Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Thursday, November 5, 2009
SCOTT SISTERS FLYER DISTRIBUTION CAMPAIGN!
PLEASE BRING SCOTT SISTERS FLYERS WITH YOU THE NEXT TIME YOU GO OUT!!
With the level of activities picking up, the Scott Sisters need to have a voice and be represented as fully as possible!
We're calling on everyone to please participate in helping to distribute Scott Sisters flyers at upcoming marches, rallies, speaking events, and wherever people will be at so that their case can receive as much publicity as possible.
But don't stop there!
Keep some flyers in your car and/or bag to hand to people or even to send out. Drop some off at churches, temples, hair shops, and even your local clubs and hangouts, wherever you can imagine!
With no resources, our mission has to be to do everything that we can so that we know within ourselves that we did our best to make sure that we informed as many people as we could possibly reach that this truly atrocious case exists. These women have been suffering in prison for 15 years and counting for no good reason while they watch people around them be released who were convicted of murder!!
The flyer is at http://www.scribd.com/doc/22154749/Scott-Sisters-Flyer -- it's not very fancy but we are wide open to anyone with skills to hook something up real nice for the future :-).
There's also a press release at the blogspot site that can be printed out and sent to publications, radio stations, tv shows, the gamut.
Thank you so much for your support of these women, this horrific, terrible wrong will get right with all of your continued responses, ideas, and action!
Together we can make their freedom a reality!! And what a fantastic day that will be!
Monday, November 2, 2009
11/2/09 SCOTT SISTERS UPDATE!
Jamie Scott has written extensively about the conditions of her unjust incarceration and recently submitted an update to share on behalf of herself as well as all of the women in the bldg. where she is being housed.
First, she remains grateful for all of the calls, e-mails and letters that went out on her behalf before, she is in a slightly improved situation. She is now under a warden who is treating her more fairly and has a job in the kitchen and so is finally able to at least get some time off of the unit.
Her main concern is the building itself, and states that it's the worst conditions she has ever lived in. She and others are in the part of the prison called "quickbed" because it was built so fast. It was only supposed to be built to empty the county jails and is not fit for humans to live in. When it rains, it rains directly into the unit. Mold is knee deep in the showers and they are unsafe with rain everywhere. The building has not had hot water for over a month and some of the women do not bathe at all. Jamie, herself, is sick with a bad cold as a result of bathing in cold water. They are supposed to have two microwave ovens there but don't have any, so they are unable to even heat up water to bathe with. When they ask the warden about this terrible situation, they are told that it is being worked on. Furthermore, she reports that the beds are not five feet from each other, when the policy states
they are supposed to be farther apart.
The "quickbed" is located at CMCF2/A-Bldg.
Margaret Bingham, Superintendent of Central Mississippi Corrections Facility
(601) 932-2880
mbingham@mdoc.state.ms.us
FAX: (601) 664-0782
P.O. Box 88550
Pearl, Mississippi 39208
Christopher Epps, Commissioner of Prisons for the State of Mississippi
601-359-5600
CEPPS@mdoc.state.ms.us
723 North President Street
Jackson, MS 39202
++++++++++++++
Thanks to the efforts of some very forward-thinking supporters we've been able to repost the Scott Sisters case transcripts that were removed from the internet over the summer! They're available for all to review at http://www.scribd.com/Scott%20Sisters , please use them to assist us in finding a lawyer to take on this case and to
liberate this entire family from the bondage of this system.
We continue to stress the need for a pro bono attorney for the women, legal guidance and representation is desperately needed as none currently exists. Many organizations have been contacted multiple times in the past and perhaps it will be YOUR letter or phone call to the Innocence Project, the ACLU, NAACP, etc., that will garner the positive response that we have not been able to obtain to date!
~~~~~~~~~~
Jamie and Gladys would love to receive your letters of support and encouragement, please send a card or a letter!
Jamie Scott #19197
CMCF2/A-Bldg.
B Zone, Bed 196
P.O. Box 88550
Pearl, MS 39288-8550
Gladys Scott #19142
CMCF/B-Bldg.
P.O. Box 88550
Pearl, MS 39288-8550
Thank you very much for your support!
NOT ONE MORE YEAR OF UNJUST INCARCERATION FOR THE INNOCENT SCOTT SISTERS!!
"The case of the Scott Sisters is a travesty of justice," Bro. Chokwe Lumumba, Jackson, MS City Council.
Let's get 'em free, y'all!
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Thursday, October 1, 2009
10/1 JAMIE SPEAKS
Jamie Scott of the Scott Sisters continues to have all of the privileges revoked that she earned over almost 15 yrs. of unjust incarceration simply for going into the gym to use the bathroom without authorization. She remains isolated from all activities within the prison. Despite her efforts to seek relief, she has been unable to regain those privileges due to harassment from Deputy Warden Winkel. Jamie has been a model inmate in every aspect of prison life with no write-ups for all of these years. In fact, Vocational Education Director, Pat Owen, wrote of Jamie's work as a tutor in the literacy program: "Inmate Scott has proven herself to be dependable, hard working, and conscientious. She has demonstrated much patience and compassion in working with lower-level students. Her work at the school has been exemplary."
++++++++++++++
9/09 -- JAMIE SCOTT SPEAKS about the circumstances surrounding the removal of her privileges and transfer to a more punitive building.
I have been on the grounds of CMCF for 15 years. Everyone thinks when you come to prison, you come to be rehabilitated. Well, that's a lie. Policy 20-05 states we are not to be discriminated against. Let's be real. Policy is a joke around here. All staff members are not low down and abusive with their authority but many are.
Things happen here and the inmate is not always at fault, but we are the ones who get punished for it. The reason I know this is I was locked down on June 23 for being in an unauthorized area. Now, this area was the gym, a place that was supposed to be locked. I was locked down for 23 days and received an RVR after 22 days. Policy 18-01-01 says that you have 24 hours to write a rule violation report after an incident happens. On my detention notice, it clearly states that Warden Winkel observed me in the gym. She locked me down and served me the RVR after 22 days had passed stating, "Upon completion of the investigation, it was determined I, Jamie Scott, was in an unauthorized area," but this was determined on June 23, 2009 at 5:20 p.m. Deputy Winkel used her position and authority to pay me back for an incident that happened when she was under investigation. She made me do 23 days in lock down, took away my custody level and took away any job I had. Many inmates have gone to lock down for worse offenses, came back out, and went back to the school and to work.
Commissioner Christopher Epps has no clue what really goes on. When he visits the prison, they cover a lot of things up so he won't find out. The gym is supposed to be for us, the inmates, but we have not had gym call in months. It's not because the Director, Richard Caston, won't let us, but because some of the staff use the gym to exercise, for their personal use.
Years ago, Deputy Warden Winkel and an offender named Michelle were under investigation. Ms. Winkel was taken off of the 1A side of the prison due to the investigation. One day, Michelle and I were at the clinic together. I was standing by the desk talking to the officer on duty. Michelle whispered my name and I turned around. Ms. Winkel had slid in through the side door and was talking to Michelle. Michelle told me to let them know if someone came around. I said OK. What I didn't know was they were already being watched. When I saw a group of folks coming, I said Michelle's name but she and Ms. Winkel were so into their conversation that they didn't hear me. They both accused me of not warning them.
Because of that incident, Deputy Warden Winkel has had it out for me for years. Anytime a case manager or anyone asks her about me, she snaps at them. One staff member even asked me what I did to Ms. Winkel because she didn't like me. I was wrong for being in the gym, I admit that. I deserve to be treated fairly like the next offender. Policy is supposed to apply to all inmates and staff. I did 23 days in lock down, but to take my custody level down and then tell staff members I can't work anymore is just too much. I have no history of disciplinary problems through all of these years. I have even been banned from Choir practice and the Tour Speaking Group. The Deputy Warden and Lt. Burton have ordered the supervisor to terminate me from the church. Policy 20-05-01 states that inmates have a right not to be discriminated against and that staff will not subject offenders from personal abuse or harassment [4-4281].
Jamie Scott #19197
CMCF2/A-Bldg.
B Zone, Bed 196
P.O. Box 88550
Pearl, MS 39288-8550
++++++++++++++++++
Please contact the following officials and ask that Jamie Scott's full privileges be reinstated, this punishment is excessive and is part of a campaign of harassment which has been going on for far too long now! She has suffered medical and emotional setbacks and her sister, Gladys, is also extremely upset as a result of this unfair targeting. Please share any responses that you receive, thank you!
Margaret Bingham, Superintendent of Central Mississippi Corrections Facility
(601) 932-2880
mbingham@mdoc.state.ms.us
FAX: (601) 664-0782
P.O. Box 88550
Pearl, Mississippi 39208
Christopher Epps, Commissioner of Prisons for the State of Mississippi
601-359-5600
CEPPS@mdoc.state.ms.us
723 North President Street
Jackson, MS 39202
Emmitt Sparkman, Deputy Commissioner
(601) 359-5610
esparkman@mdoc.state.ms.us
Governor Haley Barbour
1-877-405-0733 or 601-359-3150
These politicians also need to receive information on the Scott Sisters because they are among their constituents:
Congressman Bennie Thompsom
Washington, D.C. Office
2432 Rayburn HOB
Washington, D.C. 20515
(202) 225-5876
(202) 225-5898 (Fax)
Jackson, Mississippi Office
3607 Medgar Evers Blvd
Jackson, MS 39213
(601) 946-9003
(601)-982-5337 (Fax)
Congressman Alcee L. Hastings
Washington Office
2353 Rayburn Office Building
Washington D.C. 20515
Tel: (202) 225-1313
Fax: (202) 225-1171
Congressman Jeff Miller
Washington D.C.
2439 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-4136
Fax: (202) 225-3414
Toll Free Phone Number to District Office
Pensacola, Florida
Phone: 866-367-1614
Additional contacts:
Eric Holder, U.S. Attorney General
U.S. Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20530-0001
202-353-1555
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
Palais Wilson
52 rue des Pâquis
CH-1201 Geneva, Switzerland
Telephone: +41 22 917 90 00
Email: InfoDesk@ohchr.org
Benjamin Todd Jealous
NAACP National Headquarters
4805 Mt. Hope Drive
Baltimore MD 21215
Toll Free: (877) NAACP-98
Reverend Al Sharpton
National Action Network
Crisis Department
106 W. 145th Street
Harlem, New York 10039
(212) 690-3070
(877) NAN-HOJ1
Reverend Jesse L. Jackson
Rainbow Push Coalition
National Headquarters
930 East 50th Street
Chicago, IL 60615-2702
ph: 773-373-3366
We continue to stress the need for a pro bono attorney for the women, legal guidance and representation is desperately needed as none currently exists. Many organizations have been contacted multiple times in the past and perhaps it will be YOUR letter or phone call to the Innocence Project, the ACLU, NAACP, etc., that will garner the positive response that we have not been able to obtain to date!
Saturday, September 19, 2009
9/18 JAMIE SCOTT/SCOTT SISTERS UPDATE!
Warm Greetings all,
Mrs. Evelyn Rasco and Jamie Scott's 18 yr. old son, Terrance, have been speaking out on blogtalk radio and are very grateful for any and all support! On 9/18 Bro. Ronald Herd, II, did a dynamic program with Mrs. Rasco, Terrance, and Bro. Chokwe Lumumba, who called in at about 45 mins. into the show. Bro. Lumumba shared his perspective on the case and strongly urged that calls, letters, mass media promotion, and rallies in Mississippi (such as that being planned by the MWM) be organized to build large numbers of supporters and put continuous pressure on the system there. Bro. Lumumba pointed out that this case stands out as being unique among the many others in that the charge is so "mickey mouse" in relationship to the horrific sentencing that these women received (double-life each). He also educated listeners on the responsibility of Black/New Afrikan people as potential jurors in the court system, and much more. This show is archived at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/weallbe/2009/09/17/Tha-Artivist-PresentsWE-ALL-BE-News-Radio and is definitely worth checking out!
Mrs. Rasco received the troubling news yesterday (9/17) that even though we were told that Jamie Scott had been moved to the Medical Bldg. at the prison, she in fact was not. Although Jamie did receive her medications thanks to the efforts of the many people who called and wrote, she continues to be held in a repressive bldg. under severe restrictions with all of the privileges she has earned for 14+ yrs completely stripped away, including school, work, the law library and church. This is significant in that, once again, the punishment does not fit the alleged "crime" of being in the gymnasium when she was not supposed to be, although she was admitted into there by staff. This is a political move because other inmates with similar infractions receive nowhere near the level of the punishment Jamie has been dealt, particularly since she has had no previous write-ups in all these many years!
We continue to need your assistance in addressing this serious issue, as Jamie is terrified that she will be attacked in the bldg. she has been moved to. She is still recovering from illness due to lack of meds and is additionally very depressed and anxious. Please call and write these officials and let them know that Jamie Scott, #19197, needs to have her privileges reinstated and be returned to a more appropriate building and level of custody for someone with her previously blemish-free record.
Margaret Bingham, Superintendent of Central Mississippi Corrections Facility
(601) 932-2880
mbingham@mdoc.state.ms.us
FAX: (601) 664-0782
P.O. Box 88550
Pearl, Mississippi 39208
Christopher Epps, Commissioner of Prisons for the State of Mississippi
601-359-5600
CEPPS@mdoc.state.ms.us
723 North President Street
Jackson, MS 39202
Emmitt Sparkman, Deputy Commissioner
(601) 359-5610
esparkman@mdoc.state.ms.us
Governor Haley Barbour
1-877-405-0733 or 601-359-3150
These politicians also need to receive information on the Scott Sisters because they are among their constituents:
Congressman Bennie Thompsom
Washington, D.C. Office
2432 Rayburn HOB
Washington, D.C. 20515
(202) 225-5876
(202) 225-5898 (Fax)
Jackson, Mississippi Office
3607 Medgar Evers Blvd
Jackson, MS 39213
(601) 946-9003
(601)-982-5337 (Fax)
Congressman Alcee L. Hastings
Washington Office
2353 Rayburn Office Building
Washington D.C. 20515
Tel: (202) 225-1313
Fax: (202) 225-1171
Congressman Jeff Miller
Washington D.C.
2439 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-4136
Fax: (202) 225-3414
Toll Free Phone Number to District Office
Pensacola, Florida
Phone: 866-367-1614
We continue to stress the need for a pro bono attorney for the women, legal guidance and representation is desperately needed as none currently exists. Many organizations have been contacted multiple times in the past and perhaps it will be YOUR letter or phone call to the Innocence Project, the ACLU, NAACP, etc., that will garner the positive response that we have not been able to obtain to date!
Also, when possible, please take a moment and send these women a card or letter as their 15 year anniversary of unjust imprisonment approaches. They need your encouraging words now more than ever.
Jamie Scott #19197
CMCF2/A-Bldg.
B Zone, Bed 196
P.O. Box 88550
Pearl, MS 39288-8550
Gladys Scott #19142
CMCF/B-Bldg.
P.O. Box 88550
Pearl, MS 39288-8550
Thank you all very much!
(On behalf of Mrs. Evelyn Rasco)
Please e-mail, repost, and broadly distribute this information!
Sunday, September 6, 2009
GREAT NEWS FROM JAMIE SCOTT!
Jamie Scott of the Scott Sisters was able to call her mother tonight and report that thanks to all of the calls that came into the prison, she was seen by a doctor and is receiving medication. She stated that she was not seriously injured when she fell on the oil that was placed on the shower floor.
Although Jamie was able to receive insulin, she stated that she had been without her blood pressure medicine for several months due to there not being a generic version available that the state would pay for.
She wanted to make certain that each and every person who responded to our urgent calls for assistance knew how much she appreciated the overwhelming response and remarked it was noted by the staff there when she was seen for medical treatment.
Thank you especially from Mrs. Evelyn Rasco, who has felt a tremendous burden relieved by just being able to know that her daughter is not seriously injured, though still in unjust captivity.
Forward ever!
9/8/09 UPDATE: Mrs. Rasco received word from the prison that Jamie was seen by the head of the medical department and will be moved to the Medical Building. Her proper blood pressure medication will be ordered and paid for. Mrs. Rasco and family are extremely grateful for all of the supporters making this happen, there is no doubt that it would not have otherwise!
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