Aaron Patterson sentenced to 30 years.

Updates: NOTE: This is Brian updating Stephanie's post after hearing the news from her. I also read this horrible post over at the Chicago-ist, in which they applaud Patterson's 30 year sentence as sound justice... after reading that I must encourage everyone I know (I know some readers of The Liberator check them out from time to time) to stay away from that garbage of a website.

(Chicago Sun-Times) Former death row inmate gets 30 years: A former death row inmate who became a symbol of a badly broken criminal justice system harangued prosecutors and denounced a federal judge Tuesday before being sentenced to 30 years in prison for trading in guns and drugs.

Aaron Patterson, who prosecutors claimed coordinated gang activities even as he served 17 years in prison for a double murder he insists he didn't commit, made a 45-minute expletive-laden statement to the court before his sentence was read.

''You're going to put me down for a high sentence, but I'll be back. Back with a vengeance,'' said Patterson, his hands and ankles bound as he spoke from the defense table flanked by three federal marshals.

Just before U.S. District Judge Rebecca R. Pallmeyer read the sentence, Patterson -- who faced repeated reprimands for angry outbursts during the hearing that stretched over four days -- asked to be led from the courtroom, indicating he would react badly to anything the judge said. He was taken out immediately.

Patterson spent his 17 years in prison, 13 of them on death row, proclaiming his innocence and claiming he was framed by Chicago homicide detectives who tortured him. In January 2003, then-Gov. George Ryan pardoned him, saying there was no credible evidence against him. Ryan also pardoned three other men and commuted the sentences of all other death row inmates to life without parole.

After his release, Patterson gained international fame and pledged to spend his life exposing police misconduct and corruption. He filed a lawsuit against city and county officials who sent him to death row and refused a $4 million settlement offer from the city.

But in 2005 he was convicted on drug and gun charges.

On Tuesday, Pallmeyer cited Patterson's violent behavior as a teenager and later in prison. She called him talented and said he should have done more with his life after being pardoned.

''It's a real tragedy that a man with such obvious brains and charisma ... did not use those skills as he could have,'' Pallmeyer said.

During Patterson's trial, prosecutors used witnesses and secretly made recordings to convince jurors he had arranged several heroin sales to a government witness, sold marijuana and illegally bought four guns, including a MAC-10 machine pistol.

Patterson claimed he had sought to buy replicas -- not real guns. His attorneys told jurors he was investigating wrongdoing by law enforcement officials and ended up being set up by the very officials he had been investigating.

Patterson's trial was as tumultuous as his sentencing hearing. He was repeatedly removed from the courtroom then after shouting angrily at the judge and one of his lawyers was released from the case before the trial started after she staged two tearful walkouts. (source)

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Original Post:
Wake Up African People!

"We dare not compromise, nor dare we use moderate language in the cause of freedom."
-Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe, founding President of the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC)

Note to Readers: What's really going on in America!

For some, the comfort zone is a good job, maintaining a semblance of success, and ignoring everything that’s happening -- for the harsh realities are enough to shatter the manufactured sense of security that keeps most of us going. We can turn the channel, we can close our eyes, even plug our ears: but the deep-rooted assault against African people demands our undivided attention.

Please read and email this link to all you know.

There is nothing extreme about wanting freedom. It is extreme for others to deny you that right!

As the July 20th sentencing date for Aaron Patterson approaches, Chairman Fred Hampton, Jr. sheds light on the politics of political prisoners, the POCC and what young Africans everywhere must know.

As the son of the Black Panther Party's Deputy Chairman Fred Hampton -- who was brutally murdered by Chicago police in 1969 while asleep next to his pregnant wife -- Chairman Fred Hampton, Jr. knows all about the struggle for liberation. Still in his mother's womb at the time of his father's murder, Chairman Fred was literally born into the threat of terror. Taking on the purpose passed down to him by his father and the plethora of African Freedom Fighters, Chairman Fred has spent his life working for and in the name of the people -- the oppressed and exploited who have been victimized by the American nation-state.

As the President and Chair of the POCC (Prisoners of Conscience Committee), Chairman Fred has led the organization in several initiatives like the Freedom and Survival Campaigns, the African Anti-Terrorism Bill and consistently advocating for the release of political prisoners. It is with this in mind that Chairman Fred Hampton, Jr. continues to advocate on behalf of Aaron Patterson -- POCC Minister of Defense and political prisoner targeted for his commitment to exposing the ills of Chicago’s Police Department.

Meet Aaron Patterson:
Aaron Patterson’s journey with the political structure of Chicago began in April 1986, when an elderly couple was stabbed to death and he was arrested as a possible suspect. However, the possible part (often associated with due process, a thorough investigation and proof beyond a reasonable doubt) was actually avoided for more brute tactics: abuse. Patterson was tortured during his “interrogation”—including severe beatings and suffocation—causing him to allegedly blurt out “anything you say” to the police torturers who questioned him. One of the most chilling parts about Patterson’s experience is the message he etched into a bench while in police custody. Using a paperclip, Patterson’s message reeks with desperation and fear: “Aaron 4/30 I lie about murders. Police threaten me with violence. Slapped and suffocated me with plastic. No lawyer or dad. No phone. Signed false statement to murders.” (Ironically, the message would remain in the bench close to 20 years later and would help to further prove that Patterson was, in fact, tortured). Still, one supposed witness (who’s cousin was actually a suspect in the murder and who later stated that she was threatened and forced into testifying against Patterson), as well as a confession written by Assistant State’s Attorney Peter Troy (which Patterson refused to sign) resulted in Aaron Patterson’s conviction for double-homicide. Despite any physical, circumstantial or eyewitness evidence, he was sentenced to death.

“Chicago is the torture capital,” says Chairman Fred Hampton, Jr. “Chicago’s Area 2 Violent Crimes Unit is called the ‘House of Screams’ due to the torture of prisoners including everything from electric shock on sexual organs to being hand-cuffed to radiators and doused with water.” The chief coordinator of Area 2 was Lt. Jon Burge “who’s name came to stand for police brutality” (Chicago Tribune). Burge was a military policeman during the Vietnam War and later joined the Chicago Police force. He was fired in February 1993 after being implicated for the torture of Andrew Wilson in 1982. Subsequently, more than 100 victims came forward with allegations of torture by Burge or his subordinates: Aaron Patterson was one of them. Throughout the 1970’s and 80’s Jon Burge, fresh out of Vietnam, extorted “confessions” from detainees using tactics like suffocation with typewriter covers, the use of cattle prods, electric shocks, beatings and "Russian Roulette." (For a timeline of Burge-led brutalities, check out the University of Chicago’s Chicago Police Torture Archive here). In 1990, after years of complaints and public pressure, a formal investigation of Burge and his detectives finally took place and he was let go. To date, Jon Burge resides in Florida where he receives a pension and benefits.

Despite the fact that the Chicago police department fired Burge, his victims remained incarcerated. Among these victims was the Death Row 10: Madison Hobley, Aaron Patterson, Stanley Howard, Ronald Kitchen, Leroy Orange, Leonard Kidd, Andrew Maxwell, Frank Bounds, Reginald Mahaffey, and Jerry Mahaffey. As the case against Burge defined itself, Cook County State's Atty. Richard Devine attempted to bribe Patterson and others—offering to reduce their sentences if they admitted guilt and dropped their claims against Burge. Patterson refused, stating in a Chicago Tribune interview: “Much as I'd like to get out of here, I'm going to stay until we get this thing right. I'm pretty much certain they know now I didn't do it, but they're trying to wiggle their way out of it... But I'm not so frantic that I just want to get out. If you're innocent, you've got to make your stand." And wiggle they were; Patterson had already been granted a hearing by the Illinois Supreme Court to tell how he had been tortured and made to “confess.”

“Aaron Patterson has always maintained his innocence,” says Chairman Fred. “Even though he was told that pardon was impossible and that his sentence could only be commuted to life.” Aaron Patterson would remain on death row until January 2003, when Illinois Gov. George Ryan pardoned him and three other death row inmates on the grounds that their confessions were a result of police torture. In a speech at the DePaul University Law School, Ryan stated: “I believe these men are innocent or I wouldn't have pardoned them. The system has failed for all four men and it has failed for all of the people of this state…I believe a manifest injustice has occurred." Upon release, Patterson became a central figure in the campaign to expose Burge and the impropriety of the Chicago political structure. Chairman Fred notes that Patterson has truly exemplified the POCC Harriet Tubman code: “Anyone held captive much reach back for others who are held captive.” Chairman Fred states that after being imprisoned for 17 years of his life, Aaron Patterson donated the $100,000 given to him as restitution to help save another prisoner, demonstrating his commitment to justice.

The four released prisoners—Patterson included—even appeared on the Oprah Winfrey show (along with Ryan) to discuss the pardons. Patterson continued to advocate on behalf of tortured prisoners and victims of the Chicago political structure, many of whom remained on death row. He would go on to file a civil suit (which is still pending) and to run for office, while also working as the Minister of Defense for the POCC. “Aaron ran for State Representative in the 2nd District and on his platform he used the African Anti-Terrorism Bill,” says Chairman Fred. And that is when things took a turn for the worse. “There was a press conference held for the Joint Task Force bill for safe neighborhoods, which would mean that a convicted state felon could be indicted federally,” says Chairman Fred Hampton, Jr. Recognizing the dangerous implications of such a bill, both Chairman Fred and Aaron Patterson attended the press conference and disrupted the proceedings. “We both received calls saying that we were ‘marked men.’” Ironically, “Operation Revolving Door” was launched that same day by Joe Gorman, Jr. (son of the infamous Joe “Machine Gun” Gorman who participated in the Massacre on Monroe, the assassination of BPP Deputy Chairman Fred Hampton and Defense Captain Mark Clark on Dec. 4, 1969). Joe Gorman Jr. began an investigation which would result in the arrest of Aaron Patterson in August 2004. The charge: attempt to purchase weapons and narcotics from an undercover informant. The REAL crime: openly denouncing the Chicago political structure and exposing the individuals responsible for a host of blatant injustices. Since then, Aaron Patterson has been incarcerated based on the testimony of police informant Mario Fox, who was himself incarcerated for cocaine possession and subsequently released from jail in order to work as an informant. “Fox’s first phone calls were to Aaron Patterson and during his trial, Aaron tried to expose that he knew Fox was an undercover informant. Aaron would call the press each time he spoke to Fox” says Chairman Fred.

What is even more peculiar is that the all of the men pardoned by George Ryan are now mysteriously facing charges or currently imprisoned. “Of the four that were locked up who went to the Oprah show, all but one have been re-incarcerated, and that’s because he left town,” says Chairman Fred. Even former Governor Ryan himself is being indicted for an alleged license and bribe scandal. Chairman Fred notes that Aaron Patterson has stated that there is no coincidence that the same judge is presiding over both his and Governor Ryan’s case: Rebecca Pallmeyer.

Aaron Patterson’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 20th, 2007. It is important to remember that Aaron Patterson was pardoned in 2003 and released from jail only to be rearrested (on hearsay) less than two years later. The Chicago political structure has made a point of targeting Aaron Patterson, particularly because of his commitment to exposing police torture and actively fighting human rights violations against innocent prisoners. Chairman Fred Hampton, Jr. emphasizes the point that Chicago—as with many places—is Machiavellian. “The judge over the torture hearings is the brother of one of the police officers who participated in the torture.” As with Mumia Abu-Jamal and so many unjustly incarcerated individuals, Aaron Patterson needs and requires our support, our energy and our commitment to freedom for all.

-by Stephanie Joy Tisdale

What you must do:
Send support letters today (they must arrive in Chicago before July 20th):
P.O. Box 368255
Chicago, IL 60636

Send love to Aaron Patterson (a Freedom Fighter who has diligently struggled for those we know and so many who have never been heard):
Aaron Patterson
ID # 21664424
Metropolitan Correctional Center
71 West Van Buren
Chicago, IL 60605