OT-It's time for U of M to Host a Free Brittney Mass Event
[Yes, this is an Editorial/Op Ed-type post.]
WNBA star Brittney Griner has received a 9 year prison sentence for possession of .702 grams of hash oil. She has been locked up since February, as she was arrested one week before the Russian invasion of Ukraine. She also has been a fearless opponent of misogyny and homophobia.
It's time for the Michigan Community to do for Brittney, a political prisoner, what it did for another political prisoner just over 50 years ago-- host a mass Free Brittney Event.
I was 23 when I attended the John Sinclair Freedom Rally in December 1971. It was held in the new Crisler Center, just 4 years after it had opened with Michigan hosting the segregated all-white Kentucky Wildcats.
The event was held to protest Sinclair's 10 year prison term for possession of two joints of grass. Iconic performers John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Stevie Wonder, Bob Seger, Archie Shepp, Phil Ochs, Commander Cody, etc. were there In support of Sinclair. Iconic radical leaders Allen Ginsberg, Bobby Seale, Father James Groppi, Rennie Davis, Jerry Rubin, etc. were there to speak in support as well.
Whatever opinions one has about cannabis or Russia, one must look at Brittney's current situation with sympathy and concern. It's time for action by all who care about her, and about justice.
Being in jail for weed is stupid, it is also stupid to ignore other countries laws. As always f*@k Russia
She is totally unjustly held, but man my heart breaks for such a naive or narcissistic move. You don’t bring what is considered illegal to Russia, China, Saudi Arabia, etc. Or face the horrific consequences.
Yeah Russia is right near the top of places I'm not committing a crime in
Yeah Russia is right near the top of places I'm not committing a crime in
Russia is right near the top of places you don’t want to go even if you don’t commit a crime because they might accuse you of one if they think it’s politically advantageous.
August 4th, 2022 at 10:06 PM ^
This is a somewhat inaccurate characterization driven by current events and unbalanced media coverage. I have been traveling to Russia for years on business with no issues. I say this as a dual US/Israeli citizen, which automatically garners suspicion in most foreign countries.
If you are not in possession of drugs, have a clean passport, and have a believable itinerary (i.e. code for "not" a CIA spy), then your odds of being imprisoned in Russia are probably no higher than in Poland or Ukraine.
August 5th, 2022 at 12:39 AM ^
I say this as a dual US/Israeli citizen, which automatically garners suspicion in most foreign countries.
100%.
I'm not from Israel but had an Israeli stamp in my passport. Next time I traveled to the middle east I got detained (and not admitted) just for that. Fortunately it was for official gov't travel so I was able to get a diplomatic passport (black cover, expires in 5 years instead of 10) so I wouldn't have to deal with that bigotry again.
You're probably right but you're missing one element:
If you are not in possession of drugs, have a clean passport, and have a believable itinerary (i.e. code for "not" a CIA spy), and if you are not a high profile person that will give them trade leverage...
She was apprehended because people would support the US doing what it takes to get her home, which gives them leverage. If she was a nobody like you and me, they wouldn't have even been monitoring us.
And they almost certainly wouldn't prolong a trial and sentence us to 9 years for the sole purpose of increasing US outrage and desperation (because no one would be outraged if you or me got detained) to get her back. They have to make it seem like a serious crime to get back a more serious offender in a trade.
August 5th, 2022 at 11:40 AM ^
This is not entirely true. She was given a show trial because Russia wants to use her for political purpose, but let's not kid ourselves that she was only apprehended for that reason. There are plenty of other countries around the world besides Russia (Japan, for example) where what she was carrying would result in automatic jail time.
I am sorry that she is detained, but her stupidity had a lot to do with getting herself in this situation.
August 5th, 2022 at 12:26 PM ^
Automatic jail time, sure. Like being put in a drunk tank for a couple nights. But 6 months before even getting a trial and then a 9 years sentence? TOTALLY a farce.
So yes, any of us might have been apprehended. She's unfortunate enough to be high enough profile that after being apprehended, Russia said, let's keep her hostage for an unreasonably amount of time.
Aside from the debatable argument that Russia is a safe and secure place to visit, personally I won't ever go there as long as it has a brutal, repressive regime in place that places no value on human rights. I simply don't believe in supporting them in any way by going there for any reason.
Magga,
Your anecdotal experience does not represent the true risks in Russia. And comparing travel in Russia to Poland, even before the invasion, is laughable.
BoFan,
True, my "anectodal" experience of traveling to Russia, Poland & Ukraine for nearly 10 yrs does not encompass every possible situation. It is however, the reality I have experienced and my opinion.
What experience traveling to these countries have you had to say that my opinion is "laughable" ?
I would be very interested to hear your comparisons between Russia and Poland/Ukraine (pre-War) and why they are so different.
August 4th, 2022 at 10:29 PM ^
Exactly, this is not a situation in which we should just throw up our hands and say 'well, she broke the law'. There is no law in Russia, it's a farce. They do this to people all the time. The charges against her are completely bogus and ridiculous.
But if you do, be sure to get involved with the mafia first
Unjustly held? She plead guilty, hoping for a lighter sentence I expect. It's fucking Russia, their laws, their rules. I will agree the sentence is excessive. It also didn't help that she is in an aggressively homophobic country.
If it were you or I this would not have made the front pages. We also would have received a lighter sentence.
Pleading guilty isn’t really relevant to whether someone is being unjustly held or not.
People plead guilty to crimes they didn’t commit all the time for a variety of reasons. Hoping for a lighter sentence being one of them as you mentioned.
Coerced confessions are a major problem in the US. I’m positive the Russian police, backed by their authoritarian government, have no issue coercing confessions out of people via any number of torture/inhumane acts.
Not that Griner is innocent and her confession was coerced (obviously I wouldn’t know that), but just pointing out that a guilty plea doesn’t inherently mean they’re guilty.
My heart breaks for the people who will be killed or wounded when the scumbag arms dealer we trade for Griner is released.
Well, we're all arms dealers now. The U.S., as I expect you may know, is the world's biggest dealer by far. It's U.S.-made guns, for the most part, that crimes are committed with in Mexico. The Sec. of State spends much of her/his time winging around arranging arms deals--HRC boasted that she had set new records. And we sell to lots of repressive regimes that do our bidding, so the idea that we sell to good guys is. . . dubious, too. (Sorry, have been tracking this convo in other venues, too. The comments all tend to share the same DNA.)
August 4th, 2022 at 10:05 PM ^
Not a butt ton of compassion on display here, that's for sure. But--I dunno--she comes and goes pretty frequently, from what I understand. She had less than one gram of hash oil--residue, one report I read said--in two vape cartridges, and that really is a small amount (which wants further explanation). I think it's probably okay to feel lousy for her--nine years in one of Russia's very, very scary penal colonies is a long time.
I'll also agree that there are lots of other struggling people deserving of attention. And there's a missing logical link here between the OP's request and. . . how it would actually help Griner? Not quite worked out, from what I can see.
We could also ask some hard questions about Henry Kissinger's liking for Putin (or one of our president's), and just what went on during that period of 'cowboy capitalism,' overseen by some supposedly very smart economists--a lot of them from the Harvard of the East--as the USSR transitioned and a former KGB agent who worked for Moscow's mayor rose to power.
Having lived in Saudi Arabia for two years and traveling internationally, the stupidity or narcissism to travel with that in her suitcase is stunning.
We quadruple checked out suitcases, did google searches, were advised repeatedly by our employer on what we could/could not bring. Someone of her stature unequivocally would have known what she could/could not bring.
I also had seen too many “Locked Up Abroad” episodes to try anything stupid.
Love that show and can’t believe what people are to do. I’ll pay you 3 grand to duct tape 10 kilos of coke to your body and fly coach from Columbia to the UK.
Idk if I was in a country like Russia/China, I'd probably be extra careful to obey their laws.
Thats just me
You're not wrong, but a major case of the munchies might be the only way I could get cold borscht down my gullet without projectile vomiting.
As someone who frequently travels to China and other SE Asian countries; I personally will not take any chances. I get flagged for secondary inspection often. The CCP even cut open all of my K-Cups looking for drugs. Anyone that has been to China knows there is not a decent coffee in the entire country.
Often they perform a full body X-Ray. I have a 10 year visa and I always follow the rules; however, they seem to like seeing me naked. My rooms have been bugged (audio and video) and they search my room when I am at work. Nothing gets stolen but I always set a trap to know if they are in my room.
I never post political content on Facebook because the CCP watches that too. Brittany broke the law of Russia. Did she know the law? Was she acting "entitled"? Either way, do not break the law in a foreign country. Most countries hate Americans especially if we act "special".
Nine years seems a little steep to me but she is responsible for her own actions. Like Baretta says "Don't do the crime if you can't do the time"
I feel bad for her and her family and friends that said, being ignorant of the law is no excuse, it doesn't work here either.
She may not survive general population either. Sasha and Valentina will not be kind to her. My guess is there will be ZERO concern for her welfare from the guards.
August 4th, 2022 at 11:02 PM ^
Baretta... the great orator of his time... or was that the bird talking?
August 4th, 2022 at 11:54 PM ^
+1 Informative. Nice job good Sir.
"Nine years seems a little steep to me"
understatement much?
Obviously the Russians do not think it is steep. So who am I (or any American) to tell the Russian what is steep? What if the sentence was death?
Many SE Asian countries have harsh penalties as well.
Just curious - what kind of traps do you set? That sounds super fun.
August 5th, 2022 at 10:17 AM ^
Not OP, but its just the way you arrange things to tell if anyone walked in the room.
Like keeping your toiletries in a specific order facing specific directions.
Organizing your suitcase in a very specific pattern.
Things that look like they are just scattered randomly around the room, but you know their specific orientation.
It's not like buckets that fall on their head or bear traps if that's what you're picturing.
August 5th, 2022 at 12:01 PM ^
Fair enough. To call those practices "traps" (as opposed to, say, indicators) is probably generous. I guess I was hoping for something more interesting...like tamper tape, exploding ink, a bucket falling on their head, or something I hadn't even considered. Something that says "fuck you for your secret invasive (if not illegal) search."
There's a guy named Kevin McCallister who is really good at this stuff. For a cheese pizza he'll probably share some tips.
August 5th, 2022 at 12:03 PM ^
If there is one thing I've learned from spy movies/novels, it's the hair in the door jamb. Fiction is my reality.
But your way sounds good, too.
August 5th, 2022 at 12:20 PM ^
Reminds me of the book 1984 and Winston's journal with how he would monitor its integrity. Sounds like they aren't as good as Big Brother.
Spot on. They typically rummage through my suitcase. I also use bio-hazard stickers everywhere but cover them so they are not easily identified. So if they do move something, they get a pleasant surprise.
I'd be extra careful not to be in Russia, period.
Er....
Agreed. As long as we start the event with the national anthem?
I personally don’t care. She violated a law in Russia. Russia- were talking about Russia not not not Canada. Not Canada. Not Canada. Or Wyoming. Russia.
Fuck Russia. Fuck Putin.
Spot on MA.
There are ill advised decisions-a ticket in the US, very bad decisions in the US--probation maybe short term incarceration, then there's minor illegal bad decisions made in Russia--Huge political pawn and long term jail time.
This shouldn't be hindsight. Call it for what it is, the decision and risk is just plain stupid. She's been politicized because of who she is not for what's she's done but no doubt knew the risk.
Agreed, fuck Russia and fuck Putin (not our Putin).
And that's not even arrogance. That's just common sense.
Very unfortunate for her to become a pawn in world events. I certainly feel sympathy for her and hope she can return home sooner rather than later. She made a mistake and should have been more careful. Unfortunately, she is paying a very, very steep price.
Yep. It can be tough when one is a mere pawn in a geopolitical chess game.
But ultimately America is looking to win the chess game. Expending maximal effort to save every pawn does not lead to victory. It's unfortunate Brittney has to experience being the real life version of that forlorn pawn, but it is what it is.
And, remember, she was a pawn at Baylor, as well, when her coach, Kim Mulkey, persuaded her to remain in the closet her whole time there so as not to offend the right-wing Evangelical powers that be at the school. Why she didn't transfer is beyond me.
Just ask Mongo.