TO END ATROCITIES AGAINST FLORIDA PRISONERS
We are mobilizing a legal attack against sys-tematic brutalization of prisoners in Florida. Harms include: murder, torture, routine beatings and other forms of mistreatment of convict whistleblowers and other prisoners, illegal deprivation of visits, adulteration of food, inadequate medical treatment, and widespread corruption at all levels, from the lowest to the highest penal and executive authorities.
In at least three cases it can be established that the State Medical Examiner's Office neglected evidence of deliberate homicide by prison officers.
Our priorities, in order of urgency, include:
1. Protection of prisoner informants who risked their lives in supplying information.
2. Protection of ex-prisoners who did the same.
3. Launching of lawsuits and injunctions, seeking cease-and-desist orders directed toward responsible officials, protection orders on behalf of endangered offenders and ex-offenders, and class-action suits against the governor and various other responsible officials.
4. Placing the entire correctional apparatus under receivership to a federal judge, who will be asked to appoint a federal monitor to oversee compliance to all orders by the Court.
On Thursday, July 26th, the Governor of Florida was sent a still confidential report listing the names of prisoner whistleblowers, requesting his taking of immediate steps to insure their protection. If any of them are harmed, the record will state that the Governor was the first official who knew their identity.
CALL TO MOBILIZATION
Our effort is led by Ms. Kay Lee, a private citizen of Florida, who has mobilized kinfolk of prisoners, ex-prisoners and prisoners still in custody, in the compilation of detailed information about prison atrocities. She is virtually without any resources other than courage, persistence and an indomitable commitment to human rights and welfare. Those who share this commitment will know what is needed in the way of spiritual and material aid.
THE NEED IS URGENT
We are issuing a nationwide call for lawyers, paralegals, concerned citizens and groups, and for all who can supply information, help and encouragement including on-site assistance in the mounting of a comprehensive legal assault against one of the most vicious correctional systems in America. For further information, please contact:
Kay Lee, Florida, (klee1@charter.net)
Rev. Bruce Wright, Florida, (refuge@skaught.com)
George Crossley, Florida (gcrossley70@juno.com)
Richard R. Korn, California, (wyvern@idiom.com),
Andrew Mandell, Illinois, (amandell@jpusa.org)