So much for reducing my rate of cursing in 2007. D*%# with a capital D*%#! Who would have thought you could get thrown in the slammer over a girl putting your penis in her mouth? I am pissed off. Yeah it’s immoral for unmarried people, but illegal? When’s the last time kids got arrested for premarital sex, or pregnancy or abortion? I don’t support any of these behaviors but PRISON? Good Lord, Thurbert Baker and all of my neighbors in Georgia are just reinforcing all the old fashioned southern stereotypes. Aw H*#@, there go the dueling banjos again.
I’m just a little less than half a life time older than Genarlow Wilson. Looking back on when I was a teenager even a Black kid in the St. Louis ghetto in the 80′s had to almost habitually be in the wrong place at the wrong time or be a known drug dealer or REAL fellon of some type to get this type of treatment. In those situations I could understand because their life habits and anti-societal patterns of behavior were bound to lead to bad consequences.
But in this situation, are you kidding me? The young girl involved wasn’t charged because she was sufficiently underaged. But do people really think a seventeen year old is that much more mature than a fifteen year old? They were teenagers. None of them think ahead. It’s part of the young and dumb job description.
It was considered a sex offender level felony at the time when he was 17 but the public outcry has caused enough pressure that the law was amended last year making it a misdmeanor. Unfortunately for Genarlow its not retroactive and doesn’t help him now. Twenty one years old, four years of life wasted. Those ignoramous lawmakers in downtown Atlanta really think they’ve done something righteous. What a bunch of complete and total idiots.
Thank God though for the young business man, Whitney Tilson who has created a defense fund for Genarlow. You can read a bit about him in Vanessa Byers’ take on the matter. She makes some good points to think about on the issue. Especially of how this one is being back doored and politicked to death. There’s also more in Tuseday’s USA Today on page 4A of the Nation section. The young man isn’t free yet but God knows he should be.
Incarcerating an honor student and otherwise upstanding kid in PRISON for that. Thurbert, I was excited to see your commercial when you were running for office a few months ago, but d*#%, you need your head examined. You did stupid stuff when you were a kid too. Just stop and reminisce for a second.
As far as I’m concerned this deserves Shaquanda Cotton level attention. If you haven’t seen other posts about this matter read more coverage on the case from this recent post by Glennis on Young Black Professional Guide from earlier this month.
Also do your part to keep the matter at the forefront by sending your expressions of outrage to the Georgia Attorney General’s office at 40 Capitol Sqare, SW, Atlanta, GA 30334, phone number 404-656-3300 and raise a lot of cain about it.
AG Baker must be catching a lot of heat about it because he has a link about the Wilson case in the form of an open letter right there on the left side of his web site. Have I been unfair in my criticism of the Georgia Attorney General? Read the letter and see if you agree with his interpretation of events and comments about the parties other than himself who can actually bring about a resolution. In the mean time though keep up the pressure and let’s right a four year long wrong.
After reading AG Baker’s response, please keep the points in mind:
1. The fact that Genarlow’s friends took a plea deal should not preclude Genarlow from remaining steadfast in his principles regarding being labeled a sex offender. He is not a sex offender; he is one of a group of teenagers that engaged in sexual activity.;
2. The State of Georgia’s offer of a reduced sentence is still too harsh for the act that occured between two teenagers. The antiquaed law was so absurd that Georgia law has been repealed.;
3. According to reports by CNN, the retroactive application of the change in the law would only affect seven (7) inmates, not 1300 inmates as AG Baker asserts. If there are seven other inmates in the same situation as Generalow, yes, their cases should be reviewed also.;
4. The mother of the girl involved in this case reported gestapo-like tactics used by the State Attorney’s Office threatening her to testify against Genarlow Wilson or be subject to punishment herself.;
5. Why should Genarlow Wilson trust any ‘assurance’ from the AG, DA or any Georgia official? One judge’s voiding of his sentence was overturned and a scheduled bond hearing was canceled.; and
6. It is very likely that this situation could have been handled at a much lower level and did not need to arise to Genarlow or any of his friends being charged. Douglas County law enforcement could have handled this situation in a manner that would not have been so damaging to the future of the teens involved. Law enforcement always has that leniency and it is frequently used.
You have not been unfair in your criticism because AG Baker can influence a positive resolution of this situation. What has not been entirely equitable is the focus of attention on Baker rather than Douglas County DA David McDade.
It is a lot easier for Georgia offcials to avoid charges of racism when Baker is the face associated with this rather than McDade, the judges and even Gov. Perdue can put a stop to this.
Baker obviously is feeling the heat, the others need to feel it also.
Good points in #4 and #6. Interesting how the girl’s mother was treated even after the shock of knowing what her daughter had been involved in. David McDade should definitely catch some too.