99. Mayor Asks Is It Racially Motivated, 1860 Valdosta City Charter Mentality...?

March 11, 2004

George B. Rhynes
Valdosta, Georgia

TO: Valdosta City Mayor and Council

SUBJECT: Request removal of Valdosta 1860 City Charter from Public Display in the Municipal Courtroom.

Thank you for your response to my letter requesting that the 1860 City of Valdosta charter be retired to a location away from the Municipal Courtroom. Away from where all citizens come in the hope of receiving equal justice under the law, and be respected as a full American Citizens under the Law in the State of Georgia----in the 21^st Century.

In your letter par 1, you said that the 1860 Charter allowed for the creation of our city, as it was developed by Georgia State Officials, and our local forefathers---of that time.

MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL:

a. Webster’s-Dictionary Third Edition defines {forefathers} as a male ancestor. What ancestor male or female---would want to control, suppress, enslave, and abate a fellow human being…

b. Webster defines “ABATE” as beat down, reduce, moderate, diminish, and lessen. In addition, in Section XI, of this 1860 Charter, we find the word Nuisances. Webster defines this word as annoying or obnoxious person or thing.

Which brings us back to Section XI of the Charter: QUOTE!   “THE MAYOR, AND COUNCIL SHALL PASS ALL PROPER AND NECESSARY LAWS, AND ORDINANCES FOR THE CONTROL OF SLAVES, AND FREE PERSONS OF COLOR, IN SAID TOWN (VALDOSTA), AND SUPPRESS AND ABATE ALL NUISANCES ARRIVING FROM HOGS, DOGS, HORSES, OR OTHER STOCK STRAYING AT LARGE AT LARAGE IN SAID TOWN (VALDOSTA), OR FROM OTHER CAUSES.”

You agreed with me that we should not hide the facts of history or deny that which has come before us. Moreover, that the same logic should be applied to the items displayed in City Hall for over 20 years. Also that the 1860 charter is the City’s first Charter, remains a permanent record both in Valdosta, as well as in the “State Records Archives,” and cannot be ignored.

Twenty years Mr. Mayor and Council---is not a long period of time----to want for your neighbor, that which you want and have for yourself---and your children.

It is recorded in the Library of Congress---that some of our ancestors first came to these shores aboard a slave ship called Jesus. It was captained by one Sir John Hawkins, in the year of 1555 that’s 449 years ago. According to American History, they were treated worst than live stock, called 3/5^th of a human being. As the charter stipulates, they were controlled, chained, suppressed, and totally humiliated before the world. If this 1860 charter were addressing my “Jewish brothers and sisters”, there would be no ripples in the water!
Mr. Mayor and Council----Speaking of Archives: In the Black Archives, at FAMU, and many other institutions, museums, and libraries, around the world. There are millions of artifacts, pictures of pain, of strange fruits---that trees did not bare. We do not want them displayed along these walls---to inflict pain and shame on another human being.

We are called to the Moral High Ground of love, justice, and equality for all of Gods Children. Whether it is today, tomorrow or the next century, this issue will be resolved by men, and women of conscious, love, compassion, and understanding.

Our world is moving towards the union of the one God, for the one universal people. Therefore, I take my seat by saying, “LUKE 4:18,” should be read and fully understood!

You see when truth comes, insensitivity, injustice, separation and falsehood must vanish. Because falsehood is forever a vanishing thing!

When I look at my Retirement Certificate, after placing my life on the line for over 20 years. Then look up at this 1860, document that tells all Black People---that they are still 2nd class citizens, and referred to in the same paragraph as---dogs, hogs, horses, and beasts of the field.

However, our God has instructed us---to treat our neighbors, as we ourselves want to be treated! These words probably will not change your conscience. Nevertheless, there is a plumb line of justice, by which we must all align ourselves up beside! To prepare for the last Council Meeting!

George B. Rhynes
A concerned citizens and brother of humanity!

[2] Letter post:

February 2004

George Rhynes (xxx-xxx-xxxx)
605 ½ East Hill Ave
Valdosta, Georgia

Dear Editor/Message Boards & Internet Blogs

Recently on C-Span the question was asked---is Freedom of Speech being curtailed in America since President Bush took office?

After writing many opinion columns and being published in several newspapers across the country including U.S. Today---I say Yes!

For Example: Here in Valdosta, Georgia on the second floor of Valdosta City Hall leading into the Valdosta Municipal Courtroom of Judge Edwards. There is a copy of a framed Valdosta City Charter of 1860, displayed on the wall approved by the Georgia General Assembly of 1860. Valdosta (No. 108), which reads;

Par., 100, Section XI, “THE MAYOR, AND COUNCIL SHALL PASS ALL PROPER AND NECESSARY LAWS AND ORDINANCES FOR THE CONTROL OF SLAVES, AND FREE PERSONS OF COLOR IN SAID TOWN AND SUPPRESS AND ABATE ALL NUISANCES ARRIVING FROM HOGS, DOGS, HORSE, OR OTHER STRAYING AT LARGE IN SAID TOWN, OR FROM OTHER CAUSES."

It seems that our local News Media and Elected Officials see nothing wrong or offensive in displaying this document in the 21^st Century. Nevertheless, it offends people of conscience and has been discussed on Valdosta State University Campus by students and professors.

It was on 19 February 2004, when I noticed this charter and immediately wrote our Mayor, City Council, Valdosta Daily Times, WCTV, Channel 6, WALB Channel 10, Valdosta-NAACP, other local news media outlets, and organizations.

However, no media coverage has been given to this issue. It appears that some would like to see this issue disappear like the death of Mr. Willie James Williams, who died under strange circumstances while in the custody of Law enforcement.

It appears that local citizens are not informed by the media when it comes to alleged gang activity, elections discrepancies at the polls---even after being informed in writing, elderly citizens are afraid to come out of their homes because of alleged gang activity.

Protests against war with Iraq, eleven incarcerated inmates requested help in the Lowndes County Jail and believed their Constitutional Rights were being denied, an alleged incident involving a weapon at the jail was being swept under the rug.

However, after inmates concerns were presented to the Lowndes County Board of Commissioners on 26 Aug 2003, with news media present nothing was reported to the citizens of Valdosta and Lowndes County concerning their request.

In addition, Lowndes County Commissioners have yet to respond to their requests for help. Moreover, Valdosta-Lowndes County Conference Center has only one Black person in a management position. But all members of the work crews are black with no job benefits.

Then applicants and present employees complain of unfair hiring practices but little if any investigative reporting is done in Lowndes County. Local citizens are (NOW) turning to Message Boards, Blogs, Internet, and outside agencies for help to resolve the problems within this South Georgia Town.

Yes! It appears that Freedom of Speech in America, Valdosta, Lowndes County and the State of Georgia seems to be in jeopardy---at the expense of the people. Peace!

GEORGE BOSTON RHYNES
A concerned citizen and brother of humanity

xxxxxxxxxxxNEXTxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

George Rhynes (XXX-XXX-XXXX)    4 August 2004
Valdosta, Georgia

Dear Editors, Concerned Citizens, and Organizations of America, & The Outside World!

SUBJECT: News Papers and Media Keeping Citizens Ignorant!

Freedom of the press seems non-existent in Valdosta, Georgia. Students and professors at Valdosta State University made this clear a few years ago in a two-hour documentary video entitled “A Chorus of Fear.” This video revealed how wide spread the infection of fear, alleged censorship, and the good OLE boy network is here---in Lowndes County Georgia.

Here in Lowndes County it appears that newspapers and local media outlets controls---both the day and night. While the citizens suffer because news events are ignored. However, local organizations continue to add omissions to their forever growing organizational archives.

Historically, local newspapers, and the media seldom if ever informs the public when citizens addresses the Lowndes County Board of Commissioners Meetings on serious Jail Problems, Mayor and City Council Meetings, Board of Education Meetings, and other issues of a controversial nature.

We watched them ignore marches and speeches against the war in Iraq, on the Court House steps, inmates being abused in the jail and alleged cover-ups, inhumane, unsanitary and abusive conditions identified as far back as 1989 in Civil Action #89-54-VAL, U.S. District Courts of the Middle District of Georgia, Valdosta Division, a deputy at the jail who earned the name “Black Jesus,” because of how harsh he treated Black inmates, a deputy allegedly pulling out a gun in July 2003, because inmate asked for a complaint form to fill out against a Sheriff’s Deputy, thirteen guards were fired and they sought the local NAACP for help and relief, elderly citizens afraid to come out of their homes because of alleged gang activity, problems in the last Mayoral and City Council Race in district one, school bus accident on Clay Road witnessed by Reverend White in front of his home that cause much conversation in the community, editorials in favor of President Clinton and against the War with Iraq went unpublished.

When Blacks and Whites in unified organizations complained because their opinions were not being published fairly, Lowndes County Commissioners ignoring eleven jailed inmates with signed letters and notarized statements outlining abuses, inhumane, unsanitary conditions, and pleading for an outside agency to come into the jail and investigate, 52 complaints from inmates in 2003, that was addressed to the Lowndes County Commissioner’s Meeting on two separate occasions, inmates constitutional rights being denied at the jail, U.S. Civil Action 89-54-VAL, Judge Hugh A. Lawson Court Order and Consent Decree identifying 105 violations and recommendations with a two year period to come in compliance, originally filed in 1989, Hazardous Railroad Tracks in Black Community, Local Merchants problems with panhandlers, International Exhibit SANKOFA---given little to no media coverage though it is traveled Internationally, a school being build on a possible toxic site (REF: The Post).

They even ignored or failed to report the issue concerning an 1860 City Charter that was displayed near the entrance of Valdosta Municipal Court Room. It referred to Blacks as livestock and that Blacks were to be controlled and suppressed by laws passed by the Mayor and Council.

Our Honorable Mayor and Council removed the disgraceful 1860 Charter from the Municipal Courtroom entrance. However, our editor never notified the public of the Mayor, and Council’s action. It seems that there is a continued or renewed effort to control and suppress the total population in Lowndes County.

Moreover, when a city keep its citizen ignorant, controlled, and suppressed they cannot expect them to have hope, dignity, equality, justice, direction and self worth. Therefore, Valdosta should terminate her 1860 Mentality of suppress, and control. Then take her rightful place in the State of Georgia beside other Metropolitan Cites of the 21^st Century. Peace!

GEORGE RHYNES
A concerned citizens and brother of humanity!

Cc: Closed

12 June 2004

George B. Rhynes (xxx-xxx-xxxx) Valdosta, Georgia

SUBJECT: Local News Media Keeping Citizens Ignorant:

MESSAGE BOARD:

--- Eleven inmates in the Lowndes County Jail requesting help from an outside source to investigate the denial of their individual Constitutional Rights, incidents being swept under the rug involving an alleged weapon, problems filing state complaint forms and getting them notarized.

--- Lowndes County Board of Commissioners failure to respond to inmates request of 23 Aug 2003, eye-witnesses in the arrest and death of a Black male motorist was never called as witnesses.

--- candidates running for public office are not treated the same at news conferences.

--- Manner in which candidates are indorsed by local news media.

---Valid registered election problems never published during a recent Mayoral, and City Council race.

--- Alleged gang activity have senior citizens afraid to come out of their homes.

--- Marches and protests against the war with Iraq goes unreported.

--- Local School being built on a controversial site (hazardous).

--- Controversial opinion columns and editorials excluded from the public, citizens to be heard at public meetings are seldom published—unless they are a group, or organization.

--- Hazardous railroad tracks in the Black community not published.

--- Several Merchants problems with panhandlers in Valdosta ignored.

---Conference Center has only one Black full time employee, while all employees of the work crews are black---with no job benefits, white applicants with medical problems being hired over blacks, present and former employees complaining of unfair hiring practices and promotions at public establishment.

--- Little investigative reporting is done to gather the facts surrounding these items of interests.

--- Therefore, local citizens have been forced to use Message Boards, Blogs, Internet, and other news outlets to keep Free Speech, and Press alive. Unquestionably, citizens must start their own newsletter, or newspaper in this South Georgia Town. Peace!

--- 15 Feb 2003 peace rally on the Court House steps, in Valdosta, Georgia, consisting of students from Valdosta State University.

--- Letters to the editors, and guest columns of a controversial nature are overly scrutinized---changed, watered down, or totally ignored, by mass media nation wide.

--- In your “Thumbs up, thumbs down” you said the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. helped to change lives for African-Americans.”

--- Opinions on war with Iraq, Senator Trent Lott, Affirmative Action, the biases in America media, and many others.

--- But not one of a controversial nature was published. However, some were published in Chicago, and other cities, the Lake Park Post published three, two in one paper, and others have been accepted for publication.

--- Only covered one side of the story after court judge verdict. The Williams family concerns were totally excluded from the article (no surprise.

--- The vanishing videotape at the intake, and the Medical Examiners Autopsy Report, and other facts of the case.

--- Former inmates, deputies, parents, attorneys, and pastors went before organizations on behalf of those that were behind bars, and could not speak for themselves.

--- Totally excluded was a 1998 Civil Action #89-54-VAL filed against the jail in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia, Valdosta District concerning discrepancies at the jail.

--- Alleged torturing of inmates on a bench (the Horse), throwing people into the hole until their scars and wounds had healed.

--- They spoke of a deputy nick named “BLACK JESUS,” because of how he beat up inmates,

--- leeches coming up through the drain and showerhead,

--- 100-degree temperatures in the jail.

--- Windows sealed shut, water running all over the floor,

--- Personal mail being opened, not allowed to receive news papers,

--- Not allowed to receive news papers, religious materials.

--- Cells with no ventilation, and no place to dispose of sanitary supplies.

--- Many guards presented their case before the NAACP, and filed EEOC complaints. Some of which have been settled,

--- An incident on the morning of 23 July 2003 at 8:30am was swept under the rug.

--- Several inmates who witnessed an officer drawing a weapon on an inmate taunting and agitating inmates. This is routine practice in the Lowndes County Jail.

--- Guards turns off fan and TV in the cell block without ventilation.

--- No air conditioning, because cell was locked because of malfunction in an inmate cell.

--- That Lowndes County Commissioners refused to respond to inmate’s complaints brought before them on 26 Aug 2003. Requesting an outside agency come into the jail and investigate the ill conditions and mistreatment of inmates.

--- That a request for answers was addressed to the Grand Jury, and District Attorney for help and relief.

--- A vanishing booking tape. (Mr. Hernage)

--- Other articles were “will new school be in harms way (near Sterling Pulp Chemicals, which manufactures sodium chlorate),

--- Sheriff admits that the jail is inhumane, former jail employee says he took 12-15 tapes from the Lowndes County Jail,

--- Valdosta City Manager denies wrongdoing in Bosch payments,

--- U.S. Supreme Court childes 11th Dist Court of Appeals, six letters to the editor with substance, Lowndes County Commission admits it knows little of water problem in the county (cadmium, and nickel contaminated (Q4) of sediment in Mud Creek),

--- a disturbing letter from South Georgia Medical Center, Bell South sues web site owner, article by Charles Moore (editor).

--- Failed to report a complete story of SANKOFA. The Celebration of African American History Month at Valdosta State University Office of Equal Opportunity Programs and Multicultural Affairs presented SANKOFA. This African American Cultural Museum on Wheels with Angela Jennings, Curator/Director of Denmark, South Carolina, was an educational experience for all that attended.

--- On 21 October 1997, he issued a Court Order and Consent Decree that inmates 1st, 6th, 8th, and 14th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States had been violated. He gave two (2), years for Lowndes County to comply.

--- After standing before you on behalf of (over) eleven (11) inmates, their parents, and former employees---for relief... You ignored our request. All I could give them was the 35TH Psalm of David, as a symbol of hope!

--- Several Professors from Valdosta State University put together a two-hour documentary video. This video was entitled "A Chorus of Fear" documenting the horror stories and the conditions that has festered in this South Georgia town---for decades.

--- Each member of the City Councilman and each Lowndes County Commissioner were given a copy of the Video "A Chorus of Fear." However, it seems that fear reigns supreme in Lowndes County Georgia.

--- The Honorable Jack Kingston, Rep Sandfort Bishop, Lt Governor…

--- Questions addressing pertinent questions were never reported to the public.

1. In the State of Georgia is there a requirement for County Law Enforcement Policy and Procedures Manual to be kept up to date in County Jails? If so, is this manual available for citizens to checkout and review?

2. Does Georgia require a Staffing Analysis of Jails by the Department of Community Affairs or the Georgia Sheriffs Association? If so, where can citizens obtain results of such reviews?

3. When it is determined by a U.S. District Court Judge in the State of Georgia that Jailed Inmates Constitutional Rights have been violated:

a. Who ensures that corrections are made? Who is held responsible for complying with a U.S. District Court Order and Consent Decree?

b. Is there a requirement for the Federal, State, County, and City government to inspect jails within the State of Georgia?

c. Does the Federal, State, or County Governments provide a checklist to Georgia Grand Juries on requirements of Jails in the State of Georgia?

4. When complaints of abuse and mistreatment of Jailed Inmates in a Georgia County Jail have been identified by the courts. Is it permitted to send surveys within a jailed to pool the jail population? (To insure inmates Constitutional and State Rights are not being violated).

5. If you are notified of an abusive jail situation who would you recommend citizens contact to resolve inmates alleged problems of abuse? (When local citizens cannot get a response from their elected officials).

6. Is the Foreman of the Grand Jury and each member properly educated/trained on proper guidelines for reviewing Georgia Jails? If not, why are they permitted to tour the jail and give a report---on jail conditions?

7. In the State of Georgia who performs oversight review of County Sheriffs Departments? And who insures that inmate complaints are adequately investigated IAW Federal, State, and Local policies if applicable?

8. Who insures, that those who use the complaint system are not retaliated against for using the Georgia Inmate Complaint System?

9. Are inmate’s personal/Official U.S. Mail within the State of Georgia allowed to be opened outside the inmates (view), presents? If so, under what conditions? Moreover, do the State of Georgia band newspapers, and other religious literature from certain religious persuasions?

10. Is Medical Staff at a County Jail inspected on their competence and professionalism? If so, by whom? How often? Where can documentation be found?

11. In the case of a U.S. District Court Order. Who insures that all discrepancies are fixed and complied with within a County Jail in the State of Georgia?

12. What Federal, State or County Manual governs Georgia County Jail Standards? In addition, who has authority/Jurisdiction over a County Sheriff within the State of Georgia? If anyone?

On 22 June 2004, our local news paper the Valdosta Daily Times reported that Capt Yeager of the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Department said: That a 49 year old white male died of unknown causes at about 4:30 p.m. in his cell at the jail.

The name of the inmate is being with held until the family is notified. To date, to my knowledge this information has not been released to the general public.

On 15 April 2004, Vol. 17 NO. 2. The Post, a weekly newspaper reported
the following deaths: Rosemary King age 40, died, on 20 June 2001,
Ronzie “Sonny” Graham, age 48, died, on 13 July 2000, Willie James
Williams age 49, died, on 2 Sept 1998, Willie Lee Gay age 39, died, on
23 Oct 1995, and years earlier Willie McFarland also died to mention a
few without the complete record. (Al Parson owner and editor, The Post,
229-242-7179, FAX 229-242-7143).

This prolonged lack of attention can only be compared to a week of terror in Brooks and Lowndes County in 1918---wherein over ten Black American citizens were killed:

They were Hayes Turner, Mary Turner, Will Head, Will Thompson, Sidney Johnson, an eight month old fetus, Willie Schuman, and three other black individuals whose name were with held but included in the Governors investigation report.

It was a white Georgia Governor Hugh M. Dorsey that took a strong stand for law, order, and justice---instead of chaos.

20 June 2004 threats were made on a local candidates’ freedom and well being. These threats and racial epitaphs were made at a polling place in Lowndes County. Moreover, 911 was called but the again the local population knows nothing about this incident.

It appears that this too will be pushed under the table and not reported to the public by local news media networks.

GEORGE BOSTON RHYNES
A concerned citizen and brother of humanity

99. Mayor Asks Is It Racially Motivated, 1860 Valdosta City Charter Mentality...?

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