Revisiting the Dream Defenders and Their Mission (STDDs, Week 22)

For the past five months, we have been busy with our Michael Brown Over-Policed Rights Act of 2015 (MBOPRA) and our Medicaid Expansion FOIA requests campaign. We still have a lot to do on both fronts, and we'll be having some exciting updates in the coming weeks, so stay tuned! For today, we thought we'd  check in with those young warriors for whom our group is named, the Dream Defenders.

The Dream Defenders develop the next generation of radical leaders to realize and exercise our independent collective power; building alternative systems and organizing to disrupt the structures that oppress our communities.

As it turns out, the Dream Defenders like the true warriors they are, have been very busy. They have been in the forefront of the fight for justice for Michael Brown, Eric Garner, and all the others who were sent to early graves by over-zealous, trigger-happy, petty tyrants. They have been instrumental in organizing the BlackLivesMatter protest movement; in getting out the vote for the last election, and in  shining the spotlight wherever evil lurks. In the midst of all that is happening, they still found time to travel to East Jerusalem to stand in solidarity with a people who know all about living in a state of fear.

One good thing to have come out of Michael Brown's death was the forging of a deeper bond and a new understanding between black and brown youths and oppressed Palestinians.  In November, a group of Palestinian students traveled to Ferguson to stand in solidarity with those protesting for justice in the senseless murder of an unarmed teenager. When the police flexed their military muscles, it was the Palestinians who took to social media to give advice as to how to deal with tear gas and other excesses that were being visited upon the peaceful protesters.

Moving forward, delegates expressed a desire for Black and American action in support of Palestine.
“I believe the Black Lives Matter movement can benefit greatly by learning about struggles outside of the U.S., but particularly the Palestinian struggle,” said Patrisse Cullors. “I want this trip to be an example for how Black folks and Arab communities can be in better solidarity with one another.”

Read more at EBONY
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Activist Leader, FAMU Grad Agnew Arrested

As it was with Dr. Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela and so many others before and since, leaders of the Dream Defenders found themselves arrested and thrown behind bars for  daring to confront injustice. Nothing new there. In November, Phillip Agnew and Jeremy Shaw, founders of the group, were both detained as they protested in solidarity with Ferguson's activists.

Officers slammed Agnew the ground, then handcuffed and arrested him, Shaw said. Jeremy Shaw was arrested when he went over to see why Agnew was arrested, according to Shaw.

"It was uncalled for," she said. "It doesn't take three officers to arrest one person."

The men were released after posting $1000,00 bail bonds.

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Long before the name Marissa Alexander became a symbol of prosecutorial zealotry,  the Dream Defenders were on the ground fighting for her release. It was through their efforts that the case against this abused woman who fired one warning shot was picked up by the national media.

"We feel that this case shows the absurdity in our broken system in that a Black woman who is a victim of domestic abuse who defends herself is going to jail for 20 years while a killer like George Zimmerman is walking free," said Dream Defender organizer Michael Sampson. "This is a clear episode of a racist criminal justice system choosing to make a victim of yet another person of color but as well, this shows also a sexist criminal justice system that doesn't care for the struggles of women and victims of domestic abuse.”

Marissa's long nightmare may finally be over. After serving three years behind bars, she will spend the next two under house arrest and wearing a monitoring device. Angela Corey failed in her bid to send her to prison for the next 60 yrs.

The Dream Defenders, leading by example, putting their lives and limbs on the line for justice, inspiring a nation. They still do need our financial support. If you can, please help them fight on by donating here.