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Week of May 9 - 15 2002

Protest Engenders Progress
Black America must embrace the young & restless warriors
By BUD JOHNSON
African-American News&Issues
Houston, TX

On Monday, April 22, what could possibly become one of the most significant days in African-Americans' long history of struggle against racism, discrimination, inequality and injustice unfolded at the Houston, Texas' Harris County Courthouse. Insofar as the event wasn't worthy of mainstream media promulgation, the group of dedicated civil rights activists' 9:15 a.m. gathering at 301 San Jacinto went virtually unnoticed.

On the other hand, the congregation of frontline warriors, spearheaded by Minister Quanell X (New Black Panthers), Kofi Taharka (National Black United Front), Pastor Chris Wright (Brothers Healing Brothers), Njeri Shakur (Anti-Death Penalty Activity), Deloyd Parker (SHAPE Community Center), Elder Jean Wilkins Dember (Afrikaans United For Sanity Now), Rev. Ray Martin (PABA) and others, spoke volumes. In essence, the statement-- we ain't just cracking, but facting about challenging an unjust criminal justice system-was loud and clear.
That challenge was first made when the same group emerged at the Harris County Courthouse on Jan. 23. The initial protest was followed by three more efforts to raise awareness and rock the foundation of the White supremacist criminal justice system in our city. "Courtwatch" is the fourth and, perhaps, the most meaningful strategy that should be supported by every concerned citizen wanting justice for all people. "This is a very worthy cause to support," says Roy Douglas Malonson, president of Malonson Company Inc. and chairman of Acres Home Citizens Chamber of Com- merce.

"I've always supported our activists because they're our frontline troops in this ongoing war (racial, spiritual and otherwise), that we can't afford to give up on, or give in to," Malonson said,explaining why he financially supports Black militancy and offers it a forum in African-American News&Issues, Texas' widest circulated newspaper with an uncompromised Black perspective. "I think Courtwatch should be an ongoing and daily project. But, if it's to be effective, it must be supported by our entire community and all citizens of good conscience across the board."
Courtwatch is a very simple concept to understand, insofar as any citizen can become a "Court Monitor," who simply has to sit in the courtroom and observe the number of cases processed; the racial make-up of the judges/defendants/district attorneys and defense attorneys; types of offenses violent vs. non-violent; plea bargains, etc; quality of defense offered; and general disposition of court personnel towards defendants/victims and families. In short, citizens become watchers on the wall for their neighbors who are being persecuted by an oppressive criminal justice system.

It's mind boggling to consider the impact it would have on injustice in the nation's courtrooms if Houston's Courtwatch expanded into a network throughout America.
"I would like to see everybody get involved. I would like to see Courtwatch become African-Americans' new Legal Defense Fund that made the NAACP so necessary back in the old days," Malonson explains. "I think our churches should get involved. Heck, I would even like to see schools, bus kids to the courts. I remember when they use to bus us downtown to hear symphony music. They said it was important to teach us culture."
Chuckling at the memory, Malonson continued, "Being caught up in the criminal justice system has definitely become a very big part of our culture. I think it's important for our kids to get a first-hand look at injustice and the lack of due process that have their relatives and friends serving 30 or 40 years, for having a few crack rocks in their possession." In the past, Malonson has teamed with the New Black Panthers to help bring African-American-owned Domino Pizza franchises to Houston and considers Quanell X a valuable asset to the community.
"It's time we start embracing our young warriors, who are willing to stand in the frontline trenches for us. We must not allow them to fight our battles alone," Malonson told AAN&I during a recent interview. "People constantly call and ask me if I know how to contact Quanell, or Kofi once they need somebody to fight for them. We always talk about freedom not being free, but for some reason our people are reluctant to support our young people who are willing to fight for our freedom. We should know once you take on the system, they have a way of making you pay one way, or another."

Malonson practices what he preaches, therefore he has already committed to financial support of NBUF's 5th Annual "Self-Determination Weekend," that will be held May 17-18, 2002 at the organization's headquarters at 2428 Southmore.
Malonson, who himself has often been on the frontline fighting justice, recalled, "For years I've watched the system buy our community activists out with a job. We must support our young community activists so they can survive without having to sell out like some have accused people like Jew Don Boney of doing."
As one walks into Malonson's office they will quickly notice his original proverb (hanging on his office wall) that says: "For a lot of people, there is no problem if they do not see the problem, or if it does not affect them directly." Unfortunately, far too many political apathetic African-Americans fall into that category.

Nevertheless, if our politicians, community leaders, spiritual leaders, civil rights advocacy organizations and/or ordinary concerned citizens get behind Courtwatch, those disenfranchised citizens could become a powerful force for justice. For sure, Courtwatch works. The ACLU has successfully monitored the courts for years, but it is primarily interested in civil rights violations and constitutional issues. However, a Courtwatch program implemented in Anchorage, Alaska in 1988 proves how effective citizens can impact the criminal justice system.
After the murder of their family, Sharon Nahorney and Janice Lienhart founded Victims for Justice. In February of 1987 they filed Articles of Incorporation in the State of Alaska as a non-profit organization and in 1988 the Courtwatch program was implemented. The group holds workshops to train court monitors, who are drawn from a diversity of involved citizens, ranging from college students to retired seniors. In 2001, over 50 monitors volunteered 1634 hours in courtrooms.
The monitors observe everything from judges' attitudes toward defendants, to there treatment of defense attorneys. More importantly, they target judges to vote against during elections. Black Houston's pathetic efforts to vote against harsh, even racist judges, make Courtwatch even more necessary. For those interested in being a court monitor please call 281/472-5589 or 832/ 655-6969.

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