a1494: "Of Cops and Courts" by Mumia Abu-Jamal (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: radtimes <resist@best.com>

OF COPS AND COURTS
[Col. Writ. 3/2/02] Copyright 2002 Mumia Abu-Jamal

     Several of the cops convicted in connection with
the vicious, brutal, terrorist assault of Abner Louima
in a Brooklyn police precinct, have been graciously
granted their freedom by a U.S. appeals court recently.
Citing insufficient evidence, and the ineffectiveness of
trial counsel, the state's highest federal tribunal
reversed the convictions of Charles Schwartz, Thomas
Bruder and Thomas Wiese, of conspiracy and civil
rights charges.

     The Abner Louima case, as many are aware, was a
case of unmitigated savagery, when police wrongfully
arrested a young Black man outside a nite club
(allegedly for assaulting a cop), rushed him, manacled,
to a police station in Brooklyn, and there, pulled him
down and rammed a broomstick up his backside,
and then took the bloody, feces-covered stick, and
plunged it down his throat, shattering his teeth along
the way.

     That such a devilish act of torture, twisted hatred,
and violence took place at all in modern-day America
is telling of the state of police-community relations
in New York, that it happened in a well-traveled police
station house, and no one, to this date, has ever come
forward as a witness, is an indictment that even this
high august court cannot withdraw.

     No one heard his scream.

     No one saw his attackers beat, pummel, or brutalize
him.

     No one.  Not one cop.  In a place swarming with
cops.  Far be it from this writer to suggest that the cops
should somehow have less constitutional rights than
the average Joe.  The point is, however, that they have
considerabely more!

     When cops get busted, they often do so only after a
grand jury has charged them (average folks have a
bill of information filed against them).

     When they do go to trial, they are represented by
the best legal talent that money can buy, often paid
by their local lodge (average folks must scrape the
money together to pay for a lawyer, or accept the
services of a public defender).

     If they are convicted (which is exceedingly rare)
it is usually on lesser offenses (for rarer still are
they charged with the more serious crimes), and if
sentenced, get moderate terms (average folks are
deluged with charges, and receive heavy sentences).
And even in the unlikely event that they are harshly
sentenced there are a plethora of cases where cops
who have stolen, lied on the stand, been corrupt or
brutal, have had their sentences cut by judges who
are not known for their leniency towards the average
accused.

     From the barbaric LAPD brutes, to the thieves of
the infamous 39th District in Philadelphia, to those
who aided or abetted the sick and depraved terrorist
attack on a Black Haitian in Brooklyn's police precinct,
judges have been openly solicitous of their every
right, for, truth be told, they are ever brothers,
under the robe/uniform, who look out for each other.

Copyright '02 MAJ
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