Original Post Date
2015-07-03 08:28 AM
Original Body
1) Leroy Moore (LM) What is your life has been since your release
MICHAEL MANNING: THANKS TO GOD ALMIGHTY it has been a lot better. there are some hard times but I'm grateful to be free. there are days when you struggle we all do and try not to think about the past and let it get you down and bitter and just thank THE LORD for another day to move on and a chance to use your experience as a testimony to help others avoid these deadly pit falls of life. so i can't complain there far more pressing struggles than mine.
2) Leroy Moore (LM) Give us some background of that time.
MICHAEL MANNING: well i was attacked at a gas station back in june 1997 by two men one with a knife the other a bat i was recently run over by a forklift at work that crushed my spine and left me disabled unable to walk with out the assistance of crutches or a cane i could barely walk and had very very limited range of motion bending, standing straight, sitting any movement. so i was attacked and in the mist of the attacked i was cut by the knife so when the attacker tried to stab me again i grabbed a hold of his arm as it came toward me n i pushed his arm back trying to defend myself from being stabbed in the chest so i pushed back and the knife unfortunately punctured him but it was not realized at the time due to the struggle and adrenaline flowing and he never screamed in pain to indicate he was injured and he continued to struggle with me. i finally escaped the two and fled for help and called the police. Unfortunately the aggressor later died at the hospital. I was interviewed by detectives that night they got statements from witnesses the gas station clerk and a off duty new york city detective who all stated i was the victim and was the one who was attacked. The A.D.A (assistant district attorney) at the time said he would not file charges as it was self defense i was even examined by the county's forensic pathologist who determined my wounds were defensive wounds as i was attacked and the wounds on the deceased were not defensive wounds. We'll i was never charged or held and free to go home that night. 5 months later when that same A.D.A decided to run for district attorney he needed a high profile case to boost his election he charged me with 1st degree murder despite all the evidence and statements that supported my testimony of events. At trial evidence was never presented to my attorney it was with held, destroyed and fabricated. The county's Forensic's Pathologist who testify's 98% of the time for the county the D.A tried to discredit his testimony and evidence because he was testifying on my behalf. The jury was tampered with and threatened also the judge stepped in as another prosecutor and cross examined me with 89 questions he and the prosecutor ultimately bullied the jury into convicting me we had a private investigator uncover this so i was ultimately convicted of 3rd degree murder. It's ironic how the judge tried so hard to down play my disability to the jury like that doesn't affect a person's capabilities when he himself was disabled.
3) Leroy Moore (LM) How did you get your freedom?
MICHAEL MANNING: THANKS TO JESUS keeping my faith and trust in him and him blessing me with the most amazing , courageous woman my dear wonderful mother who fought relentlessly and tirelessly to bring attention and awareness to my case thats how i first met you leroy my wonderful brother who became such a blessing and instrument in helping obtain my freedom along with my beautiful angel of a mother mr Harry Morgan along with Critical Resistance, Poor Magazine, the San Francisco Bayview Newspaper and AIDWYCK The late Mr Rueben (Hurricane) carter's organization my wonderful family friend's and many many countless others i finally won my appeal.
4) Leroy Moore (LM) What is your advice to other Black disabled men who share your past?
MICHAEL MANNING: First and foremost put your faith and trust in JESUS n never stop believing and fighting. Learn as much as you can about the law and your case and don't depend on your attorney or anyone else to fight as hard as only you can fight for yourself unless you have a mother as i do lol.
5) Leroy Moore (LM) Tell us about your life now your music, family and dealing with a disability
MICHAEL MANNING: Well I'm currently working on two music projects i mange a Gospel Artist named Tanaj Perry and a part of a group named R.I.O.T Squad ( Redemption is our Testimony) so hopefully those 2 projects will be out this fall. My family is great and getting bigger by the day its wonderful and such a blessing to be a part of a loving supportive family. My disability i still deal with as i will everyday of my life but i try not to let it get in the way or stop me for reaching new heights and goals.
6) Leroy Moore (LM) What do you think about Black Lives Matters and the high rate of police shootings of Black men especially Back disabled men
MICHAEL MANNING: I think our lives matter very much just as much as any other human being on this planet but theres such a lack of respect and disregard for black lives now in the wake of all these horrific injustices and tragedies being inflicted on us its just so sad how many innocent relevant lives are being destroyed and families forever shattered. i just can't understand why black men, women and the disabled have become such prime prey for these corrupt evil police? Its truly heart breaking all the lives lost and children, families and friends left to mourn and scream out for justice for the ones who can't for themselves something has to be done and changed fast this system they call justice and policing is broken i thought it was protect and serve not select and slaughter.