seconds after Johnson’s behavior with white women re- Presidential Pardon the fight be- sulted in him being harassed by the police Elusive For gan. With no and arrested a number of times for petty white man offenses. Johnson said in disgust at one Great able to defeat point, “Next thing, somebody’ll arrest me Johnson, the for being a brunette in a blond town.” (37) By Hans Sherrer 35-year-old Johnson committed the ultimate flaunt of Jeffries came acceptable public behavior of the day by rizefighter John Arthur “Jack” Johnson out of retire- marrying a white woman in early 1911. His Pwas knocked-out by Joe Choynski in the ment to fight wife suffered from severe depression and third round of their boxing match in Galves- Johnson in she committed suicide in September 1911. ton, Texas on February 25, 1901. After the 1910. Jeffries fight both men were arrested by Texas was induced Unable to find a white man able to beat Rangers for violating Texas’ state law bar- to risk his un- Johnson in the boxing ring, his foes turned Jack Johnson before Jess Willard ring mixed-race boxing matches: Johnson fight in Havana in April 1915 blemished re- to using Johnson’s self-proclaimed lust for was black and Choynski was white. Johnson cord for a white women as a way to destroy him in the and Choynski then spent the next 23 days in guaranteed purse of $100,000, a huge sum at courtroom. On October 18, 1912, Johnson the same Galveston jail cell waiting to find a time when a skilled factory worker made was arrested for violating the Mann Act by out if they would be indicted. When the about $2 for a ten-hour workday. Adjusted allegedly transporting Lucille Cameron, a grand jury failed to indictment them they for inflation Jeffries’ purse was the equiva- white woman acquaintance, across state were released and told to get out of town. lent of almost $13 million today. [3] lines for an “immoral purpose.” The charges were dropped because Cameron, who mar- Two years later the 24-year-old Johnson The fight held in Reno, Nevada on July 4 was ried Johnson in December 1912, refused to defeated “Denver” Ed Martin in Los Ange- billed as the “Battle of the Century.” Johnson provide any evidence against him. Although les to win the unofficial Negro was faster and had more stamina than the the indictment was dismissed, it was the first boxing championship. older Jeffries, and after Jeffries was knocked time the Mann Act was invoked to criminal- him down for the first time in his career in the ize consensual sexual relations. Although the 6'-2" and 200 pound Johnson 15th round, his corner threw in the towel at was a leading contender to challenge for the the count of seven to avoid a knock-out. The In 1913 Johnson was again charged with world heavyweight boxing championship enmity of whites for Johnson was only made violating the Mann Act, this time for alleg- title, no promoter would sponsor the fight in worse when his decisive victory over Jeffries edly transporting a very pretty young white the United States because he was black. So triggered wild celebrating in the streets by woman, Belle Schreiber, across state lines a fight was arranged in Sydney, Australia blacks across the United States. Whites react- for the “immoral purpose” of having “sexu- for December 26, 1908, between Johnson ed violently to these celebrations, and in al intercourse with her ... against the peace and reigning champion Tommy Burns. more than twenty-five states and fifty cities and dignity of the United States.” The in- Burns was induced to agree to the fight by racial fighting occurred that resulted in the dictment was somewhat unusual because it being guaranteed the then unheard of purse deaths of at least 23 blacks and 2 whites. repeatedly described Schreiber as Johnson’s of $30,000, which in 2007 would be the Many hundreds more were injured. The po- wife. Although it wasn’t true that they were equivalent of more than $4 million. [1] lice were able to prevent several attempted married (he was married to Cameron), Johnson dominated Burns and the fight was lynchings of blacks by white mobs. Johnson’s indictment on the basis they were stopped in the fourteenth round. Writer Jack married suggested that federal authorities London traveled to Australia to watch the Mann Act used to hound Johnson considered marital relations between an in- fight and afterwards he wrote, “The Fight! terracial couple that traveled from one state – there was no fight!” In 1910 the public’s furor was whipped up to another to be a violation of the Mann Act. by sensational news stories that white wom- That supposition was supported by the gov- Johnson’s victory that broke boxing’s color en were being abducted in Europe and ernment’s opening argument at Johnson’s barrier of separate black and white champi- forced into prostitution in the United States. trial during which his sexual involvement ons enraged white racists across the U.S. so Although the accounts were of dubious with white women was described as “de- much, that the search began for what news- truthfulness, Congress reacted by enacting bauchery” and a “crime against nature.” papers called the “Great White Hope” to the White-Slave Traffic Act (“Mann Act”), Schreiber was the government’s star wit- return the world championship to a white which outlawed transporting a women ness. It is believed she cooperated with man. The search was fruitless across state lines or into or authorities because she was upset with as Johnson beat all who chal- out of the country “for the Johnson for marrying Cameron. lenged him. purpose of prostitution or de- bauchery, or for any other Johnson was convicted in May 1913, and James J. Jeffries retired in immoral purpose.” sentenced to 1 year and 1 day in Federal 1905 as the undefeated prison. He was also fined $1,000. After heavyweight champion. [2] Johnson wasn’t just consid- Johnson’s sentencing the prosecutor de- His record for the quickest ered the most hated black fended the government’s demand for prison KO in a heavyweight cham- man in America because he time and not just a fine for Johnson, because pionship fight still stands: In savagely beat whites in the he was “the foremost example of the evil in ring, but also because he of- permitting the intermarriage of whites and April 1900 he knocked Jack Jack Johnson and Joe Choynski Finnegan down twice before in Galveston, Texas Jail after ten was seen cavorting in blacks.” (34) United States District Judge knocking him out only 55 their mixed-race prize fight on public with white women. February 25, 1901. (PBS.org) Johnson cont. on p. 13

JUSTICE DENIED: THE MAGAZINE FOR THE WRONGLY CONVICTED PAGE 12 ISSUE 63 - SPRING 2016 Johnson cont. from p. 12 invention. George Carpenter also defended his sen- Johnson’s life after prison tencing of Johnson to prison, saying, “The defendant is one of the best-known men of Cameron divorced Johnson in 1924 on the his race and his example has been far-reach- basis of infidelity, and the next year he ing.” (35) married another white women. She was Johnson’s third wife, all white. Johnson flees U.S. after Mann Act con- viction Johnson continued prizefighting after his release from prison, but he was denied a In spite of his public comments, Judge Car- boxing license in many states because of his penter released Johnson on bail pending the felony conviction. During World War II outcome of his appeal. Johnson responded Johnson participated in exhibition boxing by fleeing to Canada in June 1913, and then matches to promote the sale of war bonds. traveling to various European and South He was 67 when he died in a 1946 automo- American countries. bile accident that occurred after he left a Raleigh, North Carolina diner in a rage after While Johnson was on the lam the federal he was refused service because he was black. Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the argument of his lawyers that the Mann Johnson was inducted into the Boxing Hall Act didn’t criminalize a woman crossing of Fame in 1954, and he is an inductee of James J. Jeffries and Jack Johnson fighting in Reno, state lines to have voluntary sexual rela- both the International Boxing Hall of Fame Nevada on July 4, 1910 tions. The court ruled the statute encom- and the World Boxing Hall of Fame. conviction was the result solely of “con- passed all sorts of “sexual immorality, and trived charges” reflecting attitudes and mo- that fornication and adultery are species of Johnson life story was the basis of the 1967 res that America has long since outgrown. that genus.” Johnson v. United States, 215 play The Great White Hope, that in 1970 America no longer questions the right and F. 679, 683 (7th Cir. 1914). was made into a movie by the same title that ability of racial minorities to compete equal- starred James Earl Jones as Johnson. ly in athletic endeavors. And America no Johnson continued prizefighting while in self- longer prosecutes and punishes women and exile. After seven years as heavyweight cham- In the spring of 2001, the one-hundredth men who choose to marry or date persons of pion, on April 5, 1915 he lost his title in year after Johnson’s arrest in Galveston, the other races, religions or national origins.” [4] Havana, Cuba when Jess Willard knocked him Texas State Senate passed a Resolution de- out in the 26th round. Johnson never regained claring his prosecution and conviction of At the press conference announcing the the heavyweight title he lost to Willard. violating the Mann Act was a “contrived petition’s filing, one of its supporters, Sena- charge” resulting from political and racial tor John McCain (R-AZ) said, “A gross and Johnson imprisoned after returning to U.S. tensions of his time. The Texas House of grave injustice was done to Jack Johnson Representatives adopted a similar Resolu- where a law was perverted to send this After another five years of prize-fighting tion, and March 31, 2001 was declared Jack decent American to jail. Pardoning Jack overseas, and even financing the founding Johnson Day in the State of Texas. Johnson will serve as a historic testament of of a Harlem nighclub that later became the America's resolve to live up to its noble world-famous Cotton Club, Johnson re- National interest in Johnson’s life was re- ideals of justice and equality.” [5] turned to the United States in July 1920. The vived by publication in 2004 of the biogra- 42-year-old Johnson surrendered to federal phy, Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and On October 5, 2004 the United States Senate authorities, and was sent to the United States Fall of Jack Johnson by Geoffrey C. Ward. unanimously passed a Resolution in support Penitentiary at Leavenworth, Kansas to of granting a posthumous presidential par- serve his sentence. He was released on July Petition to posthumously pardon John- don to Johnson, but the House of Represen- 9, 1921 after almost a son filed in 2004 tatives didn’t follow suit. The three sponsors year of imprisonment. of the Senate Resolution were McCain, Or- Ward’s book inspired filmmaker Ken Burns rin Hatch and Edward Kennedy. Johnson invents new to make a documentary about Johnson’s life, wrench in prison which was first shown on the Public Broad- In September 2007 Representative Peter casting System in January 2005. While King (R-NY) sponsored a U.S. House of While imprisoned John- working on the documentary Burns became Representatives Resolution supporting the son saw the need for a convinced that Johnson’s 1913 Mann Act granting of a posthumous pardon to John- new type of wrench. conviction was based on racial hatred and son. With 40 co-sponsors it was passed by Johnson designed a new not a violation of the law. Burns joined with a voice vote on September 26, 2008. The wrench and after his re- a coalition of civil rights activists, sports resolution stated in part: lease he applied for a figures, lawyers, and politicians who sup- patent from the U.S. Pat- ported the filing on July 13, 2004, of a (1) John Arthur “Jack” Johnson paved the ent Office. On April 18, petition with the U.S. Department of Justice way for African American athletes to par- View A of Jack John- 1922 the U.S. Patent Of- that sought a posthumous presidential par- ticipate and succeed in racially integrated son’s new wrench professional sports in the United States; that was granted U.S. fice issued patent don of Johnson. The petition argued that Patent 1,413,121 on 1,413,121 for Johnson’s Johnson “should be pardoned because his April 18, 1922 Johnson cont. on p. 14

JUSTICE DENIED: THE MAGAZINE FOR THE WRONGLY CONVICTED PAGE 13 ISSUE 63 - SPRING 2016 pardoning of Johnson. Democratic Senator Jack Johnson, McClatchy Newspapers, March 11, 2013 Johnson cont. from p. 13 7. Reid, McCain again seek pardon of boxer Jack Harry Reid joined McCain in supporting the Johnson, Reno Gazette Journal, February 26, 2015 (2) Jack Johnson was wronged by a racial- resolution. [6] The resolution passed in the ly motivated conviction prompted by his Senate, but not the House, and President Sources: success in the boxing ring and his rela- Obama did not act to pardon Johnson. “Jack Johnson,” Enshrinee, International Boxing Hall of Fame website. tionships with White women; “Pardon sought for 1908 black boxing champ,” The (3) the criminal conviction of Jack John- Then again, in February 2015 Senators Mc- Seattle Times, July 14, 2004. son unjustly ruined his career and de- Cain and Reid and Representative King “Petition for the Posthumous Pardon of the Former stroyed his reputation; and introduced resolutions in the Senate and Heavyweight Boxing Champion Jack Johnson,” Filed with U.S. Department of Justice, July 13, 2004. (4) the President should grant a posthu- House in support of Johnson’s pardon.[7] mous pardon to Jack Johnson to expunge As of late June 2016 those resolutions have from the annals of American criminal not passed, and President Obama has not acted. justice a racially motivated abuse of the Visit Justice Denied’s prosecutorial authority of the Federal Endnotes: Government, and to recognize Jack 1. $30,000 in 1908 was the equivalent of $4,036,830 in Website Johnson'’s athletic and cultural contribu- 2007 using the nominal GDP per capita method of calculating inflation, according to the Measuringworth www.justicedenied.org tions to society. website, http://www.measuringworth.com/uscompare (last visited on September 30, 2008). Back issues of Justice: Denied can The U.S. Senate did not pass a pardon Res- 2. The boxer’s Jeffries fought in title fights weren’t be read, there are links to wrongful chumps. At the time of his 11 title fights the cumula- olution as it did in 2004, so a joint House tive record of his opponents was 229-32-39. conviction websites, and other in- and Senate Resolution was not forwarded to 3. $100,000 in 1910 was the equivalent of formation related to wrongful con- President Bush prior to him leaving office $$12,636,879.40 in 2007 using the nominal GDP per in January 2009. capita method of calculating inflation, according to the victions is available. JD’s online Measuringworth website, Bookshop includes more than 70 http://www.measuringworth.com/uscompare (last vis- In March 2013 Senator McCain and Repre- ited on September 30, 2008). wrongful conviction books, and 4. “Petition for the Posthumous Pardon of the Former JD’s Videoshop includes many sentative King tried again by respectively Heavyweight Boxing Champion Jack Johnson,” introducing resolutions in the Senate and 5. Pardon sought for 1908 black boxing champ, The dozens of wrongful conviction mov- the House of Representatives calling for the Seattle Times, July 14, 2004 ies and documentaries. 6. Like Bush, Obama rebuffs pardon for boxing great

ly proves the man died between 8 p.m. and 3rd Revised and Updated 10 p.m. The book also details that in 2001 Edition of “Kirstin Blaise the 18-year-old Ms. Lobato was prosecuted even though the Las Vegas Metropolitan Lobato’s Unreasonable Police Department and the Clark County Conviction” Now Online! District Attorney’s Office obtained evidence three days after her arrest she is innocent. he third revised and updated edition of TKirstin Blaise Lobato’s Unreasonable The 3rd revised edition has 57 pages of new Conviction — Possibility of Guilt Replaces information, that includes: Proof Beyond A Reasonable Doubt, has just * An updated Timeline of Ms. Lobato’s been published! The book is available in case from 2001 to the present, that be- PDF format to be read or downloaded at no gins on p. 10. charge for personal use from Justice De- * Six new sub-chapters in the Appendix nied’s website.* that begin on page 150. Those include a Power Point presentation of Ms. Lobato’s More than 61,000 copies of the second edi- case and the new evidence in her habeas tion of Kirstin Blaise Lobato’s Unreason- corpus petition currently under review by able Conviction were downloaded from the Nevada Supreme Court. Ms. Lobato’s Justice Denied’s website until it was re- petition includes new evidence her jury placed on Feb. 10 with the third edition. Kirstin Blaise Lobato’s Unreasonable Con- didn't hear by more than two dozen ex- viction in PDF format from pert, alibi, and third-party culprit witness- The book details how Kirstin Lobato has www.justicedenied.org/kbl.htm. es that supports her actual innocence. twice been convicted of a July 8, 2001 Las Justice Denied’s webpage with information Vegas homicide when the prosecution The 232-page book written by Justice De- about the Kirstin Lobato case is doesn’t deny it has no physical, forensic, nied’s editor and publisher Hans Sherrer is www.justicedenied.org/kbl.htm. eyewitness, confession, informant, surveil- supported by 427 source endnotes. In docu- lance video or documentary evidence she Kirstin Lobato’s website with extensive in- ments filed in the Nevada Supreme Court, was in Las Vegas at any time on the day of formation about her case is the Clark County District Attorney’s Office the crime. The prosecution also concedes www.justice4kirstin.com. and the State of Nevada don’t assert there is she was at her home 165 miles from Las a single factual error in the book. * The book can be printed at no charge for Vegas at the time new forensic entomology non-commercial use only. and forensic pathology evidence conclusive- Click here to download at no charge

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