Sunday, February 5, 2023

Movement Serendipity

 As we approach The 57th annual Bridge Crossing Jubilee. The dates have been set for March 2023. The event that marks the protest for Voting Rights and Bloody Sunday that happened on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma Ala. in 1965. It also represents some unknown but very important dates such as the 10 year anniversary of the Free Alabama Movement ( Alabama Prison Strikes that went across the nation), Nathaniel Woods memorial, 20 year anniversary of Let My People Vote, the 19th year of Formerly & Currently Incarcerated People Movement, 22nd and 29th year of TOPS- The Ordinary People Society and the 16th year of the Prodigal Child Project. 

With all that in mind this Jubilee annual Backwards March for those Formerly and Currently Incarcerated who was left behind during the Civil Rights Movement. Will move their time from walking across the bridge backwards right before the annual Jubilee Bloody Sunday March to Saturday the day before. It will be held from 4-6pm on Saturday March 4th with a bridge crossing, a die in, rally and memorial at the Montgomery side of the bridge in front of the National Jubilee office. So that it can express its purpose and platform. Coupled with those organizers on the inside. Pastor Kenneth Sharpton Glasgow will actually walk from Selma to Montgomery to end up at the Alabama Capitol steps on Monday March 7th to join with other leaders and organizations addressing the deaths that has occurred since the DOJ lawsuit against the ADOC for inhumane and unconstitutional treatment. 

This is in hopes of highlighting the deaths of all those in ADOC, the continuation of Slavery even though it has been Voted out of the Alabama Constitution on Nov. 8 election. We want to know how does the Federal Constitution contradict itself and nothing is being done about it. With the 8th and 13 amendments contradicting eachother. How come the DOJ has had a lawsuit against the ADOC for the past 2 almost 3 years and still nothing has been done while the death rate in ADOC continues to rise daily. No Parole or relief of any kind, with a band aid being put on an open laceration with the release of approximately 400 people that will be released this year anyway. But not addressing the problems that exist causing these deaths, suffering, and inhumane treatment. 

We are Calling for all Americans, People and Fellow Citizens to help us start the healing process and join #OperationHealing 

For the Bible says that I was hungry you didn’t feed me, thirsty, sick and in Prison and you didn’t visit me. 

That visit in the Hebrew means to administer to the needs there of. The Bible also says when you have not done this unto the least of these you have not done it unto me. So if those incarcerated are close to God. They should be close to us and we like God should feel like when they’re doing it to them. We should all be like Jesus and feel like they are doing it to me. 

Join us in ending Slavery not only in word but also in deed. In stopping these inexcusable deaths, this inhumane treatment, these over bearing and unconstitutional sentences, and mass incarceration. 

Join #OperationHealing and meet us at the Selma Bridge March 4th 4-6pm 

Tuesday, January 31, 2023

Alabama mass prison release shows TOPS work paying off

 As the oldest existing Criminal Justice, Voting Rights, Prisoner Rights organization in existence since 1994. 

TOPS-The Ordinary People Society 

Is very happy to see all the work of all of you, doing rallies, phone calls, protests, marches, strikes and social media. 

Has paid off. 

Any win, any victory is a victory and should be celebrated as such. 

Herschel Gatson just reminded me yesterday of an old ancient proverb; that says if you want to move a mountain. You have to move the Little Rocks first. 


Now we must go the extra mile and make sure that all those released are being taken care of. 

With that being said if we can give any advice, help, or just share our experience in reentry or whatever. Just please do not hesitate to call. 

But whatever we do, let’s not stop. This is just a small rock and we are trying to move this mountain. Called mass incarceration, criminal justice, slavery, free labor, inhumane treatment of our loved ones. 

Now I will meet you all at the Bridge on Saturday March 4th @ 4pm 

Selma Alabama 

This is our time y’all 

Put away your differences 

Remember this is about the Movement and that’s those INSIDE  


#operationhealdothan

#operationhealalabama

#cantstoptops

#HumanRightsAdvocate

#theordinarypeoplesociety

#Formerly&Currently Incarcerated People Movement 

#LetMyPeopleVote


Monday, January 2, 2023

Kenyetta

 Stay tuned for our new reporter/blogger Kenyetta Rich Glasgow, who’s also our assistant Executive Director. She will be coming to you daily with TOPS current events. 

Sunday, October 16, 2022

Alabama Prison Strike #4

 I was asked by Kinetik Justice to go over the history of the prison strikes here in Alabama being that I may be one of the only people outside of the prisons that know the history besides Nikki Davenport. 

On December 9 2012 the biggest prison strike that went across Georgia reaching 10 prisons filled the news media being the first of its kind. I was called by those inside of the Georgia prisons and families to come and represent those inside.  T.O.P.S. - The Ordinary People Society is the oldest existing Criminal Justice, Prisoner Rights, Voting Rights organization and we are well known for our Human Rights work fighting for those incarcerated since 1994.  So I was called and one of the first things we discovered was that there was very little participation of Churches, organizations, and groups going into the prison to talk directly to those inside. So as we met with the Commissioner Schofield and Tim Head through the help of Representative Roberta Abdul Salaam. We asked for a fact finding committee to be able to go inside the prisons and talk to those inside directly. Since they had nothing to hide. 

The reason for the strike was because of the inappropriate treatment, and beatings by Correctional Officers on people incarcerated. We had two major lawsuits going at that time with Terrance Dean and others, https://youtu.be/19XKFMNntus

We ended up going in and discovering it was worse than we thought. I filed lawsuits against them for their inhumane treatment of those in SMU- Special Management Units and won. This is what inspired those incarcerated in California and then Alabama to form the Free Alabama Movement. Two young men incarcerated Robert Earl Council and Melvin Ray would have me on the phone 6 am in every morning going over plan and strategies on how to put together a Peaceful Prison Strike across the whole state of Alabama superseding what Georgia had just done with 10 prisons across their state, and the hunger strike in California prisons. These morning conversations would take place for almost a year before an action was put in place and executed on a large scale. Small actions such as us protesting outside of a prison would happen a few times during that year led by Nikki Davenport and myself. This all started in 2013 and then in 2014 there was a trail run. To actually have a peaceful prison strike to see how many incarcerated people would actually join, how many family members would join, and what effects if any would be made. Their organizing while being incarcerated put to shame those of us on the outside who can’t even come together for the movement. They went beyond racial barriers, religious barriers and incarceration barriers and organized over 20 prisons keeping their mind on the goal of gaining the attention of the state to stop their inhumane treatment of people incarcerated. In 2016 other states joined in and started the free Ohio, Free Texas, and many more. Making this the biggest prison strike in our nation going across approximately 40 prisons and 20 states. Then in 2018 50 prisons and 25 states. In the midst of these strikes our “ Let My People Vote “ campaign that we started in 2002 proved its validity in December 2017 by those incarcerated helping to push Doug Jones across the finish line to win the Alabama Senate seat in congress and change a 25 year Republican rule. I won a lawsuit in 2008 declaring the State of Alabama unconstitutional in taking the rights of people with felony convictions who should have never lost their voting rights. 

This not only got the Federal Government’s attention on me but also on the Alabama Department of Corrections. They continuously locked up Kinetik Justice and Brother Ray in solitary confinement in retaliation. But the Movemment kept going through myself, Nikki and others. 

In 2019 we really thought we had gained the victory we were looking for when the Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against the Alabama Department of Corrections for Inhumane Treatment, inadequate security and management. Violating their 8th and 14th amendments. A coalition of SPLC, ACLU, TOPS, AJI, and so many others that named themselves “ Alabamians for Fair Justice” organizing the biggest Lobby Day at the Alabama State house ever organized by Katie Glenn, Dillon Nettles and others. Latonya Tate called for all of us to form another group that fought against the construction of 3 new prisons by Governor Kay Ivey, carrying on the bidding of former Governor Bob Reilly. This was Alabama’s response to the DOJ lawsuit; to build more prisons. Taking 400 million dollars from the State Covid funds. From the state with the most Covid deaths than any other state. We sued but to no avail. However ASAP-Alabama Students Against Prisons did a yeomens job on email the Funders of the prisons and stopping them from participating in the inhumanity of Governor Kay Ivey and the Alabama Department of Corrections. 

So now we are here at the 4th Peaceful Prison Strike and because of the work done for the last 9 years by those inside and numerous outside we have a growing movement. However; we have more deaths now than we did before the DOJ lawsuit, they have beaten Kinetic numerous times damaging his eye and all. Kastellio Vaughn is barley alive due to medical negligence. And those who have died we cannot bring back. 

So you ask what do we do? well I’m glad you asked. A lot of people are confused and media does play it’s part. But mobilizing a lot of people together for a cause is good and sometimes very good. But organizing with a goal is great. So my 30 years experience in doing this and all the fire I’m under tells me that we must take advantage of this opportunity of the election coming up. We did it before in 2017 with Doug Jones and we can do it again. We have the removal of the racist language on the ballot this year as well. We must take advantage of our God given right that cannot take from us inside or out because of our lawsuit Glasgow vs State of Alabama 


https://youtu.be/QL9HVHtNW-8


That we are actually the ones who fall under taxation without representation. 

The tea party are hypocrites 

We are the We Party 

These are not just “people” incarcerated. 

These are citizens and voters and constituents incarcerated. 

Human beings that are being threshold to death sentences from medical negligence, improper treatment, abuse, overdose, and so much more. 

We have a HUMAN CRISIS AND STATE OF EMERGENCY ON OUR HANDS 

WHO WILL COME HELP US????

Will it be the Democrats the Republicans who created the problem 

Or the Libertarians who say they are for the people ? 

And somebody please tell me where are the Churches?


So let’s organize to vote out those who are part of the corruption and vote in those who are more Humane and believe in the Bible that was written by prisoners might I add. 

And while we are fighting to LET MY PEOPLE GO 

WE MUST ALSO LET MY PEOPLE VOTE 

Contact me at 334-791-2433 

Thursday, September 9, 2021

Alabama Prisons (We Stand, We Shout, We PRAY)

 As we sit and wonder what our legislation is doing about the prisons in Alabama.....we read an article online that the House GOP Caucus met on Wednesday of this week!  This week you say?  Wow!  We were just asking questions.  What's going on?  What's Alabama's plan on the current prison situation?  Why is the Alabama Parole hearings going like they are?  Why is no one being paroled?  Is this legal is this humane?  However, we didn't hear anything.  Nobody knew anything then THIS.  A meeting?  The GOP Caucus?  Well, what did they talk about >> what do they think about OUR prisons in Alabama not meeting minor standards such as over population and sanitation.


It appears the Alabama House Republican met for over 2 hours about BUILDING more prisons and basically financing through America Plans for Rescue.  I believe that is our COVID money to help residents of Alabama that suffered great financial loses during the Pandemic.  However, our Governor and Republican law makers want to use it to House our People!  LET OUR PEOPLE GO!


I can list ALL the things the state is being sued over through the Federal Department of Corrections but I won't because you have heard it all before!  It's ridiculous and outrageous!


The Alabama Department of Pardon and Paroles meet approximately 3 times weekly, generally on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.  They see approximately 31 inmates each time.  They are approving approximately 1 to 2 per hearing.  ONE to TWO!  Where is that fair anywhere?  Where is that giving OUR people any hope?  BUT a meeting is held about adding more prisons and possibly upgrading 1 in Barbour or Bullock county.  Where is the Justice?  Where is the Peace?  Where are we headed?  Where does this leave Alabama?


I say...No Justice >>>>> NO PEACE.


We STAND for our brothers and sisters in the Alabama Department of Corrections.  We STAND!  We SHOUT!  WE PRAY!