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blacks, giles, justice, life, Michaelgiles, prison, race, racism, standyourground, unjust
I could begin this story about Michael Giles as a child on a quest to find his footing in this country. Or even how he decided to follow his parents’ footsteps by joining the military (both his parents served over 40 years in the military). Or how he became a father to three beautiful children and married a beautiful woman. I could tell you how Giles answered Uncle Sam’s question “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country” by serving tours in Iraq and Kuwait. But then if I told you all of this, you would have to face the harsh reality that justice has failed him.
In 2010, Giles (off duty, military airman) decided to join some friends for an outing. The night came to an abrupt end when the atmosphere quickly changed – brawls between 30-40 individuals began to transpire. Giles and friends weren’t a part of these brawls but because of the intensity – he and his friends became separated. The fights streamed into streets and talk about shootings and guns swiftly cut into the night. Giles proceeded to his car and retrieve his weapon (license to carry) and begin his search to find his friends and escape the danger. As he began to descend into the group, a group of individuals swarmed him and Giles was attacked. He shot one man in the leg after being beat to the ground.
Giles was arrested and charged. He is now serving 25 years.
Now here’s the kicker. The victim – was in fact, the aggressor and testified that he intentionally attacked Giles. He went on stand and explained that he was angry and the next person he saw would be brutally attacked and stated that the next person he saw was Giles. The Aggressor’s friends also testified and explained that they feared for the man because they KNEW their friend would do harm onto anyone that crossed his paths.
But that did not matter. Giles was denied the stand your ground defense. It was explained that Giles has no right to use deadly force. And Giles was charged the same sentence as Marissa Alexander. Florida State Senator Dwight Bullard sent a letter to Gov. Scott asking to commute Giles’ sentence but like always – Gov. Scott did not respond.
25 years. 25 years out of Giles’ life for defending HIS OWN LIFE.
Let’s review this. A man profiles a young black teen. Follows the teen because he believes the teen is a robber. Pursues the teen and confronts the individual. Keeps following the teen until the teen has no other choice but to stands his ground. The man shoots and kills the teen and pleads that he was defending his own life even though he was the aggressor. The courts believe him.
A man gets separated from his friends in a volatile situation. Fears for his friends’ life as well as his own and is brutally attacked. Beat to the ground, the man pulls out a gun, shooting his aggressor. The aggressor is put on the stand and defends that he did in fact attack the man. The man, the true victim pleads that he was innocent. The courts don’t believe him.
There’s no longer an argument here. There’s no longer a way to really believe or even state the law is for all. Stand your ground (Bleach law) is no longer a standard law that applies to Blacks. You can look for stories in which Blacks walked away from a murder using the self-defense clause but your stories MUST have a benefit of doubt that the aggressor did NOT act in SELF-DEFENSE. Zimmerman’s victim couldn’t tell his side of the story but Giles’ can. Giles’ alleged victim was in fact the aggressor and he told the COURTS that HE was the reason for THIS.
There is NO Argument. Giles, a man who fought for his country sits in prison today for FIGHTING to defend his own life in this country. HE put his life on the line EVERYDAY for this country. “Sweet land of liberty”…… Where is Liberty now?