In 2006, Seven African American lesbians from Newark, NJ, had their rights violated.
Patreese Johnson, Renata Hill, Venice Brown, Terrain Dandridge, Chenese Loyal, Lania Daniels, and Khamysha Coates, were in New York City's west village by the well known piers.
A man by the name of Dwayne Buckles was selling DVDs on the streets when he tried to proposition, Patreese Johnson. Buckles became angry when he was rejected and as a result, he followed them down the street yelling insulting comments such as, "I'll F*** you straight, sweetheart!"
Buckles then spat in Renata Hill's face, threw his lit cigarette at her, and yanked her hair while strangling her. As the fight continued on Patreese Johnson, only 4'11 and 95 lbs., took out a knife she often carried for protection.
Two men saw what was going on and came over to help the women. Dwayne Buckle was hospitalized with lacerations to the stomach and liver.
On two different occasions Buckle reported that two men attacked him -- and not women. Patreese Johnson's knife was never checked for DNA, and the men that beat up Dwayne Buckle were never questioned by the authorities. The whole incident was caught on surveillance but the video was never seen.
If the two men were at the scene of the crime then why weren't they questioned? Isn't questioning a witness normal police protocol?
But somehow the seven women ended up on trial for attempted murder. The authorities allowed Mr. Buckle to contradict himself and testify against the women, after he originally stated that it was two men who caused his visit to the hospital.
This is blatant discrimination and the women should appeal the case.
Only four of the seven females were sentenced June of 2007, reportedly by an all white jury of mostly women. The jail terms range from 3 1/2 to 11 years. The oldest female is age 24, and two of the women are mothers with small children.
The media had a field day degrading the women by calling them, " A wolf pack of lesbians."
Praying that one day justice will be served.
2008 LA
You can send a letter of support to these addresses below:
1. Patreese Johnson #07-G-0635 Bedford Hills Correctional Facility, P.O. Box 1000 Bedford Hills, NY 10507
2. Renata Hill #07-G-0636 Building 112A2 Bedford Hills Correctional Facility, P.O. Box 1000 Bedford Hills, NY 10507
3. Terrain Dandridge #07-G-0637 and Venice Brown #07-G-0640 Albion Correctional Facility, 3595 State School Road Albion, NY 14411-9399
For more information on this matter click here.
