Friends of Justice

BERKSHIRE EAGLE/ASSOCIATED PRESS

“No matter what they did to him, no matter what lies they told, he always came out on top,” Squires said Friday. “He never became a victim of his circumstances.”

http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2014/10/10/freedom-short-lived-for-man-whose-molestation-case-was-dropped-after-years-prison/Hz2XBAzXLkp3dsF66SddRL/story.html

“Yet as Baran was reportedly getting repeatedly sexually assaulted in prison, Downing was getting reelected and Ford was getting promoted. Just a few years after Baran’s conviction, Ford was appointed to the Massachusetts Superior Court, where he presides over criminal cases. He has also served on a committee that determines state rules for criminal procedure. As Silverglate points out, not only has Ford never been disciplined, he has never been publicly investigated, nor has the state considered the reforms that could cut down on future wrongful convictions.”

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-watch/wp/2014/10/10/why-is-daniel-ford-still-a-massachusetts-judge/

While Bernie was not a materialistic person, he always loved his footwear, especially bright, eye catching, sneakers. He would always keep all his footwear in tip top condition and could make a 5 year old pair of white sneakers look like they just came out of the box!

So the family invites all to wear their favorite sneakers to Bee’s memorial services on October 11th.

We also invite all to attend a candlelight vigil, immediately following the reception, by the Christian Science Monitor’s Reflecting pool, as this was one of Bee’s most beloved locations in Boston.
Thank you.

Sincerely,
Crystal Squires

I remember Bee coming to the visiting room in those spotless sneakers.

Here again is the information about the Memorial.

photo credit: Jim D’Entremont

Just a reminder. The Memorial Service for Bernard Baran will take place in Boston on October 11, 2014, at 3 p.m. A reception will follow the service. The location is the Staffordshire Room at the Hotel Westin Copley Place. All day parking is available for $30.

All who love justice are welcome to attend. And I hope as many as possible will attend. Please bring friends who need to know what happened to Bernard Baran and help make his legacy a more just world.

The family suggests donations in his memory to the National Center for Reason and Justice (NCRJ). The mailing address is NCRJ, POB 191101, Roxbury MA 02119. You can also donate online.

“Through all he endured, Bernard Baran remained a courageous, intelligent, funny, loving, curious, quick-witted, giving, nurturing, and intuitive human being who’s loss will be felt by everyone who had the pleasure of knowing him.”

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/berkshire/obituary.aspx?n=bernard-baran&pid=172609242&fhid=20742

photo credit: Jim D’Entremont

My partner, Jim D’Entremont, posted this on Facebook today:

“Bernard Baran of Pittsfield MA died suddenly on September 1, little more than five years after having been cleared of false child abuse charges that had resulted in 21 years of wrongful imprisonment. Throughout his ordeal, Baran had the steadfast support of his family. His stepfather, Stanley Sumner, was among his most passionate defenders. Yesterday, 17 days after Bernard’s death, Stan also died suddenly, of an apparent heart attack, while visiting relatives in Florida. This is an especially cruel blow to Baran’s mother, Bertha Shaw, who is already bearing a terrible burden of grief. This photo of Bertha (“Bert”) and Stan was taken at a happy gathering in June 2009, celebrating Bernie’s resounding Appeals Court victory and the subsequent dropping of all charges.”

We are completely floored by this terrible double tragedy. Bert is insistent, however, that planning for the October 11th memorial service continue.

“Controversial Berkshire County District Capeless received an unexpected, but telling, challenge in last week’s statewide primary election in Massachusetts.”

http://mysterious-hills.blogspot.com/2014/09/deceased-bernard-baran-2nd-top-vote.html

“Bernard Baran had to fight to get compensation for his wrongful arrest, conviction, and punishment. Others caught up in the wave of convictions and punishments at the time similarly had to seek remedies individually with radically different results and overwhelmingly in the face of opposition from zealous prosecutors.

“Following the Salem Witch Trials, however, the judiciary in Massachusetts accepted the reality that many people had been wrongfully convicted in the trials of 1692.”

A letter to the Berkshire Eagle from Professor Bernard Rosenthal, a leading expert on the Salem witch hunt.

-Bob