OT-It's time for U of M to Host a Free Brittney Mass Event
[Yes, this is an Editorial/Op Ed-type post.]
WNBA star Brittney Griner has received a 9 year prison sentence for possession of .702 grams of hash oil. She has been locked up since February, as she was arrested one week before the Russian invasion of Ukraine. She also has been a fearless opponent of misogyny and homophobia.
It's time for the Michigan Community to do for Brittney, a political prisoner, what it did for another political prisoner just over 50 years ago-- host a mass Free Brittney Event.
I was 23 when I attended the John Sinclair Freedom Rally in December 1971. It was held in the new Crisler Center, just 4 years after it had opened with Michigan hosting the segregated all-white Kentucky Wildcats.
The event was held to protest Sinclair's 10 year prison term for possession of two joints of grass. Iconic performers John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Stevie Wonder, Bob Seger, Archie Shepp, Phil Ochs, Commander Cody, etc. were there In support of Sinclair. Iconic radical leaders Allen Ginsberg, Bobby Seale, Father James Groppi, Rennie Davis, Jerry Rubin, etc. were there to speak in support as well.
Whatever opinions one has about cannabis or Russia, one must look at Brittney's current situation with sympathy and concern. It's time for action by all who care about her, and about justice.
Let’s ask Vlad if it would change his mind.
I mean our country is actively delivering weapons and intelligence in order to kill Russians. We're in an unofficial sort of quasi war with Russia. So they probably aren't really feeling any additional pressure when their actual enemies declare their disagreement with something they do.
Surely if a large public show of support for Griner achieves anything at all it's to increase her value for Putin as a bargaining chip.
Good point. Vlad does not care about her or any American at this point. We are in a Defacto war. Vlad will use her as a pawn. My guess is that she will be a guest of Putin for a few years unless Biden offers something "real nice Clark".
Leave Brittany alone!
Wait what?
Let me get this straight. Russia is engaged in a major war with most of the world against them. You think a protest by UM is going to change their mind about this. If this is Iran there might be a chance given an influential fan we have.
I honestly would care for her to be back in US. But, I don't see your suggested action having any effect.
Real talk.
Nine years for what she did is insane in any country, but the administration has offered Viktor Bout for her, which is huge.
I hate to say this, but the more riled up people get about Griner in public demonstrations like the one you’re calling for, the more it justifies Russia treating her as a bargaining chip and the less likely it becomes she’ll get home anytime soon. It is exactly what Russia wants and they will continue to ratchet up their demands the more we show she’s an important figure.
The penalty in Thailand was about the same. I travel to Thailand as well and they pull me in for secondary inspection. I have never participated in the "green" in my life. But, for some reason, I must look like a stoner, backpacker type with my M polo shirt, and JH Khakis.
Ironically as of 01JUL, Thailand made MJ legal with a stroke of a pen. This was enacted to entice foreigners to return to the "Land of Smiles" after C19 devastated that country.
Thailand doesn’t care about weed as much as the care about all the wacky sex tourism. They specifically target white men for this.
August 4th, 2022 at 10:39 PM ^
Thailand police does not tolerate the sexualization of minors. However, they will look the other way as long as consenting adults are involved. Ironically, porn is illegal in Thailand. It is also illegal to go "Commando". Wacky laws for sure.
I personally witnessed a drunk UK tourist drop his money. It was windy so he stepped on the bills to prevent them from blowing away. A local police officer witness and the tourist was fined for disrespecting the King as the King is printed on all the bills.
This is a serious question: how do you propose that the government free her?
As I see it there are three options:
- World war 3, a military raid to extract her
- Exchanging an extortionate amount of unsavory characters that Russia wants back, likely arms dealers responsible for providing weapons to terrorists.
- Hopes and Prayers
I am not indifferent to Griner being used as a pawn in world events but that's the thing, they're world events. John Sinclair was being held by the US government, who even in the 1970s were much more reasonable than the current Russian regime.
My opinion doesn't change if it were Peyton Manning, Serena Williams, Phil Mickelson, or whatever top athlete, current or retired you'd care to name. Will you be up in arms if a relative nobody is held hostage by the Russians?
Send in the Israelis. They'll get her out with no casualties.
August 4th, 2022 at 10:47 PM ^
Or the team that Carlos Ghosn used to escape Japan.
Btw, fuck Nissan!
August 4th, 2022 at 11:42 PM ^
If it was Tom Brady I suspect there would be fewer “Don’t do the crime if you can’t do the time” posts.
I think weed being illegal is stupid anywhere. But what’s even more stupid is breaking the laws of a country that you are not a citizen of. A country that is not exactly friends with the United States.
Couple that with the fact that she is an outspoken member of the LGBTQ community. She was already an easy target for the Russian government to apprehend and make an example of.
I don’t take any joy in her being held captive, and yeah fuck Putin, but it’s hard not to believe that she didn’t at least partially bring this on herself. You’re in another country. Your rights and protections afforded to you as an American citizen do not exist until you are back on American soil. It’s their laws and you broke them.
Play stupid games, win stupid prizes, Brittney.
There are no rights for Americans in foreign countries - especially Russia and China. If you're gonna visit those places, make damn sure you're not bringing in drugs.
You’d think this was common sense.
Common sense isn't common...
I might need help because my first thought when I saw the OP was “huh, I thought she got out of that conservatorship.”
August 4th, 2022 at 10:47 PM ^
Lol, I thought the exact same thing.
Yeah trading a WNBA player for someone called “the merchant of death” seems like a bad idea. I agree that her sentence is BS, but practical realities need to dictate foreign policy.
Trading any athlete for someone named the merchant of death is a bad idea.
Russia could be holding Tom Brady, Tiger Woods, MJ or Derek Jeter, and trading any one of them for Bout would be incredibly stupid. You let that guy loose and he will contribute to the future deaths of Americans.
I agree. Wouldn’t trade any athlete for him. Very short list of people I think would be worthy of such a trade, and none of them are athletes.
"We want Barabbas!"
Maybe we can get a big city dem DA from here elected in Russia and then he will let her out on time served.
I hear there's one in Florida available.
Ugh.
I was there, too. You forgot David Peel and the Lower East Side!
So was I. And i played with David Peel back in NYC in the late 70s at various Bleecker St. bars.
I like Marijuana, you like Marijuana, we like Marijuana, too!
I hate her situation and it must be a nightmare for her and her family, but I'm not sure extra attention necessarily helps her unfortunate situation as a bargaining chip
Maybe Midnight Express should be mandatory viewing for all those thinking about carrying drugs in their luggage to other countries. Though it seems your head would tell you to not do it without seeing the movie.
Ohhh Billy!!!!
August 5th, 2022 at 10:06 AM ^
Saw it once, in college, and it terrified me. As a result, I don't even care to GO to oppressive countries, much less break their laws.
That, and Return to Paradise (1998).
August 5th, 2022 at 12:37 PM ^
Saw that my freshman year at a building on central campus.
I’ll never forget it. It made me paranoid flying w it here in the USA and never did.
As with others, I am not indifferent to Griner, however I am offended that the US seems to be making repatriating her a priority over Marc Fogel who has been held longer for a similar crime, and especially David Barnes who has been held for extra-legal reasons.
This a hundred times My Friend !
I’m as 420 as it gets, and I would never, ever, even if 100 US doctors prescribed it, travel with weed outside of the country. If you really need it (doubtful), get a fall guy to run your stash. Stupid is as stupid does, and fuck Russia.
I don't like to see political content like this on here. I wish the Moderators were awake and had deleted this thread. But since they are allowing it:
This is a simple case of "when in Russia, don't F**k around". She only has herself to blame for this situation (as unbalanced as we may see the punishment). How clueless can you be to possess drugs as an American celebrity in Russia during the Ukrainian War ?
With that said, she deserves EQUAL treatment and representation from the US Govt as any American accused of a crime in Russia. But not SPECIAL treatment by the US Govt or special U-M shows of support (as U-M is a taxpayer funded entity).
Otherwise U-M should host a a Free Event for all of these:
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/wrongful-detainees-american-hostages-60-minutes-2022-06-12/
The "Invasion" occurred just after her arrest. Although your point is spot on because there were tensions for months leading up to the actual "invasion".
Unfortunately. She’s her own enemy in this. I’ve been detained in several countries because they thought I may be doing something illegal. I was not and they let me go easily. Sounds like she actually did something illegal in Russia
Agree. Usually foreign police have better things to do than F with Americans; especially if there is nothing to see. In my experience, if you are respectful, law abiding, and non-combative; they release you after a few minutes of inspection.
August 4th, 2022 at 11:01 PM ^
Yeah, but that's if the Russians were acting in good faith and they weren't. She was specifically targeted. The Russians do this type of stuff all the time.
You should check out "Red Notice" by Bill Browder. The stuff they did to him is incredible. They literally made up charges and then appointed some local stooge to act as his defense attorney! And the phony lawyer appeared in court and pled guilty on his behalf! They even had the nerve to alert Interpol who put out a warrant out for his arrest. Those weren't trumped up charges, they were downright manufactured. And of course, what they did to Sergei Magnitsky was much worse...
I’ve been detained in several countries
Now you've piqued my curiosity. I think the board deserves to hear these stories.
I’ve been detained in Thailand 2 times because they thought I may be part of some sex tourism. I was not. According to my Thai friend in Chang Mai, this is a common thing customs/immigration do to white Americans when they come to Thailand. I was detained for 4 hours the first time and maybe 30 minutes the second time.
I was detained in Israel for about 3 hours because I had a UAE, Jordan and Turkey stamp in my passport. They didn’t like that for obvious reasons. I was there for work and I needed my work sponsor to call to get me out of customs.
My father was transferred to England for work, and we were all detained overnight at Heathrow because my mom didn’t answer one of the immigration questions correctly.
I mean, I can’t be the only one whose gone through this.
Follow up question, what goes on for a four hour interrogation for potential sex tourism involvement? Did they just sit there and ask “are you a sex tourist” seven thousand times? How many times does it take saying “no” for them to believe you? How does one go about proving a negative in this instance?
August 4th, 2022 at 10:08 PM ^
I was detained for 4 hours, and interrogated for about 45 mins. They brought me into a room and went through every single inch of my luggage right in front of me and asked me questions about anything suspicious.
So, I did have condoms in my luggage because, well, I was single at the time and one night in Bangkok makes the hard man humble. But I wasn’t trying to partake in any sex tourism. But having condoms opened up a giant can of worms with them. They asked about my sexuality several times. They noticed my hotel was about 2 mins from Soi Cowboy (red light district) so they asked what my plans were in Soi Cowboy. They said it is illegal to have sex with any Thai person if you are a farang. They mentioned the word ladyboy a couple times.
Overall, they were trying to get me to admit that I was doing illegal. I said very little, then they let me go.
Actually, I am going to Thailand next week. So I understand completely. I have been there about a dozen times and I have never been detained for sex tourism. I suspect the condoms triggered the questioning because there is a 7-11 on every street corner.
Ladyboys are common and it is difficult to determine if they are packing hardware. I never partake in any funny business 1) I'm married and 2) You never know what you are going to get.
August 5th, 2022 at 10:18 AM ^
Do you go there for business? Because I find that if you are going for business then maybe they are more forgiving with detainment. But I’m just guessing. I was there for vacation as I traveled all over SE Asia and Bangkok was a common hub to get around everywhere.
August 5th, 2022 at 10:34 PM ^
I travel to SE Asia for business but I go to Thailand for relaxation. I wear business attire and tell Immigration that I am here on business "looking to buy gold". Thai gold is the best on the planet and damn near spot too.
I have been to BKK, Pattaya, Phuket, Chiang Mai, and other lesser known areas. I stay away from Nana Plaza and Soi Cowboy. As Grandma always said, "Nothing good happens after midnight" She was 100% correct too, especially in Thailand.
My favorite is Pattaya because it is a beach town with plenty of open-air bars. I stay away from the Red Light district. Some of the "women" are packing.