Vanjones.net

Vandy here! For the past 3 years I have felt so alone fighting against the criminal justice system for my fiance, Lenny Singleton. Lenny and I met over 30 years ago in high school. I searched for Lenny for over 28 years before finding him in 2012 incarcerated in Nottoway Correctional Center in Burkeville, Virginia. He committed 8 "grab and dash" robberies in a 6 day period while in the throes of his addiction to crack cocaine. For 6 of these robberies he received 2 Life Sentences plus 100 years with no chance of parole. He is scheduled to die in prison. When I heard this, I thought, "OMG, how many people did Lenny kill?" Lenny did not kill anyone. In fact, there is not one victim that made a statement against him. He stole a total of less than $600, and this was his first felony. Lenny earned a college degree and served in our Navy 3 years before he allowed his addiction to destroy his life. To date, he has served 20 years. He will cost the American taxpayers well over a million dollars to keep him in prison for the rest of his life -- for stealing less than $600 and no one filed as a victim??? When I learned Lenny's fate, I began writing everyone I could think of -- am still writing everyone I can think of to bring attention to Lenny's situation. Lenny and I also began writing each other. As I began catching Lenny up over the past 28 years I realized that I was in a horrid state of being and with Lenny's encouragement, I began walking and making better food choices. In 4 months I lost 60 lbs, so much weight that I was able to feel the lump in my left armpit. Seven surgeries later, chemo, and radiation, I am diagnosed with Stage IV Triple Negative Breast Cancer -- another death sentence. I am not paralyzed from the neck down or dead right now because of my reunion with Lenny. That reunion created a Miracle in my life and now I am trying to create a Miracle in his life. To that end, we have written and published a book together, "Love Conquers All," and I will be marrying Lenny while incarcerated this August -- because he saved my life, because we are hoping this will bring the attention to his situation, because I believe in his reformed nature 110%, because I love him dearly. I need him. I need the American public to become aware of his situation. Justice will not have been served if Lenny dies in prison. And his time while incarcerated stands testament to his reformed nature. He has not received a single infraction for anything during his entire 20 years in prison. He deserves a second chance. Learn more at www.justice4lenny.org. And anyone out there that can help me bring Lenny's situation to light, email me at [email protected]. Thank you Van for everything that you do. You are fast becoming my own personal hero.

Van, I watched the segment with that Koch lawyer on Democracy Now. When Amy asked how their new cause to reduce prison sentences for non violent offenders jives with their previous support of ALEC's stand on mandatory sentencing, 3 strike laws, etc.. He said I'm not here to talk about that, was chilling. I believe these men are just trying to find a way to get blacks to support their candidates, nothing more than a ruse to fool you. The Koch brothers and Rand Paul are using you to advance their cause to win elections. I dont believe for one minute they want to help AA. Their telling us what they think we want to hear and once elected will go right back to screwing average americans through their fucked up policies.

I am writing to express my sincere appreciation of your work on civil right for all people across the nation. I was particularly pleased listening to your comments over the past few weeks regarding the senseless murder of nine people at Mother Emmanuel Church in Charlestown, South Carolina. Over the past five years I have been reaching out to leaders like yourself to garner support for a plan to uplift African Americans economic opportunity in the United States. African Americans have significant economic leverage in the area of entertainment, including sports. We make up a large majority of the NFL, NBA, and MLB. We are also economic powers in the entertainment industry. I think that we can significantly change the economic landscape in regard to poverty and opportunity for African American if we control our clout in these areas. During the era of apartheid in South Africa, sports and entertainment was leveraged to bring down the country’s discriminatory practices. I feel that if it worked in South Africa it can work here in the United States. However, it will require organizing and uniting our athletes and entertainers. The NCAA did it in South Carolina but did not get the support of other sports and entertainment organizations. Please consider what FOX news/sports would do if African American athletes and entertainers would refuse to play in games/concerts where FOX news/sports had the broadcasting rights. What would states like Arizona, Florida, North Carolina, Mississippi, Alabama, South Carolina, Georgia and others would do when African American athletes and entertainers refuse to participate in events because of their discriminatory social programs? I feel that economic policy towards African Americans, (all minorities) would changes significantly if we can adopt the “No Participation” protest. However, implementing such a movement requires considerable commitment from our athletes and entertainers. Therefore, I am writing to you, seeking your assistance. Do you feel this is possible and can it work? Thank you for your time and consideration.

As a white person who has done serious work I now get it. (hey it only took 61 years). When someone is oppressed and never given good tools to fight back they tend to get oppressive toward those that have less of something because they are not as strong or they don't have a voice that is heard. Enter the environment. You know this -we are all being killed -slowly-by what is happening in this world. To me what is needed is mass mobilization (ie climate march size) to start doing something every day. There are many many groups and people doing great things. Let's tie them all together and make them all visible and make their solutions be the ones being funded. We can change this war. All the wars (and I am speaking metaphorically) we are facing are all related to degradation of the living ecosystem that we are all a part. If we don't start by standing up for the earth we literally will not be able to stand up for ourselves and all our sisters and brothers on this planet. I would love to be part of a peaceful ecological army. This issue bridges all races, classes, ages, sexes and countries. Let's start mobilizing and join our GreenPeace Brothers and Sisters. The Pachamama Alliance, all all the others groups that are barely on the radar and start working in unison. We will not be stopped because those that join know that we want the world to be around as livable planet for humans and other creatures for the next seven generation.

Van, I have wanted for some time to write, thanking you for being at the forefront of working for environmental justice. As Pope Francis vehemently preaches about the deleterious effects of climate change, particularly how the poor are disproportionately impacted, I am reminded of the need for black Americans to be more actively involved in environmentalism. Many of us live in neighborhoods with old, often historic, houses; these houses can be renovated, and these communities made safe and whole again. I like to say that historic preservation is the ultimate act of recycling. Our people are also more negatively impacted by pollution of air and soil; noise is also a damaging pollutant. Unfortunately, too often environmental activism, historic preservation, and related activities, are viewed as something reserved for white people. Black folks need to get over this way of thinking, and get involved, and thanks in large part to your work, many have.

Van, having just heard your comments regarding the meaning of the Confederate flag during your conversation with Don Lemon as the flag comes down, I am compelled to write, to thank you for discussing the true history of this symbol of hatred and violence; finally, someone articulated what I have been thinking. When supporters of this flag talk about its representing Southern pride, history, and culture, they are forgetting what all this means: Confederate soldiers were traitors, fighting against their own country and government, and what they were fighting for was the right of southern states to keep the system of slavery. Is this the kind of history that should be celebrated? As was also mentioned, how would we feel if the Nazi flag were flown in public, much less on public property supported by tax payers, some of whom are Jews? In Germany, nothing bearing the swastika symbol is allowed, not even on personal property, yet in the U.S., anything goes, under the guise of freedom of speech. Words and symbols have power, both to hurt and to heal, and this nation should revisit what freedom of speech means, both in terms of what its true meaning was by the framers of the Constitution, and what it means for our times. I also find it interesting that this government had no problem shutting down the Black Panthers, even though they existed for defensive purposes, and to accomplish good in the community, while the Klan still exists, still fomenting hatred and violence, yet they and their tactics are protected under freedom of speech. Perhaps it's time to revisit the true meaning of the First Amendment; surly it did not mean what it's been interpreted as meaning by hate groups. Thanks again for illuminating the real history of the Confederate flag.

One of the most paramount threats to the future prosperity of Iran (and US-Iran relations) is it's decrepit environment. 3 of the 5 most polluted cities in the world are in Iran, the average temperature in Iran has risen 9 degrees (F) over the past half-century, and the world bank estimates that environmental issues cost Iran 5-10 percent of their annual GDP while US sanctions only come in around 1.5 percent of GDP. So why isn't this being addressed in the Iran nuclear negotiations? Sure there are a lot of factors to take into account, but shouldn't the environment be one of them?

I am a African American Adjunct Professor in St.Louis, Missouri. I teach at a college branch of Columbia College. I saw you in Ferguson. I want to ask to ask this question, but that was not the time. Question: How can help retain African American Males in Ferguson who have criminal records. 99% of my class is African American females. Is there a national organization that I can join to get African American males with possible police records to see that there is a way out of this situation. Without commiting more crimes to make a living. Thank You

The right wing has either gone totally insane and mentally deficient or they are so afraid that afro males/females could in fact run this country much better, they are certainly reacting with the help of white right wing money. Maybe it is time they become slaves to Afro-Americans, however, Afro-Americans could never allow that, how lucky they are. Think about it-85-90% of serial killers worldwide are WHITE MALES. Enough said.