Brighton – Community activist Shareef Aleem was released from Adams County Jail on Friday after the Colorado Supreme Court issued a stay of execution in his contempt-of-court case.
Aleem, 37, served just more than two days of his 45-day sentence imposed March 1 by 17th Judicial District Court Judge Katherine Delgado after Aleem refused her orders to remove a T-shirt of ex-Crip gang founder Stanley “Tookie” Williams.
Williams was executed for murder in California in December despite pleas from supporters who said he had reformed. Aleem had complied with the judge’s request the day before to remove a T-shirt that featured images of slavery.
Aleem, a well-known police critic, on Friday called the T-shirt incident “ridiculous.”
“It’s insane,” he said. “These are the type of clothes I wear every day. I’m not going to stop wearing clothes that I wear every day. I got a right to be me. … I stand on my principles. This is who I am. I have a right to express myself in this so-called country of free speech.”
Aleem wore the shirt on the third day of his trial on charges of second-degree assault against a police officer, which carries a 16-year sentence.
The charges stem from an incident last year during a University of Colorado Board of Regents meeting over the Ward Churchill controversy. Aleem was ousted from the meeting and allegedly got into a scuffle with the police.
The trial ended in a hung jury and is set to be retried on May 8.
Aleem believes he was thrown in jail because the judge and prosecutors were upset over the hung jury.
“I knew she was going to trip for the simple fact that she felt she had to save face,” Aleem said. “They lost and they’re (upset) about losing.”
Delgado and the Adams County District Attorney’s Office did not return calls for comment.
The Supreme Court on Thursday issued the stay of execution, allowing Aleem’s release until the matter is reviewed by the court.
Staff writer Jeremy P. Meyer may be reached at 303-820-1175 or jpmeyer@denverpost.com.
