by Gregg Rowe
Reverend Darryl Gregory Gray, Interim President of
Alliance Québec, Minister in good-standing for Union United
Church faces charges of domestic violence against Olive Simmons while
Investigation of Rohan Wilson, 28, father of an infant girl, lies dead.
Saturday night Little Burgundy party and Wilson decides to walk home
Montréal blues stick to their claim of keeping our streets safe
Insensitive police fail to update the now grieving wife, Lecita Audain
News flash updates are broad casted by CTV, documents secretly obtained
Morning Montréal Gazette unfolds the story of April 2, 2004
One black man in Little Burgundy, after a party was walking the road
Next thing we read, an army of six blues recreate
The Vanity of the Bonfires for a reading audience
Ripped his shirt then rammed his head into that horizontal cement wall
Each blue responsible for injuries to Wilson's head
Autopsy reveals that was the cause of his death
Listen guys, I'll ram your heads in that blue wall of silence
Again a black man lies dead from the hands of the blues
Grieving suspicions of authoritarian abuse
Another young, innocent black man meets Mother Earth
Insenstive blues did not inform the grieving wife
Now another outstanding black man, stands accused
Author notes
This is based on the novel-movie Vanity of the Bonfires where I beleive that this case now going on in Montreal can be made into a movie for the sequel.
PHOTO: Reverend Darryl Gregory Gray
SOURCE: Montréal Gazette
BACKGROUND FACTS: CTV, Montréal Gazette: Letters to the Editor, HOUR Magazine, MIRROR, Le Devoir, Journal de Montréal and La Presse.
On April 2, 2004 Rohan Wilson left a party in Little Burgundy, a borough of Montréal. As far as the story has been told in the media, the police have just revealed that he was discovered walking down the middle of the road. (Well, I have been on that road, it is a quiet rural road and probably safe because of the lighting to walk in the middle of that road instead of the unlit streets.) The two policemen stop him, and Wilson becomes agitated. Unable to control the situation they call for back-up. Four other policemen show up, all six jump Wilson and, according to witnesses, slam him to the cement roadway. Wilson died in the hospital two hours later. The police never contacted his wife, she received her information from the Canadian Television -- CTV (Channel 12, Cable 2). Mr. Wilson also has a new-baby born girl. He was 28.
Flash forward to May 1st. Reverend Gray has been demanding an inquisition by outside police force for this case. That is not the question, that is automatic. The police from pressure placed on them by the Reverend, in retaliation have gone into his personal file and has found out he is an immigrant from US with a criminal record -- grand larceny, the usual kid stuff. Reverend Gray has changed his life around and is a pillar in the community in Little Burgundy. This year, he was awarded the Rose Parks Humanitarian Award for his 15 years of service in Montréal. On January 1st, Reverend Gray has alleged to have had a domestic argument with Olive Simmons. The police were called but no report or charges were made or filed. On May 2, 2004 the Montréal Community Police charged Reverend Gray with domestic violence which is a minimum of three years in jail. Olive Simmons still has not pressed charges against her husband. His trial starts in June, 2004.
So far, the documents for this case have been secretly given to the media to have a point of view against Reverend Gray. The Justice System of Québec* called the media to inform them they were about to arrest Mr. Gray, before they called him. The media obtained a copy of all the police reports hours before they were served to the plaintiff.
The media has tailspinned this around to attack the personal lives of Reverend Gray and his wife and the innocent man that has been killed by the hands of the Montréal Police has all but been fogotten by the general public. Some of us don't foget.
see no evil hear no evil speak no evil
Written May 9th, 2004
In a list
- Gregg's Golden Cups • next in list
- Gregg's Bronze Cups • next in list
- Winnie Learns the Alphabet (Acrostics) • next in list
- Pop Culture • next in list
A contest entry
- Many options, write me something that makes me feel by no cars go.
300 points, ended February 10, 2006, 9 entries
Gold trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Hate by ApathysEnemy.
650 points, ended November 22, 2008, 35 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
What did you think
Comments
1 - 26 of 26
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I was just watching a special on MSNBC regarding gangs and violence in American. New Orleans, Louisiana has the highest crime rate, three years after Katrina, where U.S. citizens are still suffering terribly. Poor conditions remain in the city that still looks as if it is war-torn. All the money the government put into reconstructing poverty-stricken parts of New Orleans is null. The politicians have mismanaged and spent nearly every penny on faulty building materials and cheap products. Most of trailer homes the government built for temporary housing for evacuees were unlivable, built with materials that were a health hazard.
In one weekend this summer, there were seven homicides in 72 hours. The cause; racism, discrimination, institutionalized racism, stereotyping, insensitivity toward those who are disadvantaged... the list goes 'round corners.
This is a very sad work Gregg. Unfortunately, I see it everyday in Cleveland. Nationwide, many people feel that the Police is the biggest gang unit in the country and they have a legal right to bear arms. Well, so do we...that is the mindset of most gang-bangers. The most devastating part of this whole thing for me is the joke in America that just rings "acceptable". That term is "Driving while Black". The fact that my sons, grandsons, husband, and friends are targets because they are Black incenses me. `sigh`
Yes! YOU should have earned GOLD for this work Gregg. You have indeed touched me. You even made me get up on my soapbox. I am down now!
Always Loving YOU ♥
Renee
P.S.CONGRATULATIONS!
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wow this story is really powerful and the way you wrote it was so poetic. its a sad day in society when racism still runs unabound. good poem here
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I will respond to your request and withdraw from the contest so that you may host another one. It is unfortuante that this contest did not take off, because this is one of my main reasons in being a poet lauderate for the news, record what people shy away from when reading their newspapers. Hope you have better luck with your next contest and I will be sure to enter if I have written, or will write, something that pertains to your next topic of choice. Of course, I am in agreement with you all the way. And yes, your comment was deserving of an applause, most hosts just write "good write" or "awesome", but you fulfilled your duties with an explanation. Gregg
Edited on Mar 13, 2:56 p.m. because ''. -
Gregg, this was an amazing piece that you entered. Very informative and inspiring. It is so sad what authority tries to do. This man in no way deserved any of this.
I will get more into commenting on it later on your page. I am however here to ask you if you would consider withdrawing this from this contest. Not for any reason other then, I've had it up for 6 days now and there have only been 2 entries and I would like to cancel the contest. I will be sure to notify you personally of the next one I hold though. It will not however be on this topic as it seems many are not brave enough to even touch it. Please let me know if you are willing to do this. Again, my apologies. Your write was awesome. Be Well and Be Blessed My Friend.
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great write
this is really fudged up man
this touches me and that doesnt happen often
i hope this guys family gets the justice they deserve -
Wow...isn't racism horrible? I...I really don't know what to say. It was very intersesting how you put Racism in Montreal Again down the side...usually poems like that aren't very poetic, they just list things, but this one told a story. Very well written. Thanks for entering the contest.
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Aslanlight: it always does that, when someone enters a contest, they go to the top one, two or third place when they enter. I noticed that everytime I entered that it stays at the top. pretty cool way to get noticed, wait until the contest is almost over and then enter. Hahahaha! gregg
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This is terrible and you wrote about it very well and with great sensitivity. This kind of racialism is even in the schools as well which is horrific. In the UK we keep hearing about young black kids being battered of knifed to death by school kids which is heart breaking. What's going on, this is not the way it's meant to be! Good luck in the contest!
By the way how did your entry end up at the top of the list when it came in last? Just wondering!
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Very awesome write. Police brutality is a horrible thing and I've studied enough into it to realize that most deaths just like that of Rohan Wilson are based on race and are in vein. This is a very good write and i agree with you Racism may seem like it has died down but it is still out of control it just hidden and sugar coated to seem less serious than it actually is. this poem proves how serious the problem is and the effect that it has. thanks for entering and good luck
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As said in a previous comment, T'is quite a unique piece have you, here.
I appreciate the time you spent on this and the background you gave us about the Reverend himself. You obviously take poetry seriously... I'm thankful for your dedication to the art.
You get brownie points for creating an acrostic of this. The content of the poem was terrific and your voicing hooked me.
Also, you have a decorative way of getting the point across. If one studies any of your pieces, it's easy to linger there awhile. (Warning: Many have missed dinner due to Gregg's way with words. If you're hungry, I suggest you becareful when reading)
Constructive Tip
A very slight tid-bit (and it took 3 reads to feel so at all
). I felt a hint of redundancy in the final stanza.
An amazing piece, friend! Good luck -
"Where hope ends, He begins."
Claide (The hope poet) -
Wow...this poem is very very powerful....I'm with Tainted Goddess on this one...(goes of cussing, parents hear him, grounded for a week now) Oh well...thanks for entering.....
~theshadowpoet~ -
this is very unique..great piece. wonderful job! thanks for entering
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wow I did not know about it, I love montreal, never thought about beeing racist, that is so cruel, this is a lovely poem, and told me a diferent stuff about montreal, the cruel one, that is sad. I had a diferent picture of it!, now Iknow the two truths of it, the racist one, and the nice one. we always see the good stuff, I never look onto the bad ones. thanks for opeoning my eyes. and see the two pictures.
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Very different, I learned something
Thanks for joining my contest, Good luck
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this is one of the best acrostic poems i have every read. very clever, if you wouldnt of bloded the letters, i dont think i would of noticed. great write
best of luck in the contest
Charlie -
Nice job
Though very very sad, this is an excellent poem. It's so unfortunate that racism didn't end with Martin Luther King Jr.'s speech. It is still alive today, and not just toward african-americans.... Thanks for this poem. Keep up the good work! -
clicked on this as i just returned from my first visit to montreal this weekend ..
bonfires is one of my favorite books and the mention of Hurricane, well that song never fails to bring tears to my eyes. thank you poet for writing this, hard to read but important to remember and share. peace, lisa -
I just wrote this last night and we are till waiting for the case to start. We have read the Crown Prosecutor of Montréal has the right to charge anyone with a criminal act after an investigation and so that is what happened here, even though Olive Simmons is adamant that there was no domestic violence that night. Will have to wait until June when the trial starts. I have been living in Montréal for twenty-four years and at least one of these stories makes the headlines (wonder how many don't) but this one is just over-the-top because a man's reputation is on line and the new story of Wilson has fallen to the back pages of the newspaper
Edited on May 10, 9:42 because ''. -
Yep. Bob Dylan's Hurricane plays in my ear as I read this one. Montreal police have always been screwed up (not as bad as T Dot cops), and this is just another item in a string of events the Montreal police have done to add to their reputation as being corrupt. The province itself has a history of intolerance, for example, the way they handle their native reserves. This is screwed up. Have you been able to get any more research on this since you wrote this (probably not, since i'm assuming you recently wrote this).
BTW, nice write. But I think the message is more important than the medium on this. -
Hmm.. I don't know your news.. but this was quite intense and what a load of pillocks are in this world eh'???
I will say.. you've thought very hard on this subject matter and it's well penned too..
~GILL~xxx -
Very sad case Gregg, unfortunatly it happens everywhere, even here in Australia, we hear of cases all the time where there are bashings and deaths. I have friends who are all colours and creeds and I love them just as much as anyone my colour.His wife must be devastated,also Reverend Grey and his wife, yet they let the real criminals out to repeat their crimes again.
You have created a wonderful piece Gregg~am proud of you~Love Joan
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The actions in this poem pisses me off. I am tired of people getting judge by the color of there skin, instead of there character and actions. That is some fucked up shit. That is just as bad as labels, but heck they still throw steortypes at ya. Anyway, a powerful poem. goes off cussing
P.S. The commentor was already in a foul mood, and this has push her over the edge in rage
Edited on May 10, 3:43 because 'No freaking spellcheck for your comments.
something that the mods should fix on this site '.
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No mistakes here. Nice to see the trial starts in June and not April hehe. I hate the media, always twisting things around.
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I'm still correcting it whew, it is a heavy write for me to get it all correct... thanks for reading it in its progression though and the comments!
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By the way, love the monkeys...saw them after I posted my comment!
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Wow. Racism is alive, if only people would just realize that we are all the same on the inside, to ignore outside color. I'm afraid that can never be. This was very informative, an excellent acrostic. I did find a few things, in your author's note, it says "His trial starts in April." Is that April of next year? Just curious. Also, in line 16, I believe you meant "I'll ram your heads" instead of "you". In line 20, insensitive is misspelled. Other than that, this is flawless. Excellent write.
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