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Monday, September 28, 2015

J’accuse! by Silvia Brandon-Perez, ARCWP, September 28, 2015, Human Rights Violations in U.S. Prisons

https://silviantonia.wordpress.com/2015/09/28/258/

..."My son has been in “the hole” in the Deueul Correctional Center just because that is what Deueul does with temporary prisoners. They call it “administrative segregation.” Recently a man who was in jail for a parking ticket died while on “suicide watch.” He was denied medication by prison authorities and died in terrible withdrawal.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/family-sues-after-man-dies-while-in-jail-for-unpaid-parking-ticket_56044469e4b00310edfa778b

My son has been denied medication several times and gone into withdrawal. Recently he had what was later diagnosed as an “anxiety attack” while withdrawing from denied medication. The psychiatrist who had prescribed Effexor “forgot” to renew the medication. His symptoms resembled those of a heart attack…
Although the conditions are perhaps less harsh than those in Pinochet’s prisons, our prison system in the US is execrable. I am told that as a mother I have “no standing” to complain before the courts. I beg to differ. With Emile Zola when he protested the jailing of Alfred Dreyfuss, I continue to stand in protest. J’accuse!"

Bridget Mary's Response:
Let us treat everyone with respect and human dignity. Pope Francis touched many hearts during his visit last week. Two of the highlights were his visit of prisoners and his lunch with the homeless. We need to treat our sisters and brothers with kindness, respect and compassion if we are to be the presence of God in our world. Thank you Silvia for bringing this important issue to our attention. May we hold our officials responsible for all abuses and be the change that we want to see in our world everyday. 
Bridget Mary Meehan, ARCWP, www.arcwp.org

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