The recent breaking news that Grammy award-winning artist T.I., Clifford Harris, was rearrested and imprisoned again solely because U.S. prison authorities were upset that T.I. was transported inside a “shining luxury” tour bus from a federal prison in Arkansas after being released from the prison to travel to Atlanta to report as scheduled to a halfway house is beyond bizarre.
STORY: T.I. Returned To Federal Prison In ATL
It is another sick example of not only “strange and unusual punishment” of a cultural icon who has served time in jail, but also this unjust reaction by some officials of the Federal Bureau of Prisons toward T.I. exposes a deep-seated cultural prejudice and social discrimination against the economic success and high achievement of those who dare to spit empowering poetry in the face of poverty and injustice.
Since when is it a federal crime to travel inside a tour bus? But we all know the issue was probably not really the tour bus, whether it was a luxury bus or a pitiful dilapidated ugly minivan. The issue is disrespect verses respect. They are trying to break T.I.’s spirit. But that will not happen. Even though T.I. had served out his time in prison with dignity combined with his irrepressible desire to return to the passion of his artistic genius, there obviously were some officials when he arrived safely to Atlanta that wanted to find one more opportunity to put handcuffs back on him. Whenever an injustice like this occurs, we all should speak out. U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder should immediately investigate this unjustified and repressive matter. Don’t forget that when Martha Stewart completed her jail time, she was transported in a luxury vehicle to her private jet plane which she had a complete right to do. Why were different standards applied to T.I.?
PHOTOS: T.I.’s Wife Tiny Says Prison Staff Knew About Tour Bus
The Federal Bureau of Prisons has on its website that T.I. now has a release date from the federal penitentiary in Atlanta on September, 29, 2011. Maybe they will want T.I. to walk home on the 29th. One thing is clear, however, this latest round of imprisonment of T.I. will not break his spirit. The strength of T.I.’s voice and power of the truth of his message will grow stronger. His upcoming book, video, music and poetry will be welcomed by millions of fans in the United States and throughout the world.
In fact, we look forward to personally joining with T.I. in 2012 on another tour bus, as we did back in 2008, to travel across America to mobilize millions of young people to vote in next year’s pivotal and important national elections.
