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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsNope, no racism here! GA Officials Are Going After Black Leaders Who Organized Voters
GEORGIA OFFICIALS ARE GOING AFTER BLACK LEADERS WHO ORGANIZED VOTERS
On the morning of December 21, 2010, Lula Smart was preparing to leave for her job at Sears when she heard a firm knock at her front door. An array of law enforcement vehicles had amassed outside, and armed officers were fanning out around her house. Before that day, Smart had no rap sheet to speak of, only a masters degree in criminal justice earned earlier that year. While she enjoyed her work in retail, Smart hoped to transition into a job more like that of her unannounced visitors, who would read her a dizzying list of felony voting fraud charges that amounted to more than 100 years in prison. Handcuffed, Smart soon met nine other incarcerated African Americans who had participated in a vigorous get-out-the-vote campaign ahead of an election the previous month. Three of those jailed had been elected to the local school board.
the rest here:
http://www.vice.com/read/the-quitman-10-2-and-voter-suppression-in-modern-georgia-715
Response to kpete (Original post)
lostincalifornia This message was self-deleted by its author.
questionseverything
(9,654 posts)Yet the massive investigation failed to produce evidence that Smart or any other member of the group had defrauded or coerced a single voter. With these goods lacking, the state built its prosecution instead on proving that she and others breached technicalities like carrying envelopes containing ballots to the mail for their close acquaintances without the proper authorization.
Even on these counts, the state is struggling to make its case. VICE spoke with several Brooks County residents state prosecutors allege are the victims of voter fraud at the hands of the Quitman 10 + 2. Each of them asserted that they had successfully voted for the candidate of their choice without coercion or any impropriety. Similarly, court documents reveal that other alleged victimscalled by the prosecution to testify against Smarthad little to offer the states case. Under oath, witnesses called by the state asserted that no fraud had taken place and said that, during interrogations, Georgia investigators had them sign personal statements that the agents had written for them.
In 2012, despite the cases vulnerabilities, Georgia Governor Nathan Deal issued an executive order removing the three black women charged with voter fraud from the school board.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
wether it is racism or 99ism if we had a properly functioning justice department, deal and his cronys would be under investigation
cordelia
(2,174 posts)brer cat
(24,565 posts)Aristus
(66,344 posts)I hope she receives actual justice. Not whatever passes for it in that squalid Confederate shithole where she lives...
ieoeja
(9,748 posts)Witnesses called by the state to testify against Lula Smart in the 2013 case also expressed concerns that the investigation aimed to intimidate. When yall came to my house... yall just kept coming and harassing me. I know who I voted for, and I voted and I thought I was through with that. Patricia Little, a longtime Quitman resident, told the courtroom in reference to the states investigators. Yall making me not even want to vote no more.
progressoid
(49,990 posts)RobertEarl
(13,685 posts)This begs for a Federal intervention. Holder? Anyone seen Holder?
GeorgeGist
(25,321 posts)Just ask the Moocher Militia.
grahamhgreen
(15,741 posts)The 1860's