Post #1: How It All Began - Tish Rivers
It all began one afternoon after Fonny and I finally found our loft off Canal Street. We were heading to our pad, when I told Fonny that I wanted to buy some tomatoes. So, we stopped at a market and he went off to buy cigarettes. Then out of nowhere, I felt a hand on my behind, "when I first felt this hand on my behind, I thought it was Fonny: then I realized that Fonny would never, never touch me that way, in public" (136). At first I brushed it aside, but the young Italian man wouldn't leave me alone, and Fonny saw and started beating him up. Then, the white police man who had been watching me, came over and told Fonny he had to be brought down to the station. Thankfully, the owner of the shop spoke the truth and said, "'that little good-fornothing shit over there, he did attack her. And he has got exactly what he deserved. What would you do if a man attacked your wife? if you have one.' The crowd snickered, and the cop flushed" (138). Later that night, Fonny told me he now had a target on his head for making a fool out of the white police man. It was only a matter of time until he would get Fonny back.
It was one night when Daniel, one of Fonny's old friends who had just gotten out of jail for a crime he did not commit, that a police car came to Fonny's and brought him down to the station. He was being accused of rapping a Puerto Rican woman by the name of Mrs. Rogers or Mrs. Sanchez. When he was brought to the station, he was the only true 'black' one there. There were a few other black men, but they weren't really 'black', they were all a light brown. So, when Mrs. Rogers/Sanchez was asked to identify the rapist, the only black one in the line up was the love of my life, Fonny.
I'm begging you to help me spread the word about what happend to my poor Fonny. He never did anything wrong. Both Daniel and I were with him the night he supposedly rapped Mrs. Rogers/Sanchez. I need help educating everyone on the injustice our country is facing. I know that Fonny would never touch a stranger like that. He's been nothing but loving and kind. He is the father of the baby I am carrying now. What will I tell my baby if my Fonny is still in jail by the time the baby comes? A child needs both its Mother and Father, but my baby's Father is locked up for a crime he did not commit. By spreading the word, maybe Hugh Carey, the United State Representative for our district, will bring these problems and issues to the Senate to help bring justice to our people.
