Dialing for Dollars: Dialing All Religious Institutions ©
By Alton H. Maddox, Jr.

Chrissie Ortiz tearfully appeared before the political convention sponsored by the Freedom Party and United African Movement at the Brooklyn Christian Center in Brooklyn seeking "community control" of the New York Police Department by a referendum under the General Municipal Law with the community authorized to hire and fire "rogue" policemen.

She is the wife of Ramsey Ortiz who video-taped the chokehold death of Eric Garner on Staten Island by members of the New York Police Department. Instead of being a material witness to a crime, he is being unlawfully detained in a lock-up and in a general population of thieves and murderers who may snuff out his life at any time.

Under New York law, a video-tape is not admissible into evidence unless the person who did the video-taping lay a foundation for its admissibility into evidence. It is not in the best interest of the New York Police Department for Ramsey Orta to leave this lock-up alive.

If Norman Seabrook is actually interested in justice for Blacks, he should be Orta's personal overseer and custodian. In the meantime, the Black community must raise the ransom and get in a foot race to the courthouse. Any judicial officer should take judicial notice that a death squad is operating in New York City under "color of law." See, for example, Amadou Diallo and Sean Bell.

Yesterday, at the Brooklyn Christian Center, Rev. Dennis Dillon emphatically stated that he would solicit Dr. Johnny Youngblood to aid him to get the words out to religious leaders about Orta's plight and encourage religious leaders and institutions to raise the money to satisfy Orta's ransom.

At the funeral of Eric Garner, Dr. Youngblood foresaw danger for Orta and suggested that he be placed in protective custody. Instead, an "ambulance chaser" and his "runner" has exposed Orta to death in exchange for "hush money." The "runner" is now in Ferguson, MO with MLK III advancing a program of racial harmony and pacification.

All churches and all other religious institutions should immediately call the Freedom Party at 917-947-8994 or 917-947-8995 for more instructions. Time is of the essence. This is a matter of life and death. NOBLE, the Guardians, 100 Blacks in Law Enforcement Who Care and similar organizations should act with great dispatch.

Circulate this Public Service Announcement widely.