https://www.facebook.com/donald.v.watkins/posts/10215049176845001
2017 Was A Remarkable Year
By Donald V. Watkins
©Copyrighted and Published (via Facebook) on December 30, 2017
©Copyrighted and Published (via Facebook) on December 30, 2017
Looking back, 2017 was a remarkable year for Alabamians. Working together, we seized control of our fate by shining a lot of light in the darkest crevices of state government and by ridding ourselves of deeply rooted corruption at the highest levels of power. As ordinary citizens, we accomplished what many thought was impossible.
Through a growing display of unity that has shocked many of our elected officials, this is what we accomplished in 2017:
1. We forced the resignation of two-term Governor Robert Bentley after he became lost in love over pleasures of the flesh with his married girlfriend, Rebekah Caldwell Mason. These two greedy lovers fleeced Alabama taxpayers, campaign donors, and "dark money" contributors throughout Bentley's second term as governor.
2. We defeated Luther Strange in the Republican primary. Strange was the attorney general who agreed to quash a criminal investigation of Bentley and Mason in exchange for a gubernatorial appointment to the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Jeff Sessions.
3. We defeated Roy Moore in the December 12, 2017, special election. In doing so, we showed the world that Alabama voters could free themselves from the suffocating grip of ignorance, sexism, xenophobia, racism, and political demagoguery. It was an exhilarating moment in Alabama history.
4. We exposed corruption within the ranks of Tuscaloosa' local law agencies by telling the whole truth in the Megan Rondini rape case (c/o Cindy Maher Rondini) and the Adam Bailey murder case (c/o Tim Bailey).
Megan, a University of Alabama honors student, was the victim of a serial rapist who was set free in 2015 by Tuscaloosa County Sheriff Ron Abernathy and former DA Lyn Head. After Megan reported her rape, the University failed to assist her because the "suspect" in her case was the son of a rich and powerful Crimson Tide Foundation mega donor.
Adam Bailey was the murder victim of a drug and sex trafficking ring that operates freely within Tuscaloosa County under DA Hays Webb and Attorney General Steve Marshall. When a politically connected member of this ring is apprehended by unsuspecting law enforcement agents, he/she is often designated as a "Confidential Informant" by Abernathy's investigators and is allowed to go free.
5. We exposed the secret bank account at Robertson Banking Company in Demopolis that Robert Bentley and Rebekah Mason used to electronically transfer the tainted money they took from vendors and consultants with business ties to the state while Bentley held life or death sway over their lucrative contracts. This account is one of several the couple used to stash their loot. Steve Marshall agreed to let Bentley and Mason keep this tainted money as part of a deal to secure Bentley's resignation.
6. We exposed the true reason Robert Bentley selected Steve Marshall for attorney general in February. Bentley privately concluded that Marshall was the weakest prosecutor in Alabama.
Our ethics reform work is just beginning. What we have accomplished has been achieved in the face of impermissible targeting, abuse of power, and harassment by various government agencies that have been tasked with the responsibility for chilling the exercise of our right to free speech. To date, these agencies have failed to silence us.
In 2018, we have several important goals to accomplish in order to continue our progress in reforming government. At a minimum, these goals include the following critical tasks:
1. We must defeat Sheriff Ron Abernathy in his bid for re-election. This man is rotten to the core. What he did in the Megan Rondini rape case is unforgiveable.
2. We must replace Steve Marshall with a tough, proven prosecutor who has the courage to bring criminal charges in the Megan Rondini rape case and Adam Bailey murder case. Fortunately, one of the nation's best prosecutors, Alice Martin, has already declared her candidacy for attorney general.
3. We must elect a governor who is not afraid to head us into the warm sunshine of progressive and ethical government. Kay Ivey, who waited in the wings for four decades for a chance to lead Alabama, disappointed and embarrassed all of us when she abandoned the sexual abuse victims in Roy Moore's case and endorsed him.
Let's continue to lead our elected officials in 2018 and show them what we expect and deserve in government.
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