Aaron Patterson, FREE AARON PATTERSON, the name was wholly unfamiliar till i read his amazing, depressing, heroic, inspiring, nightmarish, true story in The Liberator.

Here is a tiny chunk to get you started:

One of the most chilling parts about Patterson’s experience is the message he etched into a bench while in police custody. Using a paperclip, Patterson’s message reeks with desperation and fear: “Aaron 4/30 I lie about murders. Police threaten me with violence. Slapped and suffocated me with plastic. No lawyer or dad. No phone. Signed false statement to murders.” (Ironically, the message would remain in the bench close to 20 years later and would help to further prove that Patterson was, in fact, tortured).

He gets sent to death row.

But… after 17 years, Illinois Governor George Ryan realizes that the Chicago Police, and especially a Vietnam War Military Cop cum Chicago PD named Jon Burge, had routinely and systematically used straight up torture to solicit false confessions from suspects, so the Guv pardons 4 of the victims, Aaron Patterson included. Jon Burge is also fired (but with full benefits and pension still intact).

Patterson gears up and gets political, fighting, as anyone would, against the broken and corrupt system that screwed him over so hard, and reaching back to help those still stuck within it’s horrific grip.

The established order, run by children of some of Chicago’s gangster legends, just wasn’t having it. Aaron Patterson was arrested for: attempt to purchase weapons and narcotics from an undercover informant. But this ‘informant’ is Mario Fox, a cocaine offender who may have been released from prison to concoct the story about Patterson. Apparently the testimony is all here-say.

So, Aaron Patterson’s sentencing hearing is in 4 days! (July 20th, 2007). If his story moves you, if you are interested in, terrified by, fed up with, or stridently fighting police brutality, and would like to help in some way you can and should

  • Spread the word, call the press, blog the story, show up in Chicago, tell people who tell people.
  • Get in touch directly with the POCC.
  • Send Support Letters TODAY (they must arrive in Chicago BEFORE July 20th):

    P.O. Box 368255

    Chicago, IL 60636
  • Write to Aaron Patterson directly,
    Aaron Patterson

    ID # 21664424

    Metropolitan Correctional Center

    71 West Van Buren

    Chicago, IL 60605