The Austin Chronicle has the story about Hazel Obey‘s funeral, featuring a eulogy by Jesse Jackson, Sr.
"Obey spearheaded a task force to aid the integration of [Austin schools], helped start the Texas Coalition of Black Democrats, and spoke out in concern about Austin Police use-of-force policies and apparent disparate treatment of minorities in the wake of the June 2003 shooting death of 20-year-old Jesse Lee Owens, her great nephew."
Dear Friends:
I have just returned from a trip to Springfield, Missouri, where I visited with Ramsey. He is continuing to regain his strength, and has begun
recalling eleven years of pain and suffering in Leavenworth, due to a lack of medical attention.
Enclosed is a letter recently sent to the warden at the United States Medical Center for Federal Prisoners. Know that a report from Dr. Pete Garcia was attached to the letter.
****************************************
April 7, 2006
Mr. Robert McFadden, Warden
United States Medical Center for Federal Prisoners
1900 West Sunshine
Springfield, MO 65807
Re: Ramiro R. Muniz #40288-115
Dear Mr. McFadden:
I write this letter on behalf of my husband and myself, and our families. As you are aware, my husband, Ramiro R. Muniz, was recently sent to the United
States Medical Center in Springfield, Missouri as a result of a serious life threatening illness. Prior to his transfer to Springfield, he was at the United States
Penitentiary in Leavenworth, Kansas, a maximum-security prison.
Enclosed is a letter and medical report written in 1995 by Dr. Pete Garcia, Orthopedic Surgeon in Corpus Christi, Texas. This report was sent to the Warden
at the United States Penitentiary in Leavenworth to describe my husband’s poor health. Mr. Muniz suffers from a herniated disc and knee injuries. Dr. Garcia
indicated that he was in need of surgery to avoid the pain from this condition. Although the letter and report were sent in 1995, records will show that Mr. Muniz was denied medical treatment for those injuries. He went through great pain and suffering
for eleven years.
While at the United States Penitentiary in Leavenworth in 1996, Mr. Muniz suffered a serious fall and hurt his hip. The pain endured was excruciating, and in his
injured condition he had to walk in the snow to make an appointment with medical staff and again to receive a medical examination. Leavenworth records
will reflect that Mr. Muniz was never sent to the U.S. Medical Center in Springfield, Missouri.
Instead, he was given aspirin and Motrin. He endured great pain and suffering for a serious hip injury, and now requires a cane for walking.
Today Mr. Muniz is housed in the United States Medical Center in Springfield, Missouri as a result of complications from a life threatening surgery
performed in August of 2005. While at Springfield he has begun recalling the trauma experienced from being denied medical treatment at Leavenworth for extremely painful injuries.
I am trying to understand why my husband had to endure great suffering for eleven years. He suffers from a herniated disc, injured knees, a
deteriorated hip, and he is 63 years old. He went through great pain and suffering even though
records will show that he is a peaceful man. He had no incident reports throughout the eleven years that he was at Leavenworth.
We are aware that my husband’s hip has deteriorated and requires replacement if he is to walk without the assistance of a cane. We ask that you allow him
time before undergoing hip replacement surgery. This time will allow him to recuperate from the mental
and emotional trauma experienced through the recent life threatening surgery, and help him gain strength that he has lost from being on a liquid diet for over six
months.
Perhaps surgery for his knees can precede his hip surgery. If this is possible, then please consider this option. Understand that hip surgery is not being
avoided. We merely ask for time in which to recuperate from the trauma of his last surgery.
Many congressmen support our efforts to seek humanitarian support for a man who has suffered greatly, in spite of the fact that he has been a model
prisoner for the past eleven years. The staff at Leavenworth was well aware of his good conduct, yet
did nothing to help him lower his security level.
My husband is in no condition to be placed in a penitentiary. This move would pose a threat to his life considering his poor health, which has worsened
from being denied medical treatment. If Mr. Muniz does not receive assistance from the Bureau of Prisons, we want to know why. Our families, friends, congressmen and supporters await your response.
Thank you for any assistance that you can provide.
Sincerely,
Irma Muniz
cc:
Mr. Michael K. Nalley, Regional Director
North Central Region Bureau of Prisons
Gateway Complex Tower II, 8th Floor
4th and State Street
Kansas City, KS 66101-2492
913-621-3939
Fax: 913-551-1130
Mr. Michael Junk, Designator
North Central Region Bureau of Prisons
Gateway Complex Tower II, 8th Floor
4th and State Street
Kansas City, KS 66101-2492
913-621-3939
The Honorable John Cornyn
United States Senator
517 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-2934
The Honorable Ken Salazar
United States Senator
2300 15th Street Suite 450
Denver, CO 80202
202-224-5852
The Honorable Solomon P. Ortiz
United States Congressman
3649 Leopard Street
Corpus Christi, TX 78408
361-883-5868
The Honorable Ruben Hinojosa
United States Congressman
107 South St. Mary’s Street
Beeville, TX 78102
361-358-8400
The Honorable Henry Cuellar
United States Congressman
1149 E. Commerce
San Antonio, TX 78205
210-271-2851
The Honorable Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa
Texas State Senator
2821 SPID Suite 291
Corpus Christi, TX 78415
361-225-1200
The Honorable Lloyd Doggett
United States Congressman
300 East 8th St., #763
Federal Building
Austin, TX 78701
512-916-5921
Ms. Michelle M. Law
Attorney at Law
Springfield, MO
Mr. Orlando Narvaez
Attorney at Law
Corpus Christi, TX
Mr. Dan Alfaro
Attorney at Law
Corpus Christi, TX
Mr. Albert Huerta
Attorney at Law
Corpus Christi, TX
Mr. Dick DeGuerin
Attorney at Law
Houston, TX
Mr. Joe Ortiz
National Civil Rights Director
American GI Forum
Corpus Christi, TX
Mr. Manuel Gonzalez
Civil Rights Chairman
League of United Latin American Citizens
Corpus Christi, TX
Mr. Nelson Linder
NAACP
Austin, TX
Ms. Ruth Epstein
American Civil Liberties Union
Austin, TX
Please visit freeramsey.com for background information on the incarceration of Ramsey Muniz.
We’re with Justice Brister in the early part of his dissent, when he
complains that the decision of the
Texas Supreme Court is too attentive to the arguments of rich
districts, and not attentive enough to the concerns of the poor.
"The constitutional guarantee invoked here requires an efficient system
of public schools; it cannot be used to demand more funding for an
inefficient system."
In the name of ‘efficiency,’ several school districts again
ask the Texas courts to close the Texas public schools unless the Texas
Legislature increases funding. Over the last two decades, we have been
asked to do this every two or three years, and have generally complied.
The Court goes too far by doing so again today. First, the Court finds
school districts are forced to tax at the highest possible rate only
because some of them do. Second, though only five percent of the
State=s school districts claim a single statute is unconstitutional,
the Court enjoins the State from distributing any money under the
current Texas school financing system, an order that applies to every
school district in Texas. Thus, because some districts get too little
state money, all districts may get none. It is hard to see how this
will help Texas school children.Yet the Court also does not go far enough. By failing to
demand an ‘efficient system’ as the Texas Constitution requires, or to
demand standing and proof as Texas law requires, this case once again
focuses on short-term funding rather than long-term solutions.Of course, the true goal of this litigation is to put pressure
on the Texas Legislature. We demanded legislative changes by holding
the Texas school-finance system unconstitutional in Edgewood I,
Edgewood II, and Edgewood III; we warned that we might do so again soon
in Edgewood IV and West Orange-Cove I. The Court fulfills that threat
today. But there is no end in sight; if the past is any indication, the
new funding will not last long, and public education will not change
much. Before we bequeath Edgewood VIII, IX, and X to our grandchildren,
we should consider whether we might do more by doing less. As the Court
fails to do so today, I respectfully dissent.
Having said this, Justice Brister then goes in a direction that is
troubling to the concept of public education. He would prefer to see
privatization, because the only way to an efficient anything is through
‘competition’. This is the kind of pressure he would put on the
legislature. "No one asked whether it might be efficient to transfer students across district lines, or transfer funds to private providers that could meet their needs better." So we see this dissent actually comes down to the right of
the opinion, not the left. Oh, Texas!
Dear Friends:
Ramsey’s health continues to improve slowly…
I was given the strength and knowledge to care
for my huband from Lovelia Perez, one of Ramsey’s best
friends (during the early 70s), and former Raza Unida Party
activist. Lovelia remained with me by telephone every
morning, noon, and night providing love, courage, compassion,
and the medical knowledge needed to help my husband survive
a very grave illness.
Lovelia Perez demonstrated the most unselfish act of placing
others before herself. Her beautiful heart and giving spirit
will never be forgotten. Lovelia (Mama Love) Perez, 66, of Austin, died
Sunday, Nov. 20, 2005, in Austin. She was born Nov. 20, 1939, in
McCulloch County, to Nemesio Perez, Sr. and Francisca (Aguirre) Perez.
She was a registered nurse and was Poly Spiritual. She attended SMU,
received a bachelor of science in nursing from the Texas Women’s
University in Denton and received a masters degree from South West
Texas State University in San Marcos. Survivors include her mother, Francisca Perez of San Angelo; a son,
Carlos Gonzales of Austin; a daughter, Driana Gonzales, also of Austin;
and two sisters, Estela Perez Santos and husband, Manuel, of San Angelo
and Berta Perez Linton, also of San Angelo. She was preceded in death
by her father; and two brothers, Nestor and Nemesio Perez, Jr. The
family requests memorials be made to The Christopher House in Care of
Hospice of Austin. Her obituary can be accessed online.
Lovelia Perez was an angel sent by God to teach us real love and
compassion, and to help save a man whose message she embraced and
shared with others. In a letter to Ramsey she wrote, "Some people want
to talk about La Raza, but I tell them they cannot discuss La Raza
without you. Whether they like it or not, you are our history — our
hero. Have you done research as to how manmy times people have used
your name on their books or their articles? We have won the war of the
tortilla. HEB makes tortillas better than some Mexicanos, and that
includes me. We have won the color war. It’s okay now to have a pink,
purple, or green house. We have made progress in the food and language
wars, but it’s the spiritual war that we are so behind in."
We dedicate the poem below to our dear friend, Lovelia Perez.
–Irma Muniz (Nov. 27, 2005)
———————————-
VOYAGE
I languish in this world of woe and tears.
Bleak is my exile, heavy are my shackles and chains
on this day of remembrance in the darkness
of this medieval dungeon.
I rest my eyes and soul.
I voyage to a far and distant land that was ours long ago.
Here I gaze into the colors that are not rare to me.
As I journey further with the spirits of this land,
I reach the clearing of the dark jungle;
I can envision the temples of Huitzilopotli and Quetzacoatl.
The day is August 13, 1521. There stood Cuauhtemoc,
he who is pure, who died in war for us,
he who lives close to the sixth sun — the valiant Mexika
(me-shee-ka) warrior.
What a magnificent sight it was, for he lives
in the house of the sun, a place of wealth and joy.
He, like a fine burnished turquoise, gave his heart.
It arrived at the place of the sun where it will germinate,
once again to blossom into the Rising of the Sixth Sun.
When I gazed into the eyes and heart of Cuauhtemoc
I could sense the consciousness of our Mexika birth-soul.
I perceived the pride and dignity of my native ancestors
within me — the sixth sun rose.
I walked with Cuauhtemoc up the temple steps that reached
the heavens.
I was in the shadow of our past, present and future of our
beloved Aztlan.
I witnessed the suffering, sorrow, pain, misery, hunger,
and sacrifices on that ancient historical day.
But as I voyaged further into what is above us, Topan,
and in the region of the dead, Mictlan,
the winds from the four directions of the universe sang a
sweet song to my heart and I rejoiced when I gazed into
the faces of our destined heroes in my dreams.
For you see, when I’m in the realm of my forefathers and
ancestors, I fear nothing and take pleasure in their
presence of this sixth sun.
It is this transformation and reformation of my indigenous
Mexika spirituality I long to know — an ancient history
concealed and denied for 500 years.
Yet within me does the rage of thousands build for the many
sorrows, hardships, and sacrifices my forefathers endured.
There is no rest for my soul (Mexicayotl) until the
manifestations of the rising of the sixth sun appears
among our people.
My Mexika brothers and sisters, all my world is caged
and confined yet my spiritual birth-soul runs free.
"Wait, Cuauhtemoc, for I am coming."
Ramsey Muniz/Tezcatlipoca
Solitary Confinement
August 13, 1999
———————————
"It is not true, it is not true
That we have come
To live here,
We came only to sleep
Only to dream…"
CANTARES MEXICANOS
1904, 17r.
Facsimile Ed. Mexico City: Antonio Penafiel
Dear Friends:
Ramsey’s doctor has stated several times that
he does not know how he is alive. He made these
comments after receiving reports of the procedures
and surgery that Ramsey underwent prior to being
transferred to the U.S. Medical Center in Springfield,
Missouri.
Ramsey is feeling better and he continues to
improve daily. He has gained approximately 2 pounds, and under the circumstances this is tremendous improvement. Based on reports recently received (and
letters of support) doctors at the U.S. Medical Center
for Federal Prisoners have decided to begin
administering antibiotics once again. They had been
reduced, but X-rays show some bacteria around his lungs.
This might explain Ramsey’s running out of breath while
walking.
This weekend I will be send thank you letters to
Senator John Cornyn and Congressman Solomon Ortiz for
their support during our desperate time of need for
medical attention.
Ramsey will probably remain at the U.S. Medical
Center for Federal Prisoners for the next 3-4 weeks,
as his serious condition has been acknowledged by
medical staff. This is good news because he will
receive better are while at the facility.
I must share, though not in detail, that my
husband had a very unique near death experience after
arriving at Springfield. What I will share are the
words that he spoke when I first saw him in
Springfield. He was most emotional from the experience
experienced while awake when he said, "Me levanto Dios."
While he is weak and regaining his strength, Ramsey is
spiritually stronger. His experiences have given him this
renewed strength.
I had a mentor throughout the ordeal that I suffered
for over three weeks. She is an old friend of Ramsey’s
and a former nurse. I would not have survived the
trauma of keeping Ramsey alive without Lovelia Perez,
who I love dearly. Ironically enough, Lovelia now faces
a sudden serious and painful medical condition, and
I ask that everyone pray for her healing. She is such
a special loving person who needs prayers at the
present time. I ask this of all our close friends.
In the future I will be send new writings
from Ramsey. In the meantime, please ask that God
grant him and his friend, Lovelia restored health.
Thank you for all of your prayers and support.
Sincerely,
Irma Muniz
Oct. 20, 2005
Texas Civil Rights Review 