Posted on 07/15/2007 5:01:39 PM PDT by madprof98
As thunder rumbled overhead about 2,000 marchers chanted through the streets of Douglasville Saturday morning in a "March For Justice" protest organized by the NAACP, calling for the release of convicted teen sex offender Genarlow Wilson.
The marchers walked under threatening skies and though a few rain sprinkles from Douglasville High School to the front steps of the Douglas County Courthouse, where speaker after speaker called for the release of Wilson, once an honor student and star athlete at the high school.
Wilson was given a 10-year sentence for having consensual oral sex at age 17 with 15-year-old girl. Georgia law has since changed; the maximum sentence he would receive now is one year. Next month Wilson will have spent three years behind bars.
His case — which will be heard July 20 by the Georgia Supreme Court — has become national sensation while the Douglas County District Attorney who prosecuted him, David McDade, has increasingly come under attack.
Last week the U.S. attorney's office in Atlanta said McDade violated federal law when he distributed a videotape from a rape and child molestation case to legislators and journalists. The Rainbow/PUSH Coalition activist group filed a formal complaint Thursday with the State Bar of Georgia, demanding McDade lose his law license because of abuses of authority in the Wilson case.
Many in the crowd Saturday wore white T-shirts with "Free Genarlow Wilson" written on the back. Others wore T-shirts with a photograph of McDade under the word: "Wanted." Below his picture were the alleged charges, including "abuse of power" and "racial profiling."
Wilson's mother, Juanessa Bennett, told protesters she and her son have become "part of a much bigger movement" to make the justice system equal for all. "God put him [Wilson] here for a reason," she said. "We won't take it anymore."
Vincent Forte, a state senator from Atlanta, called for the prosecution of McDade because he distributed the "pornographic" videotape evidence in the Wilson case. He endorsed efforts to have the DA removed from office, saying, "Dave McDade needs to go somewhere and sit down."
Shelia Polk, 51, of Winston, Ga., said she was there for the same reason so many others showed up. "This is not just for Genarlow," she said. "Genarlow kicked it off. But this is for everybody. Black people in this country aren't getting the same justice as our counterparts, the Caucasians."
Douglasville police chief Joe Whisenant said he feared the march, which attracted people from across the state, might spark counter demonstrations. "We were worried about a bunch of neo-Nazis and skinheads showing up," he said. "Fortunately they didn't."
The marchers gathered on the lawn after 1-hour, 15-minute walk from the high school and heard speeches for more than two hours before the crowd started thinning out by early afternoon. Ezra Hill, 47, of Fairburn, said she was moved by the rally.
"I am concerned about injustice," she said. "If you're going to be harsh on people, you have to be equally harsh on all people of all colors."
She wore a button on her blouse. It read: "Racism Is An Illness."
I can't wait to see how the next white DA responds when a black mother makes the charge that her daughter has been raped by a predatory black man.
In the words of the GEICO caveman: “Uh, what?”
Hey, if he been a lacrosse player and white and she was a black superannuated lying harlot, they’d be marching demanding the death penalty.
Hey, if he been a lacrosse player and white and she was a black superannuated lying harlot, they’d be marching demanding the death penalty.
absolutely!!!!!!
They think it’s OK to have sex with a 15 year old girl. Others might say it’s statutory rape.
You should try to understand. It’s a cultural thing.
In Maryland, the age of consent is 14 if the partner is 18 or below.
A protest in favor of a sex offender! These people are sick.
Wilson’s mother, Juanessa Bennett, told protesters she and her son have become “part of a much bigger movement” to make the justice system equal for all. “God put him [Wilson] here for a reason,” she said.
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To engage in oral sex?
Personally, I would have spend some jail time if messing around w/ a 15 yr.old when I was 17 yrs.old was a crime.
I remember 14yr. old girls messing w/ high school sophomores when I was in the eighth grade. The girls thought they were the crap.
I guess that when I was aged 14 - 18 years, I had numerous offenses.
I should be rotting in jail.
He was only 17. She consented. She knew what she was doing.
You really think he belongs in jail for 10 years over this? He was, I think, 17 at the time. I think this is outrageous.
And by the way, he didn't have sex with her. If he did, he would be just fine. But, he got a BJ from her, and that fell under a different statute. Do you really think he should be in jail for 10 years for getting a BJ, expecially since if he had sex with her he would not be in jail?
It’s not because they think what he did is ok. It’s just that 10 years in prison for consensual sex is retarded.
there is a lot more to this story then 15/17 year old oral sex from what I have read.
What have you read? I know he was charged with some other things, but was found not guilty of everything else.
No he’s not a sex offender, he’s a sex offender by law. The girl voluntarily gave him oral. I think this is ridiculous.
Neal Boortz is actually on Genarlow’s side despite Al notsoSharpton getting involved.
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