DC Snipers
In an emergency shelter, in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside (DTES), I met the mother and wife of the 'DC Snipers'. She introduced them to me. John Muhammad wanted me to know what he planned to do and wanted proof of our meeting, so in early July 2002, when we met, John Muhammad told me of his plans in front of the surveillance camera of the shelter.
His wife introduced us because I had been complaining to her about the way Americans treat each other. John Muhammad seemed to be very angry and frustrated with the way of life for the poor and blacks in 'America'. I had just comeback from LA where I was homeless and could not help but agree with him. The rich deny the poor human respect (let alone life) while catering to the wealthy. Although I do not think that killing anyone is the answer, I do understand how someone could reach the state of wanting to kill; so much injustice is done to the poor, no one who could care, would. Yet death is never the answer.
When I met them, his wife introduced them as John and John. I laughed and said I would get confused with two Johns around. So the boy told me his name was John Malvo and his father, he introduced as John Muhammad.
John Muhammad proceeded to tell me of his plan to shoot and kill Americans, even acting it out by pretending to shoot a rifle as we talked. I became fearful that since he knew I was an American, my life could be in danger, so went along with him, to lessen the chances he would shoot me too. I knew the boy was probably afraid of his father too. What can you do when you are 17, know police won't listen, which could cost you your life? What would you do if there was nowhere to turn, but the streets?
A few days later I saw John Malvo sleeping on the church steps at the corner of Gore and Cordova Streets in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside (DTES). I went up to him and asked if he was all right and if he wanted some help. He was curled up in a sleeping bag in front of the locked door of 'God's' empty House.
He smiled sweetly and said he was all right. I could tell he wasn't; I saw the fear in his eyes, so I walked across the street to the back of the British Columbia courthouse where there was a big, white, grey-haired Vancouver Police Department (VPD) officer. I figured a man of his stature could do something to help John Malvo and stop John Muhammad.
The big police officer just laughed and turned his back at the words, "His father has a plan to shoot and kill Americans. The boy needs help to get away from his father. Please can you help him? I believe he intends to carry out his threat." The big, grey-haired officer did what cops do best in Vancouver, ignore any threat posed to Americans. The only people VPD care less about are the poor, no matter what nationality they are.
Nothing was done to stop John Muhammad.
My efforts to help by trying to get the attention of those who COULD have made a difference, failed.
Where I grew up in Mississippi, terrorism is a way of life. What's so new about terrorists in America? They are all over the country. There is even a very famous sniper, from my hometown, south of Jackson, Mississippi (killed himself a president and got clean away with it), but he is white and killed out of hatred. The white sniper killed out of hatred, had help from a multitude of government agencies and generally got away with it, not frustration at the lack of justice. John Muhammad killed out of a sense of indignant outrage. There is a vast difference. It is as if the justice system in America stands blinded, with its hand out, obviously looking for a bribe. Why are there no cries for justice for the many whose lives were taken by lynch mobs? Were they not white, rich and powerful enough? Many more have died at the hands of lynchmen than died at the hands of the DC Snipers. Those lynch men deserve the 'needle', but they will never get their justice till the day they die.
I felt strongly John Malvo had no choice but to go along with his father. What is just about the police officer laughing and turning his back, when his assistance was required? Why cannot crime be prevented? Talk about 'ignorance of the law'.
John Muhammad is, to me, less guilty than the authorities responsible for ignoring warnings about terrorists' attacks. Police ignorance is a way of getting rid of the poor. He is less guilty than police officer who simply allowed it to continue. That police officer is part of the VPD, a police department who ignored leads on over a hundred missing women's cases, even fired Kim Rossmo, the very man responsible for finding the DC snipers, when he suggested there was a serial killer at work in the city. People wake up. The mind of a serial killer does not work like yours and mine; they may not care if you are rich.
Everyone in the DTES knows there is still more serial killers on the loose in Vancouver to this day, but the VPD continue with their wall of ignorance as more people go missing every month. It's as if it is part of their mandate or that of the BC government; it's a way of getting rid of the poor to make way for 'Olympic Gold'. 67 women went missing from this city before the pig farmer was arrested. Only two of them were found alive. More than half of those missing women have never been found anywhere on Earth. There have been more than 88+ people go missing from the Vancouver since Willy Pickton was arrested in February 2002, men women and children, all from poor backgrounds. The poor are dispensable; the message is clear. If the Olympic Games' officials do not address this issue properly by having all the police investigated thoroughly, from Chief Graham, the OPCC, the Attorney General, and even the the head of BC government, they may as well be condoning it.
All the real criminals have not been rounded up; Vancouver is a very dangerous city to visit if you have no one watching your back. We who live here know there are still more serial killers at work in this city. There may as well be a new sport added to the 2010 games, serial killing, to help Mayor Sam Sullivan keep his promise of eliminating homelessness, as he has the poor tenants of one hotel after another forced onto the dangerous streets. Unless you have wads of cash and know someone with real 'power', you'd best stay away from this place. It will be easy pickings come Olympic time. The German man who went missing from here a couple of years ago, like so many others, was never found.
Before you condemn John Muhammad and especially his son, use your desire for justice to have all the criminals rounded up.
© Terri Williams
terri.williams@shaw.ca
His wife introduced us because I had been complaining to her about the way Americans treat each other. John Muhammad seemed to be very angry and frustrated with the way of life for the poor and blacks in 'America'. I had just comeback from LA where I was homeless and could not help but agree with him. The rich deny the poor human respect (let alone life) while catering to the wealthy. Although I do not think that killing anyone is the answer, I do understand how someone could reach the state of wanting to kill; so much injustice is done to the poor, no one who could care, would. Yet death is never the answer.
When I met them, his wife introduced them as John and John. I laughed and said I would get confused with two Johns around. So the boy told me his name was John Malvo and his father, he introduced as John Muhammad.
John Muhammad proceeded to tell me of his plan to shoot and kill Americans, even acting it out by pretending to shoot a rifle as we talked. I became fearful that since he knew I was an American, my life could be in danger, so went along with him, to lessen the chances he would shoot me too. I knew the boy was probably afraid of his father too. What can you do when you are 17, know police won't listen, which could cost you your life? What would you do if there was nowhere to turn, but the streets?
A few days later I saw John Malvo sleeping on the church steps at the corner of Gore and Cordova Streets in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside (DTES). I went up to him and asked if he was all right and if he wanted some help. He was curled up in a sleeping bag in front of the locked door of 'God's' empty House.
He smiled sweetly and said he was all right. I could tell he wasn't; I saw the fear in his eyes, so I walked across the street to the back of the British Columbia courthouse where there was a big, white, grey-haired Vancouver Police Department (VPD) officer. I figured a man of his stature could do something to help John Malvo and stop John Muhammad.
The big police officer just laughed and turned his back at the words, "His father has a plan to shoot and kill Americans. The boy needs help to get away from his father. Please can you help him? I believe he intends to carry out his threat." The big, grey-haired officer did what cops do best in Vancouver, ignore any threat posed to Americans. The only people VPD care less about are the poor, no matter what nationality they are.
Nothing was done to stop John Muhammad.
My efforts to help by trying to get the attention of those who COULD have made a difference, failed.
Where I grew up in Mississippi, terrorism is a way of life. What's so new about terrorists in America? They are all over the country. There is even a very famous sniper, from my hometown, south of Jackson, Mississippi (killed himself a president and got clean away with it), but he is white and killed out of hatred. The white sniper killed out of hatred, had help from a multitude of government agencies and generally got away with it, not frustration at the lack of justice. John Muhammad killed out of a sense of indignant outrage. There is a vast difference. It is as if the justice system in America stands blinded, with its hand out, obviously looking for a bribe. Why are there no cries for justice for the many whose lives were taken by lynch mobs? Were they not white, rich and powerful enough? Many more have died at the hands of lynchmen than died at the hands of the DC Snipers. Those lynch men deserve the 'needle', but they will never get their justice till the day they die.
I felt strongly John Malvo had no choice but to go along with his father. What is just about the police officer laughing and turning his back, when his assistance was required? Why cannot crime be prevented? Talk about 'ignorance of the law'.
John Muhammad is, to me, less guilty than the authorities responsible for ignoring warnings about terrorists' attacks. Police ignorance is a way of getting rid of the poor. He is less guilty than police officer who simply allowed it to continue. That police officer is part of the VPD, a police department who ignored leads on over a hundred missing women's cases, even fired Kim Rossmo, the very man responsible for finding the DC snipers, when he suggested there was a serial killer at work in the city. People wake up. The mind of a serial killer does not work like yours and mine; they may not care if you are rich.
Everyone in the DTES knows there is still more serial killers on the loose in Vancouver to this day, but the VPD continue with their wall of ignorance as more people go missing every month. It's as if it is part of their mandate or that of the BC government; it's a way of getting rid of the poor to make way for 'Olympic Gold'. 67 women went missing from this city before the pig farmer was arrested. Only two of them were found alive. More than half of those missing women have never been found anywhere on Earth. There have been more than 88+ people go missing from the Vancouver since Willy Pickton was arrested in February 2002, men women and children, all from poor backgrounds. The poor are dispensable; the message is clear. If the Olympic Games' officials do not address this issue properly by having all the police investigated thoroughly, from Chief Graham, the OPCC, the Attorney General, and even the the head of BC government, they may as well be condoning it.
All the real criminals have not been rounded up; Vancouver is a very dangerous city to visit if you have no one watching your back. We who live here know there are still more serial killers at work in this city. There may as well be a new sport added to the 2010 games, serial killing, to help Mayor Sam Sullivan keep his promise of eliminating homelessness, as he has the poor tenants of one hotel after another forced onto the dangerous streets. Unless you have wads of cash and know someone with real 'power', you'd best stay away from this place. It will be easy pickings come Olympic time. The German man who went missing from here a couple of years ago, like so many others, was never found.
Before you condemn John Muhammad and especially his son, use your desire for justice to have all the criminals rounded up.
© Terri Williams
terri.williams@shaw.ca
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posted by Terri Williams at 9:09 AM
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