Man buries children alive but get parole?!

 Thirty-five years ago, three young white men from wealthy families kidnapped a bus full of 26 schoolchildren and their driver in this San Joaquin Valley community and entombed them in a rock quarry. It's the largest kidnapping for ransom in U.S. history and one of California's strangest crimes — a legacy seldom forgotten by outsiders who still connect the name "Chowchilla" to it.

The California Department of Corrections says 58 year old Richard Allen Schoenfeld was released from the California Men's Colony in San Luis Obispo Wednesday night.

Despite spending 16 hours underground, all of the victims survived after the bus driver stacked the mattresses together allowing everyone to eventually climb out of the van through the top.

Instead of collecting any loot, the three kidnappers fell asleep before calling in their ransom demand.

It was the largest kidnapping for ransom in U.S. history and it remains a part of California criminal history lore.

"If it wasn't for the bus driver saving those kids, all of those kids would be dead right now", adds longtime Chowchilla resident Jon Newton, "so why does he get to get out."

After 35 years behind bars, a California Appeals Court ordered Richard Schoenfeld released because the State Parole Board unfairly set his parole date for 2021 even though the Board said Schoenfeld is not a threat to society.

His brother and co- defendant’s James Schoenfeld and Frederick Woods are both up for parole at the California Men's Colony near San Luis Obispo later this year.

Really?

Now normally I try to get all the facts before I speak on a topic or legal issue, but Really?  Just the fact that 60% of all Black men incarcerated are for Non-Violent and/or drug crimes, namely crack cocaine which in fact the "crack law" has been repealed because of the disparity to powder cocaine convictions alone shows the flawed racist criminal justice system clearly doesn't work.  How can non violent or drug offenses have mandatory minimum sentences but wealthy, white men can get paroled for ATTEMPTED MURDER of 26 CHILDREN???  

WoW.  Loss of words....may God have mercy...

Peace, Love, and Strength.

T. Davis

Juneteenth 2012

June 19^th is known as Juneteenth celebrating the emancipation of the last remaining slaves in the U.S. This state holiday is observed in 41 states, the state of Texas is widely considered to be the first state to have informal celebrations, and it has been an official state holiday since 1890.  Many call it Freedom day or Emancipation day; I like to call it our own 4^th of July since we weren’t free on America’s Independence Day but that is another topic for another blog!

The history of Juneteenth comes from when Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on September 22, 1862 with an effective date of January 1, 1863, but for whatever reasons Texas was not notified until two and a half years later in April of 1865.  Many rumors surround the delay, some say the messenger was murdered on his way to Texas with the emancipation news; that the news was deliberately withheld by slave masters to maintain the labor force and allow them to reap the benefits of one more cotton harvest.  Which to me all above are believable considering the U.S. history on treatment of Black Americans and former slaves. 

The civil rights movement of the 1950’s and 60’s embraced this state holiday to celebrate our freedom and achievement while encouraging self-determination and respect for all cultures and freedoms.   Many of our youth were pulled into the struggle for equality and learned the historic struggles of our ancestors.  This celebration has declined as our race forgets the past and focuses on the materialistic  Me  Me  Me  generation rather than our cultural history.  I encourage you the reader to revisit Juneteenth, spread the word and CELEBRATE this historic event!

                       

                     General Order Number 3 from President Abraham Lincoln states:

“The people of Texas are informed that in accordance with the proclamation form the executive of the United States, all slaves are free.  This involves an absolute equality of rights and rights of property between former masters and slave, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employ and free laborer”

Unfortunately, once free many slaves had no jobs, savings or means to celebrate this freedom and still remained slaves, or indebted to their owners.  Even today we as Black Americans struggle with such freedoms, and the right to self-determination and equality.  Only through knowledge of our past can we prepare for our future.

                        God bless us all and God bless America.

Peace, Love and Strength

T. Davis