Zaji Zajradhara
SAYING he shall not be silenced, Zaji Obatala Zajradhara has filed a lawsuit against Northern Marianas College in federal court, demanding $100 million.
Representing himself, Zajradhara alleges civil rights violations, denying access to federally funded programs, public humiliation, mental anguish, pain and suffering, false allegations/slander, attempted false arrest, extortionist threats, and retaliation.
“Since 2018-2019 until the present, NMC-Small Business Development Center has denied me access to educational opportunities, access to federally funded programs and services. These denials have caused undue financial, emotional, mental and physical sufferings and hardships. Not only to myself but my business and my children,” Zajradhara said.
Recently, NMC-SBDC filed a temporary restraining order in Superior Court against Zajradhara for harassing SBDC employees.
NMC, through attorney Mark Scoggins, also sued Zajradhara for undetermined damages to be proven at trial.
NMC’s complaint asked the court for a TRO and an eventual permanent injunction restraining Zajradhara from communicating with the SBDC or its employees by any method and for any reason.
Associate Judge Kenneth L. Govendo granted the TRO, which will remain in effect until April 18.
Judge Govendo also scheduled a hearing on the same date at 9 a.m.
Falsely accused
According to Zajradhara’s 11-page complaint, he was falsely accused and unjustly targeted.
“The allegations presented against me are not merely baseless fabrications: they are a calculated attempt to silence my voice, deny me access to federally funded educational, as well as business-related program and services and thwart my tireless pursuit of justice and accountability within the CNMI,” he said.
“In my humble opinion, the court need only review the ‘tone’ and ‘dictum’ of Attorney Scoggins’ missives to me; does it appear or even sound representative of the unbiased, fact-finding, neutral representative nature of Juris Prudence?” he asked.
Citing the CNMI Legislature’s resolution declaring him “persona non-grata,” Zajradhara said, “For years, I have tried to illuminate the systemic injustices inflicted on me and others, injustices that directly contravene the spirit of federal law and the fundamental principles on which this nation was founded. Those in positions of power within the CNMI have sought to extinguish my voice, weaponizing a legal system they believe they can manipulate to crush any who dare challenge their authority.”
Vague and unsubstantiated evidence
He said NMC’s “claims lack the fundamental elements of specificity and verifiability. No names of individuals I supposedly repeatedly harassed, no specific dates (except 3/13/2024- no time AM/PM given) or times, and no concrete statements or examples. This vagueness serves not to establish guilt but to cast a wide net of suspicion, hoping to ensnare me in a web of generalities.”
“My past employment filings against foreign companies recruiting CW-1 labor involved extensive collaboration with federal partners, including the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Department of Labor,” he said. “My role necessitated the development and advocacy of immigration, national security and employment policies aligned with both federal mandates and the unique needs of the American Workers in the CNMI and to expose the rampant CW-1 fraud that exists within the CNMI labor system. Any assertion that my actions were counter to these aims is a gross misrepresentation of my professional responsibilities,” Zajradhara said.
Alien sounds
“A pivotal allegation rests upon a phone call on March 13th, 2024, in which I am accused of making ‘ape, animal, or alien sounds.’ The lack of context, the absence of a specific accuser, and the outlandish nature of the accusation render it both unreliable and deeply prejudicial. As a father of three young children ages 3 to 7, it is entirely plausible that any perceived ‘loud sounds’ could simply have been my efforts to manage my energetic family while on the phone. Is fatherhood itself now criminalized? I am more than willing to submit my IT&E phone records for the courts’ review, upon request; as well, I am requesting the phone records of NMC-SBDC,” he said.
“The prosecution paints me as an inherently threatening figure (Angry Big Black Man Trope). This racially charged stereotyping is a dangerous tactic designed to evoke fear and prejudice rather than rely on evidence,” he added.
“In this era of rampant ‘Insta-Selfie everything’ technology, why is there no audio or video evidence to substantiate this outlandish claim when all NMC-SBDC employees have paid subscription services and are working in close proximity of one another or could merely record from their personal cell phones?” Zajradhara asked.
“Since I am this great threat to their personal safety, no one thought to capture me in ‘Threatening Mode’? The deafening silence surrounding this alleged incident speaks volumes,” he added.
First Amendment rights
“Throughout the years, I have consistently exercised my First Amendment rights by requesting audits, investigations, and raising concerns regarding discriminatory practices within the CNMI government. My actions have been grounded in a deep commitment to justice and a belief that the rule of law must apply equitably to all,” he said.
“The timing of these allegations is deeply suspect. They have arisen only after my repeated attempts to expose misconduct and unlawful discrimination within the CNMI governing bodies. … This is not mere coincidence; it is a transparent attempt to silence a voice that challenges the status quo. The CNMI government cannot be permitted to weaponize the criminal justice system against its own citizens to suppress dissent and avoid accountability.”
Shameful legacy
According to Zajradhara, the “tactics” employed against him “evoke a shameful legacy of injustice within American history.”
He added, “The attempt to frame me as inherently dangerous and unstable, without a shred of credible evidence, echoes the abhorrent strategies used to dehumanize and persecute countless Intelligent ‘Big Black Male Americans’ throughout our nation’s past. This court must not allow history to repeat itself.”
“Your Honor,” he said, “the case before us transcends my individual circumstances. The evidence I shall present exposes a disturbing pattern of systemic discrimination deeply embedded within the CNMI government. My experience is not an anomaly, but a reflection of a larger, insidious system designed to marginalize, silence, and deny opportunities to those who do not fit within the narrow confines of those in power.”
To ensure impartiality and guarantee a fair and unbiased trial, “I formally request a change of venue … as this case matter is truly based on various federal questions and violations of federal law. The CNMI’s small, insular nature raises legitimate concerns about potential biases and conflicts of interest. A change of venue is essential to ensure that justice is not only served but is seen to be served without the shadow of undue influence.”
He said the local court case against him should be dismissed, and a Department of Justice investigation should be conducted on the “the discriminatory practices that plague the CNMI and restore faith in the rule of law.”
“My case is a clarion call for all who believe in justice, equality, and the transformative power of the law,” he added. “It is time for the CNMl to be held accountable for its actions, and my accusers to face the consequences of their attempts to obstruct my fight for a better future. I stand before you not in fear, but in unwavering determination. I shall not be silenced. I shall not be broken. I shall continue to fight until justice prevails.”
