Mom Arrested at Son's School Party

[Revolutionary_Student]

Sarina Gillis is the mother of the boy who found and brought the weed to school.

April 26, 2006 - Sarina Gillis is facing child endangerment and drug possession charges. You've heard her name before because she is the mother of Erica Pratt, the youngster who was kidnapped in a case that made national headlines in 2002. Police here call this case not only bizarre, but very sad.

Erica Pratt made headlines in 2002 when she was kidnapped and tied up in the basement of an abandoned Philadelphia row house.

Philadelphia Police say the 5 year old boy walked up to a teacher and said, "Mommy's weed is in my bag." A search turned up marijuana.
Officials at Harrity Elementary called authorities. The little boy's mother, Sarina Gillis, was already in route to the school for a previously planned birthday for the boy. When she arrived with balloons and cookies, police confronted her. They say she smelled like marijuana and inside her purse they found a half smoked blunt, marijuana rolled in cigar paper.

Parents are disgusted.

Shaytare Mitchell/PARENT "She should be locked up...even if she didn't know."
Police say the student told investigators his mom would smoke "weed" on the porch and often leave him in the house to buy the drug. Christine Gilliard has an 11-year-old daughter who goes to the school. She says if parents use drugs, their kids think it's OK to use drugs.
Christine Gilliard/PARENT "They grow up and get in the drug life. That's a bad way to go....so they won't fall under the ropes."
Sarina Gillis is also the mother of Erica Pratt. She's the young girl who was kidnapped from her grandmother's house in 2002 and held for ransom in a vacant Logan home. She gained national fame after escaping her captors. Erica's grandmother has custody of her and a sibling, after what friends describe as a turbulent upbringing for Gillis. They defend Gillis, saying she's good mother to her son, and has recently gotten her life back on track.
George Morris/BROTHER "She's a good mother. She's good mother. I'm going to hold it down."
Her son is in custody of the Department of Human Services.

[Revolutionary_Student]

This is the girl (Erica Pratt) that Dave Chappelle was talking about on "For What It's Worth".

I remember that story. Courageous little girl.

This most recent event is very unfortunate. The mother should seriously seek help. There's no excuse for a MOTHER to smoke weed around young children let alone bring it to his school birthday party. Very negligent and stupid on her part.

[Nia Maishani]

Originally Posted by Revolutionary_Student

This is the girl (Erica Pratt) that Dave Chappelle was talking about on "For What It's Worth".

I remember that story. Courageous little girl.

This most recent event is very unfortunate. The mother should seriously seek help. There's no excuse for a MOTHER to smoke weed around young children let alone bring it to his school birthday party. Very negligent and stupid on her part.

Let me first say that I wholeheartedly agree that little Erica Pratt is a very courageous child, and my heart goes out to her. Now as for her mother, looking at the above comment, to which I added bold emphasis, I am wondering what is the point of posting this thread/information. Simply to tear the sister down further??? I should hope not. My take on this particular situation is much different I'm sure than that of most. For this reason, the remainder of my comments will likely be judged in the same harsh manner in which the mother in this news story is being judged. Nevertheless, I stand behind my own sentiments.

Originally Posted by Action News

Police here call this case not only bizarre, but very sad.

I would never advocate or condone having or using marijuana in the presence of a child, but I'm confused about what is bizarre about this case. The fact that the child turned it in? The fact that a child that age brought it to school? What? What I find bizarre is if this had been a caucasian child bringing a gun to school to use on classmates, it wouldn't be called bizarre, and I don't recall seeing shots of the parents of such children being flashed through the media, come to think of it.

Originally Posted by Action News

Shaytare Mitchell/PARENT "She should be locked up...even if she didn't know."

And what is locking her up going to accomplish, Shaytare? Newsflash: There's plenty of access to weed in jail. How about doing something original and unheard of in this situation, like, oh, say, stopping for a second to think about why she may be smoking marijuana, and how one might go about resolving the root issue instead of just walking the beaten path of locking a person up and throwing away the key? Or would that require too much heart, something that ol' no-good black weedhead ain't worthy of?

Originally Posted by Action News

Police say the student told investigators his mom would smoke "weed" on the porch and often leave him in the house to buy the drug.

It's so sad I have to phrase this question this way. WWYD? What would yt do in a situation such as this, involving not a poor black single mother, but a wealthier caucasian female? If the woman is leaving her child at home alone to go and purchase her self-medication, it sounds to me like she needs help. I don't mean punitive help, but the help that obviously some of her family members are now proclaiming to be ready to offer. Better yet, WWAD? What would our Ancestors do in a situation such as this? I doubt they would rush to kick the sister while she's down.

Originally Posted by Action News

Christine Gilliard has an 11-year-old daughter who goes to the school. She says if parents use drugs, their kids think it's OK to use drugs.

Sometimes yes, other times, no. If parents smoke cigarettes, drink beer/alcohol, watch alot of television, tell lies, etc., their children will also think these things are o.k. But they are not going to get any parent punished or separated from their children. If parents judge other parents, THEIR children will think it is o.k. for THEM to judge, by the way.

Originally Posted by Action News

Christine Gilliard/PARENT "They grow up and get in the drug life. That's a bad way to go....so they won't fall under the ropes."

Funny, I'm not in the drug life, and I grew up with marijuana as a border, as well as an air freshener. Again, not condoning having the stuff present, but these blanket statements hold no weight.

Originally Posted by Action News

Sarina Gillis is also the mother of Erica Pratt. She's the young girl who was kidnapped from her grandmother's house in 2002 and held for ransom in a vacant Logan home. She gained national fame after escaping her captors. Erica's grandmother has custody of her and a sibling, after what friends describe as a turbulent upbringing for Gillis. They defend Gillis, saying she's good mother to her son, and has recently gotten her life back on track.
George Morris/BROTHER "She's a good mother. She's good mother. I'm going to hold it down."

Classic example of europeons & their society selectively blaming the situation on the character of the person, rather than acknowledging it as a situational dilemma. The opposite is always granted to caucasians. If they are in a bad situation, it's situational, and has nothing to do with the person's character.

The blessing in this situation is that the woman's friends, brother and mother overstand that the life/situations Ms. Gillis has lived through haven't paved her a smooth road for model parenting. It never ceases to amaze me how we are always so quick to point out all the worst, but never notice the little things that are RIGHT with certain of our own. The sister didn't have to do anything special for her son on his birthday (though she should have, and she TRIED to). Despite her flaw/problem, she took it upon herself to be there at her child's school to attempt to make his day special, with a birthday celebration (balloons, cookies). ALOT of sober parents won't do that. No one sees that bit though, because for most of us, the bad outweighs any good. It is so damned easy to sit here and take shots at the sister instead of trying to reach out to her and say, sister, I see you are having a hard time--how can I help? This is our weakness as a people.

Originally Posted by Action News

Her son is in custody of the Department of Human Services.

And that is the greatest tragedy of the ordeal. NOW, he's REALLY endangered.

[Revolutionary_Student]

Originally Posted by Nia Maishani

I am wondering what is the point of posting this thread/information. Simply to tear the sister down further??? I should hope not.

My intentions were not to tear her down when I posted this. My intentions were to inform the comrades of yet another tragedy in our community.

My comment about the sister needing help was aimed at the fact that she smokes in front of the kids. I smoke weed and would never smoke in front of kids. Nobody's perfect, we all have flaws, but she should have been more careful is all I'm saying.

Originally Posted by Nia Maishani

The blessing in this situation is that the woman's friends, brother and mother overstand that the life/situations Ms. Gillis has lived through haven't paved her a smooth road for model parenting. It never ceases to amaze me how we are always so quick to point out all the worst, but never notice the little things that are RIGHT with certain of our own. The sister didn't have to do anything special for her son on his birthday (though she should have, and she TRIED to). Despite her flaw/problem, she took it upon herself to be there at her child's school to attempt to make his day special, with a birthday celebration (balloons, cookies). ALOT of sober parents won't do that.

I couldn't agree more. I actually put myself in her shoes, being a weed smoker and all, and I don't think it was at all as bad as the media makes it out to be. Now if it were crack or heroine, that would change the dynamics of the whole situation.

The fact that the children are in custody of DHS is in fact the worse part of it all. That will, in the end, be the most trumatizing experience for the kids. They were in NO danger before.

[Revolutionary_Student]

Originally Posted by Action News

Erica's grandmother has custody of her and a sibling, after what friends describe as a turbulent upbringing for Gillis. They defend Gillis, saying she's good mother to her son, and has recently gotten her life back on track.
George Morris/BROTHER "She's a good mother. She's good mother. I'm going to hold it down."
Her son is in custody of the Department of Human Services.

Why isn't the boy in custody of his grandmother or another family member?

[Nia Maishani]

Originally Posted by Revolutionary_Student

Why isn't the boy in custody of his grandmother or another family member?

Simple. Bureaucracy. We have no rights over our own children until yt says so, and not a moment sooner. Once yt is done with all it wants to do and take the child through and create "records," then and only then will it be decided if the child can go with his siblings & grandmother. Let us hope that that is where he winds up, sooner than later, or at the very least, with a good, stable family member.

P.s. My initial post was not directly targeted at you, but primarily at the media & society--although I did sense some slight absence of sympathy. Never personal. It's all love.

[AfroNinpo]

Originally Posted by Nia Maishani

Let me first say that I wholeheartedly agree that little Erica Pratt is a very courageous child, and my heart goes out to her. Now as for her mother, looking at the above comment, to which I added bold emphasis, I am wondering what is the point of posting this thread/information. Simply to tear the sister down further??? I should hope not. My take on this particular situation is much different I'm sure than that of most. For this reason, the remainder of my comments will likely be judged in the same harsh manner in which the mother in this news story is being judged. Nevertheless, I stand behind my own sentiments.




I would never advocate or condone having or using marijuana in the presence of a child, but I'm confused about what is bizarre about this case. The fact that the child turned it in? The fact that a child that age brought it to school? What? What I find bizarre is if this had been a caucasian child bringing a gun to school to use on classmates, it wouldn't be called bizarre, and I don't recall seeing shots of the parents of such children being flashed through the media, come to think of it.



And what is locking her up going to accomplish, Shaytare? Newsflash: There's plenty of access to weed in jail. How about doing something original and unheard of in this situation, like, oh, say, stopping for a second to think about why she may be smoking marijuana, and how one might go about resolving the root issue instead of just walking the beaten path of locking a person up and throwing away the key? Or would that require too much heart, something that ol' no-good black weedhead ain't worthy of?



It's so sad I have to phrase this question this way. WWYD? What would yt do in a situation such as this, involving not a poor black single mother, but a wealthier caucasian female? If the woman is leaving her child at home alone to go and purchase her self-medication, it sounds to me like she needs help. I don't mean punitive help, but the help that obviously some of her family members are now proclaiming to be ready to offer. Better yet, WWAD? What would our Ancestors do in a situation such as this? I doubt they would rush to kick the sister while she's down.



Sometimes yes, other times, no. If parents smoke cigarettes, drink beer/alcohol, watch alot of television, tell lies, etc., their children will also think these things are o.k. But they are not going to get any parent punished or separated from their children. If parents judge other parents, THEIR children will think it is o.k. for THEM to judge, by the way.



Funny, I'm not in the drug life, and I grew up with marijuana as a border, as well as an air freshener. Again, not condoning having the stuff present, but these blanket statements hold no weight.



Classic example of europeons & their society selectively blaming the situation on the character of the person, rather than acknowledging it as a situational dilemma. The opposite is always granted to caucasians. If they are in a bad situation, it's situational, and has nothing to do with the person's character.

The blessing in this situation is that the woman's friends, brother and mother overstand that the life/situations Ms. Gillis has lived through haven't paved her a smooth road for model parenting. It never ceases to amaze me how we are always so quick to point out all the worst, but never notice the little things that are RIGHT with certain of our own. The sister didn't have to do anything special for her son on his birthday (though she should have, and she TRIED to). Despite her flaw/problem, she took it upon herself to be there at her child's school to attempt to make his day special, with a birthday celebration (balloons, cookies). ALOT of sober parents won't do that. No one sees that bit though, because for most of us, the bad outweighs any good. It is so damned easy to sit here and take shots at the sister instead of trying to reach out to her and say, sister, I see you are having a hard time--how can I help? This is our weakness as a people.


And that is the greatest tragedy of the ordeal. NOW, he's REALLY endangered.

I think it is a tragedy all around, yes. And NO, I do not believe that this sister should be put in jail. But, I do NOT believe in making excuses for our people. As far as we know, the lady is a recreational weed smoker. Everyone, I'll even go so far to say MOST people, who smoke weed don't do it because of their situations and their adversities, the do it because they like getting high...it feels good! I'm not for kickin' the sister while she's down, but I am all for holding her responsible.

[Kweku_Omowale]

greetings nia,revolutionary student and afro nimpo!

lets not crucify this sister,but understand the dynamic of it,do they penalize white hippies the same way,they penalize us afrikan people or indigenous people for smoking or growing,this system breeds criminals,the diggest drug addict of all times,starts with the letter B,for bush and the bullshit people of color worldwide go thru.
i dont comdemn the sister for smoking,may be it is her way to deal with the stress of this modern day rome,impose on her and her family,i dont think,she should have smoked in front of any child,because,the system just wait fora latch and opportunity to take ur child away.

[Nia Maishani]

Originally Posted by AfroNinpo

... But, I do NOT believe in making excuses for our people.

I don't believe in excusing poor decision making either, brother AfroNinpo. But I also don't believe in snap-castigating ANY person who is already in a fixed state of oppression. We are all in a fixed state of oppression, including many caucasians, and especially those of us who are not of elevated consciousness. I don't believe in EVER blaming a victim, especially when that person's infraction is not commensurate with the punishment. This is no apology for marijuana, but I've never heard of anyone selling their body or that of their children, or killing, robbing or stealing for a marijuana high--like has been done with drugs like crack-cocaine. You wouldn't know it though, the way people who smoke it are vilified. No such vilification for cigarette & alcohol users, who are free to indulge all day everyday in the presence of EVERYONE'S children. Why? Cigarettes & alcohol aren't political "drugs."

I haven't walked a mile in Sarina Gillis' shoes, so I am in no position to judge her. Therefore, not excusing her, but giving her the benefit of the doubt that she actually does care about her child(ren), and if given a bit more care from family, community & nation, might be better equipped to care for herself and her children in healthier ways.

Originally Posted by AfroNinpo

As far as we know, the lady is a recreational weed smoker. Everyone, I'll even go so far to say MOST people, who smoke weed don't do it because of their situations and their adversities, the do it because they like getting high...it feels good!

This is interesting. I always knew I was an oddball. I'm no marijuana smoker, but I have been in the past. I feel qualified to speak from my own experience. I doubt that I would ever have taken a single hit had it not been for two factors (situations) in my life.
1. It was in my face, in abundance, at an early age, and eventually became a curiosity.
2. The people I was around at the time curiosity hit were also curious and in similar situations.
I doubt it would have become repetitive had it not been for adversity in my life. Honestly, the high itself has never "felt good" for me, but that's just me. It was basically just a way for me to isolate myself with my own thoughts & feelings. It became repetitive because it was an escape through which I could float on another plane and THINK deeply about how to deal with life.

Had I been dealt the misfortune of being in worse circumstances and around seedier or more depressed people, it could have been coke, crack, heroin or something else synthetic/destructive/unredeemable. Sorry, I don't buy that the sista just wants to selfishly get a "feel good" on. I suspect that she uses it to take a moment out to escape and "mellow out." It's probably her only respite! Call that excuse-making if you want, but--once again, we don't walk in her shoes everyday, and we haven't walked through the jungles she may have, or continue to walk. This reminds me of a time when a sista I know confided to me that she once smoked, and during the high, reflected that, in her words, she didn't have to spank her grandson for such a small matter (whatever it was). Like happens with all senses, her conscience (6th sense) had become more prominent.

All that to say that a LOT of folk (can't say "most" or what portion) use it because they don't have or see a better alternative for staying mellow or at peace with themselves. Not the same as a feel-good session. These folk need for other folk who give a care to help them to connect properly with Spirit. It is as simple as that. I don't think she's a bad person, I think she's been dealt some bad circumstances, some bad guidance and probably some abandonment. If her children are to be rescued, the village needs to go and rescue her.

Originally Posted by AfroNinpo

I'm not for kickin' the sister while she's down, but I am all for holding her responsible.

And we shouldn't jump to any conclusion that she doesn't want responsibility. We don't know her, and we haven't spoken with her. I am all for holding the community responsible to walk with her through changing her lifestyle, not simply expecting her to just go it alone. Her problem is OUR problem. We shouldn't condescendingly demand that all people have and utilize the same strengths we have and utilize, if we are not willing to recognize the strengths they do have and be willing to help them to rectify their weaknesses.

[Nia Maishani]

Originally Posted by Kweku_Omowale

...lets not crucify this sister,but understand the dynamic of it...this system breeds criminals,the biggest drug addict of all times,starts with the letter B,for bush and the bullshit people of color worldwide go thru.
i dont comdemn the sister for smoking,may be it is her way to deal with the stress this modern day rome imposes on her and her family,i dont think,she should have smoked in front of any child,because,the system just wait for a latch and opportunity to take ur child away.

True indeed, . I think if we all could demand that children are removed from homes for parents' acts we individually deem unsuitable & irresponsible, probably no one would have children. Except the state. And then, the children would be taken away from the state for its acts, and just left to wander.

Don't get me wrong. No child should be left in the care of anyone who places the child's life in danger or abuses or exploits the child. In this particular case however, good old fashioned help from the front porch is all that is called for.

[AfroNinpo]

Originally Posted by Nia Maishani

I don't believe in excusing poor decision making either, brother AfroNinpo. But I also don't believe in snap-castigating ANY person who is already in a fixed state of oppression. We are all in a fixed state of oppression, including many caucasians, and especially those of us who are not of elevated consciousness. I don't believe in EVER blaming a victim, especially when that person's infraction is not commensurate with the punishment. This is no apology for marijuana, but I've never heard of anyone selling their body or that of their children, or killing, robbing or stealing for a marijuana high--like has been done with drugs like crack-cocaine. You wouldn't know it though, the way people who smoke it are vilified. No such vilification for cigarette & alcohol users, who are free to indulge all day everyday in the presence of EVERYONE'S children. Why? Cigarettes & alcohol aren't political "drugs."

I haven't walked a mile in Sarina Gillis' shoes, so I am in no position to judge her. Therefore, not excusing her, but giving her the benefit of the doubt that she actually does care about her child(ren), and if given a bit more care from family, community & nation, might be better equipped to care for herself and her children in healthier ways.




This is interesting. I always knew I was an oddball. I'm no marijuana smoker, but I have been in the past. I feel qualified to speak from my own experience. I doubt that I would ever have taken a single hit had it not been for two factors (situations) in my life.
1. It was in my face, in abundance, at an early age, and eventually became a curiosity.
2. The people I was around at the time curiosity hit were also curious and in similar situations.
I doubt it would have become repetitive had it not been for adversity in my life. Honestly, the high itself has never "felt good" for me, but that's just me. It was basically just a way for me to isolate myself with my own thoughts. It became repetitive because it was an escape through which I could float on another plane and THINK deeply about how to deal with life.

Had I been dealt the misfortune of being in worse circumstances and around seedier or more depressed people, it could have been coke, crack, heroin or something else synthetic/destructive/unredeemable. Sorry, I don't buy that the sista just wants to selfishly get a "feel good" on. I suspect that she uses it to take a moment out to escape and "mellow out." It's probably her only respite! Call that excuse-making if you want, but--once again, we don't walk in her shoes everyday, and we haven't walked through the jungles she may have, or continue to walk. This reminds me of a time when a sista I know confided to me that she once smoked, and during the high, reflected that, in her words, she didn't have to spank her grandson for such a small matter (whatever it was). Like happens with all senses, her conscience (6th sense) had become more prominent.

All that to say that a LOT of folk (can't say "most" or what portion) use it because they don't have or see a better alternative for staying mellow or at peace with themselves. Not the same as a feel-good session. These folk need for other folk who give a care to help them to connect properly with Spirit. It is as simple as that. I don't think she's a bad person, I think she's been dealt some bad circumstances, some bad guidance and probably some abandonment. If her children are to be rescued, the village needs to go and rescue her.


And we shouldn't jump to any conclusion that she doesn't want responsibility. We don't know her, and we haven't spoken with her. I am all for holding the community responsible to walk with her through changing her lifestyle, not simply expecting her to just go it alone. Her problem is OUR problem. We shouldn't condescendingly demand that all people have and utilize the same strengths we have and utilize, if we are not willing to recognize the strengths they do have and be willing to help them to rectify their weaknesses.

There is an abundance of truth to what you are saying, Sister Nia. I just got the imression you were saying that an oppressed people ONLY do things out of circumstance, therefore we cannot be held responsible for our own mistakes. I don't believe that. I believe that it is the duty of said oppressed people to overstand their misfortune and transcend their current state instead of making excuses.

[CreatorsCollege]

Greetings!

My granny used to say, ""g*d" allows things to happen to bring attention to "him" self.

The thing "nagging" me about this situation is wondering what the motivation of the child was to bring the weed to the teacher.

This could be "divine intervention" to cause this trauma to prevent a later tragedy that could envelop if this "lesson" is not taken and learned-from. We can all benefit from this "lesson."

We, as we many times are repsonding to conditionally being "mutially accountable" for negative portrayals of us in the media, and reacting self-protectingly and hyper-critically. Not a judgement but an observation, I am especially guilty of it.

Peace & Blessings to the sister in her "trial" -may she gracefully balance the scales of Justice and re-claim and re-unite her family and they grow-forth in loving healing.

Uhuru!

[Nia Maishani]

Originally Posted by AfroNinpo

... I believe that it is the duty of said oppressed people to overstand their misfortune and transcend their current state instead of making excuses.

I think we are in agreement. There must be a balance of overstanding one's circumstances through both the lens of one's oppressive outside forces and the lens of one's oppressive inner forces which manifest--respectively--as socially engineered problems and inadequate defense mechanism and/or resolve. Transcending one's current state of misfortune becomes a neverending battle in the absence of familial/social support.

Originally Posted by CreatorsCollege

The thing "nagging" me about this situation is wondering what the motivation of the child was to bring the weed to the teacher.

I've pondered this same question, Brother CreatorsCollege. My speculation is this. While she does have custody (or did) of her son, and according to her brother, she is trying to remedy her situation, the mother of the child no doubt is in a state of depression. I don't see how she couldn't be, with (two?) children outside of her custody, on top of whatever circumstance(s) led to their removal, and her children are probably all or most of what she has. The fact that she goes out on the porch on occasion for a smoke, and even leaves her son alone sometimes to go and obtain it, is sending messages to him. Surely he sees that there is something wrong with his mother's mood, and public school education about drugs I'm guessing has prompted him to look to the school to help him to help his mother. Seems peculiar that he turned the marijuana and the situation over to the school on the day that a party was planned for him. Maybe something happened the evening before, or the morning of?