Reverend Al Steps Forward For Genarlow

Civil rights activist Al Sharpton headlined an energetic rally in Douglas County, Georgia in support of Genarlow Wilson.

No matter what you think of Sharpton, this is a good thing.

The only thing that will change Wilson's situation is to rain shame down on the state of Georgia. Via newspaper article, via blog, via boycott and/or even via Al Sharpton. From a legal perspective, Wilson's battle is uphill. However, publicity may pressure the appropriate parties to make concessions so that he is freed as soon as possible.

Sharpton preached:

"Ten years in jail is not a correction. It is wicked... It is immoral... And it is illegal."

Wilson's sentence is wicked and immoral. But it is not illegal. It must be clarified that Sharpton is engaging in inaccurate rhetoric concerning this case. He is not the only one though. Sharpton and others are understandably frustrated by Genarlow's plight. But Genarlow's plight is because of a stupid law, not because he didn't break the law. In that sense, he is not wrongfully imprisoned.

Sharpton also said:

"The case of Genarlow Wilson ... is a national issue because if they can establish a precedent in Georgia, it will be a precedent that we will have to live with in California, New York, Oregon and everywhere."

That is just flat out wrong. The laws of one state are generally unrelated to the laws of another state. Wilson's case will set no precedent outside of Georgia (unless Wilson's case makes it the US Supreme Court, which is unlikely). For example, I contrasted Genarlow's case with that of Elijah Dukes. Dukes had sex with a minor, but the laws of Florida are different from Georgia's. Consequently, Dukes is not guilty of a crime.

Al Sharpton also took a shot at Georgia Attorney General Thurbert Baker, who is Black and appealing a judge's ruling that Wilson should be released.

"To those in office, particularly those who are in office because of us. Don't walk over the bodies of martyrs and achieve a position of stature and forget how you got there and sit there in silence while your children are locked in jail with unjust sentences."

This is unfair of Sharpton to allude, without proof, that Baker is an affront to the civil rights movement. Baker's motives may be unseemly, but his position is perfectly reasonable, if not absolutely necessary. He has sworn to uphold the laws of Georgia and that is what he is doing.

Baker responded to Sharpton with dignity.

"I have the utmost respect and appreciation for the sacrifices made by Dr. King and the other leaders of the civil rights movement who changed America for the better. Those leaders also believed in a system governed by laws because the alternative is a lawless society. I am doing no less than following the law that I have sworn to uphold."

Many people believe that the Wilson case is all about race. Well, just about everything can be about race, but there is a White gentleman named Joshua Widner imprisoned under the same law as Genarlow Wilson.

And he's still in jail too.

Finally, Al Sharpton decided to wrap up the rhetoric with a bang.

"If this young man's name was Scooter Wilson, he wouldn't be in jail. Since we don't have anybody in the oval office to deal with the excessive sentencing for him, he has got hundreds in the streets that will speak on his behalf because we understand Genarlow is not only her (Bennett's) son, he is my son, he is your son."

Surely, Sharpton is not expecting a pardon for Wilson from the current president. But I guess some things have to be said for effect.

So, Sharpton doesn't have all his facts straight, but his heart is in the right place. It's not a perfect world.