CBattle – RI Future

January 26, 2015January 26, 2015

Sen. Jabour signs bill targeting activists, Judge Jabour presides over their trial

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The bill to criminalize interfering with traffic on the highway while protesting was introduced by Senator Leo Raptakis and co-sponsored by, among others, Senator Paul Jabour. Coincidentally, Senator Jabour is the brother of Christine Jabour, the judge assigned to oversee the cases of five of the seven people arrested during the November 25 #blacklivesmatter protest here in Providence.

I contacted Senator Jabour to ask him about his reasons for signing onto the bill and the coincidence of his sister being the judge in many of the cases that provided the impetus for the legislation. Jabour, a practicing attorney, wanted to be upfront and quite clear when he said, “I never have and never will discuss cases with my sister.” He added that when he and his sister speak, they talk about family, and not about any issues to do with their jobs.

Jabour said that when the author of a bill is looking for co-sponsors, they make the rounds to their colleagues and ask for signatures. Like many, Jabour was “disturbed by the conduct” of protesters blocking the highway and was eager to support a bill that would clarify the limits of protests he sees as dangerous not only to motorists, but to the protesters themselves.

Jabour told me that the penalty outlined in the “final bill may not be a felony” but a misdemeanor. He expects the bill to change in significant ways after public testimony, which will likely include input from the Rhode Island State Police and the Department of Transportation.

A spokesperson for Christine Jabour informed me that the judge has no comment and was unaware of the Senate bill.

Judge Jabour set a trial date of February 5 today for Tess Lavoie-Brown, arrested Nov 25 with six others after hundreds of protesters blocked 95 southbound traffic for about 25 minutes. Due to the snowstorm the court appearances of three defendants, Steven Roberts, Larry Miller and CBattle, will be rescheduled. The case of Servio Gomez, who is facing more serious and complicated charges, is still ongoing.

Molly Kitiyakara pled to the charge of disorderly conduct on January 8, receiving a filing and 50 hours of community service. Charges against Tololupe Lawal were dismissed on December 17.

January 8, 2015January 8, 2015

50 hours of community service for highway protester

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Saying that she didn’t agree with the state prosecutor’s request for a sentence of six months probation for a first time offense, on Tuesday Judge Christine Jabour issued Molly Kitiyakara, arrested for disorderly conduct during a #blacklivesmatter protests that blocked the highway on November 25th of last year, a filing and sentenced her to 50 hours of community service. Judge Jabour approved the filing and Kitiyakara’s nolo plea over the state’s objection after a lengthy and sometimes tense discussion between the prosecutor and defense lawyer Shannah Kurland at the bench.

The remaining four defendants, Tess Brown-Lavoie, Steven Roberts, Larry Miller and CBattle are due back in court on January 20 as prosecutors and defense counsel continue to negotiate.

You can read about their previous court date here.

Also appearing today, in another courtroom, was Servio Gomez, who is being tried separately from the other defendants, as he is being charged by the Providence Police, not the State Police. Gomez told me that his lawyer is still negotiating with prosecutors, and that he is due back in court on January 22.

Kitiyakara is the second of the PVD7, those arrested the night of the November 25 protest, to settle with the state. Charges against Tololupe Lawal were dismissed on December 17.

December 29, 2014December 29, 2014

PVD7: Interview with Ferguson protester CBattle

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CBattle, as he has asked to be called for this interview, is originally from Florida, but currently resides near the Providence area. He works with youth in Providence, and on November 25th was one of seven people arrested for allegedly engaging in disorderly conduct on the highway during a Ferguson protest.

CBattle was kind enough to answer some questions for RI Future, the second in a series of interviews I’m working on with the PVD7. You can read the first interview with Tess Brown-Lavoie here.

RI Future: Why were you at the protest?

CBattle: My purpose for protesting is doing my civic duty to address the adversities and oppressions in society. In this particular instance justice has not been served, rather, unlawfulness is being justified, and its implications have a direct effect in the living of my people, all people. We are taught to police ourselves, because of the fear their actions have instilled into our conscious. These actions stem from a profile that is based on us, a target that has been placed on us and a stigma that has been cultivated since the time of America’s forefathers. The time has come for that conditioning to end.

RI Future: What motivates you?

CBattle: My motivation is the vision of a more progressive, productive, and self sustaining society. Too much we depend on the vehicles around us, waiting for the arbitrary to come and deliver us from our doom. Our deliverance starts with us. In my opinion we must refine ourselves first, in order that we may prepare for a society without chaos, one that is not reactionary but stationary.

RI Future: What kind of history/education/experiences have you had that brought you out to the march/rally?

CBattle: I was raised in the deep south, where such issues are about as frequent as the newspaper delivery. That alone has served as a constant reminder that oppression is relevant no matter how far north you travel. Of the murders that do get reported, there are still countless others that go unrecognized. I have two nephews aged 17, and they could easily be victims we are discussing, but before it hits home, before it hits me, I am doing my due diligence to see this come to an end.

RI Future: Where do you see this issue going? Do you hope for any political solutions to this?

CBattle: I would like to see this issue continue to resonate with the people, so that we may all collectively wake up and see what’s happening to us. Some Americans have highlighted some of the criminal action that victims of police brutality have engaged in, and to that point I would say what is the driving force for such actions? Why do young black and brown males turn to drugs or crime as a means of survival? Why is poverty only relegated to one section of our cities? Why does legal segregation still exist through zoning laws? These cycles have been perpetuated for far too long and who’s answering for the epidemic of drugs? Gun usage? The answer is not another dead piece of evidence. I am faithful the people will continue to provide the fire for these hot water topics, invigorate the call for social change. Our government can invoke any law or statute, but it is our responsibility to demonstrate humanity.We too, require a stable and equal plain to do so.

Here’s CBattle speaking at the forum, Racism, State Oppression, and the Black Community Ferguson Beyond on December 20th:

Steve Alquist is profiling people arrested at the November 25 BlackLivesMatter march that temporarily closed down Interstate 95 in Providence. Read the other interviews here:

Interview with Ferguson protester Tess Brown-Lavioe