Occult Institutional Racism The Ghosts of McIntosh County
The Ghosts of McIntosh County
Followup - FBI Targets Rastafari Journalists
McIntosh County, Darien, Georgia
140-Year Anniversary of the Famous 1863 Burning of Darien
June 11, 2003; 9:00 am
Excerpt - Longstreet Highroad Guide to the Georgia Coast & Okefenokee
By Richard J. Lenz
Darien, Georgia
...During the Civil War, Darien was invaded, looted, and burned to the ground on June 11, 1863 by Union troops, which consisted mainly of black soldiers commanded by two white officers. Col. James Montgomery is blamed for the pointless destruction and was later relieved of his responsibilities. The other officer was 25-year-old Col. Robert G. Shaw, who died about a month later during a famous assault on Battery Wagner on Morris Island, which guarded the southern approaches to Charleston harbor. The movie Glory tells the story of Shaw and the burning of Darien. Because of this unnecessary conflagration, most of Darien's records were lost, and very little of the antebellum Darien exists. The Civil War devastated the South, and ended the plantation culture that depended on free labor from slaves and access to capital. [end excerpt]
Darien, Georgia
McIntosh County Courthouse
McIntosh County History
We have literally died on the cross; hanged from trees, burned at the stake, drug through back country roads by chains from pickup trucks, etc. Are white folks still as evil as they were during the days of slavery? Have you ever heard that jails and prisons were big business? Are black people free in 2003? Should everybody be colorblind? Are white folks crazy, should they be trusted?
When Dale Jenkins, Judge of State Court McIntosh County, Darien Georgia, came into his chambers June 11, 2003, 9:00 am, no bailiff introduced him, there was no "all rise." The short, stout judge began by talking to the overcrowded courtroom; it was standing room only. This was a movie right out of Hollywood, a sort of "Stepford Wives" a real "Paden Place," you know something from the deep south, "In the Heat of the Night," where the sheriff's sets speed traps. There were cases as far north as New York and far south as Tampa and Miami, Florida; we were from American Beach.
Court was held from 9 to 5 it was said that Judge Dale Jenkins was known to have sessions well into the night as late as 8:00 p.m. In the eight-hour session there were over three breaks. One young black man was given jail time of six months for "disorderly conduct." There were two cases in which people attempted to act as a lawyer or spokesperson for someone else. One man came up with his employee, he was not jailed nor cited for contempt of court but was advised of his ignorance. He replied he was already there and since one woman had done it, he decided to do it too. The white woman appeared as a crack head and she and the judge made a loud verbal scene about her speaking in the absence of her friend. She was not jailed or held in contempt, but told that she could be.
Now we were strangers; could this have been the way Judge Jenkins runs his three-ring circus? He appeared to be homely and friendly but he sent to jail who he wanted to send to jail. One case before him, a young white girl, who the judge clearly stated to the court that her grandfather had built his home and he knew her family well, was let go for underage drinking, swimming nude and being under the influence of alcohol. Another case in which a young Hispanic girl, after serving twelve days could not come up with her $460 fine, the judge sentenced her to 18 more days in jail for driving under the influence, while her husband and children sat with her in the courtroom. There was one man brought in from the McIntosh County Prison along with maybe 8 other prisoners. This man had served a year's time for getting into a fight with some local residents. The judge was releasing this prisoner but let him know repeatedly that he was banished from McIntosh County and Darien Georgia; he even went so far as to tell this man that he could not go through the county by way of I-95, that he would have to find an alternate route. His message was clear to this man, do not get caught within the boundaries of McIntosh County.
From all the books we have read on the subject, the many web pages including federal and state supported websites and from the NORML State Guide to Marijuana Laws states that: in Georgia for possession of marijuana less than one ounce, first offense, is a misdemeanor one gets probation with no fine and we made this known to the court.
16-13-2. (a) Whenever any person who has not previously been convicted of any offense under Article 2 or Article 3 of this chapter or of any statute of the United States or of any state relating to narcotic drugs, marijuana, or stimulant, depressant, or hallucinogenic drugs, pleads guilty to or is found guilty of possession of a narcotic drug, marijuana, or stimulant, depressant, or hallucinogenic drug, the court may without entering a judgment of guilt and with the consent of such person defer further proceedings and place him on probation upon such reasonable terms and conditions as the court may require, preferably terms which require the person to undergo a comprehensive rehabilitation program, including, if necessary, medical treatment, not to exceed three years, designed to acquaint him with the ill effects of drug abuse and to provide him with knowledge of the gains and benefits which can be achieved by being a good member of society. Upon violation of a term or condition, the court may enter an adjudication of guilt and proceed accordingly. Upon fulfillment of the terms and conditions, the court shall discharge the person and dismiss the proceedings against him. Discharge and dismissal under this Code section shall be without court adjudication of guilt and shall not be deemed a conviction for purposes of this Code section or for purposes of disqualifications or disabilities imposed by law upon conviction of a crime. Discharge and dismissal under this Code section may occur only once with respect to any person. [end excerpt]
Da.Uru was called before the judge at approximately 11:30 am; there was no public defender for us as we applied for one; our bails bondsmen was present but left before we needed him. The judge asked Da.Uru how did she plea; she asked the judge to read her charges to her. He read them in a tone that would cause any listener to think she was the biggest drug trafficker in world history and when he said "misdemeanor" it was like the hot air let out of a balloon. She plead guilty of the charge and was then sent by the judge to speak to a solicitor, this person is actually for the prosecution and suggests punishment to the judge.
Now in a trap, upon entering the courtroom, we were all given papers to sign as to how we would plea, we did not fill ours out. I left my seat to go up and speak with the solicitor along with Da.Uru, he advised us if one took the wrap the other would go free. He stated he would suggest to the judge that the guilty party be placed on a 12-month probation period. After saying this he advised us he was not an attorney and suggested we speak to the on call Public Defender who was sitting in for the regular attorney. Now this man was the least helpful of all and made us feel as if we didn't have a chance. He let us know right off the bat that all of our research was wrong. This man told us we would not get away without paying $630 and that every citation given in McIntosh County warrants a fine. He was adamant in the fact that the judge would not accept anything less than $630 and suggested that since we did not have all the money to take probation.
The judge told us in a nasty tone, that the Georgia law was not as written he said just because we have such information does that make the law right. He said both of us were facing prison time, to get off scott free we had to pay $630. We did not have the money, so we went into a room to make a deal with a probation officer. The probation officer stated first that Da.Uru would have to report to him every Friday for 12 months in McIntosh County and pay $48 each visit [this included the $630 along with "probation supervision fees"]. He also stated that if Da.Uru liked to smoke pot she better quit now, he would give her 30 days to get clean and after that he would show up at our home to do random urinalysis tests. If the test was found to be positive for "marijuana" [which he bragged he could get back in five minutes with a snap of his finger] he would arrest her on the spot and also be able to acquire a search warrant of the home. Now remember I was to be freed...
We returned to our seats in the courtroom as we listened to case after case awaiting to be recalled to the stand. Time went on and at approximately 12:30 pm the judge announced court would be adjourned till 1:45 pm. Again there was no all rise, nor was the gavel struck. Since we were out of town and surely not interested in eating lunch in this one horse town, we decided to remain in the courtroom along with the judge, bailiff, clerk and a few others. We all sat there quietly for maybe 15 minutes, then the bailiff said to us we could not stay she was locking up the courtroom. We spent the remainder of the time sitting in our vehicle contemplating and going over the morning's events and planning our strategy. We returned to the courtroom early from lunch to find a few others already present and the judge. The judge called Da.Uru to the stand once again and before letting her approach, he asked the Public Defender was he representing Da.Uru; he quickly stated "no" he was just trying to help out with advise as he dashed for the door. We then turn to the solicitor who we had made the deal with and he says, "I don't know what to do for you guys" as he throws his hands up in the air.
Now back in front of the judge... We were told by the other officials that the judge would only accept the full amount of money [$630]; as we only had $300 coming from the bail bondsmen. The judge angry with us said we had not been in court all day and we came before him unprepared trying to tell him about the law. Da.Uru plead guilty of the charges and faced a year in prison and fines. He then asked her repeatedly what punishment did she think she should receive. After telling him three or more times of the deal we made with the solicitor and probation officer, they all denied such a deal ever took place. They had all gotten collective amnesia at this point. Even the probation officer who appeared cooperative that morning explaining the probation procedures to us had totally flipped the script by this time; he had unbuttoned his suit jacket to display his officer's badge and handcuff tie clip.
I had to calm the souls of these devils and the judge. After telling us both he should have us locked up right on the spot and sent us back to the solicitor and probation officer. I spoke with him [seeming as though he had changed into Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde] and looked the devil into his beady blue-gray eyes and told him whatever you want us to do we will do. I convinced him to allow me to go out and come up with $500, I would have to call the bails bondmen and retrieve our $300 from a $1200 bond and we had $200 in bank. Da.Uru could not leave at that time, she was allowed to go downstairs to the lobby to try to call a relative for funds, as we were threatened to be jailed for a whole year if we could not come up with the money.
Now before we had to pay the full amount, it was now around 5:00 pm when I returned from the bank and making phone calls. Suddenly all the cases had been tried we were the only ones left. The judge accepted the $500 and we were let go, "praise god," what a helluva day. You know I just had to thank him he was reluctant to shake my hand but he finally did I was never called to the stand but what we accomplished in eight hours could have been done many hours earlier. For some reason it was McIntosh County's day to bother us save the lord [law] saw us through once again in this slavery of Babylon.
"Africans Unite!"
Transcribed by Tom Blake, May 2001
MIGRATION OF FORMER SLAVES: According to U.S. Census data, the 1860 McIntosh County population included 1,429 whites, 54 "free colored" and 4,063 slaves. By the 1870 census, the white population had decreased about 16% to 1,196, and the "colored" population decreased almost 20% to 3,288. (As a side note, by 1960, 100 years later, the County was listed as having 2,674 whites, about double1860, but the 1960 total of 3,690 "Negroes" was about 10% less than what the colored population had been 100 years before.) Chatham County saw an increase in colored population of almost two thirds between 1860 and 1870, so obviously that is where many freed slaves went. Other Georgia Counties showing significant increases include Fulton, Houston and Richmond. Between 1860 and 1870, the Georgia colored population increased by 80,000, to 545,000, a 17% increase. Where did freed Georgia slaves go if they did not stay in Georgia? States that saw significant increases in colored population during that time, and were therefore more likely possible places of relocation for colored persons from McIntosh County, included the following: Texas, up 70,000 (38%); Alabama, up 37,000 (8%); North Carolina, up 31,000 (8%); Florida, up 27,000 (41%); Ohio, up 26,000 (70%); Indiana, up 25,000 (127%); and Kansas up from 265 to 17,000 (6,400%). [end excerpt]
Ital Iman I
Editor in Chief
Underground News Network-UNN™
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enki@unn13.com
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