Paul's POZ Blog

I hate when i hear about this kind of shit happening... isn't there a way to stablish a demand for the ilegimity of these charges? It is like accusing someone with cancer of using his cancer to kill someone else.... what a stupid thing.

Isn't it about time to put some boots on the ground in protest of an obvious miscarrige of justice. I know that I am appalled beyond belief by this verdict. It's funny people die every year by being punched in the head, but similar charges never seem to follow. Only if you were to actually seriously injure or kill some one with a punch would you be facing similar charges.

As Nate said it's time we put boots somewhere and I do not mean on the ground either !
I have been with my mate for the past 22 years now and we have at times engaged in french kissing ( alto not to often nor in public I know that to this day he remains non poz because since he is a trucker he has to go thru yearly physicals for the dot and we think that having to have labs done is an all day job just try getting thru one of those physicals ) and to imagine a man some years younger then myself being given such a harsh sentance for just spitting on a police man is just plain outrageous .
I think we should all be getting in contact with our state reps and making our voices known about this absurd issue because if we do not take a stand on this man's part then who's to speak for us should some thing such as this happen to one of us .

next time what they going to do..?? death sentence!!??... this is so ridicolous and its happening in united states of america??.... where is the equal rights...??
so sad.. i will pray for Mr. Campbell..
Isil from Turkey

Your logic seems to follow my own. I,too,was amazed by that story. For those living with HIV it is a set back and shows the complete lack of education concerning transmition of the virus.

Has Justice lost its mind along with the the rest of the nation!! How can we stand up in an organized protest to this miscarriage of justice. Oil proces, Iraq, the Economy, al quida...ignorance is not bliss ignorance is as ingrained as Hate. What can we do? ORGANIZE, BOYCOTT, PROTEST: city government, county goverenment, state government, If we do not stand up against this blatant hate then we are lost and it can only get worse. Education may help but the time is ripe an ready to call into an accounty this ugly miscarriage of justice!

Is Texas still a part of the United States???? If it is......you could have fooled me! What can you expect from a state that produces more religious dummies than anywhere else?

I'm embarassed to say I grew up in Texas and this kind of thing does not surprise me at all. I now live in California where it is is legal for gay men and women to be married.

I am so happy that I live in a civilized state like Calif. To live in Texas would be like living in a third world country.

My heart goes out to my fellow gay men and women in Texas.

Randy Foster

This kind of Judicial abuse of power and the unfortunate consequences that Mr. Campbell has to endure is without a doubt an outrage. Texas is a State that must enter the 21st century, become more tolerant of all people and ride themselves of the "Good Old Boy" Redneck ideals they cling to. Mr. Campbell is not the only person that I am aware of in Texas that is enduring this kind of hatred and misunderstanding.
One comment said that saliva cannot transmit HIV. If the fluid should contain infected blood possibly from a blow to the face during His arrest there is a small chance the virus could be transmitted. It would have to enter through the eyes or an area on the officers face that may have an open cut or sore. These facts should have been considered in Mr. Campbells case, however I doubt that the closed minded officials in Texas researched this possibility.

I urgently need for someone who is aware of this case to help me with trying to encourage an appeal, some contact with this guy's attorney. Many physicians and world-famous experts would be delighted to act pro-bono as friends of the court and testify that (ha!!) spitting is not an assault with a deadly weapon just because it was a person living with HIV who spit, and that HIV is not transmitted by saliva. This is urgent.

My email address is rocknrollmd@hotmail.com

Consuelo M. Beck-Sagué, MD

just another example of the predjudice of the common people. and they say we're not that way anymore.

I understand that Texas is a backward state, but this really takes the cake. I also have 2 question what type of defense this guy had. Was it a public defender? It sounds to me like he could have used a better attorney. My heart aches over cases like this, and this is why i wouldnt even step foot in that state. I have been positive for over 20 years and this is why i feel like our country is moving backwards when it comes to do with understanding HIV. The really sad thing is that my own mother wont eat off of a plate that i have eaten from. I wish this guy the best and if there is an attorney out there who can help this man, please, do so. GOD BLESS

When I was reading it I was, initially, flabbergasted about the ignorance of both the jury and the judge, but after a while I realised that this is Bu(ll)sh(it) country.The country with the biggest opportunities and now also the country with the biggest stupidities. I feel sorry for all of you over there, that you have to live among this nitwits. Just go all of you to that judge and spit him all over.

I really don't get why aren't we p in arms expressing outrage towards suh injustice.

"Willie Campbell, a 42 year old resident of Dallas was convicted of ‘assault with a deadly weapon’ for spitting on an arresting officer after being placed in the squad car". WOW!!! By the way, what was the "deadly weapon"??? The SPIT or his HIV POSITIVE STATUS???
Simple arithmetic 42 + 35 = 77 (years old). I wish Willie Campbell a happy 77th birth day in advance if the time ever comes. THAT IS THE WISH OF THE JURY.
Congratulations to HIV/AIDS and a call to more actions to all HIV/AIDS ACTIVISTS, SCIENTISTS AND RESEARCHERS.
A BIG APLAUSE TO THE PREJUDICED "ILLITERATE" JURY.

This form of ignorance must be dealt with accordingly. It is apparent that the United States court system has a lack of information concerning the exposure and transmission of this virus. However, we can not fault the court system. It is the fault of the medical system for not providing adequate and updated information to the public. Furthermore, it is the responsibility of those who are infected to educate themselves so that society can remain informed. Yes, this is a wake up call, but contrary to our personal opinions, the man was in complete violation when he spit on the officer. The sentence may be severely over stressed, but the cause for this problem stems from the defendants ignorance, not the court system.

This back to the dark ages, but of course it is Texas. The land and Home of the Bushes George, George HW, and all the clan!

HI, Tell him to write his Congress and Senators at Congress.org And everyone else who lives in that area and state your protest. Don't just say your mad DO Something PEOPLE.

Just when I thought we were heading in the right direction to getting people educated. I was dumb founded when I read this man's sentence and why he got so many years. I feel like it is discrimination. Why can't we all get along? I am HIV+ and I am well educated to learn how not to pass the virus. I feel that there are some out there that would feel the same. I feel that it doesn't matter what your job is you are always going to be around someone who is positive and because of discrimination like this no one wants to tell anyone that they are positive. I wouldn't want to be treated this way.

DON'T JUST TAKE THIS! STAGE A PROTEST. EVERYONE MUST TAKE CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE. WALK OUT OF YOUR JOB AT NOON ON JUNE 1ST, GO TO THE NEAREST POLICE STATION, AND CHANT "SHAME" IN HUGE CROWDS! DONATE TO THIS GUY'S APPEALS FUND! GO ON STRIKE!! TAKE BACK YOUR POWER, PEOPLE!!

What do you expect from such a politcally ass backwards state? Texas should be removed from the Union!

"Willie Campbell, a 42 year old resident of Dallas was convicted of ‘assault with a deadly weapon’ for spitting on an arresting officer after being placed in the squad car". By the way, what was the "deadly weapon"??? The SPIT or his HIV POSITIVE STATUS???
Simple arithmetic 42 + 35 = 77 (years old). I wish Willie Campbell a happy 77th birth day in advance if the time ever comes.
Congratulations to HIV/AIDS and a call to more actions to all HIV/AIDS ACTIVISTS, SCIENTISTS AND RESEARCHERS.
A BIG APLAUSE TO THE PREJUDICED "ILLITERATE" JURY.

HOW CAN IT BE CONCEDERED A DEADLY WEAPON IF YOU CAN NOT CONTRACT IT TREW SALIVIA?

I BELEAVE THIS HAS GONE TO A LOW STANDARD FOR
A PD DEPARTMENT ESPICALLY IN THIS DAY AND AGE.

I HOPE THE DOCTOR WHO VOLUNTEERED HER e mail ADDRESS RECEIVED A REPLY. WHOEVER HAS THE INFORMATION ON THIS SHOULD GET IN TOUCH WITH HER. HER MESSAGE IS SIGNED rocknrollmd

Again like so many other people's comments, I am appauled at such a severe sentence,though I have to say I think that to spit in anyones face is dispicable and the lowest of insults one human can show to another, be you hiv positive or not, be you English like myself, American Japanese or what, come up where's decency gone. All the same to sentence this man to even a year in jail for this type of offence is TOTALLY WRONG. As for the Judge and jury, it's ignorance that makes these sort of uneducated people hand out such harsh sentences - yet hiv is just like any other nasty disease that anyone can get, including the judge and jury - their the ones that are the fools in this day and age and show their ignorance by handing out such a harsh sentence. Sorry you american comrades, I sure is glad I am British and living in the UK. My husband is hiv + fortunately I escaped it, and like I said when we first found out his status, hiv is a sad disease born out of love, no one should feel ashamed, people who even take risks and chances are just silly to themselves, their not crimals, just unlucky in that they caught the disease - which a lot of us Brits believe was invented by some American Scientist anyway. I hope people do come together and try to get Willie Campbell (with the loveliest blue eyes I have ever seen) out of jail.

Dear Paul's Blog READERS:

It is amazing to read your "outrage" about Willie Campbell's fate at the hands of the Texas Judicial System. I was born and raised in Texas and this is exactly why I left as soon as I could. However, there are radically progressive people in Dallas (Dallas has a huge gay population) yet I have heard nothing about on-going protest from the gay community there. Austin, Texas, home of the state capital and the University of Texas at Austin has a huge gay population, the ear of the Texas state legislature in the state capital, gay representatives within the system, powerful and influential gay men and women within the political system, YET, no protests of any kind.

HIV-positive man sentenced 35 years for spitting at officer

05/15/2008

Associated Press

An HIV-positive man convicted of spitting into the eye and open mouth of a Dallas police officer has been sentenced to 35 years in prison.

Because a jury found that Willie Campbell used his saliva as a deadly weapon, the 42-year-old will have to serve half his sentence before becoming eligible for parole. He was sentenced Wednesday.

Campbell was being arrested in May 2006 for public intoxication when he began resisting and kicking inside the patrol car, Dallas police office Dan Waller testified.

"He turns and spits," Waller said. "He hits me in the eye and mouth. Then he told me he has AIDS. I immediately began looking for something to flush my eyes with."

Campbell, who was convicted of harassment of a public servant, has a history of spitting at police officers and biting fellow jail inmates, The Dallas Morning News reported.

Dallas County prosecutor Aja Reed said Campbell began yelling in court when another officer testified Campbell spit on him during an unrelated incident.

"He said to the officer, 'You're a liar. You're all railroading me. I'm an innocent man,'" Reed said.

Dear Paul's Blog READERS: (To Continue) PAUL: What I want to know, as the originator of this blog topic, why did you not print the addresses, telephone numbers, email addresses and names of all those connected or possibly connected with this travesty?!!!! We can at least protest by voice and write these cretins and keep on writing them each week. It takes no time, yet imagine what an impact it would have if a national email campaign were to ensue and Texas was flooded with emails from around this country and the world? As a journalist, Paul, your responsibility is to make that contact information available to the masses, not to just throw out the crying towels. Organize, Organize, Organize or you will find yourselves Marginalized, Marginalized, Marginalized !!! WE did it when this scourge began in the eighties, now the flame is passed on to a new generation. Got questions? Ask an old gay person how, what, and where. We have been there and still are. Now it is time for the over 30 gays to take over and follow through. Get organized, get tough and get LOUD! Good Luck!

Saliva a deadly weapon? That poor ignorant jury and judge for letting it get this far. Granted IF Mr. Campbell spit in the face of an arresting officer then I can see them making him pay some sort of fine, BUT 35 YEARS? That sounds like CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENT to me. I think the ACLU would be interested in this case.

Jury is ignorant about saliva being a deadly weapon. 35 years is way too much punishment for such a minor assault. Personally, I get the feeling that Texans have a self righteous culture, so what they say, right or wrong, they are always right.

My partner told me about this case several weeks ago...not bad for a couple living in the Northeast! I remember asking my partner if he knew the socioeconomic status or race of Willie Campbell. I bet Mr. Campbell is poor and was probably represented by a public defender who was at the bottom of his law school's class. I will stick my neck out and bet that Mr. Campbell is also black.
Now that the HIV/AIDS Reporting system requires the use of names for people diagnosed with HIV/AIDS I bet we'll have more and more of this kind of injustice imposed on us. Right...the names are confidential (sic) as are things like Social Security numbers! We all know how confidential those are! While Mr. Campbell should keep his spit in his own mouth, I await the other foot to fall when our government opens its first concentration camp in the U.S. for citizens living with HIV /AIDS.

he had no right to spit to begin with

That's one of the reason I don't even want to visit that state, is bush town ....helllllo

Is not this insane? How the hell is it going to be in 5 to 10 years with such narrow minded individuals that cannot see beyond their noses? Are americans to become, if not yet are, the most iliterate people in the whole world? The common american does not even know that you should have an open cut or sore in order for you to be at risk of contracting hiv from an hiv positive person, an heve some blood, semen or vaginal fluids come in direct contact with them. It is astonishing how stupid this sentence can be. Was there an informative session during this trial as to what the hiv transmission risks were during this episode? Did any of the citizen from the jury have any idea of what hiv is all about?
We are not going far with this kind of ruling in America.

This is bananas!!! I don't understand, they give him 35 years for spitting in someone's face and mothers who give birth to children that have HIV get NO time for not taking meds and preventing their unborn fetus from contracting the virus.

I think Willie could have been charged with simple assault. As Billie pointed out, what he did is repugnant. But the response makes no sense whatsoever. I hope there will be an appeal, very soon. I'd be shocked if the ACLU or someone similar doesn't get involved.

I live in Texas .it is a well known fact of existance here that the seat of conservative hyprocity rests in Dallas,houston,round rock, Georgetown,along with a large number of small out of touch with reality
towns, There is just a handful of places where
ignorance does not rule, After all did not George Bush come from Texas. i live in one of the few isolated places where a brain still matters it is also the only city that never voted for Bush. One of a very very limited places where an HIV status does not consitute an instant denial of basic humanine treatment.

HIV is not spread via saliva ? Is it or isn't it, it seems to me that when it suits people HIV is potentially spread by salvia, and when it is not expiditious it is not.

Instead of whining about how unfair the sentence is, somebody should actually look at the details of the ruling, the evidence submitted, etcetera. But why bother with all that, right ?

I agree with those that say Campbell was mistreated by the Texas courts but don't blame the whole population of Texas for a few bigots who wear robes. I have lived in Texas all my gay life and I know many great people. Those who blame the whole state are just as bad as the judge/jury that gave Campbell a unfair sentence. Remember Texas is not that only state in the US that has bigoted police officers and juridical system. Also remember all gay people are still viewed as second class citizens in the US.We need to change that if we want to be treated fairly and equally. Hate what happened to Campbell not the citizens who had nothing to with it. Also P. Bush was born on the east coast, he a transplant not a true Texan.

It shows the lack of intelligence and the stupidity of the texas legislative system! Guess They take after the Elected one in the white House hes from Texas too.!!!

There has never been a recorded case of HIV infection through the eyes and there was never any mention of blood in his salivia. There is not enough HIV in salivia to contract HIV infection. This is an outrage and a travisty of misjustice, not to mention totally ignorant. When I ask clients if they know what the four body fluids are that transmit HIV the first answer 98% of the time is saliva. I would have hoped that people were more educated after all these years.

wow- i am shocked by the sheer number of comments- happily. I am on vacation right now and just checked my email and there were over 40 comments.

To answer a couple of things- I didn't print the names and info for people involved because I don't know who they are. I am not in Texas and am not really a journalist- I am an HIV treatment advocate who came across the story and thought folks should know.

Someone said, 'he had no right to spit in the officer's face' or something like that. Nobody is arguing in favor of the spitting- it is the fact that he was convicted of assault with a deadly weapon. Even if he thought it was a deadly weeapon it isn't and that is the point. It is an injustice, plain and simple.

i agree that he should not be sentenced to that long a term in prison. That is totally outrageous. But at the same time everyone knows you have to watch your behavior around cops and be as kiss ass as you can be, if he had he would probably be home now. I live in the crap ass state of oklahomo and it is bad here too. but if you are decent to them they will usually be decent to you. I would also have that judges head on a platter for doing that to someone. It is wrong on so many levels. I am sure a few people are wanting to find out his home address for some "personal discussion" so to speak.

The distinction between Iran and America becomes smaller every day

That just goes to show how ignorant the jury is, and how uneducated the world is when it comes to hiv! True it was wrong of him to spit in anyones face, but because he has hiv it has become a seperate crime, in which it is not fair at all! It has been proven that you cannot contact the virus through saliva! My own children are hiv negetive, and they have drank after me for 10 yrs now without any problem, So come on Texas pull that 10 gallon hat on up out of your ass, and get educated! The severity of the charge this man has receieved is surrelistic! You would think the Judical system would be more aware of hiv/aids!

This is one of the most intense circumstances of how our judicial system is so corrupt, our judges are allowed to prosecute for their own beliefs and the ones that are suppose to protect, serve and establish justice for all get away with such in humane discrimination against all mankind. Just for the reason that this judge sentenced this man to 35 years should be injected with the virus himself for his injustice or a 45 shoved up his A** and the trigger pulled, then let it be recognized as a self inflicted gun shot wound, as well as the officers that helped prosecute the "intoxicated man" that they accused of spitting on him, was there evidence of his salvia on the officers face that they tested? Amazing how these idiots can get away with this!

You know, I can't remember a time that stupidity trumps ignorance. But here it is, in black and white. I happen to be proud to be a Texan, long before Bush tainted it, and I can only imagine what they are thinking back home. "We showed them queers!" "They'll think twice about attacking someone with their venom!" Yeah, it's moronic, and I'm sure the cops told the court that he was afraid for his life, resulting in the aggressive message handed down by the courts. Texas tends to overdo things, in bravado and sheer blindness to the facts. Why let facts get in the way of making a point. Now the question is: what can I do about it? I can only educate one person at a time through example of perseverance.

I hope the jury and the judge will be able to ready this message. i feel so ashamed that a country like America can have a state which is backward like Texas. I live in Africa but I feel our learned jury and judges are far more advanced in issues pertaining to HIV/AIDS than those bull-shit of judges. I expected better judgement from Texas judges because they are more exposed than the African judges. It is a big shame upon the entire jury and judiciary of Texas. If your conscious is not guilty about this rubbish of the judgement you passed then you are the worse criminal and a real representative of lucifer on earth. And for the cop who was spit on, you must be a coward of some shit who could not tell the truth. I am sure you were already positive and living in denial before you were even spit on and you wanted to use this case as an escapegoat.

Anyone with HIV wouldn't wish this life threatening disease on anyone. No one person would wish this upon themselves either. This is a disease that challenges a person mentally and physically and prevents them from living a natural life. This disease threatens freedom. It breeds shame and bruises pride. It breeds fear and damages confidence in people and nations. Ignorance is not BLISS...it's SHAMEFUL!!! Educate yourselves. Don't be stupid. BE INTELLIGENT.
This was not an act of intelligence...it was an ACT OF FEAR AND POWER!
EGO's get the better of people.
Reading things like this make me want to be smarter and more intelligent. EDUCATION is the key word here. We can make a difference. Don't let your voices be silenced!!!
THIS IS NOT RIGHT!

peace

After reading the blogs posted....And knowing the police force as I do..HOW DO WE KNOW FOR SURE THAT THIS HAPPENED ? Law enforecment are not as upstanding in our society. The fact of things should really be at hand..What if it didn't really happen that way !

THIS IS AN OUTRAGE!!!! WHAT KIND OF WORLD DO WE LIVE IN TODAY???? WHEN A MAN IS SERVED WITH SUCH AN UNJUST...AS IF HE'S NOT SENTENCE ALREADY. WE NEED TO START THE RAGE AGIANST THE POLICE AND THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM.THE POLICE GET AWAY WITH ENTIRELY TOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH THESE DAYS IN ANY STATE... PEACE TO THE SEAN BELL FAMILY, & THE WILLIE CAMPBELL FAMILY AND ALL THE OTHER FAMILIES THAT HAS BEEN EFFECTED BY THIS FU**ED UP SYSTEM....

it is really sad that in this technological world we live in that people are still in the dark ages. It figures that texas would still remain backwards instead of taking the lead and making a statement.

As Lew Dobbs from CNN always says:
"WHAT IN THE WORLD IS GOING ON" This is supposed to be one of the most educated countries in the world but it seems that Texas has Seceded from this country and the rest of the world as fare as education and it's cowboy politics of "String em up Justice" are concerned. I'm now convinced more then ever why this countries statis in the world has deteriorated in the last eight years......it's been run by a Texan.....BUSH!!!!!!!

Shouldn't the LAMBDA Legal Defennse be involved in this? If this is the case, shouldn't ANYONE who spits in another's face (not something I condone by any means) be required by law to be tested?
What a pile of horse dung!!!

Apparently, after doing some research, Lambda Legal is aware of this. Their site does not specify if they have taken on this case however, anyone who wants to should write to Lambda inquiring if they plan to or are involves in this case. There was also an article in the NY Times with regard to this.

Not condoning someone with HIV or someone with out to spit in some ones face, but oh my! The guy was arrested for public intoxication and look at Mel Gibson arrest. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/article694765.ece

I’m surprised this even made it to a jury. Was it truly a jury of his peers? I’m sure they didn’t have one HIV+ juror.

Fear was the verdict and it’s 2 life sentence for this guy – a sentence of HIV, a disease classified of lasting longer then 6 months or causing your death and now 35 years in jail.

I think passing judgement on this man for deadly assult is outrageous. What kind of crazy world are we living in? People are so ignorant anymore. No one reads anymore but then these people are suddenly experts on every subject. This man that was sentenced had a very uninformed lawyer that also did not explain that you cannot get aids by spitting in someones face. This ruling should be appealed and overturned!!!

Indeed this case is deplorable and I sent the following email to my contacts when I read the news on May 15.

Thu May 15, 6:32 AM ET - DALLAS - An HIV-positive man convicted of spitting into the eye and mouth of a Dallas police officer has been sentenced to 35 years in prison. Because a jury found that Willie Campbell used his saliva as a deadly weapon, the 42-year-old will have to serve half his sentence before becoming eligible for parole. He was sentenced Wednesday. Campbell was being arrested in May 2006 for public intoxication when he began resisting and kicking inside the patrol car, Dallas police office Dan Waller testified. Campbell was convicted of harassment of a public servant.
Especially when you compare to the following:
NEW YORK — Three detectives were acquitted of all charges Friday in the 50-shot killing of an unarmed man on his wedding day after a trial that that put the NYPD at the center of another highly charged case involving allegations of excessive firepower.
FACTS - The virus that causes AIDS (SIDA in French and Spanish), is transmitted via blood, semen, vaginal fluids, and breast milk. To date, there have been no documented cases of HIV contraction from urine, sweat, and saliva.
I sure hope the ruling will be appealed, then again, this is Texas...

YOUR HONOR, UNSHACKLE THIS MAN NOW!

I am from a third world country Philippines but I am luckier because at least we don't experience that kind of ignorance in this country.

I am a native Texan that left for good in 1969 mainly because of bigotry and I'm not surprised at the stupidity and ignornance of the Texas judicial system. It is obvious that Willie Campbell did not receive a good defense lawyer which is required by federal law. Once again, the Texas judicial system is showing it's prejudice against HIV positive people and many more minorities by their Nazi-like authority. No, Mr. Campbell should have not spit in the officer's eyes but he was probably provoked. We are all human and do crazy things sometimes. It's mind boggling that in this day and time the authorities in my former state are ignorant enough to believe that HIV can be spread through saliva! Idiots! What can we do to help Willie Campbell? Is there a defense fund that we may donate to for his appeal? Or is there going to be an appeal? This is outrageous! Let's all do something to help this poor man.