The Bigger Picture — Cordarius Lawrence, By: Athena Williams
By: Athena Williams
Tags: Menard, BlackLivesMatter, Prison, Prison Reform, Interview

The Bigger Picture — Cordarius Lawrence, By: Athena Williams

I recently spoke with Cordarius Lawrence a.k.a. King Tall, about his case.

Cordarius was portrayed in the media as a “lone gunman” in a 2014 Chicago murder case, who appeared in an alleyway, only to disappear again into the night. The police had no physical evidence to bring in their case against Cordarius. Two of the state’s witnesses had been driven to the police station and both stated they were threatened and coerced by the police into agreeing a photo of Cordarius they were given to view was the shooter. One of the witnesses, clearly frightened, says to the police on videotape — “what are you going to do with me now?”

Currently, Cordarius’ case is up on appeal. He was sentenced to over a hundred years by the IL Judge Wadas, who has had over 25 sentencing reversals in the past six years, due to an extraordinary amount of trial errors.

Cordarius and I discussed the “myth of the black male boogeyman.” We spent hours together researching cases where black men had been portrayed by the media and authorities as the prime suspect. From Charles Stuart to Susan Smith (who had been the perpetrators) making accusations, African-American men have been rounded up and villainized by the press as a result. Cordarius pointed out to me the media would have no interest in clearing his name after his appeal decision, and that was something he would do on his own through his reputation and work to help others. As he waits for his hearing, Cordarius has chosen to become a productive member of society, even while locked away in a maximum security facility. He’s studying law, and has become a “jailhouse lawyer,” helping other prisoners understand their rights, research cases, and organize their appeals.

We’re moving as a nation into this new era, but our work is just beginning. What we’re fighting for didn’t start or stop with George Floyd, may he Rest In Peace. We must keep in mind that not only are innocent African-Americans being murdered by the authorities, many are also given excessive sentences, thrown into maximum security prisons, and subjected to solitary confinement all due to an accusation. Often there is no evidence from the charges brought against them. Their bail and trials are frequently denied. African-Americans deserve better, and we as a society have a moral obligation to mend our broken judicial system.

Athena: Thank you for your help with the article! I’d like to start off asking you a little about your current facility — Menard. I’ve been told the living conditions are fairly close to the fictional -and notorious- “Shawshank.” How long have you been at Menard? Did you spend time in any other facilities and how did the conditions compare to MCC?

Cordarius: You’re welcome, Athena! I’ve been a “guest” at Menard since October 31, 2019. I was also at Lincoln Correctional Center. It’s a big difference, a medium and Max facility. Here at Menard there’s nothing to look forward to other than lockdown and potatoes. We have no educational programs at Menard and we’re locked in our cells all day.

Athena: Another thing I’m often told about MCC is the frequency of racism. When I was told that there were white supremacists in IL prisons, I was terrified by that thought. How’s your own personal experience been as an African American man in the state prison system?

Cordarius: My experiences as a black man coming through the system has been a lesson learned, that’s for sure. The guards often talk to prisoners and treat them as if they’re less than human. I stay out of the way because I have bigger things to focus on. I’ve been keeping productive in prison, studying law and helping others with their research. I write music, work out, and I look for my own weaknesses so I can fix them and strengthen myself. I’ve learned so much about the system that I’ve become interested in prison reform and want to focus heavily on that once I’m released.

Athena: While researching your case, I came across a new article that upset me greatly — it was written very matter of factly, with a guilty before proven innocent tone. When reading similar cases with accusations against white suspects, there’s been a very different style of writing — also the article will include that person’s life accomplishments and if there weren’t eyewitnesses, or the lack of credible witnesses. And I think we as Caucasian writers or journalists need to check our own privilege and keep an eye out for racism in what we produce. What are your opinions on prejudice towards the black community and African-American in the “media, and how can we do better?

Cordarius: You’re right, the tone was definitely guilty until proven innocent — not the other way around. I was held in the county jail for 4 years with no bond. I requested bail from the judge and presented my own accomplishments, a great number of letters of reference from productive members of society with my job offers, and a safe and secure place I would be living at after being granted bail. The judge disregarded all of those and made his ruling off false accusations with no evidence against me. It’s not only the job of caucasian or black journalists to keep their eyes open for racism — but also to shine a light on it, as well. A caucasian ex-cop walked into the wrong apartment and killed a man in his own home. She was in the state of Texas, where murder could sentence you to life in prison. I, as a black man, was accused of murder with a witness who testified the police had threatened and coerced her, and no physical evidence or credible witnesses. I was given 100 hundred years. The ex-police officer in TX was found guilty and given ten years. Is this justice? African-Americans are not the monsters the media so often portrays them to be. We can do better than what’s going on in our country. We must do better.

Athena: I’d like to hear even more about you, personally. The media really let people down not sharing who you are — so I’m glad we can get that chance by hearing directly from you. I know you’re from Chicago. What’s your favorite landmark or place to go in the city?

Cordarius: My favorite place is the Taste of Chicago — you have to try all the restaurants! There’s also the Bud Bilken — the largest African-American parade in the country. It’s held on the second Sunday in August, and also celebrates “back to school” for all the youth in the city.

Athena: How do you plan to continue with your prison reform activism once you’re released?

Cordarius: I want to share my own experiences and the experiences of others incarcerated. It’s more than just protesting. Voices need to be heard and people’s stories need to be told.

Athena: My own personal experience after joining BLM was very surprising. Both a white policeman and several white men told me I had made the wrong choice joining an activist organization like BLM, and they tried to show me statistics that African-Americans were highly likely to be criminals and that violence against African Americans by the authorities was incredibly rare. One even began talking about how the KKK was a good organization, and that they had helped clean up highways, and I realized they were trying to recruit me. I often speak out against the dangers of Neo-Nazis rising up in this country — I think they’re the biggest threats we have to our Nation. As we’ve seen with the group of men sieged the capitol, one waved around the confederate flag inside a government building — there are some very dangerous and evil people who are willing to destroy our way of life. And so many people simply turn a blind eye. What concerns me greatly as an educator, is my own students could be accosted by White Supremacists. In your opinion, how can I best protect today’s youth from being targeted and recruited by these racist Neo-Nazi groups?

Cordarius: Wow, that’s a deep question, Athena. If you look at how they tried to target and recruit you, there was that fake data they tried to use. Every race has people who break the law and people who are violent. Tell your students the truth. Read them the stories of African-Americans, teach them about black people all over the world who have done good and what’s righteous. Show them African-Americans are not to be labeled as criminals.

Athena: While reading your appeal file, I took note of the eye witnesses seemingly terrified of the authorities, and that they both testified they had been threatened and intimidated into naming you as the suspect, when they were shown your picture. You were accused of being “the lone gunmen” who appeared out of nowhere, and then mysteriously disappeared into thin air, and I’ve never seen any actual mention of physical evidence in your case. One of the witnesses says to the authorities, -what are you going to do with me now?- And that frightened me, as those were the words of a very panicked and scared person. And when we deal with this ghastly issue of African Americans being assaulted, falsely accused, tortured for false confessions, massively incarcerated, assaulted, and even killed — as society, how can we hold authorities accountable for their behavior towards the African-American community?

Cordarius: You’ve said it best yourself, Athena — holding them accountable. The police academy doesn’t teach people to murder, to lie, or to threaten and coerce. It doesn’t show cadets how to hurt others. Violence towards black people needs to end. Right is right, and wrong is wrong — it doesn’t matter who you are.