LIONEL LEWIS ROGERS
LIONEL LEWIS ROGERS, political prisoner, and his Afrikan queen, Shirley Rogers,
reside in a notorious racist town and advocate against racism and injustice
that Afrikans receive from the Halifax NC County Sheriffs Dept. and the Weldon
NC Police Dept.
When the kops came to their home on August 6, 1997, they came
with TV reporters, surrounded the house, and pulled out their guns. Shirley and
Lionel were unarmed. Lionel was arrested for first degree murder, burglary, and
sexual assult on an 88-year-old white female and three counts of sexual assault
in the first degree on a 10-year-old black female. The police told Shirley that
if she did not turn state witness against Lionel, they would broadcast that she
did, and the kops did just that-typed an unsigned statement stating that she is
a witness against Lionel. Shirley never said anything against him because he
had not committed any crimes.
Troy Fleming was then placed in a single cell with Lionel and told Lionel
that the police asked him to do drug deals. Later, Troy Fleming
wrote a statement that Lionel confessed. He later recanted that story
in a letter to Lionel, stating that Sheriff Jeff Fraizer and Detective Charles
Chuck Ward gave him a small amount of money to write what they wanted in a
statement.
The only evidence against Lionel is a T-shirt and coerced witness.
The DNA specialist stated that with Lionel's DNA in their possession, the
police could make him be anything. Lionel was held for 12 hours, then released
after submitting to DNA tests.The kops had other suspects, but Lionel and
Shirley were the only ones they got DNA from. The DNA expert said there are two
unidentified DNAs in the questionable T-shirt that was never in the possession
of Lionel or Shirley.
Lionel and Shirley have written schools, churches, and different organizations,
but very few have offered help. Dr. Dorothy Blake Farden of Sojourner Truth
Farm School responded positively, but can do little without the support of
others who claim to help people in their sittuation.
If you can offer support, please contact the Lionel Lewis Rogers Defense
Committee, P.O. Box 929, Garysburg, NC 27831. You may send stamps, typing
paper, envelopes, money orders, checks, etc. A financial statement will be sent
to supporters.
You can learn more about this story by writing the Defense Committee or calling
for more information at (252) 538-0583.