FROM THE WINGCOM VAULT - NAACP

 

	NAACP’s Criminal Justice Forum  confronts fear, fairness and mis-education issues By Tomi Morris Johnson tomij@wingcomltd.com  ©2004 WingcomLtd. All Rights Reserved.
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) recently sponsored a community forum at Marietta City Hall to address criminal justice issues affecting people of color living in present day America.

March 22, 2004, Marietta, GA…History is replete with stories of noble persons who were prosecuted and jailed after being labeled heretics, blasphemers, outside agitators and terrorists.   Daniel, Jesus, Joan of Arc, Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Nelson Mandela were all incarcerated for breaking laws. These people, however, had moral agendas.

 

Our criminal justice system is supposedly non-discriminatory and legally admonishes judgments based on ethnicity or skin color. Programs are in place to ensure fairness, however, the reality is jails and prisons continue to overflow with African Americans disproportionately, not because they are “habitually bad or mischievous”, but because they are deemed “serious offenders” who have “sinned against society.” Laws that legislatures pass, policemen enforce, and judges rule upon hurt minorities most. 

 

“We judge people who have committed what I call the seven deadly sins:  murder, armed robbery, rape, aggravated sodomy, kidnapping, aggravated child molestation, and aggravated battery,” said Judge Robert E. Flournoy, III, Superior Court of Cobb County. “As a judge, I’ve sworn an oath to treat people fairly, and to give them a public and speedy trial.  I also consider myself compassionate,” added Flournoy.   Cobb County NAACP President Deanne Bonner (foreground) stated that the local branch has been receiving complaints from inmates who have been waiting in jail as long as six months before they talk to a public defender. Panel members included Sol. Gen. B. Morgan, Judge D. Schuster, Judge R. Flournoy, Judge N. Campbell, and Attorney C. McManus.

 

“I think it’s wrong that Cobb County has never had an African American Superior Court judge,” said candidate Joan Davis outside the chamber meeting room which speaks to the sensitivity presiding judges have towards people of color. “I want to see that statistic changed, and I’m gearing up my campaign,” Davis stated.  

 

Even if Davis is elected Cobb County’s first African American superior court judge, one wonders if the system itself will treat black people and the poor fairly and justly.  Many believe that the criminal justice system is warehousing for blacks and the end of the line for kids turned adults coming from educational systems that use behavior disorder classrooms as staging grounds for juvenile detention. Other people attending the forum voiced concerns over inability to pay for a good attorney, fear of local police, hamstrung judges, and ignorance of the law.

 

“I know that doing drugs is wrong, but I had no idea that having sex could land me in prison for 10 years until a recent case here in Georgia made the news,” Sebastian Bonner told the judges on the panel. “That sort of information needs to reach us in the high schools,” said Bonner, a student at Kennesaw Mountain who says most outreach programs are geared to elementary and middle school children. 

 

America’s criminal justice system is in crisis because it is considered colorblind but in reality is racially prejudiced, with uneducated blacks being disproportionately placed behind bars or on probation. Those who wind up in overcrowded and increasingly privatized prisons are sometimes the products of behavioral disorder/special education classes in public schools.

 

Today’s children are receiving conflicting messages on the consequences of crime, right and wrong, and fairness. While the media endorses the murder of terrorists without due process of law in retaliation for crimes committed against the United States, petty drug dealers are receiving more prison time than fraudulent, billionaire executives. The image of a black man is increasingly portrayed as a professional basketball player/rapist or cult hero/child molester, not a businessman or practicing physician. Poor self-esteem leads to entrance into the criminal justice system.

 

“Kids are getting in trouble because of drugs, both legal and illegal,” said Attorney Connie McManus who added, “The best way to keep children out of jail is to keep them in school.”  Many black kids, however, are cornered in classroom environments where fear, stress, prescription drug use, and anger have negative outcomes that do not include gaining wisdom and knowledge.  Often, the result is violent acts being committed in and out of school.

 

Novella Billups lives in Marietta and is the mother of four.  “There should be other programs in place to motivate kids in school besides the ‘fear’ of the criminal justice system.  They are telling our children that if they misbehave, they will be brought in front of a judge,” Billups said. “Rehabilitation should take precedent before punishment,” said Superior Court Judge Danny Schuster.   “Communities need to create environments where children have hope.  Children who have hope don’t behave inappropriately when it comes to sexuality, drugs, or violence.”                                 Dr. David Satcher, Former US Surgeon General

 

“We can’t stay in the courthouse and just sentence folks,” said Traffic Court Judge Nancy Campbell.  “We’ve got to get out into the community, form partnerships, and mentor our youth,” Campbell said.

 

Victims of non-violent crimes also have difficulty receiving justice unless they can pay large sums to hire an attorney.  Often, that means coming up with thousands of dollars for a retainer or signing an agreement with a lawyer to make monthly payments. Legal counselors rarely take contingency cases, and sometimes the only recourse to dealing with a bad attorney you have paid money to but received no results is filing a complaint with the local bar association. 

 

Some plaintiffs have been successful winning judgments in Cobb County courtrooms.  On March 18, 2004, a press release announced that Thomas, Kennedy, Sampson and Patterson, the oldest African American law firm in Georgia headquartered in Atlanta, had obtained a final judgment in the Cobb County Courts for $500,000 against Kaiser Permanente, America's largest not-for-profit health maintenance organization. The claim arose from the negligent medical treatment rendered to the plaintiff, a 28-year-old woman, in August 1997 at Kaiser’s Cumberland Parkway location for a vagina burn injury. 

 

“Of course, no amount of money can make up for the pain, injury or mental anguish that my client has suffered over the past seven years, but the settlement assures her that her permanent medical condition, caused by the defendants, will be taken care of. It also sends a signal to all healthcare organizations and physicians that avoidable mistakes like these won’t be tolerated,” said Attorney Woody Sampson.

According to Judge Flournoy, a victim of a crime does not need a lawyer. The accused defendant needs a lawyer to represent him or her, but the victim does not require legal counsel. In one sense, the victim's advocate is the prosecutor or district attorney's office. The district attorney's office has a victim/witness advocate program to help and assist the victims of crimes. The only time a victim would need a lawyer is if the victim wanted to sue the criminal defendant for damages, like the family of Nicole Simpson sued O.J. for her wrongful death. But this rarely happens as 99% of all criminal defendants are poor with no money to pay damages to the victim. 

In the meantime, many pro se filers who go to court representing themselves seldom obtain justice, especially if they are looking for a monetary award. Judges often refuse to hear such cases when brought before the bench and suggest pro se filers wait to hire an attorney, which further exacerbates the problem, leaving the case on the judge’s calendar for years.

 

“Wait” almost always means “never.”  Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

                                    

Sebastian Bonner (r) sits next to his grandfather who is a bail bondsman.  “As soon as we get our young men out of jail, they wind up in there again. We have to do something about repeat offenders,” Mr. Bonner said.     Audience participants were encouraged to learn more about the circuit defender system, the pro se program, the public defender’s office, legal aid, the volunteer lawyer’s program, the statewide defender’s program, and to maintain familiar relationships with local judges, police, attorneys, prosecutors, and parole officers in their communities.

 

Solicitor General Barry Morgan, who deals mostly with traffic violation offenders, said his office has an 11,000+ caseload.  “I try to remain colorblind, but not everybody is,” Morgan said. All panelists agreed they welcome the opportunity to work with community outreach programs.  For more information, contact the Cobb County Solicitor General’s office at 770-528-8580 or Judge Robert Flournoy, III at 678-581-5400. To learn more about Georgia’s criminal justice system, go to:

http://www.state.ga.us/cjcc/sac.html.

NOTE:  Georgia’s Statutory Rape Law (Per OCGA 16-6-3)

In Georgia, you can go to jail for having sex! The law states:

·         If you have sexual intercourse with any person under the age of 16 years, you will have committed statutory rape.

·         A person 21 years of age or older convicted of statutory rape shall be imprisoned for a minimum of ten and up to 20 years.

·         A person age 17-20 convicted of statutory rape shall be imprisoned for one to 20 years.

·         If the victim is 14 or 15 years of age and the person convicted is no more than three years older than the victim, the person shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

·         It does not matter if you are male or female.

·         It does not matter if you are unaware of the victim's age.

·         It does not matter if the sex is consensual. 

The information in this article is the opinion of the author and, therefore, should not be construed as libelous.

 

 

FROM THE WINGCOM VAULT - Gov. Roy Barnes

Racial reconciliation still needed in Georgia

by Tomi Morris Johnson    

© WingcomLtd 2007     All Rights Reserved.

(1^st interview in a series on “Racial reconciliation in America”)

December 6, 2007, Marietta, GA…If you are wondering whether race relations have improved in Georgia over the last five years, one of the state’s SuperLawyers, who has openly fought on the side of civil rights, says there has been no improvement. He says some people would like to turn back the clock on race relations, especially in Georgia’s rural areas. On the question of racial harmony, as Georgia goes, so can the rest of the country. 

Former Governor Roy Barnes recently argued before the Georgia Supreme Court, challenging the state's voter ID law, saying it was discriminatory. He lost the case. Student population is 51% non-White and 49% White in the Cobb County School District, yet board members and top administrative officers are all White. Local business and community organizations, like the Rotary and Kiwanis Clubs, do not have diverse memberships.  Church hierarchy and pews are still predominately segregated. Are cards stacked against power sharing? Is the hope of better relationships between races in Cobb County a pipe dream?

Barnes is optimistic that racial reconciliation can become a reality if community leaders demand and teach tolerance while setting the right examples for youth. Barnes says keys to overcoming obstacles to racial reconciliation include openly talking about race, admitting past wrongs, leveling the economic playing field, increasing the number of role models, and building interracial relationships. 

Tomi Johnson conducted the following interview with Barnes whose stance against the Old Georgia Flag led to his gubernatorial defeat in 2002 but also won him the 2003 JFK “Profiles in Courage” Award. A caring gentleman who also handles indigent cases, Barnes is currently a partner with The Barnes Law Group in Marietta, Georgia.

Barnes:  Good afternoon.

Johnson: This is Tomi Johnson with WingcomLtd. 

Barnes:  Yes ma’am. 

Johnson:  I want to thank you in advance for agreeing to this interview.

Barnes: Sure.

Johnson: The topic is “Racial Reconciliation in Cobb County,” and in preparation for this interview, I read your Foreword to the book “FREEDOM” by Michael Thurmond…

Barnes: Yes.

Johnson: …and also your acceptance speech from your “Profiles in Courage” Award…

Barnes: Yes ma’am.

Johnson: I’ve also had a chance to look at your Internet bio on Wikipedia. 

Barnes.  Ok.

Johnson:  I’d like to start out by asking you, how’s Marie? (Barnes’ wife)

Barnes:  She’s doing just fine.

Johnson: Well, that’s good.

Barnes:  We’re busy raising grandchildren these days.

Johnson: Oh, that’s wonderful.

Barnes:  It is. We enjoy it.

Johnson:  This interview will be placed on our WingcomLtd Internet News website and may also be included along with other interviews on the same topic which may be picked up by other news outlets.

Barnes: Alright.

Johnson: Governor, with all the talk in the news about achievement gaps, injustice in the justice system, covenants, and hate crimes, I thought it would be a good time to address the subject of racial reconciliation. Now, there are three things that some people say you should never discuss in polite company: religion, politics, and race. 

Barnes: Yep.

Johnson:  Why do you think there remains such a taboo surrounding race in America? Should this be an emotional subject?

Barnes:  Well, it’s a taboo because, (sigh) ah, it is one of the painful parts of our past. The way that African Americans and others – those of Chinese and Oriental descent – have been treated and the struggles that they have had in becoming accepted in American society… I guess the best way to explain it…our children are all grown now, but when they were small and started to come along and grow up, we had discussions about the fact that I never went to an integrated public school. I always went through public schools, but they were segregated at that time, and there were separate drinking fountains and separate seating arrangements. 

Roy Barnes poses with Tomi Johnson, Ayron Johnson, Daniel Johnson, and Ilea Johnson following his Baccalaureate message to the Sprayberry High School Class of 2005. The hymn for the event was “Here I am Lord, Send Me.” (Photo by Kurk Johnson)

They (my children) didn’t believe it. They thought that it was just one of my fairytales that I told them about, and I said, “No, it’s true.” And I think that it’s difficult for some people, whether it be Southerners or not, to try to discuss a time that they look back upon and say, “Why did we ever do that? Why was it that way?”

I read an article a few years ago about one of the famous photographs taken at the integration of Little Rock, at Central High School in Little Rock Arkansas, and there is a young white woman there that is screaming racial epithets, you can tell it from the look on her face, at this young African American woman that was entering, and the reporter had gone back and found this white woman who was now approaching elder status, and they had asked her about it, and she at first denied that she was the one who had ever done that. Then they showed her the photograph, and she was so ashamed. And I think that that type of reaction is, particularly among those that are white, say, “You know, those were bad times. We just need to forget ‘em and move on.”

Johnson: Uh-huh. Well now, do you think race relations have gotten better or worse since you left office? (2002)

Barnes:  Well, that’s a very short period of time to judge, but I generally think that they have not improved, let me put it that way. I think this whole idea of promising to bring back the Confederate flag which was a part of the Georgia flag, of requiring some type of voter ID which is clearly aimed at African Americans, lower income folks, and the elderly, has not improved racial relations in the state.  

Johnson:  You brought up the Confederate flag, and some people have said that they thought the reason you lost (the gubernatorial race) to Sonny Perdue was partly because of the flag issue. Some others say they thought it could have been because of your position on the Northern Arc Development, and then others say that it was just the tide of conservatism that swept the South by the Republican Party during that particular time period. Do you really think it was because of your stance on the Confederate flag?

Old Georgia Flag	Barnes’ Georgia Flag	Present Georgia Flag
The flag in the in the middle was a compromise flag hoped to appease both African Americans and Confederate sympathizers. It featured historical flags of Georgia but still contained the Confederate Stars and Bars.

Barnes: Yes, all of those things are true, about there being a tide of conservatism, all that other during that time, but I would have withstood that if it had not been for the flag. I think that the flag was the deciding factor in my defeat, and all you have to do is just look at the voter turnout among rural whites, and you see that it was very high and that it was very strong, and that is directly attributable (to my defeat), not to the Northern Arc for those who voted in the southeast part of the state. In the metro area, I ran better than I did before, when I was elected. Where I was defeated was in rural white areas, and I think it was the difference.

Johnson: Do you think it was a distraction from the good that you were trying to do?

Barnes:  I think that… (chuckle) the Confederate flag was a symbol on both sides. To those white Southerners who never really fully accepted African Americans in the community, it was a symbol of, well, one more thing that we’re losing. But of course the stronger symbol to me was that for African Americans, it was a symbol of a time that certainly should not be remembered. 

That does not mean that we should not honor those who fought for the Confederacy even though they may have fought for the wrong cause. As I have said in speeches before, my great grandfather was captured at Vicksburg, and he was not wearing a blue uniform at the time he was captured. At the same time, we should recognize…this goes back to reconciliation… slavery was wrong, segregation was wrong, all of these things…prejudice and hatred are wrong, just because a person is of a different skin complexion than someone else. So reconciliation, in my view, is a part of... listen, there have been some mistakes here made; they were wrong. We admit they were wrong. Let’s move together forward which is what I’ve been trying to say over a period of time. Then, that’s good, but to keep having symbols that are rubbed in the face of a substantial part of our population that glorifies a time when they were held in slavery and blood was being shed to preserve slavery is not the symbol of an entire state.

Johnson: Governor, the definition of “reconciliation” is changing for the better a relationship between two or more persons. “Racial reconciliation” in Cobb County, then, should be an attempt to better relationships between whites and non white persons. You have said a little bit in your previous remarks about what you would like to have happen. In your opinion, in Cobb County’s history, has there been an imbalance?  I believe you’ve already talked about that, but the thing about it is…talking about the past is one thing, but I have been talking to a lot of our youth in the school system, and some of the white students, even in 2006 when I talked to them, still think of some black kids as being lazy and stupid, and they say the reason why is not because of slavery but because “blacks don’t want to get ahead, and they don’t want to work hard.” 

On the other side of the equation, some non-whites that I have talked to have said, “Why try when we feel like we are going to fail?” They say that there are few non-white kids in honors classes even though a lot of them are smart, and they still believe that if they try to go and get a job somewhere, that the white person will be picked over the non-white person. It might not be racism, but some of them believe that it’s part of the psychology of people and the way the brain objectifies people and then the way we’re conditioned by the educational system and the media. What do you think about those kinds of reactions?

Barnes:  I think there needs to be some education on both sides of that issue. The idea that an African American or any person would be stereotyped as lazy or not as smart…I mean, do the white children, boys and girls, do they want to be stereotyped as Southerners when many times white Southerners are considered or stereotyped as redneck, slow, and lazy, and other things like that which is just as wrong as white kids trying to stereotype those African American kids?

The greatest thing of racial reconciliation is this, or the greatest movement towards racial reconciliation is personal relationships between African American and white kids. I find that that overcomes everything and it helps. But this idea that they’re lazy or there’s something in their genetic makeup I think is absolutely wrong. 

There’s a young fellow that worked for me, his name is Meadows, Chuck Meadows, in the Governor’s Office. I met him when I went…he was raised in Atlanta, an African American kid. His daddy was a professor at Morehouse. I met him when I went to speak at Harvard, hired him, and brought him back. He worked in the Governor’s Office the whole time I was governor. He was a bright, bright kid. This idea that African Americans can’t excel, listen, that’s crazy.

Chuck Meadows was Barnes’ Deputy Policy Director. He is presently Vice President for Transportation for the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce as of November 2007.  Meadows is a graduate of Morehouse, has a Master’s degree in public policy from Harvard, and was formerly head of Atlanta’s Office of Budget and Fiscal Policy.

Johnson: I’m glad you talked about growing up and never going to school with African Americans because I was almost in a different situation growing up in Alabama. I was in the first school that was integrated in the state, and it was a Catholic school that was integrated from Black to White, and the Whites that came to the school were members of the Redstone Arsenal community of people who wanted to come there instead of having to come there. But the personal relationships that you mentioned are very important. But on the other end, in the financial world, as far as Blacks and Whites interacting on investment projects or things where money is concerned…you know, they always used to tell me, Governor, that “green” is a great color. 

Barnes: It’s a great equalizer.

Johnson: Uh-huh.

Barnes: And listen, my deputy chief of staff, a fellow named Jerry Gray; he is one of my best friends. We went to Africa together. Our families went. He took his children, and I took my daughter  and my wife. His wife and two children went. We traveled all over East Africa together after I left the Governor’s Office.

Jerry L. Gray was responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Office of External Affairs under Barnes. Mr. Gray received his B.S. degree from Morris Brown College and is presently Director of Government Relations for Chitwood Harley Harnes LLP in Atlanta.

Johnson: I wish you had of invited me! (Laughter)

 

 

Barnes: We had a wonderful time. We stayed gone for two weeks. But Jerry is a good example of a fellow that came from nothing in Arkansas. They were sharecroppers, and he had six or eight brothers. He worked himself through college by being a part-time barber and playing ball. He has blossomed out to be one of the most prosperous young businessmen around. He worked for me around two or three years and now is a business consultant. We have to have those role models. Unfortunately now, let me tell you this, all of our kids, whether they be black or white, don’t have, in my view, some great role models, and they starve for these role models, you know, to show them that being a nerd is good. You know, I was a nerd, but being nerdy pays great benefits in the future. 

Barnes as a high school senior.

 

 

My daughter practices law with me, and I have two granddaughters. The nanny that we have is from Liberia, and she’s got a little girl. She’s almost the same age as my oldest granddaughter, three years old, and they’re inseparable. They have been raised together since they were infants. About two or three weeks ago, I was watching them leave, and they were holding hands. And they go to each other’s house and spend the night with each other. I was watching them hold hands, and when I got in the car, I thought to myself, that proves to me right there that hatred and prejudice is something that we teach children, not what they come with, not something they come wired with. 

Barnes’ family photo from 2002 campaign.

Johnson: That’s very good. Now, one last question, Governor. A lot has been said recently about the ineffectiveness of human rights and civil rights organizations to really get some changes made. Some people have been saying that the NAACP is ineffective, that Rainbow PUSH is washed up. Al Sharpton is too loud or whatever. What, in your estimation, do out leaders, both Black and White, need to do to make racial reconciliation a reality?

Barnes: Well, I’ll tell you what our leaders need to do. Our leaders need to understand that this is an issue that has to be discussed openly and has to be confronted rather than just ignored. I’m a big believer in that if people would just talk together, build personal relationships, that they will never be able to have the cruelty towards a racial group that they thought they could. And I think that open discussion is part of that. Now, I still believe that the NAACP and others like that provide that open discussion and at least push it along. So I wouldn’t fault…and they’re an integral part of this whole discussion. But, our youth need to be taught that tolerance, and understanding, and putting yourself in the shoes of another is as important to the future prosperity and well being of this nation as making an A on an Algebra test.

Johnson:  Very good, Governor. I appreciate your candid comments and thank you so much. I’ll be talking to you later.

Barnes: Alrighty. 

Barnes received the JFK “Profiles in Courage” Award from Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg, a year after his gubernatorial defeat. Barnes’ “Profiles in Courage” acceptance speech can be read at:

http://www.jfklibrary.org/Education+and+Public+Programs/Profile+in+Courage+Award/Award+Recipients/Roy+Barnes/Acceptance+Speech+by+Roy+Barnes.htm

 

In light of school violence…

…I hope this helps.

https://www.secretservice.gov/sites/default/files/2020-04/Protecting_Americas_Schools.pdf

Our History: Table where law abolishing slavery signed in London, UK

While visiting London during the Queen’s funeral last year, I had the opportunity to visit the Museum of London Docklands. Admission was free, but I gave a donation.

(Cranes outside the Docklands.)

There I witnessed a grand exhibit that placed Blacks in historical perspective.

After taking a private tour, my attention was placed on the table where the law to abolish slavery in England was signed. None of the nearly 20,000 slaves who lived in London in 1833 were seated at the table, however.

Know History!

Our History: Tour of Atlanta History Museum’s Cyclorama

Although there were approximately 600 black men at the Battle of Atlanta on July 22, 1864, only one is pictured in the Atlanta History Museum’s Cyclorama painting.  

Blacks were not allowed to fight with guns, even those commanded by Gen. Sherman. They were mostly servants on the battlefield.

Green light underneath what is described as a lone Black man on the battlefield in Battle of Atlanta, 1864.

And the original Cyclorama depicting the Atlanta Civil War Battle was an entertainment piece produced by Germans, used to make it appear that the Confederates won the battle.

Fact: The present Cyclorama in Atlanta’s History Center in Buckhead was completed by C. D. Moody, owner of Atlanta Construction, Lithonia, Ga., an African American.

Let History speak for itself!

Our History

The black judge in "Perry Mason" episode did not receive credit because he didn't have any lines! (Screen capture from show)

I religiously watch old episodes on the Perry Mason Channel and was amazed to see a female judge speaking from the bench on the show one night. Then, on Wednesday night, I was watching "The Case of the Skeleton's Closet" done in 1963 and was surprised that a black man was the judge, but he didn't have any lines and, therefore, no credits! 

The judge having no lines was very unusual because all the other episodes that I've seen had a talking judge, but some surmise that the producers didn't want to upset the audience by having a black man make decisions in the courtroom. That was during the height of the Civil Rights movement!

The man was Vincent Townsend, Jr., and he was an actor and a real judge, the first black judge in Los Angeles County, Calif. He was also a roommate of Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, according to Internet sources. 

Know History!

Army National Guard joins forces with Cobb County Police in PaYS program in Austell, Ga.

Cobb County Police and the U.S. Army signed a partnership agreement today at the Cobb County Police Training Academy located at 2435 East West Connector in Austell, Ga. Signing the document were Brig. Gen. John T. Gentry and Police Chief Stuart VanHoozer.

The U.S. Army Partnership for Your Success (PaYS) program guarantees soldiers five job interviews and possible employment after their service in the Army. It is designed to help soldiers prepare for a career after the Army by connecting them with employers who understand the skills, discipline, and work ethic that military service members possess.

Swearing in was conducted by Brigadier General Gentry. 

Wingcom Watchdog talked to Gentry and VanHoozer after the ceremony.

Brigadier General John T. Gentry, Jr. , Assistant Adjutant General, Army National Guard, Marietta, Ga since August 2019

(Motto: Always ready, always there.)

Q. Okay. It's General Gentry. I just was listening to some of your remarks today, and you were talking about skills that you're looking for, I guess for new recruits, people going into the Army. One of the things you said is they need to make sure that they don't have any behavioral health or drug problems and that they are physically fit. So I just wanted to ask you, how can you guarantee that recruits are mentally, ethically, and culturally fit to serve? 

A. Well, it's a great question. So as part of the screening process, as part of the in-processing that we would do, all of our initial recruiters do some initial screening. Is there a history of some type of behavioral health issues when they were growing up? Or obesity factors? That might come into play as they're doing the initial assessment. All soldiers have to do this before they actually enlist into the Army.

So that oath and enlistment that we did, they would go to a medical processing center which there's one here in Atlanta. It's called MEPS, and that's where they do an actual physical, you know, of their capabilities to be able to serve in the Army. 

And that goes for really all military services. All branches have some type of in-processing that's very similar, and so from there, once they've seen a doctor, who determines them physically fit to come into the Army, that's when they would actually do their enlistment at that point in time. And then they literally, right after that, they’re shipped not too long after that to do their basic training.

Q. I'm glad you mentioned that because we've been noticing, you know, some of the officers, they're out of shape ...  but they have to wear all that gear and run around... 

A. Yeah, the older you get, the harder it is but we have a fitness test that we all have to meet, minimum height and weight standards as well to continue to serve.

 Q. What about flat feet? 

A. Yeah. So that could be a factor that screens one out. You're absolutely right. So someone who has extreme flat feet, that can be problematic for them. With the expected load that the body is supposed to carry into a combat scenario environment. So someone who has extreme flat feet could be screened out as part of that medical physical process. 

Q. Yeah. I know my stepfather wanted to be a Tuskegee Airmen, but he was colorblind so he couldn't do that. So I guess you have to have rules. I’m sorry to interrupt, but I have another interview.

Interview with Chief Ernest Stuart VanHoozer, Jr. , Cobb County Police, Marietta, Ga since 2022

(Motto: One team, one fight, one community.)

Q. This present political environment with activists all up in the air about some things that have been happening in community policing, some activists are saying partnering with the Army could be considered more militarization of the police. How can citizens know that they're not going to be at war with the police?

A. Well, first of all, I’ve never heard one of our community members ever bring anything like that up. So, I’m not sure who has asked you that. We have standards in place in our hiring standards, a very thorough background check and you know, we're trying to make sure that we hire good people, no matter their background. 

So if somebody from the military came into our profession, they would have to meet the standards that we set and we have a good training program after that which is a second step, to train officers to interact with citizens. 

And then finally, we have an accountability program after that where we have policies, we have sergeants and lieutenants that make sure that the conduct of the officers is what we want it to be. We believe in community policing and military people actually have many of the same qualities that we're looking for - self-sacrifice, a commitment to something bigger than themselves, bravery, courage. 

But overall, what I think I see that's common is a desire to do good for American citizens and for American society. So, I believe that it's a good partnership. I believe that. Bringing in people from the military is a positive move, not that bringing people into the police force is just a matter of, well, you were a soldier, so now we're good with you being a police officer. No, we still do a psychological background check. We still do a very thorough polygraph. We do drug testing and a background investigation. So, does that make sense? That kind of answers your question, which makes sense. 

Q. We were watching the funeral yesterday of Mr. Tyre Nichols, and a lot of things were coming out that I think a lot of people in the community are concerned about, and so we don't really know where this is going to lead. But, of course, citizens want to feel safe. 

A. Yes ma'am.

Q. I was interested in the gentleman (veteran) on the crutches. He said he gets very emotional, because it's an emotional job. What you guys see and have to deal with... And that's one thing we want to make sure that the police officers get some kind of help with some mental health program because they have to deal with all these crises …And, so, I guess you agree with that?

A. Oh, 100 percent. In fact, over the years, we've grown our internal mental wellness programs. We have a robust chaplain's program. We have a robust peer support program. We have a mentoring program, in addition to all the other stuff that's already there. We have, the county has an employee assistance program. And we're even growing that more. And I have a deputy chief that's actually in charge of looking at, not only mental wellness, but financial wellness and physical wellness. So yes, we're 100% in agreement.

Q. The gentleman (veteran) also said, I can't remember his name, but he said that only one percent of the police probably are bad police, so 99% are good. That's not a bad percentage. 

A. Yes, ma'am. Every department has a little bit different culture. I can tell you that if we had one percent that we were aware of, they wouldn't be working here. That would be seven bad officers. 

That's too many. I think he was being kind of generic with that. We acknowledge that there are bad actors in any profession. But, yeah, no, we understand that and we just are happy that the community and Cobb County understands that we have a professional department here and the likelihood of what you just saw or what you have seen across the nation is pretty slim here, but that's because of great people that we hire, and great leadership over a number of years, and great county leadership. 

Q. We really appreciate you. 

A. So yes ma'am, thank you. Very good to see you guys. I'm sorry. I am in a little bit…

Q. Okay, that's okay.

Our History

 

Tyre Nichols, killed by police in Memphis, Tenn., was funeralizjed today. Those attending his funeral, including U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, vowed to take action and include legislation invoking a Duty to Relieve addition in his honor to a proposed George Floyd Justice in Policing Act.

Tyre Nichols was defenseless against SCORPION gang cops

This is what a scorpion looks like. (Animal Outtakes)

Tyre Nichols, a slightly-built runner, was on the 3rd yard line headed for a touchdown. From nowhere, armed out-of -control SCORPION tacklers entered the field, intercepted Nichols' manhood and stole his life. It was a game move that officials would penalize and the audience would boo. When will these violent provocations against the innocent stop?

Cobb County Commissioner’s meeting political theatre

Cobb County Commission meeting - Jan. 24, 2023

After receiving an email invite from Cobb County Democrats, I was glad to start the political new year off right by attending a government meeting in small town Marietta, Ga. at 200 Cherokee Street. At the top of the agenda were redistricting/home rule vs laws signed by Gov. Kemp, a commissioner’s moving, and allegedly inaccurate board minutes. 

And even though one speaker said all our troubles are because of the media, I'm writing this anyway.

The place was packed. It was Good ‘ole times night in the overflowing meeting rooms with everyone hugging and profiling. All the would-be and wanna be politicians were there. No free parking in the parking deck. Chairs were locked in place even though Covid is still on the loose, so there was no keeping 6 feet apart, and no one appeared to be wearing a mask. 

Several fraternity Kappa Alpha Psi brothers were present, dressed in “Nupe” red and white sweaters, jackets, and hats. The crowd was racially diverse, but all the commissioners were female as well as the county manager. Wow, how things have changed since I moved to Cobb 28 years ago.

Commissioners and county manager are all women. 51.3% of population are female.

This is the bedrock of local American politics in 2023. This is how local politics is performed.

SCLC, NAACP, and other community group leaders were loudly excited. Even in these serious times, with war in Ukraine and recession looming, I feel the attendees could have been moving to a more productive outcome. An elevated police presence was observed, possibly due to the focus of the meeting and officers being prepared for any violent confrontations. At least one speaker was escorted out at the last meeting after his five minute allotted time expired, and two commissioners retreated to the back of the room.

Having graceful intentions was proffered by a preacher giving the opening prayer. Common courtesy was absent when trying to find a seat. Signs passed around included “Home Rule Protects” and “Cobb United We Stand/Divided We Fall” on two-sided red, white, and blue placards. Wristbands stated “Protect Local Control.”

There were no “No” votes against approving hundreds of thousands of dollars in expenditures which will raise taxes… for transportation improvements and legislative lobbying consultants. 

Lisa Cupid, Esq., was the commission chairwoman officiating the meeting. She got emotional when the clerk was accused of presenting inaccurate minutes. She said that duty was the responsibility of commissioners, not the clerk.

Other business: CPR training for schools exalted with the District 2 community cabinet, Cobb emergency services and local librarians collaborating to give 10-12 students training. Medical examiners office finally fully accredited. Citizens helped when they brought challenges to medical examiner office up…commitment paid off and generations of Cobb Countians will benefit. 

Public comment: 5 minutes for each speaker. Respectful courtesy and servility to be used. Takeaways: We are a free nation;  just move if you are not in a district you ‘re elected to serve. “Just move” is a disturbing message which connotes “You don’t belong” and “Blames the victim” some Democratic commissioners said. 

According to U.S. Census (2021), Cobb County's population is 50.2% White and 49.8% Non-White.

One speaker claimed that notable years in our history included events in 1917, 1955, 1964, and 2020, the year Commissioner Richardson was elected. Richardson has been “redrawn out”of her own district. Another commenter said the county would have to abide by laws enacted by the state legislature and not use home rule to change districts. “The law is the law,” he said. 

Another speaker said we’re close to insurrection, that the legislature will win, and the Commission is unauthorized and lacks authority when it comes to redrawing district maps.

Commissioner Gambrill called for a forensic audit of prior meeting minutes.

District 1 Commissioner Keli Gambrill (R) who in an accountant, asked for a forensic audit to ensure that the integrity of the commission is upheld in regard to meeting minutes. She said the administrative county clerk didn’t perform her job, and accuracy is key. She said the county clerk should accurately record the minutes, that Robert’s Rules of Order were not followed at the last meeting, and that what really happened after the last executive session was in question.

Democratic commissioners said the video record was not synced at the last meeting, but “Truth cannot be changed, and words have consequences!”

To watch past meetings, go to the Cobb County government website.  Knowledge is power!

Correction: "Just one correction….this was the 2^nd meeting of the year.  It was the first meeting where Commissioners Gambrill and Birrell both refused to vote on any of the work of the evening that was the 1^st meeting of the year."--- Sally Riddle, SCLC

Should we get involved?

The fire next time!

If you look at current events today, it seems that the powerful are chipping away at our freedoms. And although I learned from Black Panther organizer Elaine Brown that we should not get involved in fights that don't pertain to us, here are some recent events that should spur us to get involved, for little by little,  our rights are being eroded.

Abortion: Even though I am past child bearing age, why should politicians be involved with deciding a women's right to medical procedures? Why are poor people and people of color being told that they can't get an abortion for any reason?

Affirmative Action: Even though I won't be going to UNC or Harvard, why are politicians getting ready to un-diversify education? Why are schools being re-segregated, and why are parents fighting against CRT?

Guns/weapons: Even though I don't intend to kill anyone with a gun, why have politicians made it O.K. to carry guns in public and have enacted laws to let young supremacists off the hook when they kill us in the streets? Why did police allow a man to hit an elder in the head with a hammer?

Housing: Even though I have a home and mortgage, why is housing unaffordable for many Americans, and first time homebuyers can't find decent housing because bank interest rates and HOA fees disqualify them from owning a home?

What actions are you gonna take until your freedom to protect yourself is extinguished?

Still fighting for inclusion? Who wants to segregate?

Let's face it: racism exists on Planet Earth, but not all folks are racists.

But, is the next generation of racists being educated by today's white supremacists?

Ask yourself why good 'ole boy networks exist.

Ask yourself why people can't find affordable housing.

Contemplate why your children bid you to pick your battles, remind you that you're not MLK, and have indebted themselves to banks, HOA's and college collection agencies.

We're living in a nightmare! Happy Halloween.