Sunday
Aug232009
'That's how I feel about it. No kid should be railroaded as an adult.'
Sunday, August 23, 2009 at 7:42PM The Blogmother "Before I see these kids, the other ones that they claim was involved, before I see them come here, and get mistreated and railroaded and get their life taken away from them, I prefer for them not to come forward.
"I don’t like what happened to the lady or her son, because when I heard about it, my heart went out to her. But, they’re still living. She’s able to wake up every morning, and hug her son...So she’s blessed. And these kids are going through hell." — Tabitha
C.B. Hanif for WAOD:
The objective of the reporting here is to document every possible nuance of the two-year-old Dunbar Village tragedy, whose first trial resumes Monday morning.
Here is yet another aspect of this story: the perspective of Ruby Walker, mother of 18-year-old Nathan Walker, one of the defendants being tried on the gang rape and assault on a mother and son. And Tabitha, who I was given to understand is Nathan's sister, but am double-checking.
The two waited to talk with me after the second day of jury selection. I explained that I’m not looking to cause controversy for either side in this case; that what I would like to do is hear and convey any points that he and/or they think are important for people to know, but might not be hearing.
Although there are many questions one might ask, I chose almost exclusively to simply let them speak.
Transcribed nearly verbatim, here is Tabitha, in this post, and Ruby Walker, in the next, in their words.
Tabitha, on how Nathan is doing:
"I think he’s holding up, as best as anybody in that situation could hold up. From someone who went from having nothing, and struggling, and then to having friends, and then your friends become your co-defendants, in something that you feel like you’re not capable of doing, but yet, you have to stay here, and go through this trial and tribuation, in which a lot of part he doesn’t even understand.
Nathan was never educated. When I met Nathan, Nathan couldn’t read or write. I met Nathan sitting in the porch one morning crying because he wanted to go to school, and yet his mom couldn’t afford it, with the kids that she have in the house. OK? We all can say that, as parents we do the best we can. But if we don’t have it, we have no place to look but up to God. And a lot of times we feel like we need it right then and there, and your kids feel like you need it right then and there.
It starts to make them feel like, they’re just these inner-city kids, that have nothing to look forward to. So you go out there, you start calling yourself making friends, or, what we say in African-American community, “homeboy.” Or, “My Dog.” And then the same people my friends, you put in a situation where your friends put you in more trouble than you can expect to handle.
So now you’re this little kid, and scared, where do you turn? Because now you say to yourself, I’m not able to go home. I’m not able to hug mommy. I’m not able to hear that talk, that boost mom gives you, ‘Everything’s gonna be OK’ and this and that.
So basically Nathan is a sheep, that’s scared. That’s crying out that, he just wanna go home. No, home wasn’t perfect. No home is perfect, whether you have the money, or you don’t. No home is perfect. But nowadays, when you sit behind those bars, and you remember the words, that your mama used to say, ‘Everything’s gonna be OK. Just hold your head up to God and he’ll make it through.” That’s all he got, now, is him and God, to make it through.
“And before you sit and judge somebody, put yourself in their shoes. A lot of us came up with one pair of shoes. One pair of pants and a shirt. And we tried to make it. Some of us by the grace of God made it. And some of us didn’t. So, in order to say, he’s guilty, or he’s not guilty, there’s no one should be able to judge that but God.
“He was always a good kid. Nathan gets to the point where he feels that there’s no one understands him, but him. And that’s a hard feeling. Because what he lack to understand that, even though dad was in and out, he had that mom there. He had that mom that, in a way, she tried to be the best mom that she could be. No she didn’t have the money in the bank to provide for him. So in many way she become his best friend.
“Along the way, some other discipline lacked, for being a friend, to him. But the love got stronger between them. The understanding started to come. Nathan made a mistake. Nathan picked the wrong group of homeboys to hang with. Out of all those kids, they’re all still kids. I cannot take a baby and scare that child and think that that child isn’t gonna do what I tell them to do. If you put enough fear into anybody especially a kid, they’re gonna turn, into what you want them to be.
I think these kids, is not capable in that way of doing things I was a kid. Yeah, I did things that was wrong. I figure it like this, maybe it was a last-minute decision. Maybe he liked the shoes that the little boy had on — let’s get his shoes. But, if I had someone older than me, leading my mind, I’m gonna go the way you say go. These are still just kids. You grow up in that type of neighborhood, and let’s see how you turn out.
(Her reaction to the condemnation here and elsewhere.)
How do I think about them? Basically that they’re ignorant. For the simple fact is, you cannot judge somebody unless you put yourself in their spot. Unless you’re willing to take your child, and deny your kid the things that you know that that child needs, and think that the child is supposed to grow up perfect in this world, then you shouldn’t judge.
Because a lot of us have never had that opportunity, to grow up like we should. A lot of us go to school — and it’s still happening right now — just to eat. It ain’t really about what I learned in school it’s about what I ate today. It isn’t about the clothes that I have on but it’s about, look what I found that I can put on.
So before you judge these kids, put yourself in that spot. And then think to yourself, if it’s wrong, if it’s another child, or anything, what would I do in that situation. So don’t prejudge nobody. Before you judge, sit down and think about it. And give love before you judge. That’s basically that’s it.
(Regarding other boys reportedly involved but not on trial.)
"They told me the same thing, that there were some other boys that were involved.
But, I know it was a heinous crime from what they’re saying, but I feel like this and this is my personal opinion. Before I see these kids, the other ones that they claim was involved, before I see them come here, and get mistreated and railroaded and get their life taken away from them, I prefer for them not to come forward.
I don’t like what happened to the lady or her son, because when I heard about it, my heart went out to her.
But, they’re still living. She’s able to wake up every morning, and hug her son. She’s able to wake up every morning and thank God that he’s here. Her son still have a chance to live his life. These kids have no chance of living life anymore. Basically that’s how I feel about it. So she’s blessed. And these kids are going through hell.
So, yeah I heard there was other kids involved. And as my opinion, I prefer that those kids not to come forward. My advice to those parents of those kids? Get your kid. Move. And start over a new life with you and your child. Because if you don’t, the kid will never have a chance, in this world.
That’s how I feel about it. No kid should be railroaded as a adult. I have seen adults do things illegally and wrong, and they’re still home. They’re still walking the street. Tell me what is it. What’s the difference, now? I guess it’s because they took off the white sheets. And now they’re showing their faces. But you know what they’re still covering behind badges, law degrees, and other things they may have. So the only difference is, the sheets are off.
"Before I see these kids, the other ones that they claim was involved, before I see them come here, and get mistreated and railroaded and get their life taken away from them, I prefer for them not to come forward.
"I don’t like what happened to the lady or her son, because when I heard about it, my heart went out to her. But, they’re still living. She’s able to wake up every morning, and hug her son...So she’s blessed. And these kids are going through hell." — Tabatha Haliburton
C.B. Hanif for WAOD:
The objective of the reporting here is to document every possible nuance of the two-year-old Dunbar Village tragedy, whose first trial resumes Monday morning.
Here is yet another aspect of this story: the perspective of Ruby Walker, mother of 18-year-old Nathan Walker, one of the defendants being tried on the gang rape and assault on a mother and son. And Tabatha, who I was given to understand is Nathan's sister, but am double-checking.
The two waited to talk with me Tuesday Walker's jury was selected. I explained that I’m not looking to cause controversy for either side in this case; that what I would like to do is hear and convey any points that he and/or they think are important for people to know, but might not be hearing.
Although there are many questions one might ask, I chose almost exclusively just to let them speak.
Transcribed nearly verbatim, here is Tabitha, in this post, and Ruby Walker, in the next, in their words.
On how Nathan is doing:
"I think he’s holding up, as best as anybody in that situation could hold up. From someone who went from having nothing, and struggling, and then to having friends, and then your friends become your co-defendants, in something that you feel like you’re not capable of doing, but yet, you have to stay here, and go through this trial and tribuation, in which a lot of part he doesn’t even understand.
"Nathan was never educated. When I met Nathan, Nathan couldn’t read or write. I met Nathan sitting in the porch one morning crying because he wanted to go to school, and yet his mom couldn’t afford it, with the kids that she have in the house. OK? We all can say that, as parents we do the best we can. But if we don’t have it, we have no place to look but up to God. And a lot of times we feel like we need it right then and there, and your kids feel like you need it right then and there.
"It starts to make them feel like, they’re just these inner-city kids, that have nothing to look forward to. So you go out there, you start calling yourself making friends, or, what we say in African-American community, 'homeboy.' Or, 'My Dog.' And then the same people, my friends, you put in a situation where your friends put you in more trouble than you can expect to handle.
"So now you’re this little kid, and scared, where do you turn? Because now you say to yourself, I’m not able to go home. I’m not able to hug mommy. I’m not able to hear that talk, that boost mom gives you, ‘Everything’s gonna be OK,’ and this and that.
"So basically Nathan is a sheep, that’s scared. That’s crying out that, he just wanna go home. No, home wasn’t perfect. No home is perfect, whether you have the money, or you don’t. No home is perfect. But nowadays, when you sit behind those bars, and you remember the words, that your mama used to say — ‘Everything’s gonna be OK. Just hold your head up to God and he’ll make it through” — that’s all he got, now, is him and God, to make it through.
“And before you sit and judge somebody, put yourself in their shoes. A lot of us came up with one pair of shoes. One pair of pants and a shirt. And we tried to make it. Some of us by the grace of God made it. And some of us didn’t. So, in order to say, he’s guilty, or he’s not guilty, there’s no one should be able to judge that but God.
“He was always a good kid. Nathan gets to the point where he feels that there’s no one understands him, but him. And that’s a hard feeling. Because what he lack to understand that, even though dad was in and out, he had that mom there. He had that mom that, in a way, she tried to be the best mom that she could be. No she didn’t have the money in the bank to provide for him. So in many ways she become his best friend.
“Along the way, some other discipline lacked, for being a friend, to him. But the love got stronger between them. The understanding started to come. Nathan made a mistake. Nathan picked the wrong group of homeboys to hang with. Out of all those kids, they’re all still kids. I cannot take a baby and scare that child and think that that child isn’t gonna do what I tell them to do. If you put enough fear into anybody especially a kid, they’re gonna turn, into what you want them to be.
"I think these kids, is not capable in that way of doing things I was a kid. Yeah, I did things that was wrong. I figure it like this, maybe it was a last-minute decision. Maybe he liked the shoes that the little boy had on — 'Let’s get his shoes.' But, if I had someone older than me, leading my mind, I’m gonna go the way you say go. These are still just kids. You grow up in that type of neighborhood, and let’s see how you turn out."
Her reaction to those condemning the assaults:
"How do I think about them? Basically that they’re ignorant. For the simple fact is, you cannot judge somebody unless you put yourself in their spot. Unless you’re willing to take your child, and deny your kid the things that you know that that child needs, and think that the child is supposed to grow up perfect in this world, then you shouldn’t judge.
"Because a lot of us have never had that opportunity, to grow up like we should. A lot of us go to school — and it’s still happening right now — just to eat. It ain’t really about what I learned in school it’s about what I ate today. It isn’t about the clothes that I have on but it’s about, look what I found that I can put on.
"So before you judge these kids, put yourself in that spot. And then think to yourself, if it’s wrong, if it’s another child, or anything, what would I do in that situation. So don’t prejudge nobody. Before you judge, sit down and think about it. And give love before you judge."
Regarding other boys reportedly involved but not on trial:
"They told me the same thing, that there were some other boys that were involved.
"But, I know it was a heinous crime from what they’re saying, but I feel like this and this is my personal opinion. Before I see these kids, the other ones that they claim was involved, before I see them come here, and get mistreated and railroaded and get their life taken away from them, I prefer for them not to come forward.
"I don’t like what happened to the lady or her son, because when I heard about it, my heart went out to her.
"But, they’re still living. She’s able to wake up every morning, and hug her son. She’s able to wake up every morning and thank God that he’s here. Her son still have a chance to live his life. These kids have no chance of living life anymore. Basically that’s how I feel about it. So she’s blessed. And these kids are going through hell.
"So, yeah I heard there was other kids involved. And as my opinion, I prefer that those kids not to come forward. My advice to those parents of those kids? Get your kid, move, and start over a new life with you and your child. Because if you don’t, the kid will never have a chance, in this world.
"That’s how I feel about it. No kid should be railroaded as a adult. I have seen adults do things illegally and wrong, and they’re still home. They’re still walking the street. Tell me what is it. What’s the difference, now? I guess it’s because they took off the white sheets. And now they’re showing their faces. But you know what they’re still covering behind badges, law degrees, and other things they may have. So the only difference is, the sheets are off."
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Reader Comments (16)
Who is Tabatha? Is she the sister? Also, please stop apologizing for telling the dag gum story. You report and we'll decide. We asked to know what they thought. It is what it is. Again, you report, we'll decide, no disclaimer placed before this blog audience is going to get people to hold their powder so its best to not to bother trying.
This is illuminating even if it distresses me highly.
Whoa. Wow. Egad.
The women *claim* they empathize with the victims, but...but...they're asking the public not to judge and speaking AGAINST justice getting served?!
Forgive me folks, but I'm just plain floored. I can't with the ghettocalypse, man.
Tabitha is an enemy of black women... make no mistake about it.
Who's fault is it that Nathan couldn't go to school? It's not as if his mother would have to pay for anything. They come from generations of chronic needers... Anything and everything they get is subsidized.
Nathan couldn't read or write, but he could impregnate somone... SAD.
I just can't believe what I am reading. This material needs to be turned into a documentary to reach a wider audience. I really cannot believe what I am reading. This is pretty painful to read.
Actually, this attitude is TYPICAL from AA defendants and their relatives based on what I've observed over the years as a defense attorney.
For the most part, neither the accused nor their relatives have any empathy whatsoever for the victims. They are competing against the victims for "victim status" in these scenarios. Everything is always about them and their problems. No matter what.
Most of them know that they have to insert a phrase about how "their hearts go out to" the victims, but it's only lip service. Some of them don't even bother with the lip service about the victims.
What most of us don't want to admit is that our demographic (the African-American population) is FILLED with sociopaths. When they are prosecuted, we like to pretend that these individuals can be compared to the Scottsboro boys or Rosa Parks. They are neither. They have much more in common with individuals who face war crimes tribunals.
I would agree with what everyone is saying but again...this is not one person, attacking a mother and child, this was a group of several youths. The mob mentality came into play. The chance that all ten of these boys/men are sociopaths is unlikely. Who was the ringleader, the one who preyed on the others he knew would follow him? Unfortunately all of them have crossed over to the point of no return and should be locked up away from others they can hurt, but the ringleader he needs no mercy, no opportunity to share "his sad story" for if anything it will just be more manipulation and lies.
@ Khadijah
I'm so shocked and saddened to hear that this lack of empathy is considered typical.
@tryun2understanurside
Any member of the group could have left during the rape, torture and forced incest especially if the orginal intent was to rob the victims. If the intent was to commit these acts, all of the participants agreed to it.
In "Breaking Ice: An Anthology of Contemporary African-American Fiction", Barbara Neely (author of the Blanche detective series) wrote "Spilled Salt" a short story about a mother's negative reaction to her son who was recently released from prison for rape. I thought the story was realistic because wouldn't every woman be repulsed by the rape of another woman?
“I don’t like what happened to the lady or her son, because when I heard about it, my heart went out to her.
“But, they’re still living. She’s able to wake up every morning, and hug her son. She’s able to wake up every morning and thank God that he’s here. Her son still have a chance to live his life. These kids have no chance of living life anymore. Basically that’s how I feel about it. So she’s blessed. And these kids are going through hell.
---------------------------------------------------------
This lady and her son will have to suffer tons of psychological damage for years to come because of this crime that was commit against them.
Those criminals have a chance to live life. They will live life behind bars so they cannot harm anyone else
@tryin2understanurside:
You said, "I would agree with what everyone is saying but again…this is not one person, attacking a mother and child, this was a group of several youths. The mob mentality came into play. The chance that all ten of these boys/men are sociopaths is unlikely. Who was the ringleader, the one who preyed on the others he knew would follow him?"
Errr...no. In many situations, that "ringleader" characterization only starts up AFTER folks have been arrested.
Up until the point when they're arrested, the self-described "helpless lambs" who only did ___________ because of the "ringleader's" urging/threats are often braggingabout their exploits at parties, etc.
Furthermore, there's no way to know what ELSE these individuals have done that they were never arrested or investigated for. It seems to me that this level of atrocity is not the "beginner's level." It makes me wonder what else these individuals allegedly did before they were arrested for this particular crime.
Peace, blessings and solidarity.
Great job !!!
These videos need to be video taped and youtubed.
I'll bet anyone money that Tabitha knows the additional suspects, but has refused to do cooperate with the police.
I have noticed - in these comments and during voir dire - that there is a warped understanding of "judg[e]ment" in the black community in particular. Moral relevance has run amok.
Note the themes that have come up..."AfAm culture", poverty, the Klan {snort}, mama did the the best she could, daddy aint here...
These bastards did NOT steal a loaf of bread. They poured bleach on a woman's genitals.
The only way they could get railroaded is to take the full load for others.
Unbelievable! Did I just read this correctly? Was Tabitha the daughter skipped 3 grades? I take back the little blurb I said about her having a chance through education in the previous post. Obviously, Tabitha will NEVER get it.
I am completely speechless. Talk about damaged beyond repair. Have mercy.
@Khadija "They have much more in common with individuals who face war crimes tribunals."
I think you're right. This is some kind of war, that we've been losing in our own backyard. They are war criminals.
Khadija hit the nail on the head with her comments.
The interviewee sounds quite sociopathic and narcissistic. The lack of self-responsibility in this case, as well as throughout our community, never ceases to amaze me. :-|