NATIVE_NEWS: Eddie Hatcher
And now:[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Date: Sat, 30 Oct 1999 17:31:37 -0400 (EDT) From: ME Shaiman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Eddie Hatcher Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Please post and distribute: The following is taken from the October 1999 newsletter, the first put out by the Eddie Hatcher Defense Committee since Eddie was arrested early this summer. His mother Thelma now has her own email address, so you can contact her directly at [EMAIL PROTECTED] She also plans to have a website up for Eddie in the near future. Thanks, Marsha Shaiman, On Indian Land Newspaper A MESSAGE FROM EDDIE HATCHER The Night They Murdered Harvey Lee Green by Eddie Hatcher I have been through about four executions at Central Prison in Raleigh, NC, but I think and feel that the execution of Harvey Green was one of the most stressful and frustrating yet. As with all executions, the air in Central Prison becomes filled with tension and apprehension usually the Monday preceding the Thursday night execution. The only difference this time was the suddenness of reality. By Monday morning at breakfast, the moods of most convicts had quickly become solemn. The first line of communication was the question, "Has anybody heard if the courts have stated Harvey's execution?" While Sunday had consisted of loud card games and slamming dominoes at the tables, Monday's cards began popping the table a little softer. The slam began to give way to just laying the dominoes in place. The loud conversations across the tables began to change to quiet attention being paid to the news programs, all in anticipation of hearing the words, "The Supreme Court today issued a stay in the execution of Harvey Green." Everyone hung on to the hope that it would come. Tuesday, James, a convict who had just won a new trial and came off of death row, saw Harvey in the jail coming from the nurses' station. He said Harvey looked and acted in good spirits and said he was still hoping for a stay. We both then stood, looking into space. I asked if he thought something was going to jump off if they carried it out. He said, "You know how well Harvey is liked by everybody." We both agreed that the Administration had to be a little concerned that the situation was a time bomb, ready to explode. On Wednesday, I saw Harvey coming back from visiting with one of his lawyers. He smiled and raised a clutched fist shouting, "You alright Hatcher?" That was Harvey. Wanting to know if everyone else was alright. I got to know Harvey back when I worked death row in '89 and '90. By Wednesday afternoon, the entire prison was almost quiet. Even most of the staff had solemn expressions and little to say. I don't normally go to supper but I did on Wednesday. On the way back, the Lieutenant was in the hall and I asked if they had moved Harvey down to the death house yet. He gave some cocky grin and said he didn't know, like I wouldn't find out in the next 10 minutes. When I got down to the block, one of the few decent Officers was standing at the canteen so I asked him. He said they had just moved Harvey, right before we got back. He said, "I shook his hand and thanked him for always keeping it real." He was sincere. While some of the guards openly voice their opinions of how quick and how cruel executions should take place, there are a few who don't support the death penalty. It just disgusts me that their jobs take precedence over their beliefs and principles. This weakness disgusts me. Thursday morning you could see the heavy presence of extra guards. In every unit more guards were everywhere. An Officer told me they were really gearing up in case any problems jumped off. But even the threat of force didn't deter acts of protest beginning early in the day. Right before lunch a fire alarm sounded at OC-2, the main control headquarters. Location of the fire -- D block east. Why did it happen to be my block, an arena where my name is always at the top of any investigation list. Two Sergeants and four guards rushed into the block, peeping and looking in every cell. No convict budged from whatever it was they were doing prior to the unwelcome intrusion of the police. I guess the alarm sent the antennas up because shortly after the first alarm, the Lieutenant came into the block to make an announcement. A speech. He wanted to inform all of us that the state intended to go through with the murder of Harvey Green and any forms of protest would be met with swift and forceful action. It sounded like a threat to us so I immediately asked him, "So what are you saying? Do we need to strap up or what?" Strap up means to get your knife, your shank, etc. He looked, gazed, then quickly exited the block. The Lieutenant's threats obviously only enraged us as about 50 minutes later the alarms sounded again, this time, becoming necessary to clear the block. The smoke from a crudely constructed smoke bomb blazing next to the
NATIVE_NEWS: Eddie Hatcher
And now:Ish <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: I apologize if this is a repost..Ish Date: Thu, 16 Sep 1999 18:15:33 -0400 (EDT) From: ME Shaiman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Eddie Hatcher Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Hi Ish, I am sending you the following article again. If you have already posted it, please ignore ( I first sent about 1 1/2 weeks ago). It didn't come back to me so I was not sure if you could open it as an attachment. Thanks, Marsha EDDIE HATCHER: Execution Date??? District Attorney Johnson Britt and the media of Robeson County, North Carolina have already convicted Tuscarora Indian activist Eddie Hatcher and called for his execution! Will you allow the white establishment to put Eddie Hatcher to death? ONLY YOU CAN STOP THIS... On June 1, 1999, Indian activist Eddie Hatcher was surrounded at a busy intersection by dozens of state and local agents and thrown to the pavement, hand-cuffed and arrested. He was charged with First Degree Murder and other weapons charges. Eddie was immediately taken to North Carolina's highest security prison, Central Prison, and placed in maximum lockup next to death row. Eddie says, "I had forgotten how much this state, this government hates me. They are moving beyond all speed in this case. They are trying me for my life. They are trying to put me on death row. And something about this case really scares me." Robeson County District Attorney Johnson Britt says Eddie Hatcher should be put to death. The state seeks the death penalty because of Eddie's past convictions - the takeover of The Robesonian newspaper offices. EDDIE HATCHER: Former Political Prisoner Eddie Hatcher is known worldwide for his action of February 1, 1988 when he occupied the offices of The Robesonian newspaper in Lumberton, North Carolina, in a desperate attempt to focus attention on corruption in Robeson County. Eddie demanded that the government investigate local and state officials' involvement in major drug trafficking; investigations into more than two dozen unsolved murders, mostly Natives and Blacks; investigations into the local judicial system; and investigations into the death of a young African American, who died under suspicious circumstances in the Robeson County jail The takeover ended peacefully. One of the hostages, Bob Horne, former editor of The Robesonian, walked out of the building with Eddie. "Somebody called in and said they were going to gun them down... I went out with them to make sure that didn't happen. That wouldn't have been right," says Horne. Eddie became the first person prosecuted by the Federal Government under Ronald Reagan's 1984 Anti-Terrorist Act. Between his arrest and his trial, seven witnesses scheduled to offer testimony to support Eddie's allegations of government drug trafficking were murdered or died under suspicious circumstances. After a three week trial in federal court, where Eddie was ordered, by Judge T. Boyle, to represent himself, the jury found Eddie not guilty on all counts. They said he was justified in his actions. Six weeks later, in December 1988, Eddie was re-indicted by the State of North Carolina for the same charges he had been cleared of in federal court. Eddie's attorneys, including William Kunstler, were removed from the courtroom by Judge R. Farmer and again Eddie was forced to represent himself. On February 14, 1990, Eddie was sentenced to 18 years, with a projected parole date of 1992. Still imprisoned in 1993, the National Council of Churches declared Eddie Hatcher a political prisoner. They, along with Amnesty International and many prominent people including Senators, Congressmen, and movie stars, demanded Eddie's release from prison. Eddie was forced to serve 7 years and was not released until May 1995, after he was denied medical treatment by the prison for AIDS related pneumonia and almost died. He was then held on house arrest and intensive parole for an additional two years until 1997. The documentary, "Takeover: The Trials of Eddie Hatcher," which was released in 1998, details Eddie Hatcher's life and his long battle with a corrupt, racist government. It has won countless awards across the country and has been shown on PBS stations nationwide. AFTER PAROLE In 1998, after completing all paroles, Eddie returned to Robeson County and again became very vocal in local politics, even contemplating running for public office. Now the District Attorney and the State of North Carolina say that Eddie Hatcher drove down a dark country road, in a 5-speed truck, on a curve, and shot through a house that sits more than 200 feet down a slope, and shot a man right between the eyes with a high powered rifle. Eddie's right arm is permanently disabled. He could have not done this. Yet, if the corrupt courts of North Carolina continue as they have, Eddie will receive the death penalty. Now Eddie sits in maximum lockup in Central Prison. He has re
NATIVE_NEWS: Eddie Hatcher Update
And now:Ish <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: Date: Wed, 1 Sep 1999 19:00:07 -0400 (EDT) From: ME Shaiman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Eddie Hatcher Update Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/mixed; boundary="[EMAIL PROTECTED]" X-Mailer: mail.com X-Originating-IP: 207.225.233.153 Dear Ish, I am attaching the text version of the Eddie Hatcher brochure. It contains more information than the article I sent you about 2 weeks ago. Please circulate it. In Resistance, Marsha Shaiman, On Indian Land Newspaper/Support for Native Sovereignty --- EDDIE HATCHER: Execution Date??? District Attorney Johnson Britt and the media of Robeson County, North Carolina have already convicted Tuscarora Indian activist Eddie Hatcher and called for his execution! Will you allow the white establishment to put Eddie Hatcher to death? ONLY YOU CAN STOP THIS... On June 1, 1999, Indian activist Eddie Hatcher was surrounded at a busy intersection by dozens of state and local agents and thrown to the pavement, hand-cuffed and arrested. He was charged with First Degree Murder and other weapons charges. Eddie was immediately taken to North Carolina's highest security prison, Central Prison, and placed in maximum lockup next to death row. Eddie says, "I had forgotten how much this state, this government hates me. They are moving beyond all speed in this case. They are trying me for my life. They are trying to put me on death row. And something about this case really scares me." Robeson County District Attorney Johnson Britt says Eddie Hatcher should be put to death. The state seeks the death penalty because of Eddie's past convictions - the takeover of The Robesonian newspaper offices. EDDIE HATCHER: Former Political Prisoner Eddie Hatcher is known worldwide for his action of February 1, 1988 when he occupied the offices of The Robesonian newspaper in Lumberton, North Carolina, in a desperate attempt to focus attention on corruption in Robeson County. Eddie demanded that the government investigate local and state officials' involvement in major drug trafficking; investigations into more than two dozen unsolved murders, mostly Natives and Blacks; investigations into the local judicial system; and investigations into the death of a young African American, who died under suspicious circumstances in the Robeson County jail The takeover ended peacefully. One of the hostages, Bob Horne, former editor of The Robesonian, walked out of the building with Eddie. "Somebody called in and said they were going to gun them down... I went out with them to make sure that didn't happen. That wouldn't have been right," says Thorne. Eddie became the first person prosecuted by the Federal Government under Ronald Reagan's 1984 Anti-Terrorist Act. Between his arrest and his trial, seven witnesses scheduled to offer testimony to support Eddie's allegations of government drug trafficking were murdered or died under suspicious circumstances. After a three week trial in federal court, where Eddie was ordered, by Judge T. Boyle, to represent himself, the jury found Eddie not guilty on all counts. They said he was justified in his actions. Six weeks later, in December 1988, Eddie was re-indicted by the State of North Carolina for the same charges he had been cleared of in federal court. Eddie's attorneys, including William Kunstler, were removed from the courtroom by Judge R. Farmer and again Eddie was forced to represent himself. On February 14, 1990, Eddie was sentenced to 18 years, with a projected parole date of 1992. Still imprisoned in 1993, the National Council of Churches declared Eddie Hatcher a political prisoner. They, along with Amnesty International and many prominent people including Senators, Congressmen, and movie stars, demanded Eddie's release from prison. Eddie was forced to serve 7 years and was not released until May 1995, after he was denied medical treatment by the prison for AIDS related pneumonia and almost died. He was then held on house arrest and intensive parole for an additional two years until 1997. The documentary, "Takeover: The Trials of Eddie Hatcher," which was released in 1998, details Eddie Hatcher's life and his long battle with a corrupt, racist government. It has won countless awards across the country and has been shown on PBS stations nationwide. AFTER PAROLE In 1998, after completing all paroles, Eddie returned to Robeson County and again became very vocal in local politics, even contemplating running for public office. Now the District Attorney and the State of North Carolina say that Eddie Hatcher drove down a dark country road, in a 5-speed truck, on a curve, and shot through a house that sits more than 200 feet down a slope, and shot a man right between the eyes with a high powered rifle. Eddie's right
NATIVE_NEWS: Eddie Hatcher Imprisoned Again
And now:Ish <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: Date: Thu, 19 Aug 1999 20:15:46 -0400 (EDT) From: ME Shaiman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Eddie Hatcher Imprisoned Again Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Please circulate this information. Feel free to reprint, email around, etc. Tuscarora Indian Activist Eddie Hatcher Jailed Again Tuscarora Indian activist Eddie Hatcher was arrested on June 1, 1999 in Hamlet, North Carolina. He is charged with first degree murder in the May 31 drive-by shooting death of Bryan McMillian and assault with a deadly weapon in the wounding of Michael Anthony Locklear on May 19. Eddie says, "I didn't kill nobody." He writes that occupants of the house in which McMillian was killed initially described the car they saw and told the police who they thought had fired on the house. Now, it is Eddie who is being accused of firing into the house from a car not fitting the original description. Hatcher, with a history of activism which includes taking on corrupt law enforcement in Robeson County, North Carolina, says, "I had forgotten how much this state, this government hates me. They are moving beyond all speed in this case. They are trying me for my life. They are trying to put me on death row now. And something about this case really scares me." Eddie is right to be afraid. He states, "They say I should get the death penalty because of my past conviction - the takeover." Robeson County District Attorney Johnson Britt is seeking the death penalty and local law enforcement and the judicial system have good reason to go after Hatcher. By the late 1980s, Eddie and others had found evidence that local and county law enforcement officials and business people were complicit in drug trafficking in Robeson County. The rural farming community was deluged with cocaine and being referred to as the Little Miami of the East Coast. Hatcher was also questioning the many unexplained and unsolved murders of African Americans and Indians in the county. After early 1988 attempts to obtain help from the federal government on these issues failed, Eddie and Timothy Jacobs, another Tuscarora Indian, occupied the offices of a local newspaper, The Robesonian, in an attempt to focus attention on these issues. Eddie's only demands in the takeover were an investigation into the corruption and murders and, afraid for their lives, that he and Timothy be turned over to federal agents rather than the state. Less than twelve hours after the armed takeover, their demands were agreed to and both men surrendered. Bob Horne, then the editor of The Robesonian, says he walked out of the building with Eddie to insure that he would not be gunned down. The state withdrew charges against Hatcher and Jacobs and they were tried in federal court for hostage taking and other charges in September 1988. According to one trial witness, the Robeson County Sheriff, Hubert Stone, and North Carolina Bureau of Investigation agents had met and decided they would "have Eddie Hatcher before the week was out." The jury delivered a not guilty verdict, stating that they believed Hatcher was justified in his actions because he feared for his life. After the defeat in federal court, North Carolina reinstated their kidnapping charges against Hatcher and Jacobs in December. Denied legal representation by the court and worn out from fighting, Eddie pled guilty and accepted an 18 year sentence after being told he would be out on parole in little more than two years. Timothy Jacobs also pled guilty and received 6 years. Still imprisoned in 1995, Eddie was diagnosed with AIDS and nearly died from AIDS related pneumonia. The North Carolina Parole Board finally released him in May of that year. While in prison, Eddie helped fellow prisoners, writing and filing legal briefs, and worked to improve prison conditions. After his release Eddie continued to work for the rights of people of color and poor whites in and around Robeson County. He founded the Hatcher Center for Human Rights where he addressed the rights of people of color, American Indian and gay rights, AIDS issues, and U.S. political prisoners. He also considered seeking public office as a way to address these issues. A compelling documentary, Takeover: The Trials of Eddie Hatcher, details Eddie's efforts to expose the corruption of Robeson County and the takeover of The Robesonian newspaper offices. Even people held hostage at the newspaper offices spoke well of Hatcher, as did local clergy. Now the tables are turned and Eddie Hatcher needs our help. His mother Thelma Clark, who was so instrumental in saving Eddie's life when he was imprisoned and ill, and in his release from jail in 1995, is again working to free her son. If you call the Defense Office, a woman's voice on the answering machine will tell you, "We need your help." And they do! Write Eddie directly at North Carolina Central Prison: Eddie Hatcher, 1300 W
