December 13th, 2008 | Category: statements
Press Release: December 10, 2008
Boston City Councilor Chuck Turner has released the following letter which he gave to his fellow Councilors this morning before the City Council meeting:
December 10, 2008
Dear Fellow Councilors,
I too am saddened by the state of affairs in which we find ourselves today. Ironically, I am not saddened by my arrest by the FBI and US Attorney on charges of extortion. The first reason is that having come of age in the 60s, I understand all too well that under the leadership of J. Edgar Hoover, the FBI engaged in covert and sometimes documented illegal actions to subvert the constitutional rights of those who were seeking justice.
Yes, J. Edgar is dead but I believe his spirit lingers on. Within the last two decades we have seen the FBI in Boston act as cover for those who committed heinous crimes against the citizens of our city, state, and nation. In fact, given the historic nature of the FBI, my wife and I expected that one day, we would hear the FBI knock at our door to join us to the long list of those persecuted by the FBI and US Attorneys because of our pursuit of justice.
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December 1st, 2008 | Category: statements
A Snapshot of the Troy Turner Clan *click to download pdf*
By Chuck Turner
In order to establish the issue of background and character, Chuck has released a family history that he wrote five years ago for a book on his grandfather’s work, edited by Charles Abramson, who received his Phd from Boston University, and now is a Associate Professor of Psychology and Zoology at Oklahoma State University. The name of the book is Selected Papers and Biography of Charles Henry Turner (1867-1923), Pioneer of Comparative Animal Behavior Studies.
A Snapshot of the Troy Turner Clan *click to download pdf*
Click the link above to download the document.
November 28th, 2008 | Category: statements
District Office: 617-427-8100
November 28, 2008
On the picture they said “proved” his guilt.
Today Boston City Councilor Chuck Turner released his fifth press statement since his arrest a week ago as part of his defense in the court of public opinion.
Councilor Chuck Turner Continues Focus on the Boston Media’s Attempt to Find Him Guilty in the Court of Public Opinion Before He Has Been Tried By a Jury of His Peers
On Monday, November 24, I declared that since I was being tried in the media I was going to act as my own lawyer and not allow the media to destroy a reputation for integrity that I have built over the last forty five years of advocacy and defense of the right of all people for fair treatment.
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November 27th, 2008 | Category: statements
The Chuck Turner Campaign for Truth and Light
51 Roxbury Street
Roxbury, MA
617-427-8100
Press Statement: 11/27/08
Councilor Chuck Turner Continues To Focus on the Boston Media’s Attempt to Find Him Guilty in the Court of Public Opinion Before He Has Been Tried By a Jury of His Peers
Boston City Councilor Chuck Turner released today the following statement on the continuing attempt by Boston media to find him guilty in the court of public opinion.
On Monday, November 24, I declared that since I was being tried in the media, I was going to act as my own lawyer and not allow the media to destroy a reputation for integrity that I have built over the last forty five years of advocacy and defense of the right of all people for fair treatment.
On Tuesday, November 25, Jim Braude, NECN commentator asked my lawyer, Barry P. Wilson, why I am saying that the media is trying me when they have a responsibility to report the news and that my arrest is news.
I responded to his question at my press conference on Wednesday with the following statement:
“Before I call this press conference to an end, let me answer a question that a fellow fourth estate member, Jim Braude, raised on his show last night with Barry P. Wilson, coordinator of my legal team. Let me paraphrase Mr. Braude’s question, ‘Your client, Chuck Turner, whom I’ve known for a number of years, has accused the media of trying him before he has had the opportunity of a trial before a jury of his peers. As reporters, isn’t it our responsibility to report on the US Attorney’s case against him.’
Yes, you’re right, Jim. The reporters in the press, radio, TV do have a responsibility to report the news whatever it is. When I said I the media was acting as my judge and jury, I was not referring to the reporters who are doing their job of reporting. I was referring to the columnists and commentators, many of whom have already publicly found me guilty. Jim, read the columns, listen to the commentators, and then answer the question of whether you think they are allowing me to be presumed innocent until found guilty.”
I went on to point out that another example of how the media was manipulating the news around my case was the fact that there was almost no coverage of Globe columnist Adrian Walker’s interview of Ron Wilburn, Dejavu partner, where Mr. Wilburn accused the US Attorney’s office of lying in the complaint against Senator Wilkerson.
Mr. Braude on his show that evening acknowledged that I was right that many of the columnists and commentators are declaring that I am guilty. However, he went on to say essentially that I had brought it on by myself by taking the $1000. At that moment I wanted to say to him, Jim, you acknowledge that others are finding me guilty before a trial and then do exactly the same thing.
Similarly, he acknowledged that reporters do have a responsibility to ask the US Attorney about Mr. Ron Wilburn’s charge that the US Attorney office had lied in its complaint against Senator Dianne Wilkerson. He then said again that I was partially responsible since I had participated in zipper gate. At that moment I wanted to say to Jim, “I am shocked and disappointed that some one I had respected would excuse the media not doing its job by saying that I caused it by forgetting to zip my fly on Monday morning when I was rushing to get to City Hall at 4:30 in the morning to avoid the media trucks from Fox 25 that had just driven up. Jim, based on your history as a former activist, I would have expected more”.
#30#
November 26th, 2008 | Category: statements
For Immediate Release
Press Statement from Councilor Chuck Turner
11/26/08
Downtown Office (617) 635 3510
District 7 Office (617) 427 8108
Prologue to Press Statement 11/26/08
Before I read my statement for this press conference, let me thank all of you for coming today. Let me also thank you for all the wonderful expressions of support that you have provided me during this trying time. It clearly shows me that you love me as intensively as I love you.
However, it is important that you appreciate that while the thought of possibly going to jail is troubling, since I know I am innocent, I do not have the slightest fear that I will spend one day in jail. In fact given my life focus on organizing, teaching, and being an instrument of change, I literally find this the most exciting time of my 45 years of organizing and educating.
Ironically, the US Attorney has given me the greatest platform for speaking truth to power that I have ever had. Also, he has given all of us a tremendous opportunity to examine up close and personal how the American system of injustice actually works.
However, if we are to use this situation as a learning tool, we have to avoid their objective of demoralizing us and making us feel as if we are powerless to resist their oppression and psychological warfare.
So let me suggest a strategy that may help you keep focused. Whenever you feel the negative thoughts they are trying to project into your mind coming to the surface to the surface, take a deep breath, then say to yourself if Chuck is totally confident that he is not going to go to jail and sees this as an opportunity to study up close and personal how the American system of injustice works, I must support him by resisting their negative programming and focus on the learning opportunity we are being provided.
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November 24th, 2008 | Category: statements
For Immediate Release - November 24, 2008
City Hall Office: (617) 635 3510
District Office: (617) 427-8100
Councilor Turner’s Press Statement
After 45 years of what I believe has been a career of integrity and service to my people, I find myself in a difficult situation. Ironically, the fact of my arrest and the possibility of spending twenty-five years in jail (if I live that long) while troubling, is not my paramount concern.
Those who know me understand that beyond providing care and support for those I love, I only have one objective in life—the liberation of my people. If at the end of my 45 year attempt to be of service to my Creator by standing up, speaking out, and taking action on behalf of my racial and human family, I am convicted for a crime I did no commit, I can accept that as the will of my Creator.
My main concern is that I am not being tried by a jury of my peers, I am being tried by the Globe, the Herald, Fox News, Channel 7, Channel 5, etc., etc. etc. News outlets that would not cover my work as a City Councilor are now knocking at my door almost every hour demanding that I speak to them as if I have some responsibility to serve their bosses.
In addition, Council President Feeney, on Friday at 12, three hours before my arraignment felt it appropriate to strip me of my committee chairpersonships and committee seats. She then decided that it was appropriate to have the City Council put me on trial at a special City Council meeting called for 3 p.m. today.
Obviously, the press is working to publicly destroy my reputation before I even have an opportunity to have a day in court. Since I am being tried by the media and my fellow Councilors, I have made the decision to publicly defend myself. That is I will act as my own lawyer in this media trial in which I find myself. Some argue that I should keep quiet for fear that I may make some statement that can be used against me. So be it! I will not sit back silently and allow my reputation be ripped to shreds.
While there are more issues that I will raise in future press conference to help the public appreciate my innocence, I would urge all assembled to join me in the Council Chambers at 3 p.m. as I participate in the Council’s deliberations on whether to expel me from the Counsel and deprive my constituents of my representation.
I also urge you to join me at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, November 26 in front of my district office, 51 Roxbury Street where I will continue to present my defense.
November 24th, 2008 | Category: statements
For Immediate Release - November 23, 2008
City Hall Office: (617) 635 3510
District Office: (617) 427-8100
City Councilor Chuck Turner released today the following statement:
While I intensely dislike and think that it is highly unfair to decide a person’s guilt or innocence through the media, it is clear that once you become the target of a media witch hunt, you either fight back by presenting the essence of your legal defense or allow the media wolves to destroy your reputation so that the jury’s decision becomes irrelevant to public perception.
Since my reputation for integrity has been the foundation of my forty-five year history as an activist and organizer and since I intend to continue my fight for justice until the day that I die, I find myself confronted by the daunting task of using the media coverage to present my case to the public. This will not be easy, but I have no other alternative.
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November 24th, 2008 | Category: statements
Dear Council President Feeney,
I am very troubled by the news report that you have removed me from my committees and chairpersonships. I am also troubled by the fact that you have called a special Council meeting on Monday at 3 p.m. to apparently discuss whether to take action against me based on my arrest.
I would urge you to cancel the meeting and allow the judicial process to judge my guilt or innocence. Not only would a meeting at this point be premature, unjust, and unfair, but also, it would create a situation in which I will not be able to defend myself since discussing specific aspects of my case would cause me to be in violation of the conditions imposed by the Court.
While I believe I have a right to a jury trial before any Council action, if you choose to forward with the special Council meeting, I am requesting that it be an open meeting as is my right. I sincerely believe that if the Council is going to put me on trial that it should not take place behind closed doors.
Sincerely,
Chuck Turner
