Welcome To Nebraska, “The Good Life†–
For Whites Only: A Lincoln family’s experience
By Shar’on Glenn
Setting the record straight! Minorities are targeted victims of the Nebraska criminal justice system and police brutality due to “racial discrimination†and bias. Read on, as some light is shed upon racial injustice, as you walk in the shoes of a Black family through the Nebraska “Good Life†criminal justice system.
What brought us to Lincoln, Nebraska? In 1994, we were given military orders to relocate. Racial discrimination began immediately. The most recent incident occurred July 3, 2006.
We attended a July 4 block party. Hundreds were in attendance: White 99 percent, Black 0.1 percent. Police were summoned. Subsequently, only two Black Americans were attacked and charged with felony crimes.
My son and I were leaving as the block party ended. My son and five White friends took items to a friend’s home when several police arrived on the scene under the pretense of pursuing a White female. As the young men walked to the garage, I went to the restroom. Unbeknownst to me, nine officers including two veteran sergeants interrogated my son and his friends.
For no apparent reason, the interrogation turned into a physical attack upon my son. He wears dreadlocks and is broader built, fondly known as a gentle giant. No one else but my son was attacked at this time. After exiting the home, I entered the garage, noticing the commotion, and was attacked from behind by police after asking the simple question, “What is going on?â€
A sergeant had a video camera used earlier to record activities at the block party. He had the camera during the police attack. He never intended to use his camera to record the police brutality and only filmed the officers’ feet and garage floor. A White male witness used his video camera to record the melee. Once an officer realized the witness was recording he told him to stop. This witness refused and verbally challenged the officer. The officer tried to break the witness’ camera by knocking it out of his hands.
The brutality entailed a 360-pound. cop grabbing and spinning me around 360 degrees and then being thrown and slammed face down on a car by another cop. I’m 120 lbs. diagnosed with fibromyalgia. My son was thrown to the garage floor, punched numerous times in his face, and placed in a chokehold until nearly blacking out while lying in a pool of blood.
We sustained multiple contusions, scratches, and bruises, not to mention the psychological effects, and ultimately vast legal bills. After the beatings, we were arrested. During the painful journey to the police station, officers continued to taunt us by repeatedly taking pictures of our battered faces with their personal cameras, as if we were some prized animals or “catch of the dayâ€. One cop could not take the picture he wanted, my son’s bloody face, because his dreadlocks covered it, and he whined, “No fair!â€
Once arriving at the station, our mug shots were taken and not until release on July 5 and July 7 were we informed of the felony third-degree assault of a police officer and resisting arrest charges. Denied medical care and prescription medication, there was no freedom for this jailed Black family and due process was only a dream. No Miranda rights. No attorney. No visitors. No phone call. No “Good Life†for this Nebraska family, only pain and suffering.
Four White males attending the same block party and also a part of the same incident received minor charges and were released shortly thereafter. The White male witness videotaping the melee, was one of the four. Our breathalyzers tests proved negative. This is not true of the four White males.
Family profile:
Mother/Shar’on L. Glenn, (Age: 47), 100 percent disabled veteran, mother and grandmother. Has a Human Service degree, major discipline electives in Criminal Justice. Has been a homeowner for 13 years. No prior criminal record.
Son/Jason M.D. Wakefield (Age 24), supports an only child, is a college student. Also has recently received certification as a member of the American Welding Society, and is interested in pursuing career in under-water welding. Also takes care of family home and disabled mom. No prior criminal record.
Trial: Black History Month
On February 26, 2007 at 9:00 A.M. trial was set for three days. February 27, 2007 at approximately 3:35 P.M., after six and a half hours, including perjured testimonies from six officers, and a 20-minute break, the Judge found us guilty of felony third-degree assault of a police officer and one-count each of resisting arrest.
Sentencing:
May 14, 2007, Jason sentenced to 59 days in jail and 18 months probation. I was sentenced to eighteen months probation. As felons, we have lost our rights to vote. The judge’s decision cited Appellant v. Bourke Neb. Rev. Stat. 28-311.01. This case embodies the Nebraska State Terrorist Threats Statute. Our attorneys never informed us we were being tried under this statute for engaging in “terrorist threatsâ€. I am a disabled veteran and I served my country honorably. My son is an Army brat. We were and still are most devastated by this finding.
Representation/Appeal:
We hired separate attorneys. To our dismay, they were inadequate, incompetent, unprofessional, and lacked zealous representation. No witnesses were called, no medical evidence introduced. This evidence was crucial in our case. I sought medical attention at the St. Elizabeth Hospital emergency room. A male cop took photographs of my injuries. After sentencing, I discovered the photographs had been removed from my medical file and in the possession of the police. Why wasn’t my attorney aware of this fact? Perhaps because he never obtained my medical file, even though I signed three releases. I still cannot obtain copies of my photos.
Neither attorney interviewed witnesses. They wanted us to “plead to a lesser charge.†This is the standard for Black defendants. Charges are trumped-up hoping Blacks do not have money to hire good zealous attorneys. During my trial, my attorney hated me so much he barked, “Move away from me. You are sitting too close.†Everybody told me he was a “good attorney.†“Good attorneys†like him go hand-in-hand with “The Good Life†in Nebraska—for Whites only. We hired new appeal attorneys.
Final Thoughts:
The outcome of this incident with “the good life†criminal justice system is devastating, emotionally, financially, mentally, and spiritually. Along with the pain, the physical anguish and buckets of tears shed I now have been diagnosed with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder).
Many comments are made and questions asked-- “How do you go on?†“I couldn’t be so strong.†“I would give up.†My favorite one is, “Why won’t you move?â€
My strength lies within my faith. Our military commitment as a family, as an active duty soldier and a loyal mother has given my family a unique since of community. That sense of community is shattered. We are in the next phase, the appeals process.
We hope to relocate again but as Black-American citizens and not as convicted felons. I hope that by finally telling our story that one day my family can have peace as we did before we moved to Nebraska, “The Good Life, for Whites only!â€
___________________
Nebraska Criminal Justice Review September, 2007
Downloadable from: http://cs002.archomaha.org/files/folders/holy_family_-_omaha_files_-_public/entry87.aspx
People ask “Why don’t you leave Lincoln Nebraska if it is so bad?â€
We can’t leave until we are out of the court system. The police and judicial system haven’t left us alone long enough for us to get ready to leave.
And besides, why should we have to leave? If white people would listen when they are in church and follow what Jesus teaches, we would not have a problem in Lincoln. If white people would leave us alone, we would have a good life in Lincoln.
For Whites Only: A Lincoln family’s experience
By Shar’on Glenn
Setting the record straight! Minorities are targeted victims of the Nebraska criminal justice system and police brutality due to “racial discrimination†and bias. Read on, as some light is shed upon racial injustice, as you walk in the shoes of a Black family through the Nebraska “Good Life†criminal justice system.
What brought us to Lincoln, Nebraska? In 1994, we were given military orders to relocate. Racial discrimination began immediately. The most recent incident occurred July 3, 2006.
We attended a July 4 block party. Hundreds were in attendance: White 99 percent, Black 0.1 percent. Police were summoned. Subsequently, only two Black Americans were attacked and charged with felony crimes.
My son and I were leaving as the block party ended. My son and five White friends took items to a friend’s home when several police arrived on the scene under the pretense of pursuing a White female. As the young men walked to the garage, I went to the restroom. Unbeknownst to me, nine officers including two veteran sergeants interrogated my son and his friends.
For no apparent reason, the interrogation turned into a physical attack upon my son. He wears dreadlocks and is broader built, fondly known as a gentle giant. No one else but my son was attacked at this time. After exiting the home, I entered the garage, noticing the commotion, and was attacked from behind by police after asking the simple question, “What is going on?â€
A sergeant had a video camera used earlier to record activities at the block party. He had the camera during the police attack. He never intended to use his camera to record the police brutality and only filmed the officers’ feet and garage floor. A White male witness used his video camera to record the melee. Once an officer realized the witness was recording he told him to stop. This witness refused and verbally challenged the officer. The officer tried to break the witness’ camera by knocking it out of his hands.
The brutality entailed a 360-pound. cop grabbing and spinning me around 360 degrees and then being thrown and slammed face down on a car by another cop. I’m 120 lbs. diagnosed with fibromyalgia. My son was thrown to the garage floor, punched numerous times in his face, and placed in a chokehold until nearly blacking out while lying in a pool of blood.
We sustained multiple contusions, scratches, and bruises, not to mention the psychological effects, and ultimately vast legal bills. After the beatings, we were arrested. During the painful journey to the police station, officers continued to taunt us by repeatedly taking pictures of our battered faces with their personal cameras, as if we were some prized animals or “catch of the dayâ€. One cop could not take the picture he wanted, my son’s bloody face, because his dreadlocks covered it, and he whined, “No fair!â€
Once arriving at the station, our mug shots were taken and not until release on July 5 and July 7 were we informed of the felony third-degree assault of a police officer and resisting arrest charges. Denied medical care and prescription medication, there was no freedom for this jailed Black family and due process was only a dream. No Miranda rights. No attorney. No visitors. No phone call. No “Good Life†for this Nebraska family, only pain and suffering.
Four White males attending the same block party and also a part of the same incident received minor charges and were released shortly thereafter. The White male witness videotaping the melee, was one of the four. Our breathalyzers tests proved negative. This is not true of the four White males.
Family profile:
Mother/Shar’on L. Glenn, (Age: 47), 100 percent disabled veteran, mother and grandmother. Has a Human Service degree, major discipline electives in Criminal Justice. Has been a homeowner for 13 years. No prior criminal record.
Son/Jason M.D. Wakefield (Age 24), supports an only child, is a college student. Also has recently received certification as a member of the American Welding Society, and is interested in pursuing career in under-water welding. Also takes care of family home and disabled mom. No prior criminal record.
Trial: Black History Month
On February 26, 2007 at 9:00 A.M. trial was set for three days. February 27, 2007 at approximately 3:35 P.M., after six and a half hours, including perjured testimonies from six officers, and a 20-minute break, the Judge found us guilty of felony third-degree assault of a police officer and one-count each of resisting arrest.
Sentencing:
May 14, 2007, Jason sentenced to 59 days in jail and 18 months probation. I was sentenced to eighteen months probation. As felons, we have lost our rights to vote. The judge’s decision cited Appellant v. Bourke Neb. Rev. Stat. 28-311.01. This case embodies the Nebraska State Terrorist Threats Statute. Our attorneys never informed us we were being tried under this statute for engaging in “terrorist threatsâ€. I am a disabled veteran and I served my country honorably. My son is an Army brat. We were and still are most devastated by this finding.
Representation/Appeal:
We hired separate attorneys. To our dismay, they were inadequate, incompetent, unprofessional, and lacked zealous representation. No witnesses were called, no medical evidence introduced. This evidence was crucial in our case. I sought medical attention at the St. Elizabeth Hospital emergency room. A male cop took photographs of my injuries. After sentencing, I discovered the photographs had been removed from my medical file and in the possession of the police. Why wasn’t my attorney aware of this fact? Perhaps because he never obtained my medical file, even though I signed three releases. I still cannot obtain copies of my photos.
Neither attorney interviewed witnesses. They wanted us to “plead to a lesser charge.†This is the standard for Black defendants. Charges are trumped-up hoping Blacks do not have money to hire good zealous attorneys. During my trial, my attorney hated me so much he barked, “Move away from me. You are sitting too close.†Everybody told me he was a “good attorney.†“Good attorneys†like him go hand-in-hand with “The Good Life†in Nebraska—for Whites only. We hired new appeal attorneys.
Final Thoughts:
The outcome of this incident with “the good life†criminal justice system is devastating, emotionally, financially, mentally, and spiritually. Along with the pain, the physical anguish and buckets of tears shed I now have been diagnosed with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder).
Many comments are made and questions asked-- “How do you go on?†“I couldn’t be so strong.†“I would give up.†My favorite one is, “Why won’t you move?â€
My strength lies within my faith. Our military commitment as a family, as an active duty soldier and a loyal mother has given my family a unique since of community. That sense of community is shattered. We are in the next phase, the appeals process.
We hope to relocate again but as Black-American citizens and not as convicted felons. I hope that by finally telling our story that one day my family can have peace as we did before we moved to Nebraska, “The Good Life, for Whites only!â€
___________________
Nebraska Criminal Justice Review September, 2007
Downloadable from: http://cs002.archomaha.org/files/folders/holy_family_-_omaha_files_-_public/entry87.aspx
People ask “Why don’t you leave Lincoln Nebraska if it is so bad?â€
We can’t leave until we are out of the court system. The police and judicial system haven’t left us alone long enough for us to get ready to leave.
And besides, why should we have to leave? If white people would listen when they are in church and follow what Jesus teaches, we would not have a problem in Lincoln. If white people would leave us alone, we would have a good life in Lincoln.