Transcript
Bible Verse: King James Matthew 24: 9-13 page 1 of 15 Slavery Re-Instated 9. Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you; and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. 10. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. 11. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 12. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. page 2 of 15 Slavery Re-Instated My name is Minister, Antonio L. Ripley, I have been incarcerated for the past fifteen years for crimes I am innocent of. My charges were arm robbery w/a dangerous weapon and second degree kidnapping. Due to I am African-american I was railroaded like so many other minority men. I didn't have a fair trial and my lawyer at the time was ineffective. He told me that due to the victims and eye witnesses never at (no) time identified me as being their assailant that I didn't have anything to worry about. This is what he explained to me and my family. page 3 of 15 Slavery Re-Instated As far as myself along with my family we didn't expect for something sinister to transpire next. My alleged co defendants fabricated their story saying I was allegedly the driver which was not true at all. However that was only a play to win favor from the state. There was (no) evidence to support that theory. At (no) time was I ever charged with conspiracy to those alleged crimes. The next thing destroyed my life as I knew it. I was falsely accused of the above crimes. I was railroaded at trial and was sentenced to four consecutive box card sentences. The total time I was sentenced to was forty years which is my max. page 4 of 15 Slavery Re-Instated With no help my release date is April 29th 2036. I am already 46 years old and given I live through this I'll be too old to have a life. I did win in appeals court for re sentencing. It didn't make much of a difference due to the judge told me to get a post conviction. Due to lack of resources and financial support I have become a sitting duck. All my major help has died off. I am the only child living with numerous of life threatening chronic medical issues. My cardiovascular problems and bronchitis asthma make me wonder will I walk out of here? I am on 35 pills every single day page 5 of 15 Slavery Re-Instated So here I remain in a system that has failed me and every other African American male. I am a part of a system that has stockpiled us to the point they have created-mass incarceration. The racial disparity has grown out of hand and (no) seems to care. Living in this situation is dangerous for those of us who are not in gangs. There is (no) rehabilitation in the North Carolina prison system. Academically I have accomplished a great deal on my own. When there is (no) help in prison it is like being in a foreign country. The sad part is I have tried reaching out to others. No one cares to respond. page 6 of 15 Slavery Re-Instated I've come to the conclusion that a lot of people do not care. If it is not someone they love or care about they have (no) compassion for those of us within these walls. There are times I want to give up and throw in the towel. However accepting defeat is not an option. So I'll fight until I die if I have to. There is a need for (prison reform) in this country. The Judicial System is not currently working and has spiraled out of control. How many of us have to die before help is sent our way? My civil rights were violated and nothing was done. Just another black man off the streets page 7 of 15 Slavery Re-Instated It's astonishing that in 2018 we are still faced with discrimination and a criminal justice system that continues to be bias towards us. I have continued to remain active and steadfast when it comes to finding help. Due to I am in a destitute position (no) one has tried to help me. I have written the North Carolina General Assembly and Senate chambers pleading for help. My cries for help fell on deaf ears. It is sad due to I mailed academic accomplishments. My request for help was ignored. The hurtful part is that no one responded to my cry for help. This is what I mean by when I say there is no help at all in a system that locks you up and forget about you. These people do not care. page 8 of 15 Slavery Re-Instated The people who do care do not have the finances to move this mountain. Growing up middle class and not wanting for anything has taught me to have compassion on those individuals who may lack. Due to I am dealing with a wrongful conviction and with all major help deceased. I clearly understand how it feels to be on the other side of the track. As minorities you would think we would know how to bring about change by just looking back at our rich history of our ancestors. Our ancestor would be highly perplexed given how we respond to each other. Our ancestors would tell us that insolent behavior will not and should not be tolerated. page 9 of 15 Slavery Re-Instated We have allowed our communities to become crime stricken we have all the resources needed to become a people of resilience. However we continue to kill one another instead of loving one another. The funeral homes are continuously filling up. The prisons are continuously filling up and this has caused mass incarceration. Whether guilty or wrongfully convicted we as black men continue to receive lengthy sentences. Every time, I see the organization Black Lives Matter. I never see anyone carrying a sign to demand change in a Judicial System that acts biased towards us. How many lives need to be lost before help comes? page 10 of 15 Slavery Re-Instated Due to my vile health I pray I walk out of here. I cry all the time because I feel as though my people have forgotten about us. When there is (no) help from people on the outside. It feels like living in a foreign country that is destitute. I understand that laws are meant to be followed. However, the problem is that we get treated unfairly. The policies are harsh when it is handed down to a black man. The racial inequities and mandatory minimums are destroying our lives. We who have a lengthy sentence are dying a slow death. I feel like cattle awaiting to go to the slaughter house. The only difference is I am human. We are human. page 11 of 15 Slavery Re-Instated Mandatory minimums are cruel, unjust, and strategies are needed to change this broken system. All across America we are experiencing the same vile, evil entity. Black men tend to receive more time in prison than a lot of murderers, child rapists, and even terrorists. Due to skin color tend to set us up for failure and it's not fair. Something needs to be done and the prison system need to be looked at and evaluated. It's evident that this can not continue to go on. All ethnicities need to be treated the same. Just because I am black shouldn't set me up to receive a life sentence in numbers. page 12 of 15 Slavery Re-Instated If I do not get the help needed I will be old once released. I am sure by then a great number of my family will be deceased. I may be deceased before my release, I don't know what will happen to me. I am trying everyday to find help even though no one hears me crying out for help. The discrimination is real and the system has created a beast that continue govern itself accordingly to racial bias wherever it reared its ugly head. If you have the pleasure to read this I am pleading with you to please take a stand for change the help is needed. I need help and so many others. page 13 of 15 Slavery Re-Instated People need to become informed to the point they care. Please do not be one of those people who say: Well, it's not my child, son, daughter I don't have to be concerned. It is imperative that those who a free step up and demand change. That's why we as black men suffer due to (no) one caring. The system is in disarray because we have not done our part. I know that a lot of people may not understand the economics of what is going on. However, it is important to vote people in office who will drain the swamp. We all deserve to be treated fairly. We all deserve another opportunity to make a better life for ourselves. page 14 of 15 Slavery Re-Instated It starts with us as a community. The lawyers I've contacted want money and when there's no money there is (no) help. Constitutionally some things need to change with our country laws. North Carolina Justice System has not at this time tried to dismantle structured sentencing. So when it comes to "mass incarceration" it is felt in this state 100%. All I can do is continue to pray and ask God to send help. My situation is not one of the liking. However, I am fighting for change for everyone. Given I am a man of God I have to have compassion on others. Jesus had compassion on us all. page 15 of 15 Slavery Re-Instated I hope this essay will awaken a people who have the power to stand together to make change. All our lives matter and it's time that we show this fact. It shouldn't take tragedies to bring us together. We should come together any way in the name of humanity. It shouldn't take hate for us to love one another we should love anyway. At the end of the day anyone who is incarcerated is a child of someone who loves them. This alone should rally all people to demand change. I will continue this fight called "justice" until my "God" calls me on. All because the system made me a victim. But God said I am a victor. My change will come.
