VIA FAMM:
Born six minutes apart from each other on an April morning, identical twins Lawrence and Lamont Garrison were inseparable. As they grew older, the brothers remained close, dressing alike, hanging out with the same friends, and always supporting each other. Both Lawrence and Lamont dedicated themselves to their studies in high school and were accepted to Howard University when they graduated.
Lawrence and Lamont thrived at college, earning excellent grades while working part-time to pay their tuition. They both planned to become lawyers to ensure that every person received fair representation in the justice system. A month before the twins’ graduation, the owner of a Maryland auto body shop, who had been arrested as a major player in a cocaine and crack conspiracy, began implicating people to reduce his sentence. He told police that he had supplied Lawrence and Lamont with kilos of crack and cocaine every week. Other conspirators soon followed, testifying that they too had witnessed these transactions.
At the time of their arrest, Lawrence and Lamont were employed full-time as juvenile counselors in Maryland. They had their Bachelor’s degree and had held jobs at the Department of Justice and the Department of Energy. The twins’ only contact with the owner of the auto body shop occurred because a mechanic next door was performing extensive work on their grandmother’s car. Lawrence and Lamont would call the owner to check in with the mechanic about the job’s progress.
Sure of their innocence, the Garrisons went to trial. They did not have enough money to hire lawyers, so they were appointed attorneys who often fell asleep during their court proceedings. The twins’ mother reports that the lawyers failed to gather information and witnesses that would have disproved the government’s shaky case against Lawrence and Lamont.
at 6:08 pm
Uncle Bernie thank you, Ron, and Radio One for this eyeopener to what has never stop happening to Young Brothers like the Garrisons. I will continue to follow these young brothers saga. I will also do what I can to discourge the young brothers here in Anacostia from becoming victims of this injustice as well from creating victims in my community from crime. Uncle Bernies, you are so so so so special to many. You are our keeper and we are yours.
at 5:50 pm
I am listening to my son and I CAN TELL in his voice the pain that re-enters when he has to explain and thank others. I feel the pain with my sons. When attending meetings he lets them all know that he has people depending on him. I KNOW that he will work to change issues. I am at work while my Uncle Jr. (87 years old) is there watching him be a man. We are all so happy that Lawrence is home. I am so proud of him and his unending love for his brother Lamont. I always told them that nobody can ever separate our love. Thanks you Antoinette for reaching out, Ron for listening and the oppurtunity, Bernie for doing your work and Radio One keeping it REAL.
at 3:40 pm
Bernie,I think it’s excellent that you are doing an interview with Lawrence Garrison. I have recently seen the interview with Bruce Johnson on Channel 9 news and it was eye opening. The more research I do, the more I see that these young men have been a victim of a number of crimes to include one of the main ones “racism.” Some of us are really naive and think that this would never happen in Washington, DC or America. But it happens more often than we wish to believe. If it happened to them, it can happen to anyone.
Someone should give major kudos to the Mommie Activist, Karen Garrison who has believed in her sons’ innocence and fought for them and still fights for them everyday. It’s time for Lamont Garrison to come home too!!! I applaud you Bernie, Ron Thompson and Radio-One for still keeping WOL in touch with everyday people like myself and others.
Peace