If you follow the efforts of the grassroots activist organization, COLA, you know Murphy Nedal McLaren, also known as "Jihad". He's always seated at the head table of any press conferences that the organization holds, and he's always right on the front lines of any COLA protest, which has recently been consistently against the Barrow Government.
Well, this afternoon, it was Geovannie Brackett who had to be supporting Jihad after he was hauled in by police for possession of marijuana. Now, its the kind of thing which doesn't normally make the news after all, the court system is flooded on a daily basis with persons who have to answer for weed possession.
Its of interest because McLaren becomes the third COLA member within 6 weeks to be charged with some sort of criminal offence. In October, during the teachers' strike, Brackett was charged in connection to the tire fire on Belcan Bridge, along with his fellow grassroots activist Perry "Stix" Smith. Their fellow activist Fitz Howard who was also charged with possession. .
Either they're being singled out as a group of trouble makers, or they have painted targets on themselves for their anti-establishment positions. They think it's the latter, and when we met Brackett and McLaren after his arraignment, they told us that he will get off this nuisance charge:
Murphy Nedal "Jihad" McLaren, charged with drug possession
"I don't hide anything, from the prime minister to the commissioner of police knows I smoke weed. I don't hide anything, but this is a personal thing between me and the guy from MIT. This thing is beyond that, it's not the first time they came after me. They've tried other small things and I paid no attention but they went after Giovanni, Rivers, Sticks and now their assuming I want to be the dolly house. Their wrong, the wrong dolly house their picking on."
Geovannie Brackett, President - COLA
"The weed possession is one angle, but clearly there have been members related to COLA that have been targeted and our sources both from within the police department and high up within the government service have warned us that we will actually be targeted. You've seen it with sticks, with Jun, with Raymond Rivers, you've seen it with myself and other relating COLA members and now with Nedal "Jihad" McLaren. We want to send a message to the government that this intimidation tactic will not deter us"
Reporter
"Why shouldn't you guys be a little bit more cautious and maybe try to avoid staying out of trouble."
Geovannie Brackett, President - COLA
"In terms of staying out of trouble, it can also be interpreted by not only getting yourself into trouble but talking out on the government. That means trouble in this country today."
Reporter
"Did you or did you not have the roach on you?"
Murphy Nedal "Jihad" McLaren, charged with drug possesion
"Who will say they have anything on them? Who will say they have a conviction on me? I don't have anything."
The incident is allegedly to have occurred at around 7:30 this morning. Mclaren was driving a black Explorer on Phillip Goldson Highway, coming from Orange Walk, when he was stopped at a police check point at Sandhill. The police officer at the checkpoint said he decided to search the vehicle because he smelled the strong aroma of cannabis. According to the police, the search resulted in the discovery of 8.5 grams cannabis in the front seam of Mclaren's pants under his underwear. As a result, Mclaren was arrested and charged.
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