There Is Great Irony when a Judge of Justice Is Punished with Injustice
By Rizelle Aaron
Good afternoon, to the listening ears of the hearing, the listening eyes of the deaf, and to those in other countries that will hear these few words in their own languages. As the president of the Arkansas State Conference of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, I bring you greetings on behalf of the greatest civil rights organization in America that has withstood the test of time.
Many movements have been created by martyrs. But this is not that type of movement. There are martyrs of religion and martyrs of liberty. But this is not that type of movement. Religious liberty is a legal concept guided by spiritual principle. Liberty is a right without negative consequence that is sometimes confused with freedom which is an option and which in some cases carries negative consequences. There is great irony when a judge of justice is punished with
injustice for exercising his legal right.
The recent attacks on the Honorable Judge and Pastor Wendell Griffen, a free man long before becoming a judge, are direct attacks on religious liberty. We have the right and the obligation to exercise our religious liberty. There are some who would prefer that Griffen were a professional martyr through the suffering caused by those that would inflict embarrassment and humiliation on him for exercising his religious liberty to the extent of ending his career. There are some who may even prefer that he become a traditional type martyr. But this is not that type of movement. In fact this is not a martyr movement at all.
The movement for religious liberty is a movement of the living without respect of person. We will not allow the principalities and powers that be to create martyrs at will. Because it will allow it, the system of oppression can come for any of us at any time without resistance.
As a student of the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., I know there will be resistance, albeit nonviolent resistance, in practice and application. But there will none the less be resistance en masse to bring change en bloc.
A number of judges in this state have not only violated the code of conduct, but also violated criminal laws. Yet, those judges have been allowed due process extending over long periods of time. One judge, a male judge had sex with male defendants, but where were you then, Supreme Court? Where were the impeachment legislators when another judge was arrested for manslaughter? Where were you Supreme Court? Where were you, impeachment legislators?
But you moved with Guinness book world record-breaking, lightning speed, forgoing due process to punish a judge who chose to participate in a religious display and exercise his religious liberty. Then we saw you, Supreme Court. Then we saw you, impeachment legislators. And we recognize the one distinguishable difference between these judges.
We stand together in unity. We will not be silenced by the ole’ tactics of slavery that sought to silence the voices of the intelligent slaves to avoid infecting the other slaves with knowledge.
And if it be evil for the principalities and powers that be, to serve the Lord or even to support our service to the Lord, whether they choose to serve the gods of politics, or the gods of riches and gold we all have a choice to make; but choose you this day whom you will serve. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
Rizelle Aaron is President of the Arkansas State Conference of the NAACP and can be reached at: P. O. Box 582 Jacksonville, AR 72078 (501) 940-4619
