The untold story of Brandon C. Jackson

Brandon C. Jackson has spent 12 years in prison after an altercation in Ocean County, N.J. Witnesses said a group of young white men attacked Jackson, a Black man, yet prosecutors pursued charges only against him.

Racial history in Jackson Township, New Jersey

Before I get into Brandon Jackson’s story, I want to give a bit of history.

If you believe because we’ve advanced so much in society that racism is no longer alive, you are sadly mistaken.

Racism is very much alive today, and as opposed to 40 years ago, it is more closeted and institutionalized.

Injustices take place daily around the world, and for people of color, they more frequently experience it.

When this story our my email about a racial injustice incident in Jackson Townshi, we weren’t surprised.

Why? Jackson Township has a history of racism dating back to 1920s when the Klu Klux Klan began to set up shop in the surrounding areas.

I’ve heard my fair share of stories. Most of them are untold just like the one I’m about to share with you today. Jackson Township is not the worst when it comes to race relations, but it certainly isn’t the best.

Today, Jackson Township has become more diverse, but white Americans still account for 88.90% of its population while African Americans only represent 4.86%.

That number to me says Jackson Township still has a long way to go to becoming diversified. This is why I am not the least bit surprised to hear this story of Brandon C Jackson.

Who is Brandon C Jackson?

According to the report, Brandon Jackson has spent 12 years in prison after receiving alarmingly lax legal representation from a series of “go‑along to get‑along” public defenders and private attorneys in Jackson Township, N.J.

A cluster of additional cover‑ups surrounds his case, which centers on his claim of self‑defense during an October 2006 racial attack, when he was 21 and confronted by a group of white individuals who shouted “kill the n‑‑ger” and other slurs. No one else was charged. Prosecutors secured his conviction—without physical evidence—for allegedly assaulting two of the men who attacked him and later testified against him.

Although the responding officer classified the incident as a racially-motivated attack/bias crime at trial, the judge said such comments were not important in Ocean County, N.J., a predominantly white county.

So, what do we tell our African American and Latino sons that they are an endangered species? Where is the basic American justice for Brandon Jackson and those like him?

Support for Brandon C Jackson

Unheard Voices is bringing this story forward to ensure Brandon’s voice is finally heard. His family is calling on the public to help overturn his sentence. They’re urging all of us to speak boldly so cases like his are never buried or ignored.

For more information on Brandon Jackson, and to donate to Pledge an Allegiance through the Coalition for Brandon C. Jackson, supporters can contribute to the fight to secure the liberty and justice that is his birthright and that he is undeniably owed.

Please visit www.justice-4-brandon.com