The Final Chapter Of A Saga: The Buffalo 5

By Betty Jean Grant

Betty Jean Grant

This is hopefully the final chapter of that terrible injustice that was laid on the lives of five innocent boys from our East side community in 1976. As all of you reading this story should know, five ‘always getting into trouble’ but innocent young men, were arrested and charged for the murder of a white man who lived on Fillmore Ave, across the street from the Gold en Nugget Bar.

But, because justice is sometimes never an option many jurors consider when the victim is white and the accused are black (especially in Buffalo, in the 1970’s). Three black boys went to prison and spent decades in jail because their big gest crime was that they were black, had had prior minor brushes with the law, and could not afford to pay for private lawyers to represent them.

Finally, up until a few days ago, it seemed like their terrible past legal entanglement with city hall police officers and Erie County DAs had come to an end. But, alas, I just read in a local newspaper and heard on the radio that the County of Erie is considering filing an appeal to avoid paying the $28 million dollars lawsuit just awarded to Mr. John Walker, Jr., by a federal jury in Roch ester, NY. The jury believed Mr. Walker’s constitutional rights were violated by both the city of Buffalo and Erie County’s law enforcement officers that directly led to the charges, conviction, and incarceration of three innocent boys from our community.

Those of us who believe John Walker has suffered enough and should not have to go to court to keep the settlement awarded to him for his false incarceration and loss of a normal life, need to call the County Attorney, Erie County Executive and the Erie County Legislature. Let them know that this community stands by Mr. John Walker, Jr., and his desire to bring this sad case of an unfortunate murder that led to a conviction fueled by racism, to final closure.

During John Walker’s decades long journey to clear his name, as well as the other members of the Buffalo 5 who were convicted, there were many people from the city and the region who stepped in and helped to secure the overturning of their case and put to rest their infamous indictment number: 41-413. I want to mention some of them below.

Thank you to: Sherry Sher rill, Nate Hare, Judge James McLeod, Dr. Peter St. Jean, Dahveed Muhammad, Solomon Myree, Karima Amin, Samuel Radford III , members of Buffa lo’s BLAC, Al-nisa Banks, Buffa lo Challenger, Buffalo Criterion, Dr. Eva Doyle , Karl Shallow horn , Karla Thomas , Doug Ruffin, Ras Jomo, Bishop Darius Pridgen, True Bethel Church, Vonetta T. Rhodes , Nate John Buckley, Burning Books Bookstore, Cariol Holloman-Horne , Jim Anderson, Kamau R. E. Fields , Nate Boyd, The Late, Rafi Greene, Sharon Holley, Michael Quinney, QueeNia AsheeMa’at , Jackie Bartolakes, Urban Think Tank, Victoria Ross , George Baba Eng, Justine Harris , Tilly Watkins , Willie Stewart, Pastor Anthony Brown and Cariol Holliman Horne.

Also, Marc Fuller, Sharon Holley, Min. Halim Muhammad, Jim Anderson, Vonetta T. Rhodes, Patricia Bozeman,Vicky Ross, WNY Peace Center, Nate Boyd, Elaine Bar thel , Dotty Carr , Pastor Charles Walker, Nate Boyd , Sheila Brown, WUFO Radio, Kathy Weppner, WBEN Radio, Attorney Paul Cambria, Supreme Court Judge Chris topher Burns, Alberto O. Cappas and to members of the African and Latino ‘Villages’ whom I did not name.

Thank you for believing in and also sup porting the gentlemen forever known as the Buffalo 5. Your unquestioning support, either physically, by attending numerous rallies over the past 20 years, or financially, by donating money or food. Or especially, through your prayers and words of encouragement.

Thanks to you, John Walker, Jr’s life will be a little bit easier going forward.

Prayers to the families of the Late Dar ryl Boyd, Darren Gibson and Floyd Martin. Let us also pray for peace and serenity for Buffalo 5 member, Tyrone Woodruff. Let us always remember, he is a victim, too.