"When I ran away from slavery, it was for myself; when I advocated emancipation, it was for my people; but when I stood up for the rights of women, self was out of the question, and I found a little nobility in the act." Frederick Douglass. 1881In the year of Lincoln's 200th Birth Anniversary, it is easy to overlook Frederick Douglass. I think every student should be required to read his autobiography, both for its literary content, composition, and moral imperatives. Douglass spent his life advocating for the dispossessed and marginalized; he is a giant and his writings effect people to this day.
Alycia's long road has finally forked away from the City of Troy on February 26, 2008. Alycia was jailed at the request of the City of Troy Probation Department, and I visited her on Friday, February 6, 2009. She was sitting all curled up and crying in the jail clinic holding cell with 4 other women. The first night in jail, she went into false labor, and the jail personnel had to take her to the hospital. She was dehydrated and needed a saline IV. Alycia was nauseated and vomiting. The jail deputy said they would notify the Judge. I have no further comment about the treatment of Alycia by any persons involved in her arrest, prosecution, sentencing or incarceration. Sufficed to say, she stood in jail until the conclusion of her 5 day jail sentence, which speaks for itself.
I don't know what Thomas Athans did the night of Friday, February 5, 2009, or any of the next four nights Alycia was in jail. "Dewayne Johnson" or whatever he calls himself probably moved a few young women around and collected his $3,000 to $4,000 dollars a night. The Detectives, the Court staff, the Troy Probation officer involved, all the City Attorneys and staff were probably at home with their families. I do know what Alycia was doing. Alycia spent her night on a plastic bench in the Oakland County Jail crying and vomiting. What exactly was she guilty of? By accident of birth in a lower income strata of society Alycia is simply treated differently. Alycia is guilty of being poorer than Thomas Athans. I have been told that when Alycia as a small child would sing at County competitions and fairs in Massachusetts. Her sister says she was unbelievably talented singer.
Alycia also wrote poetry and had a book of poems she had collected since childhood. That book, along with all her clothing, identification and family photographs, was taken from her by the pimp and she never saw it again. My wife and I are going to buy her another book so she can start writing poetry again.
The Oakland County Sheriff released her at 12:30 PM, and my wife, Julianne and I drove the "circuit" (Macomb Township to Pontiac to Detroit to Macomb Township) probably for the last time. We got back to our house at 2:50 AM. We had brought the baby shower gifts to Alycia at Court, but as you know, she was thrown in jail. Alycia took them on Monday morning. No one except Alycia's sister showed up at the baby shower on Tuesday, February 3, 2009.
After we picked her up from the jail, Alycia immediately fell asleep when she got into the car and slept the entire way home. My wife was shocked at the number of cars and people waiting at the back of the jail for prisoner release. Julianne said if she hadn't married me she never would have imagined the numbers of people jailed or seen the entire subculture. The siren sounds, flashing red lights, and and a huge garage door lifts and the prisoners come wandering out of the intensely lit interior of the jail into the night in a daze, similar to a scene from Close Encounters of the Third Kind.
Alycia said the prisoners were lying on the floors and sleeping on cots in the common areas in the jail. Alycia told me that after I visited her on Friday, that is when she stopped crying. It really matters to people in her situation that people (usually family) step up and show them that they matter. I told her I visited her because I wanted to make sure she was alright. I gave her a message from my wife to think about her baby and how lucky she was to be with her fiance. I told her it was going to be okay and how it was all for the best that it all be over with.
I told my Julianne that under different circumstances, I am sure the pimp would be there to pick up a girl after she was jailed, and fill her with hate, anger and fear of the police and the Courts. We were just glad she was safe and sound.
Alycia said how happy she was that she never had to go to jail again; how nice it was to breathe fresh air; and not owe any more money to the City of Troy Probation Department. As Alycia was being led away to jail, in handcuffs, and crying, the Assistant City Attorney asked the Court to impose more fines and costs to be assessed against her.
Judge Bolle, denied the City of Troy request, and stated, "this case is over."
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