Texas Civil Rights Review

Category: Uncategorized

  • Stop Funneling Tax Money to Profit for Children's Prisons: An Appeal

    By Peter Dana

    I arrived at the Williamson County Commissioner’s Court at 9:30AM and signed up to speak on Item#61 (T. Don Hutto contracts). Mary Ellen Kersch had also signed up to speak on #61. All the others that I saw had signed up to speak on the landfill issue.

    At the start of the meeting, Judge Gattis took several items off the agenda but not #61. He asked for citizen input on non-agenda items. Two people spoke. He asked if there were other non-agenda item comments.

    I asked if Item #61 would be discussed outside of executive session. He said no. I asked if there would be public discussion of item #61. He said no. I said that I would speak then and went up to the podium and delivered approximately this:

    I would like to make a statement about the county contract with ICE and CCA. My name is Peter Dana. We are 28-year residents and taxpayers in the County.

    Because these issues are discussed in executive session, and because we cannot see the minutes, or even the redacted minutes, we have no way of knowing what action this court is considering today. If the plan is to move children out of the T. Don Hutto facility, that would be a good move but it would not stop the protests, the lawsuits, or the negative attention brought to Williamson County.

    The mission of the Corrections Corporation of America is not to provide a service to the county, the state, or the country, it is to provide profits for their stockholders. CCA announced a 25% profit increase just this morning, tied specifically to the money from the T. Don Hutto detention center.

    CCA is the largest owner of private prisons in the country and has a long history of mistreating detainees. You would know this if you talked with four-year old Angelina Carbajal and her mother who were detained in Hutto for six months. These were fully documented asylum-seeker, not criminals.

    As county commissioners you have made the County complicit in the detention of children. You have put the county at risk in the inevitable lawsuits that will follow from the detention of children for profit.

    I ask that you stop aiding in the process of funneling taxpayer money into the pockets of CCA executives and stockholders.

    Mary Ellen Kersch then spoke very strongly against the detention of children on moral and ethical grounds. I left and spoke with Mary Ellen Kersch for about ten minutes after leaving my card with a KLBJ Radio reporter. I returned at 12:30 in time for the court to move into executive session at 12:37.

    I left again and returned at 1:15 PM. At 3:20 or so the court came back from executive session. They moved through several items and were about to adjourn when I asked if there would be any discussion of item #61. Judge Gattis said that it had not been discussed in executive session at all and that there would be no discussion now. They adjourned at about 3:30 PM.

  • Catching up with the Texas Civil Rights Project

    Three recent stories worth noting from the Texas Civil Rights
    Project: First is their lawsuit reported at MySanAntonio.Com in
    defense of a Muslim Texan who was allegedly abused in a Bexar
    County (San Antonio) jail. According to the July 27 report by
    Guillermo Contreras, the lawsuit alleges that "Moeineddin Ghavami, 47,
    a U.S. citizen born in Iran . . . was denied medication and was
    taunted, beaten and had his beard shaved forcibly in violation of his
    religion." The article is archived at the Texas Civil Rights Project.

    On July 26, two stories hit the press simultaneously. The Texas
    Civil Rights project announced that it filed 15 federal cases across
    Texas pertaining to the ADA or Americans with Disabilities Act.
    This is an annual summer event at TCRP and this year the number of
    cases coincides with its 15th anniversary as a Civil Rights watchdog
    organization for Texas. See their press release.

    And finally, Austin city judge Alfred D. Jenkins tossed out a city ordinance against
    roadside panhandling on the grounds that it was a too sweeping
    infringement of American rights under the Constitution. As reported by Andrea Ball at the Austin American-Statesman:

    Of the 79 tickets issued between January 2003 and November 2004, 56, or
    71 percent, went to homeless people, said Sapna Aiyer, a law clerk with
    Texas RioGrande Legal Aid who argued the case for [the homeless
    defendant John] Curran.

    Way to go legal aid!–gm

    Home page of the Texas Civil Rights Project with latest updates at:


    http://www.texascivilrightsproject.org/

  • Muniz: Mexicano Origins, Immigration, Raza Unida, & Spirituality

    Ramsey Muniz writes about the origins of the Mexican
    people, immigration, the Raza Unida Party, and
    spirituality. Please distribute.–Irma L Muniz

    5/10/05
    10:30 PM

    "The greatest Mexicano holy struggle is that of
    spreading truth. Ancient writings state, "En verdad
    os digo, "Mexikan (Mexi Kan yn nel-tihuani,neltihua –
    Mexi (pronounced Meh-shi-khan in nel-ti-wa-ni,
    nel-ti-wa-me’h-shi), que en esta lengua Mexicana quiere
    decir el soldado (Kan) de Dios (Mexi) es la verdad
    (neltihuani), la verdad de Dios (Neltihuamexi). En La
    Monarquia Indiana (p. 293 del primer tomo) declara
    Torquemada que "Los mismos naturales afirman que Mexi
    es el Dios principal." Y en el mismo tomo (p. 79)
    escrito esta, y en verdad Mexi nos dijo: "Ya estais
    apartados, y segregados de los demas, y asi lo quiero,
    que como escogidos mios, ya no os llameis Aztecas,
    sino Mexicas." Y alli fue donde primeramente tomamos
    este nombre de "Mexicanos."

    University of Mexico City

    (written in Nahuatl)

    I dare you to ask ten Chicanos, Latinos, and/or Hispanics how it was that we were actually named Mexicanos.
    Maybe one out of ten will have knowledge of who we really
    are. If we do not know who we are, how can we ever free
    ourselves!

    Even through my dreams I’m instructed by the spirits
    that our messages of cultura, politica, espiritualidad y
    historia must be shared with our brothers and sisters. My
    writings must be translated.

    Mine has been a long, hard struggle in life, and only I
    can truthfully feel the pain and agony which at the end
    brings an enlightenment of love, truth, and liberation for
    my people. Yet my strength, power, and desire for knowledge
    and wisdom come from the love I have for la raza. It is a
    destiny that I must fulfill in order for me to be at peace
    in my heart with Mexi (God).

    Regarding immigration, my position does not come from what is occurring at the borders of America. It comes from
    our ancient writings and what we must now do in the 21st
    century. We support the crossing of our people. The sad
    part of this issue is that our own raza here voice their
    opinions against our own Mexicano sisters and brothers. It
    is so simple and clear, yet those in control will make sure
    that we are confused and wrong.

    Our ancient Mexika writings, codices, symbols, etc., are
    similar to the Christian bible, and if there is one thing
    America sets forth in one’s face, it is the bible. Well guess
    what. We finally found ours, and it is also written that only
    a few would be destined from the beginning.

    Instead of feeling a negative attitude about the Raza
    Unida Democrats, I am pleased because people can call themselves
    whatever they wish. In the end it will be the same issue, the
    same problem, the same injustices, and the same position of
    begging for what is rightfully ours from the beginning of
    creation. A couple of years ago I took a strong position
    against using "Raza Unida" connected with any oppressive
    political party in the United States.

    Raza Unida is and will forever be Raza Unida. It was never meant for us
    to sleep with the Democratic or Republican parties. People take a
    position of pleasing American politics because they are afraid. It’s
    that simple. Cuauhtemoc, Guerrero, Juarez, Zapata, and Villa were not
    afraid of the hidden giant oppressor who waited to collect the pieces,
    and at the end took our land. Tell them to address liberation and land
    now!

    I believed with my heart and life the original idea of El Partido. When
    the American heat and pressure came, people’s hearts changed quickly.
    We will be the destined, chosen ones who will fulfill our future
    politically in all Aztlan. Here I am in the dungeons of America,
    knowing that if I would surrender my convictions, beliefs, and
    principles to the Democratic and Republican parties, I would be a free
    man. But there is this strength of love for my people that I will not
    abandon or compromise.

    I am a Chicano of the Sixth Sun, and my heart is full of love. For that reason I can never be defeated or denied.

    Liberation, justice, and equality will bring love into our hearts
    like no other love in the world. If we do not love ourselves, how can
    we expect for others to love us? Love is power, love is spiritual, love
    is pain, and at the end, love is liberation of the hearts. If we do not
    have love in our hearts, how can we ever love our people? Amor es
    nuestra destino. I love love!

    Be patient. The heights of heaven are upon us this very night….

    In exile,
    Ramsey Muniz – Tezcatlipoca

    "I am a Mexicano political, cultural, and spiritual prisoner."


    www.freeramsey.com

  • Hutto Immigrant Prison Now for Women Only

    Children will be sent to Pennsylvania

    The T. Don Hutto Detention Facility in Taylor, Texas will be for women only according to today’s announcement from the federal department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

    In a press release posted at the ICE website, the department announced several “immediate actions” that include:

    Discontinued use of family detention at the T. Don Hutto Family Residential Facility in Texas. In place of housing families, we will propose that the Texas facility will be used solely as a female detention center. Presently, Hutto is used to detain families and low custody female detainees. Detained families will now be housed at Berks Family Residential Center in Pennsylvania.

  • CounterPunch Reader: Even More Reason to Oppose

    Dear Editor:

    I read your CounterPunch article and came away with even more reason to oppose state sanctioned murder. To me, it is not only asinine but immoral. There is no logic in thinking that individuals who murder are criminals but a society that murders murderers is not.

    North Mankato, MN

    On the other hand

    Dear Editor:

    I agree that few states are as unseemly in their rush to kill as Texas. I’m sure the governor was terrified that something was going to come between him and his god-given right to strap that man to a gurney and stick a needle in his arm, and that he made himself as inaccessible as possible so as to be able to proceed.

    Granted also that Medellin should have had the counsel of his embassy, etc. etc.

    But what is all this fuss about his being a Mexican citizen in a U.S. jail? What is all this fuss about involving the World Court in his case? We don’t do the same for our own citizens, the poor African-Americans who sit on death row and outnumber whites all out of proportion to their numbers in the population. What is so damned special about a Mexican rapist-murderer? Why is his death any more tragic than those of the others who die so frequently in Texas? The man was scum. Perhaps life without the possibility of parole was the proper thing to do. But why all this outcry over him and not over others on death row, some of whom we know, statistically, are innocent?

    The death of each and every Iraqi citizen we have caused in our invasion matters infinitely more than the death of this rapist-murderer. All lives are not equal, and all deaths are not equal. To pretend otherwise is to take idealism to unsustainable heights. Do you want to imagine the last hours of those girls’ lives? Does that count for anything with you? I am not arguing here for the death penalty, just for locking the man up and throwing away the key. But to involve the World Court? Why was he worth it and not our own citizens?

    Just curious.

    Sunnyvale, CA

    Dear Just Curious:

    Actually you have answered your own question. If you agree that Mr. Medellin should have been granted the legal assistance of the Mexican Consulate in this matter, then you understand why the World Court was involved in the case. Since Mr. Medellin was not granted the legal assistance that he should have received, Mexico asked the World Court to order a review of his case. Here’s the official language of the World Court order of 16 July, 2008:

    The United States of America shall take all measures necessary to ensure that Messrs. José Ernesto Medellín Rojas, César Roberto Fierro Reyna, Rubén Ramírez Cárdenas, Humberto Leal García, and Roberto Moreno Ramos are not executed pending judgment on the Request for interpretation submitted by the United Mexican States, unless and until these five Mexican nationals receive review and reconsideration consistent with paragraphs 138 to 141 of the Court’s Judgment delivered on 31 March 2004 in the case concerning Avena and Other Mexican Nationals (Mexico v. United States of America);

    All that was asked was a “review” of the Medellin case to determine the likely effect of his not having received the representation that he was entitled to. This is what Texas officials refused to provide.

    Regarding the comparison of Mr. Medellin’s unnecessary execution to the unnecessary killing of other people in the USA and Iraq, we would be sad to think that we have communicated that there is any reason to take one unnecessary killing as either more or less wrong than another.

    But we take your point, that we seem to live in a United States so saturated with examples of unnecessary killing that it must sound very strange to hear someone complain about this one. Nevertheless, we have “preserved the error” for the record. If wanton killing makes a person “scum,” then I would encourage you to reflect on what the United States use of tax dollars makes of us all.–gm

    Speaking for the Ruling Majority

    Dear Editor:

    Was the execution necessary? Absolutely…it was not only necessary but long overdue. Failure to execute justice and the long wait to terminate this brutal murderer continues to show how lightly we value life.

    Those who have no regard for life as he did must understand that those of us see life as a GOD given gift and to take one so casually must elicit a harsh response otherwise this type of act will become even more common place. This murderer gave up his right when he took a life as he did and now his life is over. There is no satifaction in seeing him die for now he will have to account for his life in the presence of God.

    I’m not sure what your point was in the article but to think his execution was not necessary is a total mistake. That kind of talk fails to address those who have been injured in such a senseless crime and live constantly with the loss.

    Oceanside, Ca.

    Dear Editor

    I will tell one thing, this particular killer will not be killing again AND we will not be supporting him the rest of his life.

    [Dear] Editor:

    Well this piece if sh*t Medellin will never kill again and wont cost the US taxpayer to house, clothe and feed anymore. Like that thrid world dungheap Mexico really cares about one of its citizens. You liberals are the death of America.