Yesterday, December 14, Eshanul (Shifa) Sadequee and Haris Ahmed were sentenced. Shifa received a 17 year sentence and Haris a 13 year one. Both will have a 30-year probation after serving their time. Shifa represented himself at the hearing and, after hearing a prepared statement by the judge, refused to stand. Although Judge Duffy said during the hearing he would consider certain objections when sentencing, his reading of a prepared statement meant he had already made up his mind before entering the courtroom. Judge Duffy is, at best, disingenuous. Worse, his statement was a white supremacist rant along the lines of Samuel Huffington's "Clash of Civilizations." I will write my impressions of that disgusting display later.

Below is my statement on behalf of Shifa. Shifa refused to allow anyone to speak on his behalf. I can only surmise that spending 3 1/2 years in solitary confinement has had some kind of effect on him. The trauma of that experience must be extreme. My statement begins below. You can read more about the sentencing, including the family statement, at freeshifa.com.

My name is Daniel. I first met Shifa some years ago and a friend of his and his family. In considering his sentence, I would like to tell you about the Shifa I met and know. This Shifa is compassionate, caring, and gentle. The Shifa I know is one who has worked to make Atlanta a better place, a place without violence.

I met Shifa at a national conference to end domestic violence. I met Shifa in the hallway and spoke with him about the conference. He struck me as young but sincere in his desire to create a world without violence. Through Shifa I met his sister and was connected to Raksha, the South Asian anti-domestic violence organization. I was working on a project to bring together crime survivors with family members of formerly and currently incarcerated people in order to address state policy issues. Shifa helped facilitate this project through his introductions. It was through this project I met my wife. It is too strong to say I owe my marriage to Shifa, I do not. However, the path that led me to where I am included meeting Shifa. He helped me along that path. He did it through kindness and gentleness.

Justice would be served by considering the full person before you. Your honor, the only Shifa I know is one who is peaceful. The only Shifa I know is one who loves his family and wants them to live in a violence-free world. I would welcome this Shifa to live in my neighborhood or in my home. As you sentence him today, I ask that you consider this Shifa.

Shifa Sadequee will be sentenced on Monday, December 14. Please come to the hearing and provide support. Gather at 10 am at the Russel Federal Building in Downtown Atlanta.

For more information, look at the Free Shifa website at freeshifa.com.

Below is the synapsis of the case taken from the Free Shifa site.

Ehsanul “Shifa” Sadequee is an American born US citizen kidnapped from Bangladesh at 19 and detained unconstitutionally in solitary confinement since 2006. He has been subjected to a physical assault to his head, denied medical care, and has suffered psychological abuse at the federal prison in Atlanta, GA. Shifa endured punishment and torture for over 1200 days (over 3 years) in solitary confinement before the trial began.

For a long period, Shifa was denied access to information on the charges or evidence against him. The so-called “evidence” used to convict him consisted of on-line chats, visiting & taping tourist sites, and translating and publishing scholarly religious texts from Arabic to English. His First Amendment rights to religious beliefs, translation and publication of scholarly and academic literature, free speech, and debates have been violated.

Shifa Sadequee was convicted on August 12 on four counts of conspiracy and attempt to provide material support to foreign terrorist organizations. The evidence is flimsy and the laws are all based on “pre-emptive prosecution” to convict people before a crime has been committed. This case is part of a larger strategy from the Bush era of targeting Muslims for detention and discrimination – through policies of torture, illegal wiretapping and detentions throughout the U.S. and at Guantanamo. We must work together in this new era of hope to end these unjust policies and to remember individuals like Shifa who are still suffering the consequences.

This blog has never gotten many comments so I've not felt the need to have any kind of policy. I've said before I don't like anonymous comments and usually reject them unless the commenter has a good reason. However, my repost of "Some Analysis of Atlanta Police Brutality & Queer People" has generated a bit of comments and all of them are anonymous. I've only posted one and here's why.

Even a casual glance at any daily newspaper site, magazine, blog, etc. shows that the comments section become a haven for white supremacists and fascists to blame people of color, women, and/or poor people for everything. They do it by hiding behind anonymous names. Now I have a job. I understand that if everyone on that job knew about everything I've written or said my life on that job would be more difficult. To that end, I don't have my full name and address on this blog. But this site has been up for some time and if someone wants to disagree with me there's an email contact where they can do that. Anonymous comments, particularly ones that are white supremacist, et. al, are one shot deals without accountability. That doesn't fly unless you got a good reason.

If the comment substantially adds something to the conversation, if you make the case that your information would affect your job or safety, if you want to post a link or suggestion for further information, I will accept the comment. If you repeat something that's been said already, or if you want to challenge people to "strap on a badge and pistol and see how big your attitude is when your [sic] standing alone in the ghetto," then I'm going to delete your comment. Why? Some of the reason is because you don't know. Do a little reading and think about it. Or, here's an idea, post an identity (like a name or email address) and invite a conversation.

Just a thought or two.

Abolitionist John Brown was executed by the state of Virginia on December 2, 1859. Brown had led a raid on the armory at Harper's Ferry with the intent of raising an army to free enslaved Africans. The raid failed and Brown was executed. His execution probably did more to move the nation towards the Civil War than the raid ever could. Below is the last letter he wrote to his wife and children. The text comes from The Life and Trial of John Brown website.

Letter dated November 30, 1859

My Dearly Beloved Wife, Sons and Daughters, Everyone--

As I now begin what is probably the last letter I shall ever write to any of you, I conclude to write to all at same time. I will mention some little matters particularly applicable to little property concerns in another place.

I recently received a letter from my wife, from near Philadelphia, dated November 22, by which it would seem that she was about giving up the idea of seeing me again. I had written her to come on if she felt equal to the undertaking, but I do not know that she will get my letter in time. It was on her own account chiefly that I asked her to stay back. At first I had a most strong desire to see her again, but there appeared to be very serious objections; and should we never meet in this life, I trust that she will in the end be satisfied it was for the best at least, if not most for her comfort. I inclosed in my last letter to her a draft of fifty dollars from John Jay, made payable to her order. I have now another to send her, from my excellent old, friend Edward Harris, of Woonsocket, R. L, for one hundred dollars, which I shall also make payable to her order.

I am waiting the hour of my public murder with great composure of mind and cheerfulness, feeling the strong assurance that in no other possible way could I be used to so much advantage to the cause of good and of humanity, and that nothing that either I or all my family have sacrificed or suffered will be lost. The reflection that a wise and merciful, as well as just and Holy God, rules not only the affairs of this world, but of all worlds, is a rock to set our feet upon under all circumstances--even those more severely trying ones into which our own feelings and wrongs have placed us. I have now no doubt but that our seeming disaster will ultimately result in the most glorious success; so, my dear shattered and broken family, be of good cheer, and believe and trust in God with all your heart, and with all your soul; for He doeth all things well. Do not feel ashamed on my account, nor for one moment despair of the cause or grow weary of well doing. I bless God I never felt stronger confidence in the certain and near approach of a bright morning and a glorious day than I have felt, and do now feel, since my confinement here. I am endeavoring to return, like a poor prodigal as I am, to my Father, against whom I have always sinned, in the hope that he may kindly and forgivingly meet me, though a very great way off.

Oh! my dear wife and children, would to God you could know how I have been travailing in birth for you all, that no one of you may fail of the grace of God.

Through Jesus Christ--that no one of you may be blind to the truth and glorious light of his Word, in which life and immortalty are brought to light, I beseech you every one, to make the Bible your daily and nightly study, with a childlike, honest, candid, teachable spirit of love and respect for your husband and father.

And I beseech the God of my fathers to open all your eyes to the discovery of the truth. You cannot imagine how much you may soon need the consolations of the Christian religion. Circumstances like my own for more than a month past have convinced me beyond all doubt, of our great need of some theories treasured up when our prejudices are excited, our vanity worked up to the highest pitch. Oh! do not trust your eternal all upon the boisterous ocean without even a helm or compass to aid you in steering. I do not ask any of you to throw away your reason; I only ask you to make a candid, sober use of your reason.

My dear younger children, will you listen to this last poor admonition of one who can only love you? Oh! be determined at once to give your whole heart to God, and let nothing shake or alter that resolution. You need have no fears of regretting it. Do not be vain and thoughtless, but sober minded; and let me entreat you all to love the whole remnant of our once great family. Try and build up again your broken walls, and to make the utmost of every stone that is left. Nothing can so tend to make life a blessing as the consciousness that your life and example bless and leave you the stronger. Still, it is ground of the utmost comfort to my mind to know that so many of you as have had the opportunity have given some proof of your fidelity to the great family of men. Be faithful unto death; from the exercise of habitual love to man it cannot be very hard to learn to love his Maker.

I must yet insert the reason for my firm belief in the divine inspiration of the Bible, notwithstanding I am perhaps naturally skeptical, certainly not credulous. I wish all to consider it most thoroughly when you read that blessed book, and see whether you cannot discover such evidence yourselves. It is the purity of heart filling our minds as well as work and actions, which is everywhere insisted on, that distinguishes it from all the other teachings, that commends it to my conscience. Whether my heart be willing and obedient or not, the inducement that it hold. out is another reason of my convictions of its truth and genuineness; but I do not here omit this my last argument on the Bible that eternal life is what my soul is punting after this moment. I mention this as a reason for endeavoring to leave a valuable copy of the Bible to be carefully preserved in remembrance of me, to see many of my posterity, instead of some other book equal cost.

I beseech you all to live in habitual contentment with moderate circumstances and gains of worldly store, and earnestly to teach this to your children and children's children after you, by example as well as precept. Be determined to know by experience, as soon as may be, whether Bible instruction is of divine origin or not. Be sure to owe no man anything, but to love one another. John Rogers wrote to his children, "Abhor that arrant whore of Rome." John Brown writes to his children to abhor, with undying hatred also, that sum of all villainies--Slavery. Remember, he that is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he that ruleth in spirit than he that taketh a city. Remember, also, that they, being wise, shall shine, and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever.

And now, dearly beloved family, to God and the work of His Grace I commend you all.

Your affectionate husband and father,
John Brown

This week is the 3rd anniversary of the killing of Kathryn Johnston by the Atlanta Police Department. Chief Pennington attended a community meeting where he said he was sorry. Indeed, he's very sorry. Below is the AJC story about how sorry he is. Of course, the neighborhood situation is the same as before. The police are still out of control. The review board still doesn't have subpoena power, and the APD wants it that way. But Pennington is really sorry.

Wait, did I say the neighborhood situation is the same as before? According to the Associated Press, I'm wrong on that account. Their in-depth coverage (4 paragraphs) shows how much better things are. They even talked to a businessman, so you know things must be just peachy.

The Atlanta Police Department seems in the news a lot lately. Perhaps this is only because I've been watching more intensely. Of course, the mayor's race may have something to do with it. The police union recently endorsed Kasim Reed. Chief Pennington issued an order that officer have to cooperate with the civilian review board (CRB), although the officers do not have to testify before the board. Pennington is committed to keeping a CRB without the power to do its work, a stance consistent with the APD. He only issued this order after significant prodding from the CRB to keep his promise.

Lastly there is the CBS Atlanta story on bad cops, posted on November 16 and updated on November 17. While it's interesting to read the stories of cops gone bad, the problem is it positions police misconduct as the problem of a few bad apples. The lesson from the CBS story is that most cops are good people, but sometimes there are bad ones. We have to weed out the bad ones and we'll be fine. What if the problem is systemic? What if we're not talking about bad apples, but a tree that produces poison fruit?

If this sounds interesting, I recommend Kristian Williams's book, Our Enemies in Blue.

For what it's worth, the CBS Atlanta story is reprinted below.

CBS Atlanta News Investigates Cops On Other Side Of Law

http://www.cbsatlanta.com/news/21632579/detail.html

ATLANTA -- CBS Atlanta News is asking tough questions about good cops gone bad. The people protecting the streets in Atlanta have found themselves behind bars for drinking and driving and even charged with murder. In less than two years, 27 Atlanta police officers have had run-ins with the law, some of them more than once.

Reporter Jennifer Mayerle asked Maj. Lane Hagin what the arrests say about the department.

“It says police officers are human. Certainly it's not the image we want to present as a police department,” said Hagin.

CBS Atlanta News obtained video of Officer William Greenwell after drinking with another Atlanta police officer. He stumbles during a sobriety test, telling the Smyrna Police officer who pulled him over he had eight or nine mixed drinks. The incident reports shows Greenwell’s initial blood alcohol level was .17. He pleaded guilty to DUI.

John Freeman is in jail awaiting trial on a charge of murder. He admits shooting the security guard at his apartment complex multiple times.

“It’s embarrassing to even have someone accused of that as a police officer, and certainly if it's proven to be true and he's convicted, that's a black eye,” said Hagin.

Edward Rabb was charged with the rape of a neighbor in 2008. The District Attorney’s office decided not to take the case to court. Less than a year later, he was arrested for drinking and driving. Reports show he blew an initial .18, more than twice the legal limit. Police reports show his "eyes were blood shot and watery, and he had urinated on himself."

William Rucker is another double offender. Video CBS Atlanta News obtained of Rucker weaving in and out of traffic is what landed him in jail for a week, while APD kept him on the payroll. He was found guilty of numerous traffic violations. Rucker was also jailed for lying to police in South Carolina. Rucker is currently on desk duty.

Stephen Moyet was charged with simple assault and battery for attacking a fellow officer responding to a domestic 911 call.

Two officers resigned while still under investigation. Justin Green pleaded guilty to hit and run. He didn't resign until he tested positive for cocaine, and admitted to losing his gun while out partying.

Duane Grundy was already on administrative leave when he was locked up for the attack on then girlfriend, Brittani Lewis. Lewis said she feared for her life.

“He actually started choking me, and my head was down in my leather couches and I couldn't breathe. My 3-year-old son was hitting him, fighting him, trying to pull his pants, trying to get him off of me,” said Lewis.

Grundy also admitted to smoking marijuana while working at APD. CBS Atlanta News has learned he is now working at Lenox mall.

Mayerle asked Hagin what the department is doing to make sure there aren't any more black eyes.

“We have good people here, we have good training. There's a very stringent hiring process that we put people through,” said Hagin.

If you see cops behaving badly, you can file a report with the department they work for over the phone or in person. You can also contact the Office of Professional Standards.

The Sunday Paper recently ran an open letter from Sgt. Scott Kreher. Sgt Kreher is president of the police union and a veteran of the Atlanta Police Department. After reading the letter I had some questions I would like to ask Sgt. Kreher. An edited version of this letter will be published, maybe, in The Sunday Paper this coming Sunday, November 15.

Dear Sgt. Scott Kreher:

I recently read your letter to the Atlanta mayoral candidates, “Save Our Cops: An open letter to Atlanta's next mayor.” In your letter you mention that in order “save our cops” the city should implement certain changes including pay raises, tuition reimbursement, and other steps to help reduce police turnover.

Based on your letter, the best way Atlanta can keep cops seems to be to prevent turnover. That sounds like a good strategy. But your letter is missing a key selling point: what’s in it for the people of Atlanta.

Are more cops the best strategy for insuring public safety? I’m not so sure. There are some things that police are particularly unable to help with. Domestic violence immediately comes to mind. “Most intimate partner victimizations are not reported to the police.” That’s a quote from a report by the U.S. Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice. Here’s another quote, “The majority of victims who did not report their victimization to the police thought the police would not or could not do anything on their behalf. These findings suggest that most victims of intimate partner violence do not consider the justice system an appropriate vehicle for resolving conflicts with intimates.”

Can you imagine? Being beaten, threatened, abused every day and refusing to call the police. Why? Because the police bring problems, they don’t solve them.

Here’s my idea. Make a bargain with the people. Be the first police department to submit to civilian control. Why not make a contract with the people of Atlanta; civilian control for better working conditions. Specifically, I’m talking about a civilian review board with the actual power and funding to review the police. Right now Atlanta has a sham board incapable of holding police accountable for their actions. This isn’t the fault of the board. They are good people, but the board just doesn’t have the power to do the job. Given the continuous pattern of violence of the Atlanta police department, a body able to truly investigate misconduct would go a long way to restoring trust.

I know that supporting this idea goes against the tradition of the Atlanta Police Department. I also know that this pattern isn’t limited to the APD. Lots of police departments oppose the idea of a civilian review board. I dare say that the majority are absolutely opposed to the idea of a review board with independent subpoena power. To be honest, I can see the sense of that. If I had the chance to do my job with less supervision, I probably would accept it. If someone wanted to add another boss to my job, I would probably oppose it. Of course, if doing my job kept leading to people being abused and even killed, I wouldn’t doubt that this new boss would be added despite my objections. Back 2008, I believe, the APD opposed the civilian review board holding subpoena powers. Not a year before this the U.S. Attorney said there was a “culture of misconduct” in the department. Sergeant, it’s just quite clear that the Atlanta police need another boss. The current bosses aren’t doing the job.

Fortunately, there are some things the APD can do to redeem itself. First, they can support the demands of Atlanta BLOCS (Building Locally to Organize for Community Safety). The three demands are that the mayor support:

1) Creating a Search Committee to conduct a nationwide search for the next Chief of Police, and guaranteeing that this committee include members of the ACRB and concerned community members;

2) Appointing a police chief who publicly commits to ensuring full cooperation with the ACRB, including the disciplining of officers who refuse to comply; and

3) Calling for, and supporting a full ACRB investigation of the REDDOG unit with a commitment to following the recommendations produced by such an inquiry.

However, I would say this is only a first step. For the APD to really show it deserves support the department, the chief, and the union will have to support a fully funded civilian review board with subpoena power. The funding for the board can come from the same sources you outline in your letter. Towing fees, license enforcement, and better contracting of supplies (quartermastering) sound like a decent way of raising the funds. Personally, I’m willing to go on trust that this will work. The Southern Center for Human Rights has a report on the Atlanta civilian review board, including recommendations to make the board effective. If you and the rest of the police are willing to accept those recommendations, I’m sure the people of Atlanta wouldn’t begrudge you a small pay raise and tuition reimbursement. What do you say? If your answer is no, then what exactly about the APD is worth saving?

Sincerely,

Dan

The Atlanta Progressive News wrote up a story on the police accountability press conference by BLOCS (Building Locally to Organize for Community Safety). You can read the full BLOCS letter at their website. Below is the APN report.

Group Calls for Citizen Review Board Powers, Red Dog Investigation

By Jonathan Springston, Senior Staff Writer, The Atlanta Progressive News (November 09, 2009)
http://www.atlantaprogressivenews.com/news/0543.html

(APN) ATLANTA – 30 community organizations called for police accountability during a rally at City Hall on Thursday, October 29, 2009.

A coalition led by Atlanta Building Locally to Organize for Community Safety (BLOCS) sent a letter to each of the Mayoral candidates prior to the General Election, asking that each pledge to lead a nationwide search for a new police chief, strengthen the Atlanta Citizen Review Board (ACRB), and call for a ACRB investigation of the Atlanta Police Department’s (APD) Red Dog Unit.

"Having a police force that is accountable to the community it serves is a bedrock principle of community and public safety," Moki Macias of Atlanta BLOCS said. "All of our Mayoral candidates have spoken of increasing numbers on our police force. What we’re now asking is that they commit to increasing the quality of the department by supporting community involvement and strong oversight mechanisms."

Several speakers offered troubling testimonials about clashes with police.

Felicia Kennedy, a West End resident, witnessed APD officers beating an unarmed suspect in front of her house on October 15, she said. When she began taking pictures of the incident, the officers confiscated the camera and placed Kennedy under arrest "for trying to be a member of my community."

"What is happening is not community policing," she said. "We need a more responsible police force."

Robby Kelley, co-owner of the Atlanta Eagle, experienced first-hand Red Dog tactics when 25 members of the controversial squad raided his club on September 10, a story first reported by Atlanta Progressive News.

Kelley recounted how officers stormed the bar with no warrant and forced employees and patrons to lie face down on the floor while the unit searched for drugs and inspected licenses.

He remembered officers enjoying the raid and using derogatory language, with one allegedly exclaiming, "We should do this to a fag bar every week."

"Not every member of the Atlanta police force are representative of [these officers]," Kelley said. "But those responsible should be held accountable."

The Atlanta City Council created the ACRB in the wake of the 2006 APD shooting of 92 year-old Kathryn Johnston to investigate questionable police action.

But without subpoena power, the ACRB remains a toothless body that has no ability to force APD cooperation.

Macias told APN three APD officers that week had said they would refuse to cooperate with any ACRB request unless Chief Richard Pennington directs them to do so.

"There is a culture here in the APD that is not accountable and is not transparent," she said. "We call for quality of officers before we have quantity of officers."

Former mayoral candidate Kyle Keyser, founder of Atlantans Together Against Crime (ATAC), concurred that the issue is "quality and not quantity when it comes to the Atlanta Police Department."

"Not all police officers are bad," former candidate Jesse Spikes said. "There are many officers out there doing hard work and I will support those doing that work."

Mary Norwood, Kasim Reed, and former candidate Lisa Borders were not on hand but representatives from the campaigns affirmed their support of the pledge.

Norwood's campaign first learned of the Atlanta BLOCS pledge when APN contacted their organization the day before the press conference. Norwood's campaign noted that they have stated their preference for a local police chief, although Atlanta BLOCS told APN they did not think that was inconsistent with the pledge because a national search could start locally.

There were also former candidates for Atlanta City Council on hand, including Dwanda Farmer (Post 1 At-Large), Darrien Fletcher (District 3), and former ACRB member LaShawn Hoffman (District 4), each of whom support the pledge.

Macias told APN that the community should be able to judge the police by "how much they respect the community."

"We want a transparent process... because that’s going to start them on the right path to healing with the community."

I wrote a letter to my senators asking why they would vote no to Senate amendment 2588. They both responded, but I still have questions. Here's my response to their response.

Dear Sen. Johnny Isakson, Sen. Saxby Chambliss:

Thank you for replying to my letter asking you about your no vote on S. Amdt. 2588 of the Defense Authorization Bill. I am sending this follow-up letter because from reading your response your no vote was based on different information than what I was aware existed. I’m hoping that this letter can help clarify matters, so if I’m wrong please let me know.

Sen. Isakson, you wrote that you voted against the amendment “in accordance with the recommendation of the President and his Department of Defense, which opposed this amendment.” Perhaps you aren’t aware that the President is not against the intent of this legislation. He had some concerns about how it would be implemented, but he supported the legislation. The Department of Defense had questions about whether the amendment was enforceable, but it is overstating the case to say they opposed it.

As an aside though, can you clarify how important the President’s opinion is in casting your vote? I don’t have a problem with you deciding to vote “in accordance with the President.” That cannot be any worse than any other way of voting. I’m assuming that since the President is for the Employee Free Choice Act, you will now also vote in favor of that bill.

Sen. Isakson you also wrote that the amendment “would lead to defense contractors eliminating arbitration altogether as an option for employees.” Sen. Chambliss you wrote that employers would be “forced to eliminate mandatory arbitration as an option for resolving employment disputes.” Are you both aware that, in fact, this amendment wouldn’t do that? The amendment doesn’t eliminate arbitration, it eliminates having arbitration as the only option. In other words, workers would still be able to go to court.

What’s interesting to me is that the both of you are so concerned about making sure employees have multiple options when it comes to settling grievances. I applaud this intent. I would once again like to suggest you support the Employee Free Choice Act since this legislation would give employees, not employers, more options when it comes to deciding whether or not to have a union. Right now, workers can be forced by their employer into an election, “a very expensive and lengthy process.” (That’s from your letter about the court system, Sen. Isakson.) Also, the current process is ripe with employer abuse including harassment and illegal firings. Giving employees more options- like only having them vote once on whether they want a union rather than filing cards asking for an election and then voting in a months-long election process designed to protect employers while they abuse human rights- would help stop this process.

Lastly, I’m curious about your votes on federal funding for ACORN. The both of you have supported banning the group from receiving federal monies because of their transgressions. Will you also call for other organizations to be banned from federal funds? I’m talking about organizations like Blackwater since they killed civilians in Iraq. In fact, they have a history of it. Also there’s the case of Halliburton. Jamie Leigh Jones, a former Halliburton employee, alleges she was gang raped by her coworkers while in Iraq. You both know about her because Sen. Franken introduced his amendment to give her some relief in court. She also alleges that Halliburton covered up the crime. If this is true, then Halliburton would be guilty of covering up a horrific crime. Without a doubt you both would agree with this since you both stated in your letters how much you believe rape to be a terrible violation. I have no doubt that you both would support banning Halliburton from receiving federal funds. That's the only way I can see your votes as being consistent. If you aren't consistent, then there must be some ulterior motive for attacking ACORN but leaving Halliburton and Blackwater alone. If I’m wrong, please let me know.

Thank you for your time. I look forward to hearing more from you.

Dan