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            United African Movement was formed on August 17, 1988 under the auspices of Garveyism to secure justice for Tawana Brawley, a fifteen year-old girl, from Dutchess County, NY.  She was kidnapped, raped and her body was tattooed with "KKK" and "Nigger" in addition to being smeared with feces.  In my humble opinion, the attack on Tawana was contrived to terrorize Blacks.

            The assault on Tawana Brawley challenged Black manhood in the United States.  It is still without an appropriate national response.  History is not only a timetable, it should also serve as a frame of reference for those active in politics.

            Prior to, and by 1990, UAM had decidedly taken the position that Black Lives Matter.  It vigorously fulfilled the mandate of the slogan.  It should mean that the racially-motivated murder of a Black person would carry with it an obligation to imprison the white perpetrator.  Howard Beach and Bensonhurst, in New York serve as examples.

            In Howard Beach, when Michael Griffin was murdered by white vigilantes, a demand was made for a special prosecutor, which would serve as a critical weapon in leveling the playing field and obtaining justice in these prosecutions.  Prior to Howard Beach, the appointment of a special prosecutor in a racially-motivated crime against Blacks was unprecedented.

            This procurement of an ad hoc prosecutor, with its appropriate protocol, became an important legal instrument in convicting whites in racially-motivated murders in New York.  This hard-earned instrument has not been elevated in the defense of Blacks and may become a “wasting asset.” Use it or lose it.

            When there is a loss of memory, refreshing ones’ recollection becomes necessary.  I paid a special price for winning the right, on behalf of Blacks, to a special prosecutor.  I am now, "civilly dead."  I was suspended from the practice of law in the same month as the forced conviction in Bensonhurst, of Joseph Fama, and to his being sentenced to thirty-three years to life. The message sent by the establishment was only “white lives matter.”  This included Gov. Mario Cuomo and his son, Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

            I have never been disbarred from the practice of law in any jurisdiction.  A suspension requires automatic reinstatement to the practice of law. I am the only attorney who has been indefinitely suspended from the practice of law.  I was too good for my own britches.  Blacks and Latinos did not deserve me. 

            New York retaliated against me for pushing the system up against the wall. See Gov. Andrew Cuomo and his illegal position, on indefinite suspension from the practice of law, of a militant Black person representing oppressed Blacks and Latinos.

            The murder of Trayvon Martin, in Florida, prompted the formation of the slogan Black Lives Matter.  George Zimmerman murdered Trayvon Martin in Florida, and got away with it.  He gave the Black community "the finger.”  This sent a message that Black Lives Matter is irrelevant.  UAM launched a campaign to put Zimmerman in his rightful place: prison.  There was a demand for a special prosecutor.

            Rogue policemen are not novel.  It is, however, in recent history, novel for the U.S. Justice Department openly abrogate its duty to protect descendants of enslaved Africans against occupying, standing armies, and in giving police officers absolute immunity.  In addition, the Ku Klux Klan is again being given badges to promote domestic terrorism.

            No Black person should register to vote or appear as a witness or party, in any legal proceeding, without a thorough understanding of Scott v. Sanford, 19 How. (60 U.S.) 393 (1857).  Chief Justice Roger Taney’s decision, unwittingly resulted in Blacks wittingly answered by fighting white supremacy through class actions in Dred Scott and in the initiation of a test case in Lord v. Veazie 49 U.S. 251, 255 (1850). 

            It took eighty-seven years for Blacks to enjoy some “semblance” of social rights. When the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was enacted, Congress refused to recognize descendants of enslaved Africans as “citizens” under the Fourteenth Amendment.  This civil rights legislation is based on the “Commerce Clause.”  See Heart of Atlanta Motel v. United States, 495 U.S. 241 (1964).

            In addition to reading Dred Scott, no Black person should go to the polls without reading and thoroughly analyzing Amos Wilson's Blueprint for Black Power.  This is a political encyclopedia.  The understanding and implementation of it will require a “pressure group” and access to a “law library.”  A “pressure group” also creates "unity."  It can and should become contagious.

            There is, at least, one law library accessible to the public in every county, borough or parish in the United States.  There is also a law library in every state capital.  An office of any state attorney general has information about public, law libraries.  Law requires research.

            Also, to effectively fight white supremacy, a militant must be able to skillfully employ critical thinking skills in addition to connecting the dots and thinking outside the box.  There must be a work ethic and a prevailing desire and a sense of urgency for freedom and equality.  Oppressed people need HELP.  They need knowledge of History, Ethics, Law and Politics.

            In all of my writings, I purposely use history as a frame of reference.  Malcolm X: “Of all the disciplines, history is best qualified to reward our research.”  Malcolm X had mastered the discipline of critical thinking.  I encourage Blacks to research history.  According to Marcus Garvey, “a people without knowledge of their history is like a tree without roots.”

            Every person is equipped with the knowledge to take action.  Black Lives Matter Movement has been very successful in keeping the spotlight on police brutality against Blacks and Latinos and has caused the media to cover police violence.  Blacks must demand that their representatives translate these demands into policy.   Racial violence and wealth disparity are serious issues for Black.

             In addition, since Blacks have no independent political party on the ballot, in 2020, political pressure should be brought to bear on your political representatives and the Democratic Party to promote a policy platform to address structural racism in law enforcement directed at ending police violence against Blacks.

            I have repeatedly emphasized Kwame Ture’s saying: Organize! Organize! Organize! He meant a “political party”; a “special interest group” and a “pressure group.”  The “doctrine of preferred freedoms” is explained in Murdock v. Pennsylvania, 319 U.S. 105 (1943).

Black Lives Matter ©

By Alton H. Maddox, Jr.

("Attorney-at-War")

8/24/20

SOURCE: tnahsa@aol.com