Stop Prisoner Abuse-Torture-Murder in American Prisons

Petition - STOP PRISONER ABUSE-TORTURE-MURDER IN AMERICAN PRISONS (dated January 30, 2005)

WHEREAS: It is a principle, by law, that abuse, torture and murder shall not be tolerated in American prisons.

WHEREAS: Members of society, citizens of these United States - men, women and children - are sent to prison as punishment for the crimes they commit and nowhere does any judge say that part of that sentence shall include abuse, torture or murder by prison guards or administrators.

WHEREAS: On 21 January 2005 a U.S./Alabama prisoner (Charles Agee, 47) was brutally beaten to death by prison guards at Donaldson prison. This prisoner was a mental patient, handcuffed, hands behind his back, plus tied with bed sheets then continually beaten until he fell to the floor all life completely gone. A completely helpless man: beaten to Death.

WHEREAS: According to a witness, Deputy Warden Nunley at Donaldson prison immediately tried to cover this killing, but Warden Steven Bullard of Donaldson Prison stated that he wants the truth to come out regarding the recent killing of inmate Charles Agee.

WHEREAS: Our collective concern is that a cover up shall indeed take place, maybe from the State Capitol in Montgomery, Alabama. We ask that you not allow this to happen. Your efforts could actually stop this cycle of abuse by correctional officers who are blatantly abusing their powers of authority. They laugh in the face of clearly established Law.

WHEREAS: We have witnesses willing to talk about the beatings and murders in American prisons, yet it is as if our pleas for help enter a black hole and go into another universe, never to be seen or heard of again. Our only hope is for the public to cry out in Rage!!! In Alabama prisons, bogus charges made up by prison officials, and then prisoners are locked away in isolation chambers where other prisoners cannot view the real torture and abuses a prisoner is subjected to by prison guards.

WHEREAS: We as concerned citizens who are living in the free world want the Truth about the abuses in American prisons across the country exploited which will affect a real change sans any cover-ups.

WHEREAS: From state to state, prison to prison, there is a notorious history of treating prisoners in the United States with less care and compassion than we treat our animals.

WHEREAS: Outrage sums up the feelings we have regarding prisoner abuse, torture and murder that occurs within the U.S. It is beyond comprehension that we have a government that wages wars in all corners of the world, in the name of freedom and democracy, to free other people from oppression, whilst the same leaders encourage, condone and instigate the most inhumane treatment of people within our own prisons. America is a do as I say, not as I do country. It will be our undoing.

WHEREAS: We do not hear the mass public outcry regarding the atrocities that are occurring with increasing frequency, and severity, here in the U.S. We allow brutalization of our prisoners today, without thought that the same can very well be done to us tomorrow.

WHEREAS: Like a testing ground, the rights removed from prisoners become the rights removed from the citizens in the free world. Where is the line to be drawn? Who do we have to blame, but ourselves, if we do not stop, look, and take action now to preserve our rights, guaranteed in our Constitution? If we do not resist these wrongs now, what will be left for our children or their children?

WHEREAS: Ignoring this problem does not make the problem or us go away. It does, however, breed more hatred when families see their loved ones abused, tortured and killed, with no one in the free world humane enough to stop it. This hatred only escalates to increased crime and more pain for other innocent individuals and families.

WHEREAS: Indifference to this situation is a complete disservice to the American society.

WHEREAS: We who have signed this petition, and are citizens of the United States and of our respective States, are those in whose name people are arrested, prosecuted, incarcerated, tortured, abused, terrorized, and killed. The public is, with malice aforethought, kept blind of these atrocities even though we are those to whom all authority in the United States and the States is responsible. The United States Constitution, the highest law of the land, guarantees the right to freedom from cruel and unusual punishment and to violate this law is to undermine the dignity and peace of the United States.

THEREFORE: We the undersigned, as citizens who are in a position with every right to make demands upon our government, demand the following:

1. That swift and thorough redress of these grievances be commenced.

2. That the abuse, torture and murder of American Prisoners be brought in the forefront for the American public to be made aware of these atrocities.

3. That those who are placed in a position to protect us against these violations of law should not be sheltered when committing these crimes themselves. They should be brought to justice and prosecuted as any other citizen in the free world who violated our laws should be prosecuted.