so this guy borrows a bus, see...

[whalerider55]

asks the cops if anyone is using it. they say no, and he hotwires it, picks up 100 strangers, and drives them from New Orleans to the astrodome.

a hero. a real hero. maybe we can get that medal of freedom back from george tenet and pass it on to this kid.

no, wait. can't do that. the kid's black. and he stole the bus. and most of his passengers were black and poor. and now, they're illegal immigrants who've come across the border from louisiana into texas.

if i ever get stuck in a living hell, while the government shrugs and digs through the closet for its golf shoes, i want this kid right by my side.

i've never driven a bus either, but i'm willing to learn.

whalerider


http://www.newschannel5.tv/2005/9/1/4255/Taking-refuge-in-the-Astrodome

[fiveleafclover]

1. Sometimes crime really does pay

[ohio_liberal]

5. That's no bullshit

I think I should learn to hotwire cars. You never know when it will come in handy.

[fiveleafclover]

11. Hey, knowledge never hurts

It's what you do with it that lands you in jail.

[ohio_liberal]

54. I know all kinds of illegal stuff

You file it in the back of your mind, just in case ;)

[fiveleafclover]

55. I'll be looking for you

when all hell breaks lose.

[Bosso 63]

46. I will try to save you some time.

I used to drive for Seattle Metro, and I can tell you that city buses don't have keys. A small panel or window in the front has an access button, location varies by model. By the driver seat, there is a big Start button. Power steering, auto-transmission, though oddly enough, no fuel gage. On the back side of transit busses, there is a big button you can see if you lift the access panel to the engine compartment. This is an emergency off switch that cuts off the fuel to the motor. school busses and Grey hound types are a different kettle of fish that I don't know about.

[ohio_liberal]

53. Thanks for the info

I know what I need to steal a bus :D

Are you suprised that the bus had enough fuel to go 7 hours? Especially with no gas guage, they were definitely taking their chances

[Bosso 63]

59. Mechanics at the base fuel the bus for each route I took it on faith

They never failed me. Seattle metro was a good operation, in my opinion.I left seattle 10 years ago. The city had high taxes but good services. I look N.O. and I'm thinking this tax cut thing isn't working out so well for us.

[Giant Robot]

60. I saw him being interviewed and he said that

the entire bus pooled their money to buy gas, as they made several stops. I think even the Fox people I saw were portraying him as a hero. Maybe it was Greta. Don't remember. But he has my vote to be head of FEMA. Adapt, improvise, overcome!

[Imalittleteapot]

2. Heard on the Majority Report that authorities are

considering pressing charges against the bus driver hero. GAWD!!

[whalerider55]

4. they'll probably just...

extradite him back to New Orleans...

whalerider

[fiveleafclover]

17. I'd post his bail

God knows I've gotten people out of jail for much less noble things.

[getmeouttahere]

21. How about we ALL club together and pay his bail, if necessary?

and also make sure his fellow busmates are fed, housed and clothed, as any civilized nation would do.

[bliss_eternal]

32. I'm willing! Anyone else....?

I don't have much, but the Universe is abundant, and I can always get more. I'd give my last dollar to this kid for doing something so unselfish to save lives.

[mom cat]

49. Count me in too! Keep us posted!

[lildreamer316]

62. Count me in. n/t

[ohio_liberal]

3. OMFG

Look how it's written,

"In an extreme act of looting, one group actually stole a bus to escape ravaged areas in Louisiana."

"Authorities eventually allowed the renegade passengers inside the dome. But the 18-year-old who ensured their safety could find himself in a world of trouble for stealing the school bus."

[whalerider55]

7. look at the group pic of the news team...

white, smiling, and texans...

whalerider

[getmeouttahere]

9. The person who wrote this article...

deserves a collective bitch slap from DU

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

15. I guess he's really worried about getting a record, compared with starving

or dying of thirst in the Superdome. :eyes:

[jenn1977]

65. maybe we can help him by trying to get the media

to cover his story. if we can get enough attention on his story, it might be harder for them to criminalize and jail him.

[littleraf]

67. Tell Me Race Has Nothing to do With This!

Bush steals and election he becomes president. This kid steals a bus he becomes an enemy of the state. This whole episode has been soaked in race, especially the coverage. The first day after the storm was over everybody was saying, "material possessions mean nothing, all that matters is human life." But when after two days without assistance the looting started people started saying "possessions are all that matters, shoot to kill!"
Awhile back I had an exchange on this board with a MalibuChloe and I explained to her that the same racist attitudes that gave us Birth of a Nation and Gone With the Wind were still alive and well and that too many people shared those racist views -including MalibuChloe. Sadly, this whole sordid episode proves my point beyond argument. If this were Hartford Connecticutt or Boston, or some other predominantly white coastal city that was flooded following a hurricane do you seriously think it would have taken 3 days for the president to repsond and 5 for help to arrive? MalibuChloe said she wanted to be a writing student and i said with racist views like hers I hope she never became one. But given the coverage I've seen and the way blacks trapped in a sinking city, dying by the thousands, in desperate life-threatening situations have been portrayed by the white media I would think Chloe had already found a job writing news stories. The message from the white media is obvious: blacks need to quietly lie down and die. Fortuanately the people of NO aren't doing that. They're raising holy hell and rightly so! There's not a single white person on earth who would not have reacted the way the blacks in NO have. What white person on this board would lie and say they would sit calmly after five days without air-conditioning, toilets, electicity, phone service, water, food and medicine, in the brutal Louisiana heat (I live here so io can testify to how hot it gets), all the while watching people dying all around you? Especially when you can clearly see that no help is coming and none is on the way. To call this young man a thief is racist and to blame the peolpe of NO for hating how they've been abandoned is equally wrong.

[getmeouttahere]

6. This guy's my hero!

Who gives a flying fuck about the bus???? If they arrest him, I hope some high profile attorney takes his case. I want to put this guy's picture on my wallpaper. He's got a heart the size of NOLA and balls as big as churchbells!!!

[whalerider55]

13. apparently...

he asked permission from the cops, who said "we don't see anything..."


terrific discussion about this at kos...


http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2005/9/2/19856/62219

whalerider

[Mabus]

22. He should call Jason Robideaux

I think he'd be up for it.

DU thread: Must Read - A "floatilla of aid" TURNED BACK from New Orleans...Explain!:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4588797

My name is Jason Robideaux, I am an attorney from Lafayette Louisiana and have dealt with all of the various law enforcement agencies in Louisiana during the past 18 years. Although I have had a positive relationship with law enforcement personnel throughout the State for many years, I regretfully have a story to share that will shake your head in disbelief about the La. Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries.

A group of approximately 1,000 citizens pulling 500 boats left the Acadiana Mall in Lafayette this morning (Weds.) and headed to New Orleans with a police escort from the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Department. The "flotillia" of trucks pulling boats stretched over five miles. This citizen rescue group was organized by La. State Senator, Gautreaux from Vermilion Parish. The group was comprised of experienced boaters, licensed fishermen and hunters, people who have spent their entire adult life and teenage years on the waterways of Louisiana.

The State Police waved the flotillia of trucks/boats through the barricades in LaPlace and we sped into New Orleans via I-10 until past the airport and near the Clearview exit. At that time we were stopped by agents of the La. Dept. of Wildlife & Fisheries. A young DWF agent strolled through the boats and told approximately half of the citizens that their boats were "too large" because the water had "dropped during the night" and that they should turn around and go home.

[walldude]

8. Illegal immigrants?!?!?!?!?

WTF! These are AMERICANS GODDAMIT!!!!!

[whalerider55]

18. walldude-

that part was me, being a cynical, disgusted smartass.
and ashamed, very ashamed of our government.

whalerider

[Libby2]

10. What struck me about this

is it was the FIRST bus that made it out.
Ordinary citizens on their own made it out.

[getmeouttahere]

14. Very good point!

I'm just grateful he got them outta there!

[NoBushSpokenHere]

12. ummmmmm well, maybe the kid can do it again only take

everyone to DC for the IMPEACHMENT/END IRAQ WAR Rally Sept 24-26?

Just ummmm kidding......

[MelissaB]

25. or get another load from NO

Either way sounds good to me.

[Catherine Vincent]

16. Amend, brother.

And they called it a "Renagade Bush".

[Catherine Vincent]

61. Amend should be Amen.

Sorry.:)

[spuddonna]

19. JMJ... Yeah, heros are jailed, Bush'll give the FEMA guy a medal... n/t

[Strelnikov_]

20. Need To Make This Kid President

At least he is willing to improvise and act.

[Walt Starr]

23. Jabbor Gibson deserves a fucking medal

and that's all I have to say about that.

[struggle4progress]

27. Absolutely. eom

[Stephanie]

24. "I dont care if I get blamed for it , as long as I saved my people."

"I dont care if I get blamed for it ," Gibson said, "as long as I saved my people."

Young Gibson puts George Bush to SHAME.

[whalerider55]

26. at kos, people are talking about...

setting up a scholarship fund for this guy.

a good idea, since he won't get any financial aid from the gov't.

whalerider

[getmeouttahere]

31. Great idea!

I love it! I'm totally down for that!

[whalerider55]

34. just gotta find the little hero...

[bliss_eternal]

35. Where's kos? I need to go there and let them know

I agree and will support them if they do something for him.

Also, I've been thinking...someone needs to organize some lawyers and legal help that are willing to provide aid and assistance to some of the people that will be charged with crimes. We need people that are willing (and able) to work on behalf of these people, pro bono...

[whalerider55]

43. here

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2005/9/2/19856/62219

[bliss_eternal]

50. Thank you!

:thumbsup:

[Stephanie]

45. right - Katrina Survivors Legal Aid

[DIKB]

66. As I read those words

I choked up. A young man stepping forward to help STRANGERS, they were other Americans, people in need, and that made them HIS PEOPLE. This young man is TEN TIMES the man that that scumbag of a pResident could ever DREAM of being !!!!

[Turn CO Blue]

28. Thanks for posting about this... n/t

[whalerider55]

29. it's a simple enough question...

with a powerful impact.
if i ever get stuck.
i'll ask myself "what would Jabbor do?"

and i think i'll understand what i need to do.

whalerider

whose faith in the ability of human beings to live with courage and compassion gets stronger every day.

as i said earlier, the universe is prepping for a major correction. buckle your seatbelts folks.

[philarq]

30. The kid deserves a medal

one of the finest acts that I have seen come out of NO

[whalerider55]

33. welcome to du, phil...

i agree. something so utterly perfectly right. a heroic act.

whalerider

[bliss_eternal]

36. Oh and p.s. Btw--this is bullshit.

Thank you for posting this, anyway. :hi:

[neonplaque]

37. No way will they charge this guy.

In fact, the Mayor of N.O. will probably give him a medal.

[aresef]

38. This kid shouls get every honor possible...

But you know he'll be cuffed in the morning. I wonder what the Freepers have to say.

[LevelB]

39. Was the bus stolen, looted or commandeered?

Oh, never mind, I just saw the picture of the kid. :eyes:

B.

[whalerider55]

42. abandoned n/t

[distantearlywarning]

40. I thought the write-up was terrible.

They portrayed him as a criminal. If that kid's a criminal, we should lock up the law abiders.

I wrote a letter to the station about their story:

"Regarding the story about the kid who stole the school bus:

I certainly hope that somebody "loots" like that for me if I'm ever sick and starving in a ruined city with no help expected soon. This kid should get a medal, not censure, and certainly deserves better than the shoddy write-up he got on your website. You should all be ashamed of yourself. Would a white guy who did the same thing be depicted as a criminal? Or a hero? Just a thought...


Sincerely,

DistantEarlyWarning"

[IndyOp]

41. I emailed the KKK reporters:

I am offended by your characterization of Jabbor Gibson's act of heroism as 'an extreme act of looting.' If the bus had been needed by officials to evacuate the citizens or if Mr. Gibson had used the bus for selfish reasons then his action would be looting. As it is, the young man acted heroically by packing the bus full of devastated American citizens and driving them to safety.

Please, ask yourself, if your child had been in New Orleans when the hurricane hit and someone had gotten them back home safely by commandeering an unused bus - would you consider that person a 'looter' or a 'hero'? I am going to bet that you would be immensely grateful to the hero that saved your child's life. I would be.

Further, how much less likely would you be to consider his act 'looting' if he were white instead of black?

Please, for the love of God, report on the real looters - like Halliburton, which just received a contract to help repair damage from Katrina.

[whalerider55]

44. amen, friend. n/t

[bliss_eternal]

52. Great e-mail! Thank you for sharing it!

You have a good heart!
:hug:

[qanda]

47. If black leaders let this boy go to jail

Then I will denounce my race. I only wish there were 500 more like him with the attitude that talking about a problem won't solve it.

[akarnitz]

48. Make this kid the head of FEMA!!!!

So few have even gotten off their asses yet! This kid better not even be charged w/a crime!

[IndyOp]

51. THAT is the best idea I've heard all day...

I hope this kid doesn't disppear from the public eye - this is a potential, real leader.

[Eloriel]

56. Another thread on this wunderkind

Jabbar Gibson National Hero! Stole A Bus And Saved 70! LETS ROLL!!!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=4596231&mesg_id=4596231

[DaytonOHDem]

57. Jabbor Gibson

Jabbor, you are my hero. I would walk for miles to shake your hand. I wouldn't cross the street to shake King Dimwits hand. That is one of the bravest and coolest things I have heard in a long time. Thank God there are still some people out there with brains and guts. I will send money to Jabbor for anything he needs. Just keep all of us up to date.

[ProudDad]

58. Fantastic

Now THAT'S a real hero.

[President Kerry]

63. fantastic job Jabbor! true hero.

[gatorboy]

64. He could get in trouble for "stealing" the bus?

Wasn't this abandoned on the street? He saves a hundred lives and they want to arrest him for it?

If this kid goes to jail....:mad:

[JDPriestly]

68. The necessity defense.

Here is what a defendant must prove in California to defeat a criminal charge by pleading and proving the necessity defense.

"To justify an instruction on the defense of necessity, a defendant must present evidence sufficient to establish that violated the law (1) to prevent a significant and imminent evil, (2) with no reasonable legal alternative, (3) without creating a greater danger than the one avoided, (4) with a good faith belief that the criminal act was necessary to prevent the greater harm, (5) with such belief being objectively reasonable, and (6) under circumstances in which did not substantially contribute to the emergency. " ( People v. Kearns (1997) 55 Cal.App.4th 1128 , 1135 <64 Cal.Rptr.2d 654>.)

People v. Galambos (2002) 104 Cal.App.4th 1147, 1160 (ruling that the necessity defense did not apply given facts in the Galambos case.)

http://login.findlaw.com/scripts/callaw

If Louisiana recognizes the necessity defense, it should help those who committed crimes in NO in order to survive. Obviously, it won't help anyone who had a reasonable legal alternative to committing the crime or who committed a criminal act that was not necessary to prevent greater harm. As usual the journalist did not tell the whole story in accusing the driver of an illegal act. The journalist should have pointed out that a crime might be forgiven under those facts. It is important that people faced with a choice between stealing a material object and dying or watching others die know that stealing is OK under those circumstances in many places.