The Voice Of The Jamaican Ghetto: Incarcerated but not Silenced

by Adidja Palmer

A case that is much appreciated by Kartel is the 1966 case of Miranda vs. Arizona. The issue of a citizen’s right to remain silent and to have a lawyer present when being questioned was brought to the forefront because of an unfortunate experience endured by Ernesto Miranda who was tricked into giving a confession without his lawyer present. Since Miranda won that case, the US now has Miranda rights where the police are required to immediately advise an individual of their rights when making an arrest. This is important because Miranda did confess to a crime but was freed because the US court felt his human rights were more important than a conviction. Another case appreciated by Kartel is the case of Texas vs. Johnson. Gregory Johnson, an American, decided to burn the American flag in protest against President Ronald Reagan and big companies in America. Ruling in Johnson’s favour, Judge William Brennan stated that “the government may not prohibit the expression of an idea simply because Society finds the idea offensive or disagreeable.” Based on Kartel's experiences, I find it utterly funny when a learned judge makes that declaration, because in Jamaica it is the opposite. The government will prohibit any idea or expression it finds offensive or disagreeable because, well, because it can. We are government, you are poor people and we tell you what to do. If you don’t like it, we arrest you – it is that simple.