Tag Archives: Floyd Rose

Arrests for speaking in an Arizona town

Something seems familiar about this story of a couple of people being arrested
at small town council meetings for speaking up.

Ben Popken wrote for the Consumerist 15 July 2011,

Small Arizona Town In Furor After 2nd Citizen Arrested For Speaking At Town Meeting:



The town of Quartzsite, AZ, population 3,466, is in disarray after a
video showing police hauling away a citizen for speaking at the town
meeting podium went viral. The woman was saying that the town council
had been violating open meeting laws.

It was the second citizen arrested at a Quartzsite town meeting in two weeks.

What’s all this about?

Continue reading →

Touchton v. City of Valdosta, Georgia, et al.

Mayor Fretti mentioned

a lawsuit against him and the city of Valdosta
that was dismissed.
Court records on that are available.

According to

Justia.com Dockets & Filings,
Catherine Leigh Touchton filed a federal civil rights lawsuit
30 May 2007 against John Fretti and the City of Valdosta
Georgia Middle District Court,
On 17 April 2009:



Court Opinion or Order ORDER directing judgment for defendants on federal
law claims. State law claims are dismissed without prejudice. Ordered
by Judge Hugh Lawson on 4/17/2009.

A dozen similar lawsuits

were filed the same day by
Karen Camion,
Faye Chachere,
Jesse Clark,
Callie Fielden,
Reggie Griffin,
Kathryn Harris,
Willie Head,
Joann Mosley,
George Rhynes,
Willie Roberson,
Floyd Rose,
and
Mary Sherman.
All appear to have had the same result.

Access to related documents is available by

registering with PACER.
They don’t charge until a user runs up a minimum amount of usage.

-jsq

2005 arrests in Valdosta City Council meeting unconstitutional —Georgia Supreme Court

Some of

the events the person posting as John J. Fretti described
are elaborated on in this newspaper report. -jsq

Kelli Hernandez wrote 1 May 2006 in the VDT,

Court rules arrests unconstitutional:
Case involves 15 citizens arrested and charged with disrupting a lawful meeting

The case originally surfaced after 15 Valdosta citizens were arrested
and charged with violating statute 16-11-34 (a), which provides “a
person who recklessly or knowingly commits any act which may reasonably be
expected to prevent or disrupt a lawful meeting, gathering or procession
is guilty of a misdemeanor.” Charges came after the group allegedly
disrupted a Valdosta city council meeting in May 2005. Calle Fielden
and Leigh Touchton, two of those arrested, appealed to the courts on
the grounds that the statute under which the citizens were charged was
unconstitutionally vague and broad.

On April 21, 2005, Rev. Floyd Rose addressed the council

Continue reading →

Biomass plant a done deal? –Floyd Rose

This LTE appeared in the VDT Sunday 13 February 2011. -jsq

Abraham Lincoln said, “The probability that we shall fail
in this struggle should not deter us from the support of a cause
that we believe is just.”
Such a cause for us is opposition to the biomass plant.

Given its support from city and county officials more concerned
about doing the bidding of the rich and powerful than they are about
the health of children, it is likely a “done deal.”
Done by those who will profit from the deal.

None of the national health organizations endorse biomass plants
as safe for children.
The American Cancer Society, the American Lung Association,
and the World Health Organization have concluded that biomass plants
pose serious threats to children.

None of the deal makers, investors, or politicians who signed off
on their deal live in the community which will most be affected by
the poisonous toxins that will fill the air.
Their children don’t attend the schools, nor do they attend any
of the seven area churches.

Meetings have been held on the biomass project.
Some by the Industrial Authority, WACE, the NAACP, and SCLC.
And not a single citizen has spoken in favor of it.
When I asked a council member about this, he said,
“They are afraid of you.”

It is not the proponents who have anything to fear.

Continue reading →

Principles for which I live –Floyd Rose



Floyd Rose

spoke to the Valdosta City Council, 10 February 2011.
First he told the bus story, which is about how he became an activist
many years ago.
Then he said this part,
transcribed by George Rhynes:

“I came home to Valdosta in 1995, and I found just outside of these walls;
a plaque that read; the mayor and council shall make all appropriate
and necessary laws; for the control of slaves; and free men of color.

That plaque was removed reluctantly; at the urging of Mr. George Rhynes;
while the plaque; has been removed! I have discovered; that the policy
that gave birth to that plaque are still in place; and one of the policies
is the one that I told you about two weeks ago; or perhaps three weeks ago
now. That would not; and could not abide by; because it was designed only
for the purpose of controlling the citizens of this city and that I would
never be bought and I would never be bossed as a matter of conscience.

Now it was suggested; at the end of the last meeting; that some of us
come before you; ah making a grand stand; and somehow creating theater.
It was suggested that Floyd Rose just wants to be arrested. I have been
arrested before; I spent twenty-five long hours in solitary confinement
in the Lowndes County Jail; because of you; and anybody with any common
sense; would never want to go to the Lowndes County Jail to spend
any time. That is foolishness and it’s crazy!





Regular meeting of the Valdosta City Council, 20 February 2011
Video by Gretchen Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.


Rev. Rose continued:

Continue reading →

The Quitman 10 in Valdosta





At Serenity Church in Valdosta, 15 Jan 2011,
Gladys Lee from Brooks County addressed the Quitman 10 about

justice anywhere,
about the

spirit of conviction,
and she said

“We are residents, property owners, taxpaying voters!”.





Videos by Gretchen Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.



Speaking

as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Rev. Floyd Rose addressed the
Quitman 10 and the congregation:

Now I want to say though we’ve met on what would have been my 87th birthday
may be some place of honor.
For this honor I want to thank you, and I must say to you:
unless the schools you have named for me teach children how to live
as much as how to make a living they will become little more than
battlegrounds for the frustrated individuals.
Unless the bridges that you have named for me

Continue reading →

CHANCE: Changing Homes and Neighborhoods, Challenging Everyone



Many people have talked about the recidivism problem, but here’s a group trying to do something about it. Helping people right out of jail to learn how to get a job, convincing employers to hire them, mentoring them longterm with life coaches, lawyers, and accountants,
and with some helping them start their own businesses and employ others.
Jimmy Boyd is the principal organizer, and Steve Johnson is the outreach coordinator.
They have some more people already signed up in a core team, and are looking for
additional people, not to mention grants.

CHANCE had an organizational meeting 7 Jan 2010 at Floyd Rose’s Serenity Church.
Here’s a

playlist.



Videos by Gretchen Quarterman for LAKE.

Help give some people a needed push?
Take responsibility and help solve a problem what will reduce crime by increasing employment?
Here’s a chance to do that.