UPDATE (7/1/2022): One day after this segment aired, prison authorities announced that they had “reconsidered†their earlier decision, clearing the way for Atiba to earn his degree.
Education is one of the few rehabilitative options available to incarcerated people, yet all across America prisoners are prevented from pursuing their education. “Atiba” Demetrius Brown, for instance, has been dedicated to improving himself and his post-incarceration prospects by taking correspondence courses while incarcerated in Maryland, but thanks to a draconian new decree by the Department of Public Safety & Correctional Services (DPSCS), Atiba can’t take his exams. In this installment of Rattling the Bars, Victor Wallis joins Mansa Musa to discuss the case of “Atiba” Demetrius Brown and the calculated cruelty of the prison-industrial complex.
Victor Wallis is a professor in the Liberal Arts Department at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. He has been involved in prisoner support activities since the 1970s in Indiana, and he is the author of numerous books, including Democracy Denied: Five Lectures on US Politics, which has been used in prison education projects.
To contact “Atiba” Demetrius Brown: 
Demetrius Brown #401226
sid #2642892
MCTC
18800 Roxbury Rd.
Hagerstown, MD 21746
Read the transcript of this video: https://therealnews.com/how-maryland-is-preventing-prisoners-from-getting-college-degrees
Pre-Production/Studio/Post-Production: Cameron Granadino
Help us continue producing Rattling the Bars by following us and making a small donation:
Donate: https://therealnews.com/donate-yt-rtb
Sign up for our newsletter: https://therealnews.com/nl-yt-rtb
Get Rattling the Bars updates: https://therealnews.com/up-yt-rtb
Like us on Facebook: https://facebook.com/therealnews
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/therealnews
** (Disclaimer: This video content is intended for educational and informational purposes only) **
As a mother of a black son currently incarcerated in Maryland State Prison System, it has been an unfortunate journey trying to keep him focused on having hope while he is struggling with mental illness. Maryland State failed my son tremendously and it's also hard for them to find outside resources from anywhere. There is currently only one facility that offers Maryland prisoners higher education. Prayers for all of the women and men affected by the unjust treatment happening all around the US in the criminal justice system.
White supremacy was designed to keep white people in power control and in charge. Liberal & conservative white voters mainly have come together to oppose the central idea of a convicted criminal murderers, rapists and child molesters of getting a FREE college education, job skills to work in or create their own businesses to which they could replace average white people who are not college educated, the question became why should my tax dollars afford them a free college education when my children can't afford to go??? I'm already taking care of them…
I’m sorry but they’re criminals who’ve done damage to others and traumatised their families for life! Why should they get a free education that others have to save years for 🤬
The racist POLITICIANS of the divided states and divided kingdom are morally and spiritually bancrupt due to INDUVIDUALISM and CAPITALISM. These politicians have ENGINEERED a STATE SPONSORED TERRORIST ORGANIZATION to inflict psychological and physical pain on humanity disporpotionaly BP. They are failed states parrading and pretending to be the best in the world attempting to spread their so called racist democracy. The operatives (judges, DAs, prosecutors and police departments and other enforcement agencies) and SILENT mainstream NEWS media outlet perpetuates VIOLENT culture of POLICE BRUTALITY, MISCONDUCT, POLICE MURDEROUS ART, MASS INCARCERATION, DISCRIMINATION, MASS BRUTALITY, HARRASEMENT, INTIMIDATION, DOMESTIC TERRORISM, OPRESSION, SAPARATION OF NUCLEAR FAMILIES AND LAWLESSNESS.
The jackboot justice have been heavily CAPITALIZED to harm, target and criminalize citizens and disporpotionaly black americans through violent laws and policies created by federal and state politicians.
The divided states government (executive, legislative and judicial brach, law enforcement agency (police departments), news media) are thuggish and terrorist instituion that silently harm citizens of the world 🌎 to forster corporate capitalism in order to allow the corrupt stake holders to remain in POWER.
we take voting rights away from felons. but who would have the most to say about our laws?
Wow. WHy call it rehabilitation if there is none?
Of course!!!! Why not?! It is one form of rehabilitation. Warehousing prisoners is not doing society any damn good!!
This is a backward step..
WHAT IS SPECIAL ABOUT BEING A HINDU?
By Francois Gautier.
Diversity in Divinity and Unity in Spirituality.
1) Believe in God ! – Aastik – Accepted
2) Don't believe in God ! – You're accepted as Nastik
3) You want to worship idols – please go ahead. You are a murti pujak.
4) You dont want to worship idols – no problem. You can focus on Nirguna Brahman.
5) You want to criticise something in our religion. Come forward. We are logical. Nyaya, Tarka etc. are core Hindu schools.
6) You want to accept beliefs as it is. Most welcome. Please go ahead with it.
7) You want to start your journey by reading Bhagvad Gita – Sure !
8) You want to start your journey by reading Upanishads – Go ahead.
9) You want to start your journey by reading Purana – Be my guest.
10) You just don't like reading Puranas or other books. No problem my dear. Go by Bhakti tradition . ( bhakti- devotion)
11) You don't like idea of Bhakti ! No problem. Do your Karma. Be a karmayogi.
12) You want to enjoy life. Very good. No problem at all. This is Charvaka Philosophy.
13) You want to abstain from all the enjoyment of life & find God – jai ho ! Be a Sadhu, an ascetic !
14) You don't like the concept of God. You believe in Nature only – Welcome. (Trees are our friends and Prakriti or nature is worthy of worship).
15) You believe in one God or Supreme Energy. Superb! Follow Advaita philosophy
16) You want a Guru. Go ahead. Receive gyaan.
17) You don't want a Guru.. Help yourself ! Meditate, Study !
18) You believe in Female energy ! Shakti is worshipped.
19) You believe that every human being is equal. Yeah! You're awesome, come on let's celebrate Hinduism!
"Vasudhaiva kutumbakam" (the world is a family)
20) You don't have time to celebrate the festival.
Don't worry. One more festival is coming! There are multiple festivals every single day of the year.
21) You are a working person. Don't have time for religion. Its okay. You will still be a Hindu.
22) You like to go to temples. Devotion is loved.
23) You don't like to go to temples – no problem. You are still a Hindu!
24) You know that Hinduism is a way of life, with considerable freedom.
25) You believe that everything has God in it. So you worship your mother, father, guru, tree, River, Prani-matra, Earth, Universe!
26) And If you don't believe that everything has GOD in it – No problems. Respect your viewpoint.
27) "Sarve jana sukhino bhavantu " (May you all live happily)
You represent this! You're free to choose, my dear Hindu!
This is exactly the essence of Hinduism, all inclusive .. That is why it has withstood the test of time inspite of repeated onslaught both from within and outside, and assimilated every good aspects from everything . That is why it is eternal !!!
There is a saying in Rigveda , the first book ever known to mankind which depicts the Hinduism philosophy in a Nutshell
" Ano bhadrah Krathavo Yanthu Vishwathah"Let the knowledge come to us from every directionsWhen ex-cons only have the option to return to crime, they will return to crime.
Take this to the political front /. We fight for /Roe verses wade. /. For LGBTQ ðŸ³ï¸â€ðŸŒˆ for gun advocates /. Its. Time for prison reform /. It’s is to further repress prisoners / This. Should. Be the new movement The new school off liberation. /Education is the way to go
It a plan the revolving door syndrome /. If. You teach them they would not return to the prison system /. He will be out one day. Reformation. Is key /.
The answer is public execution and hard labor.
Unbelievable..what happened to having a successful reintegration into the society. If they want to study and get a degree or diploma..and have skills he can use when released to the society. This ensures safe reintegration and reduced recidivism.
Prisoners need to use their time well when they are incarcerated to keep their mind occupied, develop self discipline and be ready for job market when they get out. They can help rehabilitate other prisoners ane be role model
What I've come to expect from Racist Democrat States!
Yeah this is incredibly stupid we actually want criminals to get degrees so they don't go back to crime!
College is a scam to get you in debt with this corrupt government 🤣
They shouldn't get a college education in prison they are their for correction not education. Maryland did the right thing.
Surely this will help the get a job ?
Or do the republican party Don want them to get jobs ?
So they can return to private prisons and make money for the private prisons system?
That's so mess up.
Education is always good to reform individuals.
CORRECTION FACILITY? HOW DO YOU EXPECT TO HELP THEM CORRECT THEMSELVES IF THEY CANT LEARN SHIT IN A SHITTER? SOUNDS LIKE ANOTHER WAY TO KEEP PEOPLE ON THEIR BACKS …. WOW NOW I FEAR THE WORLD FOR MY KIDS EVEN MORE!!
I really don't see the purpose of prisoners receiving a college education.
Especially when by mid to late decade. Companies will implement mass machine automation and artificial intelligence in the workplace in addition to digital outsourcing overseas on a massive scale.
If I were a business owner, I'd go for mechanization first. If I had to hire a few employees. I'd cherry pick from the few best, experienced applicants around. An ex-con even with a college degree wouldn't be in consideration.
Pay for your own college like the rest of us. Like any law abiding citizen is going to care about the bottom of the barrel complaining about handouts to the worst of our society. We got lives to live and bills to pay.
I will gladly support my tax dollars giving a prisoner an education if they are serious about it. Its not my business if they reform and have a better life; however, I believe most people with the initiative to gain a degree has the initiative to increase their standing in life when they are released from their sentence.
How about don't do the crime in the first place. Never been to prison because there's these things called values that I stick by. Why should you get degree for free when thousands of kids whom have never been in terrible have to pay $80,000 to get them?
I'm for rehabilitation but that doesn't mean free degrees. Would be better teaching people how to set up their own business
Wow Mansa musa unique choice for such a historic name