Would "Prior official authorization" have to be in writing? Who would have to sign it?
What would it have to say? Is there a form?
Do all persons on campus need "prior official authorization" to be on campus?
"The protesting being organized by me and others," Willie Ricks said in a telephone interview. "Different Black organizations, a united front together. We've got forces around the country. PanAfricans, Socialists, all kinds of fronts."
An internal Morehouse email to staff from Elise Durham, leaked to AssataShakur.org-which has not been authenticated by APN-reads, "By now, you may have heard about an incident involving the Morehouse Police Department and Mr. Willie "Mukasa" Ricks, who identifies himself
as a Civil Rights activist.
"Since the arrest, Mr. Ricks has organized a grass-roots campaign against the College, claiming he was treated unnecessarily harsh during the arrest.
"According to our police department that was not the case.
If for some reason, your office receives a call about the incident, please do not get into a conversation about the matter. Forward the call to the President's office at 2645 or to the Office of Communications at 2680. We have an institutional statement that can be released explaining the College's position."
The College's statement, obtained by APN, reads "According to the Morehouse College Police Department reports, Mr. Willie F. Ricks, also known to some as Mukasa, was arrested on November 10 for criminal trespassing."
"Ricks was arrested in violation of a written criminal trespass warning that had been previously issued to him. Over the past two months, police had verbally warned Ricks several times to stay off campus private property. On November 10, when he was approached by police and asked to vacate the premises, Mr. Ricks refused, which later led to his arrest," Morehouse College said in the statement.
Ricks told APN the protest is planned for Morehouse College AU Center Woodruff Library, on January 26, 2006, 11am, Thursday.
In stunning testimony, Ricks says he was previously brutalized by Morehouse College Police on a separate occasion on around May 2005.
After receiving a welcome to campus by President Massey, and invitations to speak by many professors, Ricks says he came on campus in May, to be surrounded by a circle of police, physically detained, and had his arms shoved behind his back.
During this incident he alleges Police Chief V. Worthy ordered the police to let him go, advising they had no right to hold him.
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
