Hero, Ramsey Orta, Erik Garner Videographer, Released on Bail, after DA Refused to Take Bail Money.

[sabrina 1]

Times of extreme oppression produce unlikely heroes and Ramsey Orta is a perfect example of that.

Like most human beings, he is not perfect.

Pro Police advocates like to point to his 'rap sheet' eg.

But that is exactly what MAKES him a hero.

He knew that his reputation would be dragged through the mud by the police.

But in spite of that when he saw something that was so wrong he set aside his own fears and recorded it.

Many people, most in fact, might have chosen to mind their own business, rather than risk the 'slings and arrows' that were bound to come his way.

Ramsey Orta did not.

We have witnessed the personal attacks he has had to endure.

I, eg, was told 'he is a POS who has a criminal record'. I suppose most poor people in the US have some kind of record.

Early on he stated that he feared for his safety.

As it turned out, he was arrested not long after his video was released to the Media, on charges of crimes which he denies.

His bail was set way beyond what he could afford.

He was held in Riker's Island, a hellhole for anyone, and definitely a cause for concern for anyone who has reason to fear for their personal safety.

And he might have stayed there for months, or however long they decided to keep him there.

His fears for his own life only increased, and he went on a hunger strike, after rat poison was found in the food of some of the prisoners there.

Getting him out, became a matter of life and death to his family.

Man Imprisoned After Filming Eric Garner’s Death, Refusing to Eat, Rat Poison Found in Jail Food

As a high profile police accountability activist, Orta feared for his life while in police custody, and those fears were confirmed when fellow inmates at Rikers began falling ill because their food was laced with rat poison. To protect himself from similar attacks, Orta has been refusing to eat.

However, after a push from The Free Thought Project, Ramsey Orta was given new-found hope. Orta’s story went viral and was shared tens of thousands of times on social media. The resultant virility has raised just over $40,000 as of Thursday.

On Thursday afternoon Orta posted bond. However, smashing all of this recent hope, officials are still refusing to release him

Dan Donovan @dandonovan_ny
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Thank you the NYS Troopers for endorsing my campaign. Proud to have your support! #ny11
4:10 PM - 6 Apr 2015

Right, no cozy relationship with the police, no possible conflict of interest there!

Desperate to get him home, and rather than give up on what must have seemed like an impossible situation, his family turned to the public and begged for help to raise enough money for his bail and to help with his legal defense.

And the public responded. They raised enough to pay his bail, approximately $16,000 and more, on http://www.gofundme.com/of948k.


Incredibly, the Staten Island DA, Republican Dan Donovan, REFUSED to accept his bail money, claiming it might not have 'come from legitimate sources'.

Republican Dan Donovan, who warned President Obama back in 2010 that he should forget about holding Terrorist Trials in Manhattan. He has backed down on holding his proposed 'bail verification' hearing no doubt deciding they can't do these things in secret anymore.

Public pressure and the attention this case is receiving proved to be effective in ending that charade.

The ridiculous claim that the bail money might 'not be legitimate' caused enough outrage to get the public attention needed to overcome the obvious discrimination against him.

Donovan has political ambitions. Looks like he mistook which way the political winds were blowing.

Orta's fund has increased by approximately $10, 000 since the DA took that incredible, unconstitutional action. and enough people let their disgust be known apparently, that finally, his family announced yesterday, he HAS been released on bail.

Public pressure and a bright light constantly shining on the authorities, is the only way to keep them honest it appears.

Heroes, we have images, unrealistic images mostly, of what a hero should look like.

In reality they are mostly ordinary people who do extraordinary things when they are needed.

People like Ramsey Orta ....



His gofundme account is here http://www.gofundme.com/of948k. He has raised over $50,000, halfway to his goal to cover his legal expenses. The elated message of his release was posted on the site by his aunt:

UPDATE!!!!RAMSEY ORTA IS HOME AND SAFE. RAMSEY ORTA THANKED EVERYONE THIS EVENING VIA WB PIX 11 NEWS. WE ARE SO PLEASED TO SEE JUST HOW MUCH LOVE AND SUPPORT YOU ALL HAVE GIVEN MY NEPHEW . NOW THE NEW FIGHT AND THATS FIGHTING THE SYSTEM KEEP SHARING THIS LINK AS IM KEEPING IT UP AND ALIVE TO HELP RAMSEY WITH HIS LEGAL FEES AND HELP HIM START OVER WE LOVE EACH OF YOU

I've read that he now wants to go to college, to become a journalist. I hope he gets to realize that dream.

Thank you Ramsey Orta and to all those who stepped up to support him

[Comrade Grumpy]

1. The Staten Island DA seems like a real, er, piece or work.

[Salviati]

4. A piece of something...

... to be sure.

[Smithryee]

6. And lost all ambition for his candidacy for the future... His political capital just went kaput..

[Sanity Claws]

15. I wish this were true

Donovan is running for the seat vacated by Grimm. The district had reelected Grimm last November even though he was under a federal indictment and had threatened a journalist on camera.

[sabrina 1]

16. Grimm was charged with tax evasion, wasn't he? Any chance a Dem could beat Donovan?

[Sanity Claws]

17. Very little chance

The democrats are running someone from Brooklyn not staten island, the largest part of the district. Lots of cops and their extended families live on staten island. They probably approve of Donovan's sheninagans.

[a la izquierda]

18. Ahh, don't even get me started...

That whole island is a cesspool. My family is from there.

[kath]

2. That's good news. I hope he can stay safe somehow. N/t

[GoneFishin]

3. Glad he got out safely.

[2naSalit]

5. If I were that brave young man

I'd be relocating in a flash. I hope gets enough funds to do that really soon.

[sabrina 1]

19. I wonder if he could, out on bail, he probably has to stay in the area. But I would too if I could.

[joanbarnes]

7. Time for the DA to go to Riker's

[Stardust]

8. Great news! I'll have to go contribute a little sumpin' sumpin'!

[mountain grammy]

9. I hope enough can be raised to get him away from this criminal DA.

[marym625]

10. Thank you for this beautiful post

Ramsey Orta is a hero. No two ways about it. He exposed the truth about a murder that only family would have known about otherwise. He risked so much, including his life, to have the truth come out

I would like to add that he also exposed the paramedics as well. I doubt if they had come to a call that didn't involve the cops, they would have tried to save Eric Garner. Or maybe even with the cop involvement they might have tried if Eric Garner had been white. But they did nothing. Absolutely nothing. Letting that poor man die right in front of their eyes.

I often wonder why those paramedics haven't been charged. I also wonder if it was their complete disregard for life that allowed the cop to get off without even an indictment

Thank you for the post.

Ramsey Orta - thank you. You're a true American hero.

[sabrina 1]

12. I didn't know that about the paramedics. They definitely should be charged if they failed to do

their duty.

There was also another witness who videotaped the murder of Erik Garner. She too said she has been harassed by the police.

They are out of control. Who do they answer to? No one seems to be able to stop them.

The fact that no charges were filed is simply shameful.

I definitely view him as a hero.

Cops denying they harassed him, the arrest was not due to his exposure of the murderous cops!

They lie, I believe nothing they have to say anymore.

And in fact, though it's too bad so many had to die AND on video before the NYT asks the question, 'In view of the videotapes of cops killing civilians, can we trust the cops version of these incidents anymore'?

At least it's a start I suppose.

Thank you for your comment.

[marym625]

14. The video goes on for several minutes

It shows the paramedics coming. It's really horrible.

I wasn't aware of the second video. We should make sure it is known she is also being harassed. That's what will keep her safe.

Thank you. Really important to keep this in the public eye

[sabrina 1]

20. Okay, since reading your post I found that some action was taken against the Paramedics.

And the second video was shown to NBC by the woman who filmed it, focusing on the Paramedics. She noticed they were doing nothing to try to revive him so continued filming with her cell phone:

4 EMS Workers Suspended Without Pay in Chokehold Arrest

A friend of the victim showed NBC 4 New York new cellphone video Monday that showed the response moments later as Garner lay on the ground, not moving: the paramedics, EMTs and police peer over Garner, and none administer CPR.

"I was distraught, I was upset and mad that the cops had him on the floor like that," said Taisha Allen, who recorded the video. "And they should have performed CPR on him and they didn't."

Allen, who said she's been friends with Garner for years, began recording when police first confronted Garner about allegedly selling loosies -- single cigarettes -- on Victory Boulevard and Bay Street in Tompkinsville. She then watched him collapse.
"His head hit the concrete. His eyes rolled back in his head. And he kept saying he can't breathe, and didn't breathe anymore. And saliva came out of his mouth with blood," said Allen.

EMS Workers in Chokehold Arrest Death Put on Modified Duty

I had read that she too was frightened of retaliation from the cops.

This is truly beyond any words I can think of. Uncivilized is too nice a word and the ones that might be more appropriate that I can think of, are not printable.

I didn't find anything on whether these monsters were fired and charged. So it's possible this was just for show after the media showed the video.

Once the killer got off, it's more than likely that these morons are still being sent out to 'save lives'. Unacceptable.

And yes, these people must be supported and kept in the public eye, because I have no doubts about the lengths to which these cops are likely to go as soon as they think no one is watching, to get 'revenge' on these courageous witnesses and to teach others to watch what they do.

[marym625]

21. I didn't realize I was watching her video and not his.

Or I should say I didn't remember. I truly believe that it was the lack of action by the paramedics that got the cop off. Just a twist of words from the prosecutor to the grand jury and viola!

Fuck the police. Fuck them inside out and upside down and every which way possible. I can't watch one more person die at their hands. I honestly don't know how we are remaining calm and peaceful. This is beyond inexcusable. You know damn well that if we see as much as we see on video, what is happening that isn't taped is far, far worse.

Thanks for the link.

[sabrina 1]

22. I don't know either. If this was happening in one our 'enemy' countries, the media would be all over

it with saturation coverage, expressing SHOCK at how uncivilized they are and how we need to go HELP them.

Yes, fuck the police, but who is responsible for them? Who are the authorities we can go to to stop this? They seem to be controlling themselves. With the help of the DAs and the Mayors and Governors as we saw when they were brutalizing OWS protesters. There was no where to go to file a complaint, they were all in it together.

[marym625]

23. exactly!

You responded to my post earlier, right? It's exactly what is happening. Now we actually have aa Democrat that could possibly win the White House that is advertising that she is moving right. Absolutely no way that logo was a mistake. And Larry Summers running the show.

We're fucked.

[sabrina 1]

29. It does seem that way, ESPECIALLY AAs who are a prime target of our corrupt, brutal police forces.

You said above I think, that people like Ramsey Orta need to in the public eye constantly. I think it was you.

This organization agrees and were involved in keeping his story out there. Otherwise he might have disappeared into the Prison system for years.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with The Free Thought Project, Danette Chavis, organizer and founder of National Action Against Police Brutality (NAAPB) pointed out that Orta’s search and arrest were completely unjustified.

“It’s imperative that each and every one of us watch this case closely, for what is being done to Ramsey Orta is being done across the United States to those who would resist the oppressive forces of police. When police have to reach back into the history of a person to justify their actions of “today,” something is very wrong. For the actions committed by the person at the time of arrest should be sufficient. And when it isn’t they ought not be charged with a crime. Because if “history” is enough to “convict” the United States itself is guilty, for crimes unable to be enumerated here,” Chavis said.

Read more at http://thefreethoughtproject.com/man-jailed-filming-eric-garners-death-eat-rat-poison-prisons-food/#a8zLvQH7ffH6pkIM.99

The MSM sure didn't help him. The latest murder by cop also was videotaped, and that videographer has also expressed fear for his safety.

So it's up to these small groups, and they did a great job in this case, to try to protect those who stand up and do the right thing.

[marym625]

31. I absolutely love the Free Thought Project

What's his name, the streamer that stayed in Ferguson so long, (damn his name escapes me, John something) works for them.

And we have a DUer that is doing great things in Chicago. guillaumeb works with South siders For Peace. Unfortunately, I am on the north side.

I will check out the NAABP.

Yes it was me.

[Unknown Beatle]

11. Isn't it something that a couple

of racist owners of a pizza place that practice discrimination get over $800,000 and a hero that films the police breaking the law, goes to prison for that fact, has only gotten a little over $51,000.

Wow! The priorities of the people that helped the pizza place owners are really fucked up.

[sabrina 1]

13. What's even more sad is that there was little if any coverage of his two month detention in Rikers.

I saw nothing about the DA refusing to accept his bail either.

But the pizza guy was covered on Fox and the entire Right Wing Noise machine which explains the amount of money he received. You have to give the Right credit, they take care of their own, bigots included.

But the Left seems to be afraid to stand up for people like Orta. The supposed liberal media didn't do much to get his story out there.

When I did find out on Twitter I went to his gofundme site which had been up for six weeks.

It had about $44,000. They were thrilled to be able to pay his bail. The posted the message about the DA.

After that donations were coming in pretty fast. Had the DA not acted like a fool, there probably wouldn't have been many more donations.

IF CNN and/or MSNBC would cover his story the Fox covered the pizza guy story, things would be different.

We really need that fictional 'liberal media'.

[marym625]

24. There is no liberal media inside the US

And what we need are actual journalists. True investigative reporters that give a flying fuck what is going on in this country.

A post today has discouraged me a great deal. We're no longer a liberal party. Period

[sabrina 1]

25. The party has strayed to the Right but I do see some signs of hope that voters are no longer

taking their lead from DC. Eg, in the mid terms Democrats focused a lot on their local elections. Many Liberal groups got Progressive issues on their local ballots. And everywhere they did that, they WON, across the political spectrum.

Also, voters found and supported Progressive/Left candidates and a majority of THEM won also.

Trying to change anything from the top down clearly won't work.

My focus in the next election is going to first, Local, then State. Congress and the Senate.

Because the reality is that we could get a Republican or someone who is not particularly liberal on the issues in the WH. However if Congress and the Senate has a majority of members who ARE Liberal, the WH's power to get legislation passed that isn't in the best interests of the public, will be limited.

Governors, Mayors, County Legislators, Congress and the Senate is where most of our energy needs to go.

[marym625]

26. I'm in Chicago

So it's pretty much a given that the more liberal will win. However, you start bringing downstate into the mix and you end up with Rauner.

I can't stand that s.o.b.

Looks like we'll have Tammy Duckworth for Illinois along with Durbin. YAY!

[sabrina 1]

27. How can a state that is liberal, end up with Rahm as Mayor of Chicago?

I'm in NY, upstate. It's pretty conservative but if you talk to people about issues without talking party affiliations, they do support most social programs, like SS eg.

Which is probably true across the nation and why getting those issues on ballots is important.

Can't stand Rahm either, in case there is any question about it.

NYC is liberal and now has a good, progressive mayor. Who the cops HATE with a passion.

[marym625]

28. I don't know

I think it's the Obama connection. Chuy ran a bad campaign, regardless of money. But the alderman are pretty much liberal. Actual liberals. And some really good ones. And the reps for the state from Chicago are as well.


Rahm is an anomaly

[Renew Deal]

30. The video speaks for itself.

It really doesn't matter who filmed it.

[sabrina 1]

32. Yes, it matters. The cops have tried to stop people from filming them, even went to court to try to

make it illegal. Since they lost that battle, they are harassing those who do step forward, hoping to scare others from doing what Ramsey Orta did.

In the latest murder of an AA, there has finally been a murder charge, a small step forward.

Again it was caught on tape by another person. The cops lied but the video made it clear they were lying.

That person has also stated he fears for his own safety.

And a second video emerged of the murder of Eric Garner, it was filmed a female friend of his. THAT video showed that when the paramedics arrived, they just stood there and did nothing to help Garner. As a result, four of them were put on leave. Though I don't know if they are back at work.

The woman who gave that video to the media, has also stated that she too is fearful of being harassed by the cops.

In the case of Orta, he was arrested twice right after his video was released. Cops, according to witnesses, were staking out his house, and then falsely arrested him on 'trumped up charges' according to witnesses.

If we don't let the cops know that the public will step up to protect citizens who report criminal behavior by cops, then people like Ramsey will definitely be in danger. I think we owe it to those with the courage to keep the public informed of these egregious murders, to at least stand up for them when they become targets of the police.