Frank T Williams
1/31/05

Say what you want about the American Law, it isn't perfect and we all know it, but after all, nothing is. The fact is that crime by color seems to incarcerate more African Americans and People of Color than those lacking melanin. It doesn't matter the reasoning such as mental health issues, behavioral disorders, alcohol related, drug related, abuse, self-defense, wrong place at the wrong time, etc., if you are a person of color the law doesn't always play fair. But, here is a guy, a millionaire, a cross dresser, who killed a man, dismembered the body and was found-NOT GUILTY!

In 2002, three children ages 6, 10 and 15 played in the woods where they lived in Lewisville, Texas. The 6 year old, Jackson Carr, ended up stabbed and buried under 2 feet of mud. The one who stabbed him was his 15 years old sister while his 10 year-old brother held him down. They were accused of fratricide while allegations of emotional and physical abuse were being kicked around, and therapy was requested for the girl. She was to face up to 40 years if tried as an adult.

In 1999, a Michigan jury convicted Nathaniel Abraham of the shooting death of 18 year-old Ronnie Greene, Jr. An African American youth convicted of second-degree murder, was only 11 year-old when charged with the murder. His attorney Geoffrey Fieger said, "Abraham could not have formed an intent to kill because he was too mentally and intellectually challenged," and could not prove that the bullet came from the gun fired by Abraham. Defense psychologists Margaret Stack testified and Kathleen Sullivan testified that Abraham's cognitive and mental abilities to form intent were lacking. Nevertheless, Nathaniel Abraham was convicted of second-degree murder.

In Florida, a 13 year-old African American youth, Nathaniel Brazill, was charged with first-degree murder of his teacher, Barry Grunow, 35. Brazill said, "I wasn't thinking clearly when I took the gun to school on that day. I was too upset." He didn't mean for the gun to go off, when he was told he couldn't speak to a girl by the teacher. The teacher pushed the gun away," like he thought it was fake," and the gun went off, "I don't know how it happened." State Attorney Barry Krischer said he had an obligation to try young Brazill as an adult. Mistake it or not, it was murder in the first for young Brazill. At 14, he was given 28 years.

In 1999, a young African American girl by the name of Tiffany Eunick, died as a result of being banged and slammed, wrestler style. A 14 year-old African American youth named Lionel Tate will spend the rest of his life in prison. He was given a life sentence in Florida. The two were friends who played together, and the end was tragic for Tiffany Eunick and for Lionel Tate. Lionel Tate's attorney Jim Lewis said the boy accidentally killed Tiffany Eunick because "he was not mature enough to understand that professional wrestling is staged."

Mr. Robert Durst, a 60 year-old White male, New York real estate millionaire, killed a neighbor, 71 year-old Morris Black, in self defense and dismembered the body. Black's head was never found. He said the death of Mr. Black, was accidental as they struggled over a gun. Mr. Durst, a fugitive, was caught in Pennsylvania after six weeks when he got caught trying to steal a five dollar sandwich with $500.00 in his pocket. This was after he flew to New Orleans with five pounds of cannabis (marijuana) and $500,000.00 in cash as a result of the police finding Mr. Black's remains. Self-defense was his defense and he won a not-guilty verdict on November 11, 2003.

There are millions of men and women incarcerated doing 5 years to life for less. There are men and women, African American and People of Color serving time for possession of narcotics as if they committed murder. They are not allowed to use defenses like, "you guys brought it here for us to sell for you." They are not allowed to use defenses like, "you allow it to come into our communities for a reason." They are not allowed to use defenses like, "I had to feed my children cause your budget cuts caused me to get laid off a job that I had for 12 years."

I am angry but I am not condoning drug sells or crime. I just think it is about time for the Constitution of the United States of America to be used for all Americans. I just think it is about time for the laws, the media, the politicians, the special interests, and the one per-centers to stop mocking those deemed not privileged on a lofty class status in this US of A.

How in the world can you kill a person and dismember that person, run twice, get caught, and win on a self-defense defense? It can be done in America for those who are privileged. People of Color get years, nothing less than 25 to life, and the others, especially, the powerfully rich with rich backgrounds, get off with a slap on the wrist. It isn't fair and its time for us to make a stand against this supposedly equality in the court of law. Too many are incarcerated behind mistakes that were not violent, how can Robert Durst get away with murder. Many other rich and powerful non-persons of color have done the same. I am not defending murders and I am not bashing White Americans, but I am against racism and veils that cover it. The media let us know and we still sit back and accept deceit.

The history of lynching in the US remains the same for African Americans and People of Color, while the others who are of status, continue to do what they do. It's insane, but you don't see it because you're colorblind. []