Sabazz
KINGSTON – In a Kingston courtroom crowded with over 40 supporters,
attorney Michael Sussman and defendant Ismail Shabazz submitted a motion
to retract Shabazz’s October 28 guilty plea to one count of weapons possession.
Sussman also submitted a motion to be removed from the case, so that Shabazz
can retain other counsel, withdraw his plea and proceed to trial.
Justice Richard McNalley Jr. stated that he was not inclined to grant
either motion, refusing to allow either the plea withdrawal or to allow
Sussman to recuse himself until Shabazz has other representation.
The judge another court session for Tuesday, January 17, to further discuss
the issue. Shabazz will be required to either have representation to replace
Sussman or to apply for representation by a public defender at that time.
Sussman will continue to act as Shabazz’s attorney up until the point
where Shabazz retains other counsel.
Outside the courtroom, local activist Joanne Steele spoke at length, pointing
out that this case is what she believes to be a clear example of targeting
Muslims and particularly Black Muslims in New York, to boost Homeland
Security credibility. She spoke of her long association with Shabazz,
and framed this case as a direct attack on community in Ulster County.
Terry Leroy, of Haitian People’s Support Project, said Shabazz was a peacemaker,
a longtime member of activist organizations, working to stop violence
in the Hudson Valley. Leroy invited everyone to this Sunday’s Martin Luther
King event at the Woodstock Community Center, where this case would again
be discussed for the education of the community-at-large.
“We have an innocent man who couldn’t accept his decision to take
a plea and have an appearance of guilt on any count because he is innocent.
As a community we support his decision. To allow the plea to stand is
a violation of his conscience, and a violation against our community conscience.
Ismail could not allow this,” said Leroy.
The arrest of Shabazz on June 26, 2015, was the culmination of a two-year
effort by federal agents attempting to develop a terrorism case against
the 63-year-old activist and grandfather.
