Three years ago, the City of Detroit had been shutting off the water of hundreds of Detroiters every day, and the water shutoffs continue to this day. Twenty protesters blocked access to Homrich, the business to which the City of Detroit had out-sourced the water shutoffs. The police chose nine water-rights protesters to arrest.
The police brought in a regular paddy wagon to transport Baba. The ceiling of that vehicle was too low for Baba to sit up straight, so officers forced his head down onto his chest for the entire trip to the jail. In addition the paddy wagon had no restraints to stabilize him or his wheelchair, so an officer stabilized the wheel of the chair with a foot. Every bump, every turn damaged Baba’s already-injured spine. I am reminded of Freddie Gray’s deadly trip in Baltimore. However, Baba Baxter survived.
Good news about the Homrich 9: The judge recently dismissed all charges against the Homrich 9. He found that “the defendants’ constitutional right to a speedy trial was violated by ‘numerous unexplained and unjustified delays.’“
The Basis of the Lawsuit
The Americans with Disabilities Act requires accommodation of people with disabilities. Baxter's disabilities were not properly accommodated during his arrest, and his injuries were therefore compounded by this neglect.
“In addition to damages for emotional and physical anguish sought by Jones' lawsuit against Detroit, his attorneys are asking a federal judge to order the city and police department to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act by appointing a compliance officer, training police, and purchasing vehicles appropriate for transporting prisoners with wheelchairs.” (Source)
Support the Dream Defenders
In my recent Daily Kos story, you can read more about his backstory, his press conference, his lawsuit, and the basis for the lawsuit. Baba speaks eloquently about the incident in the video there.
At the end of that essay, I spoke for the Daily Kos group Support the Dream Defenders: “We don’t yet know the roads we will travel to support Baba Baxter Jones.” This donation campaign is the first road we and our supporters will travel to support Baba. Please help.
2 Methods to Donate
- Baba B’s YouCaring page.
- Contact me by kosmail or email, and I will send you an address for snail mail.
- (PayPal is not available yet. If you want to donate via PayPal, please let me know.)
A Note for Democrats
I know some of my readers will give until it hurts, give to their own detriment, give even though that means sacrificing. To you I say, please do not give to this fundraiser. Wait until the next one. (I know who you are.) We will make our goal for this fundraiser. Other readers will gladly pick up the slack in the cord of community. Please let them.
Other Methods to Support Baba
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Update
(Exactly as noted above) We met our goal for Baba’s ramp. However, living on Medicaid and Social Security disability benefits cannot be easy, and I know some readers will want to donate even though we have already met the official goal. Thank you, beautiful community, for your support.
Power with, not power over,
William 2thanks