The Trial for Mankind

Shabeg S. Sekhon
The Trial for Mankind
Arthur Brown was resting on his cot when the prison guards came to get him. They were prepared to tell him to change but he was already dressed. He wore a three piece suit and combed his hair with some make shift supplies he found around the prison mess-hall. As he was being escorted out of the prison block to make his final testimony he looked upon the faces of his fellow inmates. They all stood up for him, each prisoner in every cell was standing and clutching the bars of his cell. They all watched to see the last march of Arthur Brown.
When he arrived to the courthouse he was overwhelmed with the noise from the spectators. People cursed at him, even some men, and other onlookers just watched and looked upon him with awe as they were saying – “This is the treacherous Arthur Brown?”— to themselves. He held his head up high on his way up the stairs despite the objects being thrown at him and the obscene curses being yelled about him.
The Supreme Court House was filled with onlookers. As he was taking his seat on the defense table he scanned the room to see if any of his fellow organizers would be there to support him, but there were hardly any around. The only men he saw were obedient lackey husbands who never knew how to once think for themselves. He was disgusted by the sight of them, and he made them know it whenever his eyes met any of theirs.
The panel arrived shortly after he was seated and all twelve judges sat down on their chairs in unison. The head judge leaned towards the microphone and began the trial.
“Ladies and Gentleman, here now we will entertain the final testimony of Arthur Brown whom the state of California has already punished to death for the following crimes: Inciting riots, vandalism of government property, assault of government officials, bombing the state capitols of California, Oregon, and Washington. And above all else, high treason for his literary works on anarchy and the reformation of the state. Mr. Brown, you may begin.” Arthur put his head down for a moment to gather his thoughts and his eyes squinted as he leaned his mouth toward the microphone.
“Madame Judges, ladies and gentleman of our beloved state, I stand before you today a condemned man. What can I say now that will prevent my death without going against everything I have fought so hard for? What do you ask of me? What have I done from the beginning to make our world worse for people across the world? I do not believe that anything I have written or anything I have said is worth condemning me to death. I can assure all of you now that I had nothing to do with the attacks on the state capitols or the attacks on senators Regina Armstrong or Kelly Cunningham. I have said this once and I will say it again, I have been framed for those attacks simply because of my controversial thoughts and the movement I have begu-”
“And please, Mr. Brown, could you say exactly what your movement was and what it stood for exactly?” One of the Judges interrupted.
“Yes Madam, for the past six years I have been responsible for the movement of gaining male suffrage. I have stood on the platform that all women and men are created equal as human beings and despite the fact that we cannot give birth and are not responsible for society; we are more than simply a means to an end. For too long I have seen the oppression of my brethren all over the world, for too long I have stood by and have done nothing to help, for too long, madam, I have stood by and let you treat me as if I were sub-human. Yes it is true that society is founded upon the creation and maintenance of our populations, it is true that if it were not for women there would be no life as we know it. But I say to you Madame Chair, we are not so different. For years I have asked myself why? Why are men not allowed to vote? Why can’t men decide for themselves who they will vote for without the approval or consent from their wives? Why can’t we decide when we go to war? We are already used to fight them in the first place. Quite frankly, I am tired of the labels placed upon men that we are too aggressive, too promiscuous, too harsh to raise children alone, too barbaric to learn in school. Do I not think? Have I not presented myself with composure and proper decorum? The stereotypes on men have to end in order for us to gain true equality in this world. Why is it that when a boy is born he is doomed to becoming a laborer, a carpenter, a fisherman, or even a steel worker? Why can’t boys be brought up in this world to aspire to become poets, to become writers, to learn about science, to simply go to school? All I ask for, all I have ever asked for is that we be given the chance to prove ourselves as equals and let us share this world with women for all of womankind. I ask that when you see me, you do not simply dismiss me for the man you think I am, but look upon me as a fellow human being.”
The courtroom was silent, the judges looked and talked amongst them while Arthur remained seated and handcuffed. When they were done deliberating the head judge put her mouth in front of the microphone and made the final verdict.
“Mr. Arthur Brown, after hearing your testimony the judges in this courtroom do not vote in favor of your appeal and you therefore will continue your sentence and will be executed for high treason on May, 15th. Is there any last thing you wish to say?” Arthur looked down in defeat, tears swelled his eyes as he put his mouth in front of the microphone.
“No, your honor, there is nothing else we can do.”