Crooked laws, crooked cops

by Ronald Thomas

I am a 28-year-old Black man from Troy, Alabama, locked down at Holman Maximum Security Prison in Atmore, Alabama. While in segregation (lock up), a brotha gave me a stack of Bay View newspapers. I was not much of a reader – especially not Black liberation material – but now I am.

Kenneth Harding, shot by San Francisco police, tries to raise himself up out of a pool of his own blood, as cops keep their guns trained on him and the crowd and provide no emergency medical assistance, letting him bleed to death. – Video frame: TheOneNonly457

I’m also a rapper and while I previously wrote songs only about ballin’ and other trivial garbage, I now see that there must be a place for some REAL shit too.

I’m still angry, and while there’s not much I can do at the moment I decided to write a song that I plan on recording in the next couple of months. The following is Part One of a two-part song along with commentary: The artist is Most Hated, the song, “Crooked, Part One,” and the label CNB.

Hook: Crooked laws, crooked cops – they all need 2 be stopped. It’s a shame, a shame how they getting away wit’ murder, wit’ no blame. Crooked law, crooked cops – they all need 2 be stopped. It’s a shame, a shame how they killin’ our kids like they was high risk.

Verse 1: Police aim their weapons at bystanders so Kenneth couldn’t receive no help. If da shoe was on da other foot, they would want help, but instead they rather watch a Black child bleed 2 death.

White man commit a krime, he gets a praying hand, but a Black man commit a krime, he gets a LIFE sentence when he hit da stand.

Denika Chatman, I know it’s hard on you when Kenneth left. He took a part of you. Late nite cries ‘n memories make you feel like there is no tomorrow, but if I could bring him back I would give him life 2 borrow. Denika, we love you from da heart. Black people stickin’ together: Dat’s where it gotta start. Police killin’ our kids, we ain’t cool wit’ dat; it’s time 2 stand up and say we ain’t havin’ dat.

Every third Sunday – this one on April 21 – Denika Chatman sets out a banquet called Community Feed on Kenny’s Korner on Oakdale at Third Street in Bayview Hunters Point, the place where her 19-year-old son, Kenneth Harding, bled to death after he was shot by SFPD. On April 21, the crew included Kathy in front and, around the table from left, Mi’Neika Chatman, three men from JAB, the Justice 4 Alan Blueford coalition, Albert Tekpatl, Al Osorio, Denika Chatman, Marco Scott, Charles DuBois, Tracey Bell-Borden. Denika says, “Al is from Decolonize Oakland, Charles and Albert are from Labor Black and Brown, and myself, Marco and Tracey are from the Kenneth Harding Jr. Foundation.” Food contributions and volunteers are always welcome. Contact Denika on Facebook, and donate at WePay.com.

Hook: Crooked laws, crooked cops they all need 2 be stopped. It’s a shame, a shame how they getting’ away wit’ murder, wit’ no blame. Crooked laws, crooked cops – they all need 2 be stopped. It’s a shame, a shame.

Verse 2: James Earl Rivera is no longer breathin’. Gregory, Eric ‘n John (cops) is da reason. Y’all took a young innocent child’s life. You need 2 be swept off da streets ‘n sentenced 2 LIFE.

White man commit a krime, he see another day. But a Black man commit a krime, they put us far away. White people no better than Black people. We all bleed ‘n breathe. We all equal.

What’s goin’ on in da Bayview: crooked laws, crooked cops. Yeah, they racists from my point of view. It’s like I had a stroke when I felt da pain of da Smiths, ma. I’m so mad right now I plead the Fifth. Every time James cross my mind I cry a tear.

The crew that gathered, prepared and served the food for the March Community Feed include George Russell, Denika Chatman, Mi’neika Chatman, Tracey Bell-Borden, Emani Bey, Guillermo Herrera, Al Osorio and Marco Scott.

RIP Kenneth Harding, James Earl Rivera, Derrick Gaines, Oscar Grant, Alan Blueford, Jason Smith, Kendrec McDade, Christian Gomez and all the brothas and sistas who have lost their precious lives to this rotten system and their minions. You are not forgotten.

Send our brother some love and light: Ronald Thomas, 235080, M-24, 3700 Holman, Atmore, AL 36503. Ronald ends his cover letter with this note: “Thanks for showing me all the beautiful Black people in your paper. It really makes me feel good.”

Many if not all the people who count on the Kenneth Harding Foundation’s Community Feed can often be found in the plaza at the T-train stop where Kenny was shot, and they witnessed his murder. Denika says: “They say they are the forgotten and that no one cared about them until we came out. I love this community!”

This cop, Star No. 2444, was trying to intimidate folks from the community into leaving without the food that Denika Chatman and her crew give away in honor of the memory of her son, Kenneth Harding and all victims of law enforcement. Denika says, “He was trying to drive our community members away, and we were not going to let it happen.”