Lakeith Amir-Sharif maintains his innocence - Part Two of American InJustice
Categories: African-American, Justice/Law Enforcement
Written By: Shawn Williams
Since posting Part One of the American InJustice video about Lakeith Amir-Sharif, there's been a spirited discussion going on in the comment section. As I mentioned in the earlier post, I met Sharif two years ago, before this form was made available.
To my knowledge, what happened is that I was standing around at the Faith Summit on Poverty when out of the blue Sharif asked me to take a picture of he and Dick Gregory. That picture -I believe- is the one you see below. Now our paths cross again. Funny how God works.
Sharif maintains his innocence in two felony cases that include charges of stalking. I’m not going to go into the specifics of the case at this time, due to legal activity currently taking place. But if someone were interested, the information is out there.
April 16th, 2008 at 11:09 am
D.A. WATKINS “NOT ON YOUR WATCH”
(STATE OF TEXAS v. LAKEITH AMIR-SHARIF)
STOP THE WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS
April 16, 2008
This is an update about the case of Lakeith Amir-Sharif who is currently set to stand trial on April 21, 2008, in Dallas County, Criminal District Court No. 05, on bogus charges that he is innocent of. Making The Walls Transparent (MTWT-Texas) is calling on everyone to give closer scrutiny to the injustices in the case of Sharif and other men, women and children who find themselves facing the “justice system in the State of Texas, in particular the criminal courts in Dallas County which leads all other counties in America in wrongful convictions.
“16” DNA exonerations since 2001(and counting),yet Dallas County still hasn’t learned much as is evident by their prosecution of Sharif and other innocent individuals trapped in the Texas justice system.
We’ve heard the rhetoric of our elected officials and others, but it hasn’t been matched by tedious research and the adequate resources necessary to correct the problems.
In the Texas justice system, and particularly in Dallas County, there are many examples of the fundamental unfairness, class discrimination, blatant racism, police, judicial and prosecutorial misconduct and repeated human/civil rights violations that take place daily. No better example of this is the arrest, indictments and prosecution of Lakeith Amir-Sharif on charges that lack a factual basis in law or facts.
Now this case like the majority of criminal cases prosecuted inside Dallas County “does not” involve DNA, so any reforms of our criminal justice system must take this fact under consideration when trying to address the larger problems that affect the justice system. There is a greater possibility of an innocent person being convicted in a non-DNA cases than if there is DNA samples available.
A casual review of the circumstances surrounding Sharif’s charges will leave you wondering why has the D.A. Watkins has continued to prosecute a innocent man; and at the expense to taxpayers that exceeds two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000.00).
This unethical and the ill-conceived prosecution was started by the corrupt former D.A. Bill Hill’s, back in November 2004.The current District Attorney (D.A.) Craig Watkins seems unwilling to end this miscarriage of justice and the squandering of taxpayer‘s money. Despite the charging indictments that are based solely on the mendacious allegations of a vindictive and broken hearted ex-girlfriend named Cathy Jonette Hawkins, many believe that the real basis why Sharif is still being prosecuted is because of him exercising his constitutional rights of freedom of speech via several web sites, justice blogs and in several federal lawsuits Sharif has filed against the county elected leaders, and others petitioning the government to address the corruption and malfeasance conduct of various officials within the Dallas judicial system, the Dallas County Sheriff’s office . Standing up and supporting Sharif’s quest for justice will benefit others facing the Texas justice system. Wrongful convictions, especially preventable instances such as in Sharif‘s cases, are something no civilized society can turn a blind eye to.
Sincerely,
MAKING THE WALLS TRANSPARENT
Here are links with additional information about the Dallas County and the Texas justice system.
http://www.angelfire.com/crazy4/texas/cathyhawkinsaffidavits.html
http://www.angelfire.com/crazy4/texas/lawyer.html
What Do We Really Know About Craig Watkins?
http://www.angelfire.com/crazy4/texas/assemblylinejustice.html
http://www.angelfire.com/crazy4/texas/court.html
April 16th, 2008 at 10:22 pm
This is a very esoteric situation. But, yes, the judicial system is corrupt and was set up for people of Afrikan descent, especially the Black male.
But, I look at like this, what was the cause , the problem, that consequently involved the police and the judicial system; because, when they get involved it becomes more challenging.
That female in this situation is the culprit, as is pointed out by you. I suggest karma and the Universe and the good ancestors will deal with her.
Many times, it is the Black female that put Black brothas in touch with the judicial system, because of being scorned—the scorn of a Black female—look where it has gotten a brotha!
April 19th, 2008 at 9:53 am
Dallas County’s systemic problems with the administartion of justice is despicable. I pray that the case of Lakeith Amir-Sharif and others helps to bring the glass of injustice known as the Texas Judiciary to it’s knees. Every legislator, police officer, prosecutor and judge should hold their heads down in shame for what is going on there in dallas County.
The conviction of innocent persons for crimes they did not commit calls into question the integrity and legitimacy of our criminal justice system. Unfortunately, the conviction of the innocent occurs far more often then many are willing to admit. Many police officers, prosecutors, judges, government officials, and even average citizens believe that these cases coming out of Texas are anomalies. In fact, I recently read somewhere a comment by a blogger from another state that said “there were undoubtedly some who still believe, despite several exoneration through DNA testing, that some of those recent exonerees from Dallas County were nonetheless guilty”. Obviously, the bloggers’ common sense has taken an extended leave of absence.
Moreover, some government and criminal justice officials argue that the exposure of cases of wrongful conviction demonstrate that the system functions well. Not so, and I’ll point to 50 years of evidence and two men who were stripped of their freedom at the prime of their lives, labled a criminal for a crime they did not commit, forced to serve most their lives in prison for which no monetary compensation, no perfuncutory apology, no hand shakes and no apperances on the t.v. show circuits can ever reverse the pain, emotional turmoil caused by being wrongfully convicted.
Something must be done and done soon. Dallas County is just a reflection of the national crisis affecting the integrity and fairness of our justice system.
Not!!!! 23 years after the fact (Thomas McGowan) and 27 years after the fact (Charles Chatman) If this were in fact the case, many innocent people would not be spending years in prison for crimes they did not commit. This faulty logic serves as a major impediment to the recognition, exposure and prevention of wrongful convictions.
http://www.voiceofwitness.com/sjmain.html
http://youtube.com/watch?v=dWrRap7FAZw
http://youtube.com/watch?v=nrFifvU9WjQ
April 21st, 2008 at 12:39 pm
i,m a 46 yrs old african american woman and i have also been falsey accused in the dallas county courthouse by judge stolz . a white woman says i beat her up in broad daylight at a bank in carrollton,texas and this alleged happen in 2004 the dallas police arrested me at my home at 5am in front of my daughter i was on my way to work in 2006 i lost my job after i had been arrested 2007 i have been back and forth to court and 2008 the judge gave me a 3rd degree felony i haven,t been able to find work since, my 21 yr old daughter take care of me i,m homeless i have lost everything i live on $117 per month from the V.A. and i have noone to help me i have never been in trouble before and i don,t know how to fight this or were to turn i,m very depress and want to die. how can such a case get to be a 3rd D feloeny. i really need help!
April 21st, 2008 at 4:10 pm
Dear Shawn, please have Ms. Beverley McCarther who left the comment above to contact myself, Sharif , Jamie or Kay Lee at Making The Walls Transparent and we will see if and what we can do to help her. This is the sort of thing we are concerned about with the criminal justice system in Dallas County. We know this isn’t a isolated situation. We receive too many calls and emails weekly from people/defendants and their loved ones with stories like this.
She can reach me at my personal email or email mtwtdallas@hotmail.com, or Kaylee1@charter.net or amirsharif1@hotmail.com.
Thanks for serving the community as you do. Dallas South blog is a real asset.
Sumbri Hutson, MTWT Advocate
http://www.angelfire.com/crazy4/texas
June 24th, 2008 at 11:19 am
Here’s the letter I sent. YOu can send one as well.
begerton@dallasnews.com
jfoster@dallascounty.org
I am writing this letter on behalf of Lakeith Sharif-Amir, DOB# 11/15/1964, pertaining to the case # MA0425257 in the 292nd Judicial District Court.
I would like to know if he has a possibility to be released? I think his compassion and resistance through this turmoil has been mistaken for guilt. I cannot imagine this crime could be committed with one hundred-percent proof, without error.
Over the last year, Lakeith Sharif-Amir has affected my life and my family’s relationships through his public awareness and community efforts. He is an invaluable member of our Christian society who focuses on health concerns, which have affected us recently. His concerns have truly become my own. Where he has left a page unwritten in his journalism efforts, I continue to follow necessary steps to preserve our community’s health, before it’s too late.
Sharif made the public aware of a disease spreading in Dallas County Jail called M.R.S.A., a severe staff infection resistant to antibiotics. I read the recent article in Dallas Morning News about the correctional officer’s gym infected. The public wants to know how this happened. We now know it is based on the lack of inmates care as they spread it to the officers. The officers take it home. We saw a problem we could solve.
After the Dallas county spent thousands of dollars on health investigators, they never reported the M.R.S.A problem. Over the last year, I contacted the Texas Health Department of State Health Services for Dallas and Collin County, Plane State Jail and Lane Murray Unit infirmaries. All centers say they have zero control over M.R.S.A. testing and evaluation for control methods, but they did update the website with new material pamphlets and videos on M.R.S.A.
I sent 2 formal complaints through the Texas Commission on Jail Standards. Within the month, there was an unannounced investigation for Dallas County who filed financial penalties for unsanitary conditions. All of this time, I keep going, knowing there is an important matter to address. I credit Sharif for his advice and endless support. My last call was made June 24th, 2008 to the Parkland Hospital’s division over the North East Tower at Dallas County Jail. The phone rang all day. The medical units never answer a call.
You see, my cousin attracted M.R.S.A. blood staff infection one year ago in the Lew Sterrit facility. Her pleas for medical infirmary requests were denied. She remains in the TDCJ system and has spread the disease to 4 institutions.
Sharif’s article about these concerns was published, yet she still is denied treatment for M.R.S.A. She will die eventually from the antibiotic resistant disease. Her early treatment has been ignored. But, Sharif and I kept praying for her hope.
The question is: Do you want to attract the disease through a shared handrail or doorknob? Body oil spreads bacteria easily, and your units do not provide adequate soap for fear the inmates might “swallow it”.
Because of Sharif, I continued to have hope for my cousin, and others like her ending their young lives in the system. By Sharif’s prayers and guidance on how I could help, he has given the family enough motive, hope and endless prayers to keep things together through a tough time.
As a friend of Sharif and his family, I only hope to give something in return. I share my story with you, in hope for his second chance, to return to his valuable existence in the outside world. I could not imagine why Sharif should waste time within the jail system, when his purpose and value is given to the community so greatly every day. And, as a reader I hope you can understand God’s purpose for this man. His family needs him, and many others as well including myself.
Thank You for Your Consideration,
Amy Brooks
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 81, Health and SafetyCode, is amended by adding Section 81.0445 to read as follows: Sec. 81.0445. MRSA REPORTING PROCEDURES PILOT PROGRAM.
(a) The executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission by rule shall develop and the department shall establish a pilot program to research and implement procedures for reporting cases of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
(b) The department shall select to administer the program a health authority that:
(1) demonstrates an interest in hosting the program; and (2) possesses adequate resources to administer the program successfully.
(c) The pilot program must:
(1) require all clinical laboratories within the area served by the health authority to report all cases of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus to the pilot program administrator;
(2) track the prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus;
(3) study the cost and feasibility of expanding the list of reportable diseases established under this chapter to include methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus;
(4) develop a methodology for the electronic exchange of information regarding the occurrence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus within the area served by the health authority;
(5) collect data and analyze findings regarding thesources and possible prevention of methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus;
(6) provide for the reporting to the public by the of information regarding methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus;
(7) compile and make available to the public a summary, by location, of the infections reported; and
(8) make recommendations to the department regarding Subdivisions (1) through (7). (d) Not later than September 1, 2009, the department, in consultation with the health authority administering the pilot program, shall submit to the legislature a report concerning the effectiveness of the pilot program in tracking and reducing the number of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections within the area served by the health authority. (e) This section expires, and the pilot program is abolished, September 1, 2009.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2007.