Recently, my son Byron referenced a documented truth from U.S. history that deserves renewed attention. J. Edgar Hoover, former Director of the FBI, explicitly warned that the government must prevent the rise of a so-called “Black Messiah”—someone capable of organizing, unifying, and awakening Black communities across the nation.

That fear gave rise to COINTELPRO, a federal program designed not to protect the public, but to disrupt, discredit, divide, and destroy Black leaders and movements rooted in justice, dignity, and collective power.

This matters because that fear-based framework did not end—it evolved.

Today, we see its legacy in:

Mass incarceration and excessive sentencing
Prosecutorial overreach
Criminalization of dissent
A culture of xenophobia that treats whole communities as threats
My son’s wrongful conviction and extreme sentence did not occur in a vacuum. His case exists within a system historically shaped by fear of organized truth rather than a commitment to justice.

As Byron recently said, “the chickens are coming home to roost.”
A nation cannot build systems on fear and punishment and expect peace, safety, or moral integrity in return.

Call to Action:
We are demanding:

A full and transparent review of Byron Greene’s conviction and sentence
Accountability for prosecutorial misconduct and excessive punishment
A broader reckoning with fear-based justice policies that continue to devastate families
Please continue to sign, share, and speak out.
Justice cannot be built on fear—and silence only prolongs harm.

Rev. Jamesina E. Greene, President & Founder

A Mother's Cry

One mother's mission to advocates for families impacted by incarceration