Donnell Summers: Non-Violent Civil Disobedience to help get Justice

Donnell Summers, a North Toledo native was arrested on October 15th 2005 while peacefully demonstrating the Neo-Nazi presence in the neighborhood of Lagrange. He was sentenced to 3 months work release, and 3 years probation with a 6 month suspended prison sentence. This was for a misdemeanor conviction of riot.

Once he turned himself in to this institution to serve his 3 months his troubles began again. He was repeatedly denied clearance to leave the facility to pursue work. He has been reprimanded for abusing over the counter Motrin that he brought into the facility with him. He could not understand how it was possible to abuse Motrin and was told that he ought to have read the rulebook. He explained that he was never issued a rulebook, and then received one after the fact.
Furthermore, his jailers told him that his conviction was a felony causing him to be treated differently than if it were a misdemeanor. His attorney had to bring court documentation to the facility proving that he did not have a felony conviction so that his treatment would be changed. Despite this Donnell was still not given his work clearance. He realized that they were waiting for his opportunity towork to expire so that he could serve the remainder of his sentence in prison. Desperate, realizing that his good name had been ruined, that his community would not receive justice, that the right to peaceful protest was being stripped from Americans, and that the courts refused to recognize blacks as participants in the political process, he has decided to give up everything for a final act of protest.

Two weeks ago Donnell walked out of his work release facility and did not return. He hopes to use his status as a fugitive to give a new jolt of publicity to the plight of the African American community in Toledo. He realizes that this leaves him with few legal options. He also realizes that this risky act of non-violent civil disobedience must garner enough attention to make his likely eventual imprisonment worth it. Please don't let his efforts go on in vain!
Write and call any local, national, or international figure you can… Spread the word on myspace, facebook, and on the streets.

Demand that the nation look at Toledo… It is segregated, the courts
take advantage of economic disadvantage, The North End, and
particularly Lagrange are injured by police brutality, police neglect,
and general economic and political disenfranchisement. In 2005
hundreds took a stand and were vilified if not ignored by the rest of
the world. Today Donnell Summers is also making a stand! Please do
not let him stand alone!

To contribute to the ongoing fundraising to assist Donnell Summers'
family with their legal expenses, please visit www.arastore.com

www.myspace.com/toledosolidarity