http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=07/09/13/1445202AMY GOODMAN: He was injured in the incident and was taken to the hospital. The Capitol police charged him with felony assault of a police officer. Reverend Lennox Yearwood is the founder of the Hip Hop Caucus. He’s among the organizers of this Saturday’s antiwar march in Washington. He joins us from the studios in Washington, D.C. Welcome to Democracy Now!
REV. LENNOX YEARWOOD, JR.: Good morning, Amy.
AMY GOODMAN: Tell us what happened.
REV. LENNOX YEARWOOD, JR.: Well, on September 10, I went to hear the hearing, and I can tell you that it was, for me, as a former Air Force officer, obviously someone who is the President of the Hip Hop Caucus leading a march on Saturday, I knew how important it was to hear the general's report for myself. I knew that when officers lie, soldiers die. So I was going in, in essence, to make government more transparent. It was also critical for me as a person of color to be in the room to report back to my community.
But instead, when I got there, I was waiting in line. I was standing there. I had to do a radio interview. I asked the officer, I said, “Can I step out of line for a second to do an interview?” He said, “No problem.” I did my interview. I came back to the line. I got back in the line. I was waiting.
And then, all of a sudden -- it was somewhat suspicious -- another officer came down, was passing out blue post-it notes. And as he was coming in the line, he actually came to me and actually Colonel Ann Wright, who was standing with me. It was amazing. The two officers who were going in to hear General Petraeus, he actually told us both, “You can't get in,” and then walked past us.
And so, me and Colonel Ann Wright looked at each other and said, “Why can't we get in?” He said, “You can't get in.” And so, we went up forward, and we kept walking to the front of the line and said, “Why are we being denied?” “You just can't get in.” And so, somebody came and passed one of the blue post-it notes to Colonel Wright and put it in her hand. And she showed it to him. “I didn't give you that.” She said, “I know. Why can't we get in?” He said, “Well, OK, you can get in.” And she said, “What about Reverend Yearwood?” He said, “No, he can't get in.”
And that’s when it started. I said, “Why are you singling me out? What is going on?” It’s important to know. We have this huge rally at the White House, and a march to the Capitol is coming Saturday. And I know my picture is on the flier. But regardless, I asked, “Why are you singling me out?”
* * *
AMY GOODMAN: They charged you with assaulting a police officer?
REV. LENNOX YEARWOOD, JR.: The amazing thing is that then, after obviously I tore ligaments in my ankle, and then they took me to the hospital, and then they took me to jail, and they charged me originally with felony assault on an officer. And then the court -- and they tried to ban me from the Capitol. And obviously that was thrown out, the banning of me from the Capitol, which is wonderful for our march, because we’re marching to the Capitol on Saturday. And they kept the misdemeanor. So I’ll be going to court again for that. But it was amazing.
I must say this, though. When I heard the chant, my mother in the movement, Cindy Sheehan, and DeeDee were there. When I was down on the ground, I literally was just like, “This is ridiculous.” But I heard them say, “Arrest Bush, not Rev!” I can tell you that I knew that the movement -- we will not be denied. We will show up at every hearing, and our voices as a people will be heard.
* * *
AMY GOODMAN: Will you be on crutches, as well, on Saturday, Reverend Yearwood?
REV. LENNOX YEARWOOD, JR.: Unfortunately, I will be on crutches on Saturday. I’ll be on crutches for quite some time, unfortunately, for what was done to me. I might have been beaten in the halls of Congress, but my spirit wasn't beaten. So I will be limping all the way to the Capitol on the 15th.
And folks can find out about this at sept15.org. We need everyone. If they can beat on me in the halls of Congress, they will come and beat on you next.
AMY GOODMAN: Reverend Lennox Yearwood, thanks very much for being with us, President of the Hip Hop Caucus, minister and community activist, one of the organizers of the antiwar march that will be taking place in Washington, D.C. on Saturday.
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=07/09/13/1445202
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