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06 November 2012
By El-Hajj Mauri' Saalakhan
Assalaamu Alaikum (Greetings of Peace):
Years ago I did some volunteer work with FAMM (Families
Against Mandatory Minimums); I guess
you could say it was one of the organizations that I
cut my human rights teeth on. Since then, I've tried
to follow the work of FAMM as much as possible, and
I've continued to be impressed by that organizations
good work.
What follows below is a very illuminating example of
the regenerative power of mercy and redemption! It
is a lesson that carries enormous import for our
society as a whole (a nation that imprisons more of
its citizens than any other nation on earth) - but it
has particular relevance for the African-American and
Muslim communities (in my humble opinion).
During America's so-called "War on Drugs," the
highly
selective class and racially driven
prosecutions (and punishments) resulted in the type of
miscarriages of justice that Serena Nunn's case
(below) exemplifies. With the mandatory sentencing
laws that were passed throughout the 80s & 90s,
prosecutors were given enormous power to determine the
length of sentences based upon the charges they
decided to bring in their opportunistic indictments;
and
whether those charges would be brought in state court
or federal court.
If you were white (the majority of drug offenders in
America) and well to do, the odds were in your favor.
If you were a "minority" (i.e. Afro-American,
Latino, etc.), and not well to do -
and of
little value to the prosecution in a drug "conspiracy"
case, you were more likely to end up like
Ms. Nunn. And then after you did your time, the
punishment would continue at another level - as
exemplified by Michele Alexander in her
thought-provoking book,
"The New
Jim Crow."
The release below underscores the FACT that,
despite
oppressive societal odds,
all hope
is not dead! As Malcolm X once said,
"If a man [or woman] is properly motivated [and given
another chance] in prison he can change his life."
As Julie noted below, there are "lots" of people in
American prisons deserving of pardons and sentence
commutations! Many are folk who received excessive
sentences (punishments
that
didn't
fit the
crime) to begin with; others are
political prisoners
who have been locked down for decades!
(The excessive sentencing regime accorded
preemptively prosecuted
young
Muslims - a new category of political
imprisonment in America - are also deserving of
remedial attention.)
I've highlighted what I consider to be some of the
most important passages of FAMM's release below.
Please review and pass along. Serena Nunn's story is
truly inspiring. May ALLAH bless her, bless the work
of organizations like FAMM...and bless this country to
one day become a "nation of liberty and justice for
all" .... before it's too late!
"The mood and temper of the
public in regard to the treatment of crime and
criminals is one of the most unfailing tests of the
civilization of any country. A calm and dispassionate
recognition of the rights of the accused against the
state, and even of convicted criminals against the
state; a constant heart-searching by all charged with
the duty of punishment; a desire and eagerness to
rehabilitate in the world of industry all those who
have paid their dues in the hard coinage of
punishment; tireless efforts towards the discovery of
curative and regenerating processes; and an
unfaltering faith that there is a treasure, if you can
only find it, in the heart of every man; these are the
symbols which in the treatment of crime and criminals
mark and measure the stored-up strength of a nation,
and are the sign and proof of the living virtue in
it."
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