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Gabriel J Christian - Spirit of Professionalism, Entrepreneur, Community Service and Leadership

Mon, 13 Oct 2025 21:10:16 GMT

SPECIAL EDITION

The Ward Post’s Series profiling Caribbean Diaspora Leadership, Professionalism, Entrepreneurship, and Community Engagement

(First in Series)

By: Written by Ambassador Curtis A. Ward

(27 September 2025) — Many in the Maryland community know Gabriel J. Christian as a busy and successful legal advocate at the Maryland Bar and throughout the broader legal fraternity. One often wonders how Gabe finds time beyond his entrepreneurial and professional pursuits to be a prominent leader in the Caribbean and Dominican diaspora communities. Added to his busy schedule, Gabe is a prolific writer and the author of several books. Gabe’s record has not gone unnoticed — he has received numerous awards recognizing his civic activities and innovative entrepreneurship over several years of community service.

Here is Gabriel Christian’s story. Read more

African-American Farmers Aid to Gambia, West Africa

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 21:59:12 GMT

African-American Farmers Seek to Aid Gambia's Agricultural Sector

Attorney Gabriel Christian, head of a consortium representing 10 of the largest African-American farmers in the United States and its members are interested in forging an alliance with the agricultural sector in Gambia, West Africa. Their goal is to advance food security and develop Gambia into an advanced farming nation. View here.

Rights for Birthright

Fri, 14 Feb 2025 20:22:47 GMT

The Legacy of Abraham Lincoln and the Role of Abolitionists and the Radical Republican Party in Advancing African-American Civil Rights

Today, the news is ablaze with commentary on moves to abolish birthright citizenship in the United States through an executive order. Birthright citizenship is a right guaranteed by the United States Constitution and cannot be eradicated by executive order. At this challenging time, it is important to know your rights as well as the responsibilities of good citizenship. Therefore, I thought it was only fitting and proper to share this background on the 13th and 14th Amendments of the United States Constitution.

The legacy of President Abraham Lincoln remains a pivotal chapter in the history of the United States, particularly regarding the abolition of slavery and the advancement of civil rights for African Americans. His vision for a nation free from the shackles of slavery culminated in the passage of the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery in 1865. However, Lincoln's efforts were just one part of a larger struggle that involved Radical Republicans*, abolitionists, and legal battles such as the Dred Scott Decision, which starkly highlighted the systemic injustices faced by African Americans.

Lincoln's presidency coincided with a tumultuous period in American history. The Civil War was not only a battle to preserve the Union; it was also a moral crusade against the institution of slavery. In his Emancipation Proclamation of 1863, Lincoln took a bold step by declaring freedom for slaves in Confederate states. This foundational act transitioned the war into a fight not just for national unity but for human rights. However, the Emancipation Proclamation was initially limited in scope, and the passage of the 13th Amendment was essential to ensure that slavery was unequivocally abolished throughout the entire nation. Lincoln's strong advocacy for the amendment demonstrated his commitment to the cause, and his leadership played a critical role in garnering the necessary support for its passage through Congress.

Simultaneously, the Radical Republican Party emerged as a powerful force in advocating for the rights of freedmen. Members such as Thaddeus Stevens and Charles Sumner fervently championed civil rights legislation, viewing the inclusion of African Americans in the fabric of American society as both a moral imperative and a political necessity. Following the Civil War, the Radical Republicans pushed for the 14th Amendment, which granted citizenship to all individuals born in the United States, thereby directly countering the Dred Scott Decision of 1857. This infamous ruling declared that African Americans could not claim U.S. citizenship and were thus not entitled to the rights and protections under the Constitution. The 14th Amendment, ratified in 1868, fundamentally altered this landscape, ensuring that African Americans were recognized as citizens and afforded equal protection under the law.

Abolitionists like Frederick Douglass and William Lloyd Garrison also played instrumental roles in this fight for equality. Douglass, a former enslaved person, became a leading voice against slavery and for civil rights, utilizing his powerful oratory and writing to advocate for African Americans. His insistence on the fundamental rights of all individuals, regardless of race, resonated with many and helped to galvanize public opinion toward the cause of abolition and civil rights. Garrison, who founded the anti-slavery newspaper "The Liberator," worked tirelessly to mobilize support against slavery, emphasizing the moral duty of Americans to end the institution and recognize the humanity of African Americans.

In conclusion, the intertwined efforts of Abraham Lincoln, the Radical Republican Party, and dedicated abolitionists like Frederick Douglass and William Lloyd Garrison created a formidable movement that sought to dismantle slavery and establish civil rights for African Americans in the post-Civil War era. While the Dred Scott Decision had articulated a grim reality for Black Americans, the subsequent passage of the 13th and 14th Amendments marked a significant triumph in the fight for equality and justice. The legacy of these historical figures demonstrates the power of collective action in the pursuit of human rights and serves as a guiding light for future generations in the ongoing struggle for social justice.

The Radical Republicans were a progressive faction within the Republican Party during the Reconstruction era, fiercely committed to racial equality and justice for newly freed African Americans. They sought not only the abolition of slavery but also the implementation of laws and policies to ensure equal rights for Black Americans, such as the Civil Rights Act of 1866 and the 14th and 15th Amendments. These Republicans were adamant that the South needed to be punished and transformed to prevent the re-establishment of white supremacy. In contrast, modern-day Republicans often emphasize a more conservative, limited-government approach that has evolved in ways that, at times, can be seen as perpetuating racial inequalities. While the modern GOP promotes a vision of individualism and traditional values, its policies around voting rights, immigration, and law enforcement are frequently criticized for disproportionately impacting marginalized communities, particularly people of color.

LAW 101

Birthright Citizenship

As a birthright citizen in the United States, you are granted several key rights under the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which automatically grants citizenship to anyone born on U.S. soil. Here are some of the rights you enjoy:

Right to Vote : Once you reach the legal voting age (18 years old), you have the right to vote in federal, state, and local elections.
Right to Work : You can work legally in the U.S. without the need for work permits or visas.
Right to Apply for Passports : As a U.S. citizen, you can apply for a U.S. passport and travel internationally.
Right to Equal Protection : You are entitled to equal protection under the law, meaning you cannot be discriminated against based on race, gender, religion, etc.
Right to Due Process : If you are arrested or detained, you have the right to due process, including the right to a fair trial and protection from self-incrimination.
Right to Residency : You have the right to live in the U.S. indefinitely, and you cannot be deported unless certain conditions (such as criminal activity) apply.
Right to Education : You have access to public education from kindergarten through high school, and in some cases, higher education as well.
Right to Social Services : You are eligible for government benefits, such as Social Security, unemployment, and other social welfare programs if you meet the criteria.

In essence, as a birthright citizen, you have many of the same rights as those who naturalize as U.S. citizens through other means, with the exception of certain positions (e.g., the presidency) that are reserved for natural-born citizens.

If you have questions regarding your rights or immigration status, do not hesitate to call The Law Offices of Gabriel Christian and Associates at 301-218-9400.

Auld Lang Syne at GJC and Associates, LLC

Mon, 23 Dec 2024 21:34:14 GMT

Seasons Greetings To All

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Lightbulb to Laptop

Mon, 04 Nov 2024 21:21:34 GMT

SPECIAL EDITION

Lightbulb to Laptop: Latimer's Legacy Lives

By: Daryn Fling, International Business Major, Journalism Minor, at The University of South Carolina c/o 2027

Man innovates. Man improves. Man industrializes. Creatures of a revolutionizing habit, Man knows a thing or two about how industrial projects work to unify and empower entire communities. Our law office is honored to be the catalyst for this movement to promote hi-tech industries in our community in honor of legendary inventor Lewis Latimer. The Latimer laptop/tablet, designed and engineered via the collaboration between the Technology Transactions section of Gabriel J. Christian & Associates, LLC, Xelex Group of Maryland, and Practical Technologies, Inc., is the tip of that spear. As the Latimer Laptop holds its soft launch on October 29th, 2024, the company looks towards engendering a culture of innovation grounded in the visionary efforts of its namesake, Lewis Latimer. Though the inventor of the lightbulb’s carbon filament, Latimer’s contribution often lies abandoned nudged out of view by the world’s short-term memory and the prejudices of the time. Given the communal orientation of this burgeoning venture, Latimer’s glory lies in lending a helping hand to Maryland constituents and inviting its youth onto a brightly lit path to excellence. Man is ingenious, and the Latimer Project endeavors to help Man live up to its full potential.

A collaboration between the Law Offices of Gabriel J. Christian and Associates, the Xelex Group, and Practical Technologies, Inc. (PTI), the Latimer Laptop is the first of many products the Latimer Project hopes to introduce to consumers. While the product was designed and developed in Vietnam, the laptop would be made/assembled by Maryland manufacturers, boosting the local economy. The partnership between the two countries has been fruitful forming an operation that intends to compete with tech competitors in an international market. This newest 2-in-1 laptop/tablet boasts security and efficiency features that will not only serve Maryland’s technological needs but also the needs of the private and public sectors worldwide. Latimer traveled to London, New York, Philadelphia, and Montreal to oversee the installation of the lightbulbs he designed. It is in this global spirit that the Latimer Project debuts its initial product.

Latimer is more than a lightbulb and a laptop. The company’s architects envisioned the Latimer Project as a means for domestic manufacturing to flourish in Maryland and promote all that comes with the establishment of a staple commodity. The Latimer project company would re-introduce economic vitality to Baltimore and other areas where once steel mills hummed, and tobacco plantations thrived. As the Latimer Project grew and evolved, it began to hone in on a loftier socioeconomic goal. Latimer Laptops, directed by a community-based vision, would create a vocational pipeline for Maryland youth like never seen before in the United States. While countries like China have a vast network of vocational schools for secondary and higher education, many U.S. public schools are struggling to produce answers for their students: where will all of this education go? The Latimer Project hopes to help create a new model—an extensive career pipeline that reaches down to the community’s youngest STEM-focused members.

By partnering with HBCUs and Maryland educational institutions, a secure vocational pipeline is possible. These efforts will serve to flatten the rocky career landscapes many faces when leaving the public school system. Increased STEM opportunities promise Maryland a culture of innovation and serve as an equitable attempt at the American dream. The project plans to revitalize communities suffering from economic inactivity and limited educational resources.

The Latimer Project has observed the uneven state of access to diverse sectors of our union and wants to act. This effort is keen on the idea that diversity and inclusivity build strength across all communities and that technology can unite us, not divide us. By bringing in profitable industry with Maryland-based manufacturers, the State has the opportunity to raise up a new generation of inspired and well-equipped scientists and engineers. Industry relies on the entire community, from its students and teachers to its manufacturers and executives. It is time Maryland streamlined the system. As always, the future is ripe with possibilities: secondary school educational partnerships; booming innovation in semiconductor technology, and even a Latimer State Festival.

We hope that you follow along the journey of The Latimer Project. If you would like to be involved in this initiative, feel free to contact us at: Gabriel@gclawmd.com . This project is revving up to inspire invention and creativity in the STEM field and aims to encourage Maryland to try its hand at manufacturing in the future.

Take a look: More on the history of computing!

Breaking Bread During a Pandemic

Wed, 23 Oct 2024 16:07:21 GMT

Breaking Bread with Residents During COVID-19

During the COVID-19 pandemic, The Law Offices of Gabriel J. Christian and Associates, LLC broke bread with the elderly and the residents of the town of Fairmont Heights. Watch

Blacks In Aviation

Mon, 21 Oct 2024 15:22:36 GMT

An Introduction of Blacks in Aviation by Gabriel J. Christian, Esquire

Enjoy some information that Attorney Gabriel J. Christian shares about other Black people in aviation from other parts of the world who few people know about. The East Coast Chapter Tuskegee Airmen, Inc., ( ww.ecctai.org ) , which he is a part of continues to ensure that noble legacy of black people doing wonderful things in aviation. Its organization's Youth in Aviation Program is led by Yvonne McGee, a pilot herself – and daughter of the famous Tuskegee Airmen Brigadier General Charles McGee. The ECCTAI provides training in avition science and scholarships to young people. The organization seeks to inspire young people to embrace science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) studies and so continue the noble legacy established by our greats in aviation sciences. As humanity reaches for the stars, there will be great need for those with skills in aviation/aerospace science.

According to General McGee, we should always strive to practice the 4 Ps of progress: Perceive, Prepare Perform and Persevere. In that fashion, we can all continue to soar to victory!

The Rule of Law and Democracy

Mon, 07 Oct 2024 16:18:15 GMT

International Day of Democracy Special Event

Attorney Gabriel J. Christian along with Judge Sean Wallace discusses the intersections of law and democracy with moderator Renée Battle-Brooks, Executive Director of the Office of Human Rights hosted by the Prince George’s County Office of Human Rights and the Prince George’s County Memorial Library System. Watch here

2024 Tuskegee Airmen Flight Day and Youth Breakfast

Mon, 23 Sep 2024 21:46:30 GMT

Caputre the Memories of ECCTAI Flight Day and Youth Breakfast!

The East Coast Chapter Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. (ECCTAI) and The Law Offices of Gabriel J. Christian and Associates, LLC invite you to capture the memories of the ECCTAI Flight Day and Youth Breakfast. View and purchase photographs of the 2024 ECCTAI Flight Day and Youth Breakfast. All proceeds will go to benefit the Chapter.

Youth Flight Day

Mon, 09 Sep 2024 19:07:07 GMT

Come Fly With Us On Youth Flight Day!

The East Coast Chapter Tuskegee Airmen (ECCTA) and The Law Offices of Gabriel J. Christian and Associates, LLC invite you to Youth Flight Day on Saturday, September 14, 2024 from 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. at 7019 Aaronson Drive, Glen Burnie, Maryland 21061 RESERVE YOUR SPOT TODAY AT EVENTBRITE

To learn more about the East Coast Chapter Tuskegee Airmen or to join, visit: https://ecctai.wildapricot.org/ or scan the QR code

GJC and Associates, LLC Partners with Elevate Leadership Group

Wed, 12 Jun 2024 18:52:13 GMT

The Law Offices of Gabriel J. Christian and Associates, LLC and the Elevate Leadership Group have proudly announced a strategic partnership aimed at providing comprehensive solutions to clients both domestically and abroad. This collaboration signifies a commitment to delivering unparalleled expertise and support across various sectors. Elevate Leadership Group, renowned for its specialization in consulting services, particularly in market entry solutions for international firms, brings a wealth of experience and innovation to the table. With a strong track record of facilitating successful market penetrations, Elevate also excels in offering educational solutions and executive education programs to companies worldwide. This partnership marks a significant step towards offering clients a holistic approach to navigating the complexities of today's global marketplace, combining legal expertise with strategic consulting prowess.

Watch Team Elevate providing guidance and coaching to PhD students at Harvard and MIT (youtube.com)

Practical Technologies, Inc. CEO Dilip Dalvi & His Team Meet with New Legal Counsel

Mon, 03 Jun 2024 22:56:00 GMT

Practical Technologies, Inc. has appointed The Law Offices of Gabriel J. Christian & Associates, LLC as new legal counsel. Watch as Attorney Christian explores a World class hi-tech electronic firm in Maryland.

For any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to call our office at (301) 218-9400 .

Operation Cocoa Emancipation

Wed, 08 May 2024 20:30:14 GMT

Chocolat de la Dominique and Dominica's Cocoa Industry

Attorney Gabriel J. Christian gives a spotlight of the developing Operations Cocoa Emancipation - Chocolat de la Dominique and Dominica's Cocoa Industry. Click here to view .

Orange-Mango

Sat, 30 Dec 2023 02:00:29 GMT

Supporting Agriculture Entrepreneurship

Faculty and students at the Luis Carlos Valencia Agriculture School located in Villa Paz, Jamundi, a community comprised primarily of African descended people from the southernmost part of Valle del Cauca, send their thanks to The Law Offices of Gabriel J. Christian and Associates, LLC for the donated funds, which enables them to continue their agriculture entrepreneurship as a part of the curricula. The production of oranges is customary, but for this year, 2023, the 11th Grade chose mango to produce juice, yogurt, conserve, and other products. Our firm wishes them continued success.

During Attorney Christian's visit to the school, he was honored to tour the facility and sample the harvest.

Remembering Christmas of 2012

Wed, 27 Dec 2023 20:26:45 GMT

Maryland Citation Presented to Alkali

Christmas of 2012, Alkali, a unique orchestra, consisting of young graduates from The Juilliard School, led by violinist, Stephanie Matthews, graced the Law Office of Gabriel J. Christian and Associates, LLC and our clients with an assortment of classical concertos and seasonal renditions. Our then Maryland Delegate and current State's Attorney, Aisha Braveboy, presented the Alkali members with an official Maryland citation in honor of their talent and commitment to spreading joy through the universal language of music.

Click here

Enhancing Food Security for a Better Africa

Mon, 27 Nov 2023 22:00:34 GMT

Forging a Collaborative Venture

Watch Attorney Gabriel J. Christian along with the African Union delegation tour the 150-year-old Haynie Farm, LLC in Virginia during their visit in July 2012, where they learned about the ways crops can be produced to enhance food security for a better Africa and the diaspora. Click here .

Making a Better World at Thanksgiving

Wed, 22 Nov 2023 18:07:02 GMT

Sharing Our Blessings

Today, on the eve of Thanksgiving, The Law Offices of Gabriel J. Christian and Associates, LLC donated a heifer and two dozen chickens to a needy family in the developing world via Heifer International . See here

At Thanksgiving and always, we remember to share our blessings with others. We urge you to partner with organizations like Heifer International or The Water Project to make a better world.

Gabriel J Christian - Colombia Martin Luther King, Jr. Fellows Program Lecture

Mon, 30 Oct 2023 23:28:21 GMT

Colombia Fellows Program MLK Lecture

Attorney Gabriel J. Christian recently gave a lecture to Afro-Colombian university students at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Fellows Program (MLK) in Colombia.

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Fellowship Program (MLK) provides scholarships to outstanding indigenous and Afro-Colombian university students to study English and participate in leadership training. Indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities have higher poverty rates and lower educational outcomes than other Colombians.

See here .

Voting: Democracy in Action - Supreme Court Decisions and Democracy

Thu, 26 Oct 2023 18:22:16 GMT

You Are Cordially Invited - 7PM, Wednesday, October 25, 2023!

Attorney Gabriel J. Christian will be taking part in a panel hosted by the Prince George’s County Office of Human Rights and the Prince George’s County Memorial Library System. Joining him will be F. Michael Higginbotham, professor and former dean at University of Baltimore Law School (and once-upon-a-time professor to Attorney Tanto and Mr. Suleman).

Access the event here at 7PM on Wednesday, October 25, 2023.

Avoiding Domestic Violence

Mon, 28 Aug 2023 17:56:09 GMT

Domestic violence is a serious issue that needs to be treated as such. According to the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, one in 12 men and one-third of women have experienced intimate partner violence during their lifetime. This article focuses on domestic violence between people in a relationship – either intimate, family or acquaintance.

Why such a focus on domestic violence amongst people who know each other? Well, for one thing national crime statistics indicate that 67% of all murder victims are killed by spouses, family members or people they know. That is an alarming fact, but a sad reality.

We are pleased that one of our county leaders in stopping domestic violence in Prince George’s County is Jackie Rhone.

See video here - (82) STOPPING ABUSE - Prince George's County's fight against domestic violence - YouTube

Spot the Signs Earlier on

Determine from the onset of any relationship whether the other person is someone you’d wanted to be with. If your partner is manipulative and always makes you feel guilty for all the problems in the relationship or threatens violence against you, it could be right to walk away.

This is important because negative treatment from a partner can lead to physical confrontation and abuse. While no relationship is perfect, red flags such as manipulation should never be overlooked.

Set Boundaries

Discuss with your partner about having boundaries, such as:

No physical attacks. Someone who beats you once is very likely to beat you again. Step away from relationships where physical violence is repeated.
No verbal abuse or cursing of each other. People who engage in verbal abuse usually escalate to physical abuse.
Avoid arguments over money management and/or spending as disputes over money can usually instigate physical abuse.
Avoid the use of abuse of alcohol or the use of street drugs. Operating in an altered mental state, due to alcohol drug use/abuse usually leads to the breakdown of relations between spouses, intimate partners, or family members.
Avoid manipulative people who seek to exploit you or your resources for their own selfish reasons. An exploitative relationship usually ends in conflict and/or mental abuse.

The Silent Treatment or Walk Away

If a friend or partner is becoming abusive, remain silent to allow them to cool down. If they will not cool down and become even more abusive, walk away. It takes two fools to quarrel. If you give as good as you get, that approach will only escalate the altercation and perhaps lead to violence. Walking away prevents physical abuse and allows for future reconciliation if the relationship is valuable enough to save.

Talk To Someone

If you’re living in fear or noticing things could get violent with your partner, confide in someone ahead of time. This confidant may discuss with you an escape plan or find you a safe place where your safety will be guaranteed.

Touch Base with Criminal Defense Attorney

Apart from fighting criminal charges, defense attorneys can also act as a mediator between two aggrieved spouses or partners. You can contact our office at 301-218-9400 and we can recommend ways to protect yourself.

Be Aware of a Nearby Shelter

In case of an emergency, knowing about the nearest shelter in your area is vital. Apart from being a safe place to be, some shelters provide training programs that would help domestic violence survivors overcome the physical and emotional trauma they’ve experienced. So, never forget to make use of this provision when necessary. You can use a website like Domestic shelters to locate domestic shelters in your area.

You Can Come to the Rescue!

Don’t be like many witnesses who tell law enforcement that they heard about or perceive domestic violence but don’t want to get involved. If you overheard something upsetting or disturbing, check in with a neighbor to see if they are OK and safe. And don’t hesitate to call the police or find your troubled friend a nearby shelter where they can stay and feel safe.

You can avoid domestic violence by not overlooking warning signs, seeking the help of a confidant or defense attorney, and getting prepared for emergencies. And every one of us can be resourceful to anyone who is about to become or is already a domestic violence victim.

Signature Service - Caribbean Community Leadership Award

Fri, 21 Apr 2023 18:09:24 GMT

On April 1, 2023, at a distinguished event at The Club at Andrews Air Force Base, Gabriel J. Christian, Managing Attorney of the Law Offices of Gabriel J. Christian & Associates, LLC, received the Signature Service - Caribbean Community Leadership Award from the Prince George's Community, Caribbean Council. The award ceremony occurred at the Council's annual Red Dress Ball held at the base. According to Council President Suzanne Matthews-Williams of Guyana, the organization seeks to spotlight charitable works and community leadership of those from the Caribbean community in the District of Columba/Maryland/Virginia (DMV) area who have so distinguished themselves. In the words of President Matthews-Williams, "Christian has tirelessly given of his time and resources to the Caribbean and broader community in the DMV to advanced education and the best interests of community development."

According to the Jamaica Gleaner of March 25, 2023 , medical doctor Dr. Ursula McClymont of Jamaica was also honored for her leadership of the Linden E. Walters Foundation, which is dedicated to developing sports in the Caribbean Diaspora in the DMV and broader communities. Dr. McClymont is similarly honored for continuing in the civic leadership of her late husband, Linden Walters, by serving the best needs of the community in sports and related educational activities.

The honors bestowed are a worthy acknowledgment of the community development ethic of our law firm and its commitment to our client base, both in the United States, Africa and the Caribbean.

Clean Water

Mon, 17 Apr 2023 18:14:15 GMT

GJC Law invests in clean water in a Sierra Leone village

Of Nation Building - A Dominican Cadet Remembers

Fri, 31 Mar 2023 18:28:03 GMT

Roseau, Dominica (TDN) -- It is a stormy morning in July 1974 and I rest quietly in my bunk at Camp Londonderry on Dominica’s wind-swept Atlantic east coast. It is hurricane season in our Caribbean and the dark grey clouds which I glimpse through the aluminum louvers are common fare for this time of year.

I am leaving the second form to enter the third form at the venerable Dominica Grammar School (DGS), and I am about to begin my third year as a cadet. In 1972 I had joined the cadets in my first week at school.

It was expected of me. Our Dad had served in the British Army in World War II; my oldest brother Wellsworth had been a St. Mary’s Academy (SMA) cadet in the 1960s alongside Eddy Charles, and Franklyn Cuffy; my other brother Lawson was a silver medalist in the Duke of Edinburgh Scheme and my brother Samuel had served with the Cadet Corp alongside people like Jeff Joseph, Felix Gregoire, Coleridge Linton David Andrew, Pierre Charles and Alan Paul.

At the SMA were famous cadets of that time, Dinsdale and Creswell Lawrence, Tony Valmond, Michael Fadelle, and Ackroyd Birmingham, In my early cadet days, I would befriend Emmanuel John Finn, who would go on to blaze a trail at Howard University in Washington, DC and become a distinguished dental surgeon.

But as we are not to parade on this rainy day, I have a Marvel Spiderman comic in my hand. I am on the lower bunk; on the bunk bed above me is Corporal Eustace Estrado of LaPlaine (a youth camp member) and he has his transistor radio on; the program being played is The Dominica Story.

Narrated by local artist, actor, and archivist Lennox Honeychurch, it is the most fascinating and popular radio program of its time. The program, called The Dominica Story, is a dramatized rendition of Dominica’s history; the actors are mostly members of the Peoples Action Theater which includes people like Alwin Bully, Roger Atherly (now Shabazz, and owner of the Muslim Store), Mike Bruney, Arlington James, and others.

During the radio program, one can hear the hooves of galloping horses, the loud reports of muskets, the crashing of waves, the hustle and bustle of a market day, or the thunderous applause of a crowd at a political rally, listening to 18th century Dominican advocate for local representation in the legislature, George Falconer.

Such a thing had never been done on radio and for the first time we were learning about ourselves. Later, Honeychurch would use the radio program to do the first, and most renown, history book on our island which he also called: The Dominica Story.

In 1974, we were advancing toward a new dawn. Independence was yet four years away. Earlier, Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago had gone on to independence in 1962.Prior we had all been united in the British West Indian Federation, but Alexander Bustamante had persuaded Jamaicans to vote against the Federation (1957-1962) which had grouped ten British West Indian islands.

However, Dominicans were still British West Indians and our loyalty was to our sovereign, Queen Elizabeth II. In my elementary school days at the Roseau Mixed Infant School a photo of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh in full royal regalia stared down at us every morning in the great hall where we said our prayers.

In 1910, the DGS Cadet Corps was formed. In 1965, the St. Mary’s Academy Cadet Corps was launched. These units were patterned on the old British schools such as Eton and Harrow.

In 1967 we became an associated stated with Britain and Edward LeBlanc of the Dominica Labour Party, who had been Dominica’s Chief Minister since 1961, became the Premier. From now on, we would run our internal affairs, with Britain being responsible for our defense and external affairs; our passports were still British, however.

Dominica Grammar School (DGS) Cadet Gabriel J. Christian at front - center; immediately behind him is DGS Cadet David Andrew - circa 1974. In 2000 both former cadets were instrumental in the revival of the Dominica Cadet Corps, alongside Francis Richards (Major & Commandant of the Cadets, Ret.).

The development of the Dominica Regional Youth Camp (1970) at Londonderry was part of that change. The Leeward and Windward Islands sent youth who did not pass the exam to enter high school called the “common entrance” or who had dropped out, to learn trades at the camp such as that of auto mechanic, plumber, electrician, and agriculturist – or so we understood it.

There were guys from Antigua, St. Kitts, and a Tortola native who always ran away to the village of Wesley to meet a girl, and who would often be hauled before the camp population and placed on punishment for his deviance. The Camp Director was Major Earl Johnson.

He was trained in agriculture at the Imperial College of Agriculture in Trinidad and was a legendary former cadet commander at the DGS. He had gone on to revive the Dominica Defence Force (DDF) in time for the 1967 Associated Statehood Parade.

With the help of World War British Army veteran Twistleton Bertrand, he built up what was then a well respected defence force – the earlier DDF had a tradition of at least 100 years, but had slipped into dormancy after World War II. Now, the new military unit was another pillar of an evolving nation.

As commander of the Youth Camp, Major Johnson had the freedom to have our Cadet Corps use the facility – as he was in charge of both entities. In 1973 I had move from the infantry company of the DGS cadet unit, where I had paraded around on the asphalted quadrangle.

Every Thursday at 1500 hours it was time for map reading, instruction or cadet drill with the old 8.8 pound Lee Enfield rifle which had the kick of mule when fired.

The Lee Enfield rifles were stored at the armory located at Police HQ and we were quite close to the police, as we were part of the armed forces. Our instructors, where they were not cadet officers, were often DDF men such as Sergeant Major Dyer, Sergeant George, and Corporal Bingsworth Casimir.

On many a warm Thursday afternoon, we would shoot our BSA Martini .22 rifles into paper targets on our very own DGS gun range – the only one on the island. We considered ourselves, as cadets, an elite group in the society; fit and able to lead the way.

Now, I played the bugle; it was of brass and copper and I had to polish it to a fine gloss each morning. We were the revived Dominica Cadet Corps of Drums and Bugles and we had to be spic and span. Our brass fitting to our belts had to attain a mirror like glaze enough to see ones face and your beret had to be on just right.

We would be woken by reveille at 6am, do calisthenics – jumping in place, swinging our arms, hopping from one foot to the next, doing push- ups etc - and then run at the double to the cold Londonderry River.

On some mornings, it was so cool, we could see our breath. Back at the barracks, we labored over polishing our shoes, often using wet cotton balls and Kiwi polish to obtain the finest gloss.

Then we had to hurriedly iron our khaki uniforms, waiting in line to use the one pressing iron in our barracks.

Breakfast was often hot cocoa tea and powdered eggs with bread. Now and again, we would have an orange or banana to go with it. Powdered eggs came from dehydrated eggs kept in great cardboard boxes and imported from the either the UK or USA.

It made ones fart stink to high heaven and such fumes could cause the breaking of ranks when issued in formation; cadets scampering away from the awful smell, noses pinched to ward off the scent.

On one particular morning we had revolted and the band members insisted on going home because of what we considered poor breakfast fare. We had been fed one hot green banana, boiled in salt water and a cup of sugar water.

We were unsure whether the Major was testing our mettle, perhaps preparing us for war conditions or some such. Who were we? I remember Patrick Benjamin, Anthony “Tortie” Richards, Eustace Casimir and his brother we called “Popcorn”, St. Jean on the bass drum, Paul Joseph and Earl Joseph, Mellictus Pascal on side drum, and cymbalist Edward Stewart aka “Funny Face.”

We were mostly Roseau born, with amenities of electricity, radio and indoor plumbing. We ate bread, butter and cheese and some of us regularly ate Canadian sardines, Argentine made corned beef, Danish made sausage or luncheon meat for breakfast. But a hot green banana for breakfast???!!! We were mad and would have none of it.

Dominica and Barbadian Cadets in the summer of 1974.

When Major Johnson heard of our protest, he had Lieutenant Francis Richards march us down to his billet. He strode out in his army green uniform, ramrod straight and, looking mad as hell, tore into us with the utmost severity. He said we were soldiers of the new nation.

That we were being prepared for a life of service and sacrifice and that no nation could rise higher than the efforts of its people, especially our young.

He told us of the hardships of our forebearers, and that we were disrespecting the sacrifices of our parents who had slaved to send us to high school only for us to disrespect the uniform and heritage of the cadets by quarreling over some petty matter as breakfast.

He shook his fists at us, and warned that our generation was weak and becoming too lazy. And that Dominica, and our entire civilization, would come crashing down if we did not steel ourselves for the battles of life ahead.

So browbeaten were we, that some of us were shaking at the knees. We had never seen the Major so angry before. Prior, I had just seen the cadet program as a fun thing to do. I had not appreciated its role in building character, team work, or its importance in crafting a sense of patriotic duty, purpose and sacrificial effort so necessary for nation building.

We bowed our heads in shame and muttered our apologies. So chastened by the experience, we resolved to do better. Lieutenant Richards marched us off, cymbals clashing, drums astir, and bugles blowing. Up and down the camp’s dusty streets, we went and then to nearby Wesley village and back.

We had to get ready for the struggles of life and nation building. Industry, discipline and sacrifice – alongside honor, duty and country – would have to be our creed. Furthermore, the cadets from our sister island of Barbados would be coming.

They were coming from a school with a great cadet tradition: Combermere High School. We had to be prepared to compete; we had to show them. We had to make Dominica proud. And we did.

Newly Appointed General Counsel for OVID Group - International Business Development

Thu, 25 Aug 2022 18:34:36 GMT

The Law Offices of Gabriel J. Christian & Associates, LLC is honored to be appointed General Counsel for International Business Development for OVID Group in Ethiopia. Our firm is responsible for providing legal advice on the OVID Group's International Business/Construction outreach. We look forward to providing assistance and guidance in promoting OVID's construction and related business interests in the United States, the Caribbean and other parts of the Americas.

Among many of OVID Group's featured projects are three G+10 units, which were completed within 73 days on August 19, 2022 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Newly Delivered G+10 Units

WSSC Caribbean American Heritage Month - June 8

Thu, 02 Jun 2022 18:38:17 GMT

Gabriel J. Christian, Esq. - Guest Speaker

USPTO Caribbean American Heritage Month - June 2, 2022

Wed, 01 Jun 2022 18:40:06 GMT

Gabriel J. Christian CIPA Keynote Speaker

See here .

Prince George's County Freedom Stories: Freedom Suits and the Law

Wed, 18 May 2022 18:41:42 GMT

The Law Panel Discussion

The Prince George’s County Memorial Library System and Prince George’s County Office of Human Rights held a virtual panel discussion, Freedom Stories: Community Freedom Suits and the Law , on Wednesday, March 30, 2022.

The Honorable Sean D. Wallace, Judge, Circuit Court, Seventh Circuit of Maryland; Renee Battle-Brooks, Executive Director, Prince George’s County Office of Human Rights; and our lead attorney Gabriel J. Christian, Esquire discussed freedom stories and the law and how it impacted Prince George’s County Marylanders in the 1700s and into our present day. The book of discussion, A Question of Freedom: The Families Who Challenge Their Freedom from the Founding to the Nation’s Civil War was written by William G. Thomas, III.

See how history and the judicial system has impacted the past and will impact the present and future. It is a must-see event !

First Benefit Corporation for Africa Forum - September 15, 2021

Mon, 13 Sep 2021 19:31:24 GMT

First Benefit Corporation for Africa Forum - September 15, 2021

The US Africa Diaspora Business Collaboration (USADBC) in partnership with GoomDATA Benefit Corporation, Fairfield Management Ltd, Premium Entertainment & Events, and Gabriel Christian & Associates will conduct the first Benefit Corporation for Africa Forum at the UNECA on September 15, 2021 .

Benefit Corporation, a ground-breaking legislation first enacted by the state of Maryland in 2010, is a hybrid of for-profit and non-profit models that aims for community benefits as well as profit. Adapting the Benefit Corporation philosophy, Benefit Corporation for Africa (BCA) is conceived to highlight the virtues of the Benefit Corporation model in promoting socially conscious and environmentally sustainable commerce and trade in both Africa and the United States. BCAI has instituted a social business marketing and sales infrastructure to facilitate trade opportunities between US and Africa -- leveraging the power of business to achieve economic success while addressing social and environmental challenges.

H.E. Sahle-Work Zewde, President of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia will deliver the opening remark, which will be followed by H.E. Ambassador Misganu Arga, State Minister for Trade & Industry of Ethiopia. A video greeting from Honorable US Senator Ben Cardin will be screened. Other dignitaries invited include Honorable Mr. Albert H. Machunga, Africa Union Commissioner for Trade & Industry, Ethiopian government officials and leaders from the International Development Communities.

The Benefit for Corporation of Africa Forum will also incorporate a Signing Ceremony of the Profit-Sharing Investment Partnership (PSIP) of Blessed Coffee with representatives and leaders of 500,000 small coffee farmers organized under a Corporative Union. Blessed Coffee is the first prototype of the BCA. In addition, a Signing Ceremony Memorandum of Understanding between the Federal Cooperative Agency (FCA) of Ethiopia.

Five strategic partners that have established collaboration to support this initiative:

US Africa Diaspora Business Collaboration (USADBC), the champion of Benefit Corporation for Africa Initiative, is an organization HQ in Washington DC and established in 2014, to inspire, educate and support the US-Africa Diaspora entrepreneurs to duplicate the BCA model with other agricultural products from other African Countries. USADBC is joined by the following Strategic Partners to establish the Diaspora Engagement for the Development of Africa (DEDA) and to further introduce and promote BCA in the eight African Regional Economic commissions.

GoomDATA is a recently formed benefit corporation based in California that aims to deliver an array of information and communications technology products and services to customers located in countries throughout Africa. GoomDATA assists its customers in implementing world-class integrated infrastructure solutions based on Public Cloud and cutting-edge networking technologies. Its mission can be summarized as information technology and infrastructure for development, and the development of Africa and its people in particular.

Fairfield Management Ltd, an investment management firm based in Wyoming, USA has joined the Strategic Partnership to develop socially driven investment product and services in support of aspiring US Africa Diaspora entrepreneurs duplicate the BCA model in Africa.

Premium Entertainment & Events operates as a small but effective team of dedicated professionals, backed by a huge international network of freelance specialists handling operations, logistics and content creation by implementing the newest technologies and trends and to ensure the most entertaining and impressive results. With its Head office in Berlin, it is supported by sister offices in Doha and Washington D.C., USA.

First Annual East Coast Chapter Tuskegee Airmen Flight Day Picnic

Wed, 25 Aug 2021 19:34:32 GMT

You Are Cordially Invited!

The East Coast Chapter Tuskegee Airmen (ECCTA) and The Law Offices of Gabriel J. Christian and Associates, LLC invite you to the First Annual ECCTA Flight Day Picnic! To learn more about the East Coast Chapter Tuskegee Airmen or to join, visit: https://ecctai.wildapricot.org/

PLEASE NOTE: PERSONS MUST BE FULLY VACCINATED AND MASKED TO ATTEND THIS EVENT.

Enjoy this article on COVID 19 protocol for social events: Is It Okay To Invite Only Fully Vaccinated Party Guests? | Well+Good (wellandgood.com)

General Counsel for National Black Growers Council

Mon, 25 Jan 2021 21:02:00 GMT

The Law Offices of Gabriel Christian & Associates, LLC in Bowie, MD has been appointed as general counsel by the National Black Growers Council, multigenerational producers who advocate for the best interests of Black farmers locally, statewide, and nationally. Their mission promotes agriculture in the United States and abroad.

NBGC is comprised of 12 farmers who operate farms in 11 southern states from Virginia to Texas. Collectively, the Board farms nearly 60,000 acres of row crops, and their objective is to teach our young men and women about the virtues of farming, the importance of agriculture, and the commitment it takes to be successful in the global business of agriculture. For more information about this council, you can visit: National Black Growers Council .

For any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to call our office at (301) 218-9400 .

Newly Selected Aura Counsel

Fri, 18 Dec 2020 21:04:35 GMT

The Law Offices of Gabriel Christian & Associates in Bowie, MD has been appointed as legal counsel by Aura Smart Air LTD., an Israeli biotechnology firm, regarding their outreach in the United States for research partnerships and academic collaboratives for its anti-Covid-19 air purification devices.

Aura Air device is groundbreaking for its coronavirus fighting capabilities. For more information on the device, you can visit this website: Arcadia Techtronics. Recently, Cambridge, MA procured one thousand units of the air purification device. In developing news, there is a plant opening in New York to spur production and as Prince George's County residents, we are hopeful that our county can also contribute to quelling the pandemic.

For any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to call our office at (301) 218-9400 .

COVID-19 Safety Alert

Fri, 11 Dec 2020 21:05:26 GMT

Since the outbreak of a new coronavirus, COVID-19, began in early December 2019, it has spread around the world and has had an increasing effect on businesses. Law Offices of Gabriel J. Christian & Associates, LLC have been working with clients as we assess the impact of this pandemic on our business.

As the global health crisis worsens, we are engaged in helping clients across our practice areas to help with their legal needs. We maintain social distancing, use virtual conferencing such as Zoom, require masking and have forged partnerships to enhance air quality in our office space.

Stay safe and follow the Center for Disease Control (CDC) protocol to the letter. Our law firm is committed to best practices as outlined by the CDC and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Check back for continual updates as part of Gabriel J. Christian & Associates, LLC coverage regarding important COVID-19 coronavirus topics and resources for businesses.

IF YOU ARE STOPPED FOR QUESTIONING

Thu, 01 Aug 2019 21:41:52 GMT

IF YOU ARE STOPPED FOR QUESTIONING
Stay calm. Don't run. Don't argue, resist or obstruct the police, even if you are innocent or police are violating your rights. Keep your hands where police can see them.
Ask if you are free to leave. If the officer says yes, calmly and silently walk away. If you are under arrest, you have a right to know why.

You have the right to remain silent and cannot be punished for refusing to answer questions. If you wish to remain silent, tell the officer out loud. In some states, you must give your name if asked to identify yourself.

You do not have to consent to a search of yourself or your belongings, but police may "pat down" your clothing if they suspect a weapon. You should not physically resist, but you have the right to refuse consent for any further search. If you do consent, it can affect you later in court.

IF YOU ARE STOPPED IN YOUR CAR
Stop the car in a safe place as quickly as possible. Turn off the car, turn on the internal light, open the window part way and place your hands on the wheel.
Upon request, show police your driver's license, registration and proof of insurance.

If an officer or immigration agent asks to look inside your car, you can refuse to consent to the search. But if police believe your car contains evidence of a crime, your car can be searched without your consent.

Both drivers and passengers have the right to remain silent. If you are a passenger, you can ask if you are free to leave. If the officer says yes, sit silently or calmly leave. Even if the officer says no, you have the right to remain silent.

IF YOU ARE QUESTIONED ABOUT YOUR IMMIGRATION STATUS
You have the right to remain silent and do not have to discuss your immigration or citizenship status with police, immigration agents or any other officials. You do not have to answer questions about where you were born, whether you are a U.S. citizen, or how you entered the country. (Separate rules apply at international borders and airports, and for individuals on certain nonimmigrant visas, including tourists and business travelers.)

If you are not a U.S. citizen and an immigration agent requests your immigration papers, you must show them if you have them with you. If you are over 18, carry your immigration documents with you at all times. If you do not have immigration papers, say you want to remain silent.

Do not lie about your citizenship status or provide fake documents.

IF THE POLICE OR IMMIGRATION AGENTS COME TO YOUR HOME
If the police or immigration agents come to your home, you do not have to let them in unless they have certain kinds of warrants.

Ask the officer to slip the warrant under the door or hold it up to the window so you can inspect it. A search warrant allows police to enter the address listed on the warrant, but officers can only search the areas and for the items listed. An arrest warrant allows police to enter the home of the person listed on the warrant if they believe the person is inside. A warrant of removal/deportation (ICE warrant) does not allow officers to enter a home without consent.

Even if officers have a warrant, you have the right to remain silent. If you choose to speak to the officers, step outside and close the door.

IF YOU ARE CONTACTED BY THE FBI
If an FBI agent comes to your home or workplace, you do not have to answer any questions. Tell the agent you want to speak to a lawyer first.

If you are asked to meet with FBI agents for an interview, you have the right to say you do not want to be interviewed. If you agree to an interview, have a lawyer present. You do not have to answer any questions you feel uncomfortable answering, and can say that you will only answer questions on a specific topic.

IF YOU ARE ARRESTED
Do not resist arrest, even if you believe the arrest is unfair.

Say you wish to remain silent and ask for a lawyer immediately. Don't give any explanations or excuses. If you can't pay for a lawyer, you have the right to a free one. Don't say anything, sign anything or make any decisions without a lawyer.

You have the right to make a local phone call. The police cannot listen if you call a lawyer.

Prepare yourself and your family in case you are arrested. Memorize the phone numbers of your family and your lawyer. Make emergency plans if you have children or take medication.

Special considerations for non-citizens:
- Ask your lawyer about the effect of a criminal conviction or plea on your immigration status.
- Don't discuss your immigration status with anyone but your lawyer.
- While you are in jail, an immigration agent may visit you. Do not answer questions or sign anything before talking to a lawyer.
- Read all papers fully. If you do not understand or cannot read the papers, tell the officer you need an interpreter.

IF YOU ARE TAKEN INTO IMMIGRATION (OR "ICE") CUSTODY
You have the right to a lawyer, but the government does not have to provide one for you. If you do not have a lawyer, ask for a list of free or low-cost legal services.

You have the right to contact your consulate or have an officer inform the consulate of your arrest.

Tell the ICE agent you wish to remain silent. Do not discuss your immigration status with anyone but your lawyer.

Do not sign anything, such as a voluntary departure or stipulated removal, without talking to a lawyer. If you sign, you may be giving up your opportunity to try to stay in the U.S.

Remember your immigration number ("A" number) and give it to your family. It will help family members locate you.

Keep a copy of your immigration documents with someone you trust.

IF YOU FEEL YOUR RIGHTS HAVE BEEN VIOLATED
Remember: police misconduct cannot be challenged on the street. Don't physically resist officers or threaten to file a complaint.

Write down everything you remember, including officers' badge and patrol car numbers, which agency the officers were from, and any other details. Get contact information for witnesses. If you are injured, take photographs of your injuries (but seek medical attention first).

File a written complaint with the agency's internal affairs division or civilian complaint board. In most cases, you can file a complaint anonymously if you wish

Police Misconduct & Civil Rights

Thu, 01 Aug 2019 21:41:47 GMT

Police officers generally have broad powers to carry out their duties. The Constitution and other laws, however, place limits on how far police can go in trying to enforce the law. As the videotaped beating of motorist Rodney King, in Los Angeles' and several recent cases in – to include the recent indictment of a Maryland police officer for viciously assaulting an innocent citizen with his service pistol, police officers sometimes go too far, violating the rights of citizens. When this happens, the victim of the misconduct may have recourse through federal and state laws. A primary purpose of the nation's civil rights laws is to protect citizens from abuses by government, including police misconduct. Civil rights laws allow attorney fees and compensatory and punitive damages as incentives for injured parties to enforce their rights.
Overcoming Immunity

Being stopped and questioned by police in connection with a crime is an unsettling experience for most anyone. As long as the officer is performing his job properly, however, there is no violation of a suspect's rights. In fact, police are immune from suit for the performance of their jobs unless willful, unreasonable conduct is demonstrated. Mere negligence, the failure to exercise due care, is not enough to create liability. Immunity therefore means that in the typical police-suspect interaction, the suspect cannot sue the police. Civil rights remedies come into play for willful police conduct that violates an individual's constitutional rights.
Civil Rights Laws and Police Misconduct

A statute known as Section 1983 is the primary civil rights law victims of police misconduct rely upon. This law was originally passed as part of the Civil Rights Act of 1871, which was intended to curb oppressive conduct by government and private individuals participating in vigilante groups, such as the Ku Klux Klan. It is now called Section 1983 because that is where the law has been published, within Title 42, of the United States Code. Section 1983 makes it unlawful for anyone acting under the authority of state law to deprive another person of his or her rights under the Constitution or federal law. The most common claims brought against police officers are false arrest (or false imprisonment), malicious prosecution, and use of excessive or unreasonable force.
False Arrest

The claim that is most often asserted against police is false arrest. Persons bringing this claim assert that police violated their Fourth Amendment right against unreasonable seizure. If the officer had probable cause to believe the individual had committed a crime, the arrest is reasonable and the Fourth Amendment has not been violated. Police can arrest without a warrant for a felony or misdemeanor committed in their presence. (Some states also allow warrantless arrests for misdemeanor domestic assaults not committed in the officer's presence.) Even if the information the officer relied upon later turns out to be false, the officer is not liable if he believed it was accurate at the time of the arrest. To prevail on a false arrest claim, the victim must show that the arresting officer lacked probable cause, that is, facts sufficient to cause a reasonable person to believe that a crime had been committed.

Malicious Prosecution

A malicious prosecution claim asserts that the officer wrongly deprived the victim of the Fourteenth Amendment right to liberty. To win this type of claim, the victim must show four things:

1) the defendant police officer commenced a criminal proceeding;

2) the proceeding ended in the victim's favor (that is, no conviction);

3) there was no probable cause; and

4) the proceeding was brought with malice toward the victim. As with false arrest, this claim will fail if the officer had probable cause to initiate criminal proceedings.

Excessive Force

Excessive force claims receive the most publicity, perhaps because the results of excessive force seem the most outrageous, involving serious physical injury or death. Whether the officer's use of force was reasonable depends on the surrounding facts and circumstances. The officer's intentions or motivations are not controlling. If the amount of force was reasonable, it doesn't matter that the officer's intentions were bad. But the reverse is also true: if the officer had good intentions, but used unreasonable force, the excessive force claim will not be dismissed.

Failure to Intervene

Officers have a duty to protect individuals from constitutional violations by fellow officers. Therefore, an officer who witnesses a fellow officer violating an individual's constitutional rights may be liable to the victim for failing to intervene.

The Qualified Immunity Defense

Defense attorneys representing a police officer for any of these claims will raise a defense of qualified immunity. This defense exists to prevent the fear of legal prosecution from inhibiting a police officer from enforcing the law. The defense will defeat a claim against the officer if the officer's conduct did not violate a clearly established constitutional or statutory right. In other words, the specific acts the officer prevented the individual from engaging in must be legally protected, otherwise there is no civil rights violation. In order to win a civil rights claim, an individual bringing a police misconduct claim must prove that the actions of the police exceeded reasonable bounds, infringed the victim's constitutional rights, and produced some injury or damages to the victim.

Police Misconduct: If You Have Been Affect

Civil rights claims are an important part of our legal system, providing a balance between the duty of law enforcement to uphold the laws, and the rights of individuals to be free from police misconduct. Yet cases against police officers can be difficult. Officers may be immune from suit, even though an individual feels he or she was mistreated. Claims against police departments can also be expensive to bring because a lot of evidence must be secured, including records, statements of police, statements of witnesses, and various other documentation, to prove the misconduct.

The evidence supporting your claim is the most important element in a police misconduct suit. If you feel you have been the victim of police misconduct, contact our office promptly at 301-218-9400 so that we can act to protect your rights. If anyone in the area may have taken video, such film is critical to success. Many successful prosecutions of police misconduct arise from video evidence. Take photographs of any injuries or damage caused by the police, and set aside clothing or other objects that was torn or stained with blood from the incident. Try to get the names and addresses or telephone numbers of anyone who may have witnessed the incident. Also, write down exactly what happened as soon as you can, so that you don't forget important details.

Maritime & Global Trade Consulting

Fri, 21 Dec 2018 21:07:30 GMT

Gabriel J. Christian & Associates, LLC offers specialized support to the maritime and global trading community with expertise in developing strategic relations between, for example, ship owners and shipbuilders, and between traders and shipping services. GCA is particularly engaged in activities Africa, the Caribbean, and the Americas generally, and has developed a broad network of relationships to aid this vital aspect of the economy.

Promoting Innovation in Agriculture

Sun, 25 Feb 2018 21:08:49 GMT

GJC & Associates, Law Partners with SpagnVola Chocolate and the Caribbean Agricultural Network

In collaboration with CiBEXO Group Dominica, the Law Office of Gabriel Christian and Caribbean Agriculture Network, SPAGnVOLA Chocolatier joins the relief effort for Dominica victims of Tropical Storm Erika.

As of Thursday, September 17th, SPAGnVOLA will have a limited number of Dominica's premium chocolates bars for sale at their outlets in Gaithersburg and National Harbor. These artisan bars are made from cocoa produced in Dominica and will be for sale at $25.00 each. "The main ingredient in these bars is love and this is what's being sent to Dominica with a 100% of the proceeds from this effort" says SPAGnVOLA's head chocolate maker, Crisoire Reid.

This fundraising effort is demonstrative of our commitment not only to the farmers but to a people with whom we have fallen in love during our visit earlier this year. As we are limited to 1,000 bars and earmarked to raise US$25,000 we are seeking the support of chocolate lovers by sampling this new chocolate.

From Dominica, a lush arcadia of towering thickly forested mountains swept by sweet Caribbean breezes come Chocolat de la Dominique. Dominica is in that part of the Americas where cocoa originated, and where Meso Americans traversed the Caribbean and connected with the Central American isthmus and what is today Venezuela. In the 1900s Dominica' s lush forest and Botanic Gardens were laboratories for the added introduction of fine flavored Trinitario and Criollo beans carefully nurtured in partnership with the world renowned Imperial College of Tropical Agriculture at Trinidad (now the University of the West Indies-St. Augustine). A British colony then, Dominica’s beans was highly prized by the leading British chocolatiers who used the island's fine flavor beans to add exquisite taste to their bars. SPAGnVOLA's Chocolat de la Dominique was born of the vision of Christian family matriarch Alberta Christian who was born at Dominica's Cocoa Center in the Layou Valley in 1929.

Please help with the hurricane relief efforts!

Tue, 17 Oct 2017 20:10:26 GMT

This is the second time in just a few short years that the beloved nature island of Dominica in the caribbean has been greatly ravaged by hurricane winds and debris. We appreciate your continued support and donations to help the people of Dominica in this great time of need. Please visit https://rebuilddominica.org/ for more information.

High Honors Bestowed by Ethiopian Crown Council on Managing Attorney Gabriel Christian

Fri, 23 Jun 2017 20:15:57 GMT

Gabriel J. Christian, Esq., managing attorney of Gabriel J. Christian & Associates LLC was among several luminaries bestowed with high honors by His Imperial Highness Prince Ermias Sahle Selassie Haile Selassie of the Ethiopian Crown Council earlier this year. On February 25, 2017 during the annual Victory of Adwa Dinner at the Army-Navy Club in Washington, D.C. Mr. Christian was awarded the Knight Grand Cross of the Star of Ethiopia and Mrs. Christian (office manager at GJC & Assoc.) was awarded the Grand Order of the Star of Ethiopia. The awards to Mr. & Mrs. Christian were based on their more than two decades of support for the work of the Ethiopian Crown Council, and assistance to the Ethiopian Diaspora and African development.

The honors bestowed are a worthy acknowledgment of the community development ethic of our law firm and its commitment to our client base, both in the United States, Africa and the Caribbean.

The Pen Is Mightier than the Sword - 25 Years of Pont Casse Press

Tue, 30 May 2017 20:18:36 GMT

On Saturday, June 3, 2017, Dr. Irving W. Andre and Gabriel J. Christian, Esq. will be awarded for

Tuskegee Airmen Youth In Aviation Scholarship Awards May 20th

Mon, 08 May 2017 20:24:22 GMT

On May 20th, 2017 the East Coast Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen Inc. (ECCTAI) will be holding its annual Tuskegee Airmen Youth in Aviation Scholarship Awards ceremony. Our law firm is a proud sponsor and booster for the program and would like to extend an invitation to everyone who would like to attend the program!

Family of Ethiopia's Late Emperor gives $700k to Halie Selassie School in Jamaica

Thu, 04 May 2017 20:29:26 GMT

In a fulfillment of a commitment announced a year ago by Prince Ermias Sahle-Selassie, a donation of $700k was donated to Haile Selassie High School in Jamaica on May 1st, 2017. Acting as his representatives, Gabriel J. Christian and Mel Twahade presented a check for the donation to the School in person. To learn more, read the full story here .

GJC Donates solar-powered car to guide UMES course

Sun, 21 Aug 2016 20:31:04 GMT

Gabriel J. Christian, a Washington-area attorney who offered the vehicle as a gift to support alternative energy instruction. Read the full story HERE .

Annulments

Tue, 24 Mar 2015 21:41:53 GMT

Even though it makes headlines when celebrities get an annulment of their marriages based on fraud or inability to perform, annulments are relatively rare.

Fraud is usually the basis for an annulment. Examples are failure to disclose a previous marriage, criminal record, infectious disease, the inability to have children, or the desire not to have children. Annulments have also been granted where a spouse mistakenly believes they have been divorced or widowed when in fact they are not, or the spouses are too closely related, or one party is underage, and did not obtain appropriate parental consent.

In Maryland, a marriage which qualifies as one suitable for annulment means there is some legal defect that invalidates the marriage such as a spouse that is married to someone else at the time of the second marriage or the parties are blood relatives or one is underage. You do not need to file a petition for an annulment with the court in the case of a void marriage although it may be wise to do so anyway so that you have a court order of annulment.

A voidable marriage, on the other hand, can only be annulled by filing a petition for annulment with the court and having a judge declare the marriage not to have happened. Examples of voidable marriages are sham marriages or joke marriages where the parties did not really intend to marry. You can also ask the court for an annulment if you or your spouse were incapacitated at the time of marriage, as in insanity, intoxication, fraud or duress. Fraud can be hard to prove to a judge especially when the annulment is contested, so most people opt for a divorce instead. A divorce says the marriage is over. An annulment says it never happened.

WHEN IS A GIFT NOT A GIFT?

Sun, 25 Jan 2015 22:41:48 GMT

When you receive a gift, do you expect to give it back?

Generally, a gift is given without expectation of reciprocation or further action on your part- you could throw it out, sell it, or even re-gift it (hopefully not back to the same person!). A contract, on the other hand, is a bargain for exchange: you trade a good or service for something of similar value.

But what if you receive a gift… that has a condition? A conditional gift is one that is subject to or dependent on a condition. Maryland common law holds that conditional gifts must be honored, but thankfully these gifts-with-strings-attached do not happen often in our culture. In order for the condition to be enforceable in a court of law, it must be clearly expressed or known prior to transferring the gift. If you accept the gift knowing the condition, you have accepted the condition as well. An example of an expressed conditional gift could be:

“I’m giving you this car on the condition that you pass your first semester of college.”
“My estate will transfer to you in the event that the Detroit Tigers win the World Series by 2020. If they do not, it will go to your sister.”
“I leave Melissa my very best sewing machine, on the condition that she sews one new quilt a year for five years. If she does not, it will transfer to Jake.”

The “expression” can be either written or oral, though it is much easier to enforce (or protect) a conditional gift when the condition is in writing and signed by the giver.

But what about the second way a condition is given- where it is simply “known”? This is very rare in our culture. The most common (and frankly, one of the only well-known) implied conditions is the engagement ring. When you accept an engagement ring, you have agreed to the condition to marry the person who proposed. Maryland has found that this amounts to an implied conditional gift. And so if the recipient of the engagement ring breaks off the engagement... that’s right, in Maryland you have to return the ring!

But the important element of the conditional gift is that both people know of the condition, whether it is simply known or stated outright, prior to the gift. When a condition is not stated, but is simply known, you may have a much more difficult time proving that the condition was known if the receiver of the gift later fails the condition and refuses to return the gift, resulting in large legal fees and major headaches. For instance, what if you believe the implied condition of the gift you gave is known in your religion- and that of the receiver of the gift- but they later claim they never heard of that particular religious teaching? You may need to hire a religious scholar to testify at your trial to convince the court that the condition is so well known in your religious community that the receiver could not possibly be ignorant. As you can imagine, it is difficult to prove what someone may or may not know- especially where they may have the motive to lie in order to claim a conditional gift was unconditional. Other examples of implied conditional gifts:

Sarah’s family has a generations-long tradition that everyone in the family follows: you are given a car when you turn 16, but if you ever miss the Sunday family meal, it is revoked. Sarah has seen several family members miss the meal and then lose their car. Sarah is given the keys to a new car at age 16, but no mention of the well-known condition is necessary.
Andre is a part of a religious group with a well-known tenet that wedding gifts are conditioned on the marital success-- meaning, you never divorce. Should the parties divorce, all gifts are revoked. Andre has been raised in this religion since birth and has read the religious texts that mention this tenet.

Once you have satisfied the condition, whether implied or expressed, the giver cannot revoke the gift later. The condition is the only obstacle to acquiring your gift. So to go back to the engagement ring example: if you marry, but later divorce, do you have to return the ring? No: you have satisfied the implied condition: to marry. Just because you may later disappoint the giver does not mean they can demand a return of a gift.

If you have questions about a gift that you believe may be conditional, do not hesitate to call our office at 301-218-9400. In an increasingly diverse society - with different religions such as Hinduism introducing new customs of gift giving to our culture - we have had the opportunity to address the issue of dowry (marriage related gifts) at trial. In doing so we have used expert testimony to ensure our clients prevail. We can assist in determining whether a gift is conditional, or help you put your conditions into writing to prevent misunderstandings and litigation later. Preparation can ensure your wishes are carried out exactly as you hoped.

Free Speech In the Aftermath of the Charlie Hebdo Massacre

Sun, 18 Jan 2015 22:41:50 GMT

As the dust begins to settle on those recent horrendous events in Paris, a clearer sense of perspective is starting to creep in round the edges. The Pope suggests that those who are too provocative to Islam can expect “a punch”. And even a co-founder of Charlie Hebdo says that its murdered editor’s urge to provoke had “dragged the team to its death”.
As the original editor of Private Eye, who over the years has probably contributed as many words as anyone to its “satirical” pages, I’m afraid that I have looked askance at much of what has been said and written about these events in recent days.

When David Cameron announced on Twitter that he was joining that vast rally in Paris “to celebrate the values of Charlie Hebdo”, one wondered whether he had even previously heard of that little magazine, let alone looked at its pages. Did he really wish to celebrate crude cartoons showing a naked Mohammed with a star coming out of his bottom, captioned: “A star is born”? Or another, captioned “The film that embraces all the Muslim world”, showing a naked Prophet holding a camera to his bottom, saying: “And my ass? You love my ass”?

Did our Prime Minister really want to applaud a picture of the Pope, scantily clad as a Rio prostitute, saying: “Ready for anything to win some clients?” Even these are only among the images available online. A friend living in France tells me of others even more dubious, showing Jesus masturbating, or the Virgin Mary engaging in sexual acts.
If this is meant to be “satire” that only someone without “a sense of humour” would find offensive, I suppose some might point to that strain of British cartooning exemplified by Gerald Scarfe. For decades, he has repeated images of some powerful man exposing his bottom to a lesser figure trying to kiss it. At different times, these might have represented Harold Wilson grovelling behind President Lyndon Johnson, or Tony Blair likewise behind President Bush, or David Cameron with Rupert Murdoch.

How ironic, one thought, that this mass demonstration in favour of “the freedom of the press” should take place in a country whose “Ministry of Culture” has lately detailed the huge state subsidies given to France’s leading newspapers, to help keep its press more cowed and tightly controlled than any west of Russia.

In a time when there is such pressure to prevent people saying things that do not conform with group-think – when every kind of “political correctness” rules; when Christians are arrested for quoting the Bible in the street, for fear of giving “offence to minorities”; when boarding-house owners are prosecuted for not wishing to let rooms to gay couples; when there are calls for “climate change deniers” to be sacked or put on trial; when judges repeatedly threaten people with imprisonment for trying to expose the travesties of justice in their “child protection” system – who really knows what “freedom of speech” is any longer?

There has been no better comment on the clouds of humbug recently billowing in all directions than the admission of BBC employees that they are under an edict from apparatchiks on high that they must not on any account describe to their audiences the contents of any of those Charlie Hebdo cartoons.

It is the kind of thing that made me want to put a collective photo-bubble on those shots of the politicians leading two million people through the streets, all in grey unanimity, intoning the words of the old song, “Clap hands, here comes Charlie”. They didn’t really have the faintest idea what they were talking about.

The Law of Visitation Rights Grandparents, Siblings & Domestic Partners

Wed, 25 Jul 2012 21:41:51 GMT

Often third parties such as grandparents, stepparents, and domestic partners of a biological parent have established a relationship with a minor child and desire to continue that relationship through regular contact with the child. The standards considered by the court in determining whether to award third parties visitation access to a minor child are discussed below. Essentially, the natural parent's proposed schedule of access is deemed to be presumptively in the minor child's best interest, and a third party has to show either parental unfitness or exceptional circumstances warranting visitation or custody rights exist. If the third party demonstrates either parental unfitness or exceptional circumstances, then the court will consider what schedule would be in the minor child's best interest.

FL § 9‑102 provides that an equity court may consider a petition for reasonable visitation of a grandchild by a grandparent; and if the court finds it to be in the best interests of the child, grant visitation rights to a grandparent. The statute applies to intact family situations also, there is no presumption in favor of grandparent visitation. In Koshko v. Haining, 398 Md. 404, 921 A.2d 171 (2007), the Court of Appeals held that “there must be a finding of either parental unfitness or exceptional circumstances demonstrating the current or future detriment to the child, absent visitation from his or her grandparents, as a prerequisite to application of the best interests analysis. Accordingly, we overrule the portions of Fairbanks, Maner, Beckman, Herrick, and Wolinski that are inconsistent with this holding.” The Court of Appeals in Koshko noted in footnote 23 that “At any evidentiary hearing on a petition, the petitioners must produce evidence to establish their prima facie case on the issue of either parental unfitness or exceptional circumstances as well as evidence sufficient to tip the scales of the best interests balancing test in their favor.” In Janice K. v. Margaret K., 404 Md. 661, 948 A.2d 73 (2008), the Court of Appeals held that Maryland does not recognize "de facto" parenthood status and held that in order to overcome the "constitutional rights of a legal parent to govern the care, custody, and control of his or her child, even a person who would qualify as a de facto parent, who seeks visitation or custody, must demonstrate exceptional circumstances" or parental unfitness as a prerequisite to the court's consideration of the best interests of the child.

A natural parent’s proposed schedule of visitation is entitled to a rebuttable presumption that it is in the best interests of the child. Wolinski v. Browneller, 115 Md. App. 285, 693 A.2d 30 (1997). In Brice v. Brice, 133 Md. App. 302, 754 A.2d 1132 (2000), the Court of Special Appeals reversed a trial court’s order establishing a visitation schedule between the paternal grandparents and the child that was against the mother’s wishes. Under the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Troxel v. Granville, 530 U.S. 57, 120 S. Ct. 2054, 147 L.Ed. 49 (2000), application of FL § 9-102 violated mother’s constitutional due process right, i.e. her fundamental right to rear her child, where there was no showing she was unfit and mother did not oppose some visitation with the paternal grandparents. The appellate court did not invalidate the Maryland statute. The Court of Special Appeals, in In re: Tamara R., 136 Md. App. 236, 764 A.2d 844 (2000), analyzed Troxel v. Granville and applied the principles to a sibling visitation matter. “We conclude that the state’s interest in the protection of a minor child who has been removed from her parent’s care is sufficiently compelling to justify overriding her parent’s opposition to visitation with her sibling, if there is evidence that denial of sibling visitation also would harm the sibling whom the separated child seeks to visit.” In Herrick v. Wain, 154 Md.App. 222, 838 A.2d 1263 (2003), the Court of Special Appeals affirmed a Circuit Court for Montgomery County Order granting maternal grandmother visitation; trial court had considered surviving father’s concerns and the evidence rebutted presumption that father’s preferred schedule was in child’s best interest. See also Frase v. Barnhart, et. al., 379 Md. 100, 840 A.2d 114 (2003).

Both parents are necessary parties to the third party's action, pursuant to Maryland Rule 2‑211.

Caribbean Glory

Sat, 03 Mar 2012 22:41:54 GMT

Caribbean Glory; a ceremony honoring our Carribbean brethren who fought a valiant effort in WWII. Dominican and British West Indian Soldiers of yesteryear sought to preserve our today with their honor, courage, and commitment to King & Country.

Caribbean Glory on YouTube

Please enjoy this along with many other related videos on our YouTube channel

(You can read more on the service and sacrifice of the the British West Indian Military in my book "For King & Country", available on amazon.com)

~GJC

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Gabriel J Christian - Spirit of Professionalism, Entrepreneur, Community Service and Leadership

SPECIAL EDITION

The Ward Post’s Series profiling Caribbean Diaspora Leadership, Professionalism, Entrepreneurship, and Community Engagement

(First in Series)

African-American Farmers Aid to Gambia, West Africa

African-American Farmers Seek to Aid Gambia's Agricultural Sector

Rights for Birthright

The Legacy of Abraham Lincoln and the Role of Abolitionists and the Radical Republican Party in Advancing African-American Civil Rights ﻿

LAW 101

Birthright Citizenship

Auld Lang Syne at GJC and Associates, LLC

Seasons Greetings To All

Lightbulb to Laptop

SPECIAL EDITION

Lightbulb to Laptop: Latimer's Legacy Lives

Breaking Bread During a Pandemic

Breaking Bread with Residents During COVID-19

Blacks In Aviation

An Introduction of Blacks in Aviation by Gabriel J. Christian, Esquire

The Rule of Law and Democracy

International Day of Democracy Special Event

2024 Tuskegee Airmen Flight Day and Youth Breakfast

Caputre the Memories of ECCTAI Flight Day and Youth Breakfast!

Youth Flight Day

Come Fly With Us On Youth Flight Day!

GJC and Associates, LLC Partners with Elevate Leadership Group

Practical Technologies, Inc. CEO Dilip Dalvi & His Team Meet with New Legal Counsel

Operation Cocoa Emancipation

Chocolat de la Dominique and Dominica's Cocoa Industry

Orange-Mango

Supporting Agriculture Entrepreneurship

Remembering Christmas of 2012

Maryland Citation Presented to Alkali

Enhancing Food Security for a Better Africa

Forging a Collaborative Venture

Making a Better World at Thanksgiving

Sharing Our Blessings

Gabriel J Christian - Colombia Martin Luther King, Jr. Fellows Program Lecture

Colombia Fellows Program MLK Lecture

Voting: Democracy in Action - Supreme Court Decisions and Democracy

You Are Cordially Invited - 7PM, Wednesday, October 25, 2023!

Avoiding Domestic Violence

Signature Service - Caribbean Community Leadership Award

Clean Water

GJC Law invests in clean water in a Sierra Leone village

Of Nation Building - A Dominican Cadet Remembers

Newly Appointed General Counsel for OVID Group - International Business Development

WSSC Caribbean American Heritage Month - June 8

Gabriel J. Christian, Esq. - Guest Speaker

USPTO Caribbean American Heritage Month - June 2, 2022

Gabriel J. Christian CIPA Keynote Speaker

Prince George's County Freedom Stories: Freedom Suits and the Law

The Law Panel Discussion

First Benefit Corporation for Africa Forum - September 15, 2021

First Benefit Corporation for Africa Forum - September 15, 2021

First Annual East Coast Chapter Tuskegee Airmen Flight Day Picnic

You Are Cordially Invited!

General Counsel for National Black Growers Council

Newly Selected Aura Counsel

COVID-19 Safety Alert

IF YOU ARE STOPPED FOR QUESTIONING

Police Misconduct & Civil Rights

Maritime & Global Trade Consulting

Promoting Innovation in Agriculture

Please help with the hurricane relief efforts!

High Honors Bestowed by Ethiopian Crown Council on Managing Attorney Gabriel Christian

The Pen Is Mightier than the Sword - 25 Years of Pont Casse Press

Tuskegee Airmen Youth In Aviation Scholarship Awards May 20th

Family of Ethiopia's Late Emperor gives $700k to Halie Selassie School in Jamaica

GJC Donates solar-powered car to guide UMES course

Annulments

WHEN IS A GIFT NOT A GIFT?

Free Speech In the Aftermath of the Charlie Hebdo Massacre

The Law of Visitation Rights Grandparents, Siblings & Domestic Partners

Caribbean Glory

The Legacy of Abraham Lincoln and the Role of Abolitionists and the Radical Republican Party in Advancing African-American Civil Rights