Faith in Action

This has been a long day of phone calling, emailing, and article writing. I have done everything that I could do today to pressure elected officials who “serve” on the Judiciary Committee to VOTE NO on Governor Martin O’Malley’s Statewide DNA Database legislation. This bill will authorize the state to take DNA samples from individuals who have been arrested and charged, BUT NOT CONVICTED of any crime. And as many of us know, it is possible to be arrested and even charged only later to have a trial exonerate you of any wrongdoing.

If this bill passes, the DNA of those arrested and charged would be stored in a database and if the courts find them innocent then they would have to go through a long and complicated process to get their DNA expunged from the database. Given the disproportionate rates at which African Americans and Latinos are arrested in this state and country, what the bill will likely do is create a racially-biased, genetic dragnet program. A supposed “public safety” program with a more than $1.3 million dollar price tag. Though Prince George’s County State’s Attorney, Glenn Ivey would disagree, I am of the opinion that this bill would threaten to violate individual’s rights in the name of public safety - a practice that the Federal Government has mastered…using fear to get the public to surrender their constitutional rights. Other states have seen the great danger in this type of program. In 2007, 25 states introduced bills to expand DNA sampling to arrestees and only 4 passed this legislation. (SOURCE)

As it is with many other state legislatures, when a bill is introduced it is assigned to a committee that will consider it. That committee then will either give it a favorable or unfavorable report. If the bill receives an unfavorable report then it doesn’t make it out of committee (it dies). If the bill receives a favorable report (possibly with some amendments) it is sent back to the floor for a full house vote.

I just received notification that the Governor’s DNA bill has just received a favorable report from the Judiciary Committee.

There are 4 African Americans that serve on that committee and I was counting on these 4 to hold the line and slow this bill down. I was hoping that they would possess a greater sensitivity to potential abuse that could strike their community if this bill is passed. After talking to the Chair of the Legislative Black Caucus, Senator Verna Jones, this afternoon, I hung up hoping that members of the Black Caucus would hold the position of the Caucus and oppose the bill as written and refuse a vote on the bill until further consideration can be taken. I was wrong.

Three out of the four African American members of the Judiciary Committee voted “yes” to this detestable bill. They are:

Delegate Gerron S. Levi (D-23A) representing Prince George’s County

I’m told that when the the Judiciary Committee almost agreed to take the Black Caucus’ position and hold off on the bill, it was Del. Gerron S. Levi who played the role of the divisive, dastardly delegate and shot this option down. In her eagerness to prove her loyalty to the Power Structure during her first term in office, she may have just opened the door for the rights of many of her own constituents to be violated.

Delegate Frank M. Conaway, Jr. (D-40) representing Baltimore City

I called Delegate Conaway’s office myself and told the woman who answered the phone that we had just brought Conaway’s name up on the Larry Young Morning show (WOLB 1010AM) as one of legislators who rightly voted against one of the tax increases. It’s unfortunate that now I have to go back on the radio on Monday and let everyone know that Conaway sold out his own community in voting for this bill. Another first term delegate looking to ingratiate himself to the status quo Power Structure.

Delegate Curt Anderson (D-43) representing Baltimore City

As Chairman of the Baltimore City Delegation, one would assume that Anderson has enough clout to take a strong stand and refuse to budge on such an important bill. I guess what they say about “assuming” is right. As one who consistently portrays himself as being concerned about the most vulnerable segments of our society, I am appalled that Delegate Anderson would vote in favor of this bill. I vehemently disagree with him on this.

Three out of the four African American delegates were major disappoints on this. They refused to take a stand. They chose to be silent when righteousness begged their cooperation. And now they must be held accountable. Understand Family that if there are no consequences when elected officials vote against the will of the people then they will continue to ingratiate themselves to their political overlords and will check back in with their constituents when the next election rolls around.

I’m not having it! No more. I’m tired of being ignored. I will not be apathetic. I will ring their phones, flood their inboxes, and show up in person if need be to let them know that this betrayal will be remembered for a long time.

Just in case you get the itch to pick up the phone and voice your displeasure:

Del. Gerron S. Levi
(410) 841-3101

Del. Frank Conaway
(410) 841-3189

Del Curt Anderson
(410) 841-3291

P.S. - Who’s the one African American delegate who rightly voted “No” against the Governor’s DNA bill you ask?

Why Delegate Jill P. Carter (D-41) of Baltimore City of course. THANK YOU DELEGATE JILL CARTER FOR YOUR CONSISTENT AND PRINCIPLED SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY!

Picture this - one day you are arrested, but not convicted of a crime. Nonetheless, prior to any conviction, a DNA sample is taken from you to be included in a statewide criminal database. After your trial you are found innocent of all charges and yet the state still has your DNA in its criminal database. You then must go through a long and complicated process to get your DNA expunged from the criminal database - that is if and only if you meet certain criteria.

So what’s the problem? There are many, but the one that really gets me centers on the fact that the judicial system of this country and the state of Maryland is supposed to presume a person innocent until proven guilty. However, the collection of your DNA right away implicates you as GUILTY BEFORE TRIAL!

Governor Martin O’Malley is chomping at the bits to make this nightmare a reality with a bill that he is pushing through the state legislature entitled STATEWIDE DNA DATA BASE SYSTEM. (HB370 / SB211)

Under the guise of increasing public safety, O’Malley will essentially create a racially-biased genetic dragnet program which will disproportionally impact the African American and Latino communities. He is attempting to rush the bill to a vote before the general public has time to scrutinize it further.

O’Malley is pushing this bill so hard that even legislators don’t fully understand it.

Delegate Sandy Rosenberg (D-41) admits as much on his website:

I chaired the first meeting of the work group on the Governor’s bill to take DNA samples from people arrested for serious crimes.

Around the table were members of the Judiciary Committee, a delegate representing the Black Caucus, the lobbyist for the American Civil Liberties Union, and two of the Governor’s lobbyists…

Don’t ask me the details of what we agreed to during five hours of meetings today on the Governor’s DNA bill.

“I’m no good at science,” I once told my parents. Forty plus years later, my knowledge of biology isn’t much better. Plus, I’m no scholar when it comes to Maryland criminal procedure.

So I used my political science skills to chair three work sessions with delegates, legislative and executive branch staff, and prosecutors and defense lawyers. Shortly after 7 pm, we left smiling. When someone proposes an amendment, you can accept it, modify it, study it this summer, or reject it. We did some of each today. Sometimes, I proposed one of those options at the start of the discussion of a certain issue. More often, I waited for a consensus to develop and someone else to propose a solution.

I’ll bone up on the details of the bill by Thursday night or Friday afternoon. That’s when the Judiciary Committee will be voting on it.

Though Maryland is currently grappling with a $1.4 billion dollar deficit, Governor O’Malley is willing to devote more than $1.4 million dollars to create this DNA registry that rebuts the Fourth Amendment (prohibiting unreasonable searches and seizures), the Eighth Amendment (prohibiting cruel and unusual punishment) and the presumption of innocence before guilt. What’s more local police departments will likely have trouble implementing this thing anyway! (according to state fiscal & policy notes)

In a city that has historically had problems with illegal arrests, the implications of this orwellian crime fighting strategy is abominable to say the least.

I join the Maryland NAACP, the Baltimore City Branch of the NAACP, the Prince George’s County Branch of the NAACP, the Maryland Chapter of the National Organization for Women, the Maryland Innocence Coalition, the ACLU of Maryland, the Coalition of Maryland Ministerial Alliances, and the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland in OPPOSING THE GOVERNOR’S DNA DATABASE BILL!

IMMEDIATE ACTION IS NEEDED ON THIS BILL.

I ask you to join me in opposition. You can help by doing any number of the following.

Hat Tip: Baltimore Sun

By Jennifer McMenamin
Sun Reporter
March 6, 2008

The death penalty has cost Maryland taxpayers at least $186 million more in prosecuting and defending capital murder cases over two decades than would have been spent without the threat of execution, according to a study to be released today.

In addition, because most death sentences in Maryland are overturned and eventually reduced to life without parole, state residents are often saddled with the high cost of a capital case and the bill for housing a convicted killer for life, the study found.

Paid for by the Baltimore-based Abell Foundation and prepared by the Urban Institute, a national, nonpartisan research organization in Washington, the study estimates that the cost of reaching a single death sentence costs the state an average of $3 million, which is $1.9 million more than a non-death penalty case costs, even after factoring in the long-term costs of incarcerating convicted killers not sentenced to death.

The report - the first to analyze the cost of capital punishment in Maryland - arrives as state lawmakers prepare to again debate repealing the death penalty. A hearing is scheduled for today in Annapolis on a Senate bill that would eliminate capital punishment as a sentencing option. A similar House bill is scheduled to be heard next week.

“This is a compelling argument against the death penalty - the enormous costs to the state’s taxpayers,” said Rick Abbruzzese, a spokesman for Gov. Martin O’Malley, a death penalty opponent who focused on the financial costs of capital punishment when he testified last year in support of repeal. The bill was defeated by one vote in a Senate committee last year.

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SOURCE: (Sun photo by Glenn Fawcett / February 6, 2008)

ANNAPOLIS - About two dozen teenagers were detained this afternoon during a rowdy protest outside the State House.

The students — who were calling for more funding for education — were cuffed with plastic bands after trying to carry a fake cardboard coffin up the steps of the State House.

A total of about 300 students attended the protest. All were from Baltimore City schools, and were brought to Annapolis on public school buses. One Baltimore City College teacher said students were allowed out of class to attend the protest.

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OTHER RELATED ARTICLES YOU MAY ENJOY:

ALGEBRA PROJECT—CSI: ANNAPOLIS, FEB 6

Students Investigate Link between Crime, Youth Unemployment and School Underfunding

Conference at Asbury United Methodist , 87 West Street, Annapolis FROM 10:30AM - 1:00PM

MARCH TO RALLY AT STATE HOUSE STARTS AT 1:30 PM

Contact Information:

Chris Goodman
Baltimore Algebra Project
443-957-5346

Faye Brown
Baltimore Algebra Project
410-338-0679

Baltimore Algebra Project students will deliver a coffin and use crime scene tape to symbolically seal off government areas on WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6 as a protest against Gov. Martin O’Malley’s cuts to Thornton funding.

Education and Jobs in the Knowledge-Based Economy should be fully funded.

Angered by the Governor’s and General Assembly’s broken promises, students will show the connection between November’s repeal of the original Thornton legislation and crime in Baltimore City. The action takes on added significance following the recent murder of an Algebra Project student activist.

As mayor, Martin O’Malley called Algebra Project students to his office and urged them “to hold the Governor accountable” for failing to follow court orders in Bradford v. Md. State Board of Ed. (March 3, 2006). He claimed the state should “immediately pay the $800 million” owed.

Now as governor, his actions will lead to $50 million in cuts to education in Baltimore City for next year.

Students will begin with a teach-in/conference at Asbury United Methodist Church, 87 West Street, Annapolis from 10:30AM - 1:00PM.

At 1:30, students will begin a permitted march along West Street to the State House where they will establish a crime scene to investigate the high murder rate in Baltimore City. 200 participants are expected.

OTHER RELATED ARTICLES YOU MAY ENJOY:

Dear supporters of the Algebra Project:

We mourn the loss of Zachariah Hallback, a wonderful young man who had participated in many Algebra Project events, and who was helping to organize for the action below. Zach was shot Wednesday, Jan. 9 during a robbery while he waited with other Algebra Project youth for a bus across the street from City College High School. He was pronounced dead on Friday, Jan. 11. The students have decided to continue with this action in his memory.

STUDENT ACTION –CSI ANNAPOLIS– NOW SCHEDULED FOR FEB. 6
Please join them, Silent March to the State House begins at 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, Feb 6, from Asbury United Methodist Church, 87 West Street, Annapolis.
RIDES NEEDED FOR PARENTS–PLEASE CALL 410-338-0679 TO HELP.

DEMANDS INCLUDE:

Reverse cuts to Thornton Funding — school system must currently cut $50 million to balance 2009 budget

Jobs in the knowledge-based economy for all youth
$800 million for Baltimore schools as ordered by court
Arts for all students; Buildings repaired, not closed; Class sizes capped at 20.

Quality Education as a Constitutional Right.

Some students will perform a die-in to dramatize the cost of inadequate education, and the Governor’s Mansion will be wrapped in crime-scene tape.

For more information, Call 410-338-0679

Jay

I used to be one of those people that had a lacksadaisical attitude toward politics. Yea - I saw it on the news, but I didn’t pay it much mind.  But for the past two years, I have really developed a strong passion for community organizing, advocacy, and public policy.  Once I learned that I could manipulate my environment (I got two bills passed last year in Maryland); my appetite to be involved in more systemic change quickly developed.  I began learning A LOT!  And finding out that so much was being HIDDEN from the general public concerning the political process like where the money is going, and who really makes up the Power Structure. Let me give you an example.

See this guy?

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At least that’s what “they” want you to think.  Who’s “they?” - the politically powerful, the well-financed, the mainstream media.  They want the public to think, “what’s the use in opposing slots?  It’s coming whether we want it or not. ”

O’Malley’s flip flop change of heart on the matter of using slots to fund education has signaled to all who a part of his machine that it’s time for them to get in line as well.  Mayor Sheila Dixon has done her part.  She sent out an e-blast last week letting everyone know that she supports slots “under certain conditions.”  The money, “they” say will help close the state budget deficit, save the horse-racing industry, and fund education.  Word is Baltimore Ravens Middle Linebacker, Ray Lewis, is in on the deal.  Apparently, he’ll be part owner of the casino that they’re talking about bringing to Baltimore just south of downtown.   (He must be getting ready for his post-football career because they got their butts whupped last night for the world to see on Monday Night Football against the Pittsburgh Steelers.)

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This past Wednesday was a fantastic day for social justice in Baltimore City.  I was privileged to participate as a speaker for the NAACP Freedom Fund Banquet - an impressive fundraiser for the local branch which included such notables as Sen. Larry Young (MC), Pastor Harold Carter, Sr., Fred Mason, and civil rights author, Taylor Branch.

However, the highlight of my day was participating in the march for jobs and education organized by the Baltimore Algebra Project.  A diverse crowd of about 300 activists gathered at City Hall ready to raise their voices and move their feet for a noble cause.  The bottom line is that students in the Baltimore City Public School System have been short-changed for years in the areas of funding, mis-management of acquired funds, and the lack of the same types of resources in the classroom that their peers enjoy in the suburbs.  We also marched to express our disdain for a city that does not provide gainful employment for its youth.  In a city that has construction cranes everywhere, one would think that there would be enough jobs to go around, however, that is not the case.  Young people in strained financial situations often have to make tough decisions regarding how they are going to help make ends meet in their homes. 

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Today I will join members of the Baltimore Algebra Project and their many allies as we march for jobs and quality education for Baltimore City’s youth.  These committed students are extremely frustrated with a government that seems to be more concerned with criminalizing them and/or locking them up than it is providing a quality education for them and securing avenues to gainful employment.  While “gang enforcement” is the buzz word in Baltimore and other cities in the nation, fewer people are talking about the root causes that help to cultivate the growth and expansion of these street organizations.  What many will find is that at the root is social injustice - concentrated poverty, substandard educational systems, aggressive policing, blight, and divestment by the business sector coupled with fragmented families and shotty social support (i.e. unconcerned Faith institutions, dirth of recreational opportunities, etc.) create the perfect storm that propels the disconnected and marginalized to fashion their own “community.”

I join the Baltimore Algebra Project (BAP) in calling on Governor Martin O’Malley, Mayor Sheila Dixon, and all other elected officials (especially the Baltimore delegation) to provide Baltimore City youth with a quality education as mandated by the Maryland State Constitution (and as requested in this 2006 Baltimore City Council Resolution) and to create job opportunities so that the city’s younger population can become members of the city’s workforce.

Today the march will begin at Baltimore’s City Hall, 3:30PM.  For those in Baltimore, I pray to see you there.

Enjoy this rap video by a couple of members of BAP as they offer lyrical expression to their desires. (This video features some of my pictures - Chris! X! Can a brotha get some credit?!)