breaking the record for attendance at an all crafts tradeswomen conference. We then headed to Boston for another East-West gathering for the same. Getting women from across the states and tradeswomen orgs, show up and connect, as well as some from Canada, we beat the record hard enough to get funding to have the conference again funded nationally.   I announced I was beat, done, fried, and burned out… I needed a break to decided on where to go from here, I had given my five years, fully, no dates, no movies, no books, no TV, just make it happen. 

I then got a call from the U of W, would I come speak as the expert at the five state university consortium regarding the Skilled Trades Disaster Response Project in June?  After that, I took a break, went on a date, to the movies, bought a good book, and ignored the computer for large chunks of time.

 In October I flew down to California to the Tradeswomen Inc Annual awards banquet and announced I would give another two years. When I announced it up here in Washington, several of my 52 god children delightedly decided, with the holiday coming up, we should have a formal costume required Halloween Party as part of the celebration. We did so, October 29^th, 2011.

As the public defender and the civil rights attorney have insisted I do not make a statement, besides that I made on the stand, and that I don’t have the cash to get the transcripts. I will make a very basic statement here to fill in the blanks. There are a few hundred women out there, insisting I complete the run through appeal. 

At about 11:30 the night of the celebration, police arrived for a noise complaint. There were two officers, one was normal and pleasant and I had worked with prior, as one of the god children had needed to turn himself in as a run away. The officer had left him in my custody at the end of the call. 

There was a younger officer whom I refused to talk to, as he was hyper aggressive and made me nervous. 

I spoke to the older officer for a few minutes, it was concluded that just shutting the windows would suffice, and he turned and walked toward his car, and I back to my front door. 

The younger officer, who was highly agitated, followed me, until we were out of sight of the older officer, accosted me, then assaulted me, the impact of the blow leaving a ¾ inch hole through my face, and then cuffed and arrested me.