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During her imprisonment, Cotton has tried to seriously hurt herself three times. She says she is depressed and afraid of the other girls, most of whom have prior criminal records and serious felony convictions. A guard at the prison where she is being held is accused of molesting four girls.
Cotton's supporters say that her case reflects a long-standing pattern of racist treatment in a town whose best-known landmark is the public fairgrounds where black men were routinely lynched as white spectators cheered. The court and prosecutors reportedly denied a Chicago Tribune reporter's request for comment.
Cotton's mother said her daughter was singled out because she accused the school district of racism on several occasions. In fact, 12 discrimination complaints have been filed against the school district in recent years. School district officials dispute the charges, but the US Department of Education, which is still investigating, has reportedly asked the US Department of Justice to investigate.
Meanwhile, Mother at Chittlins and Chopsticks has issued a call to action:
"Mothers Unite!
(fathers, brothers, sisters,uncles, aunties, cousins, too)
I can't stand to see this child suffer like this. She's already been in that hell hole a year. We must do something..."
Here's what's being done:
1. Messages of support are being solicited at Shaquanda's blog.
2. She also receives mail here:
Ron Jackson Correctional Complex,
Unit 2, Dorm 4
P.O. Box 872
Brownwood, Texas 76804
1125308
3. A Facebook group has been created. In addition to the news and discussion generated there, the group has held a networked prayer vigil for Shaquanda.
4. Paula Mooney is urging that protest letters be sent to Judge Chuck Superville, who handed down the sentence:
Honorable M.C. (Chuck) Superville, Jr., Judge
Lamar County Courthouse
119 North Main
Paris, TX 75460
Phone # 903-737-2410
Fax # 903-785-3858
5. Letters can also be sent to Texas Gov. Rick Perry through his website.
cross-posted at BlogHer
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13 comments:
Burning Down the House is an excellent post by Temple3 on another way that we can put pressure on the powers that be to get this poor child out of prison.
You can get to it from www.exodusmentality.blogspot.com
Today, the Paris News published the judge's version of the events. Have you considered the possibility that Superville is not a racist, but rather a complete moron? He didn't give probation because of the home situation or lack of support? That certainly smacks of racism.
Let's assume, for the moment, that the judge was following standard protocol. If true, then it is the county prosecutor who should be burned in effigy (not to mention the fires of Hell). S/he is the one who pushed for confinement versus probabtion.
Only one fact seems to be in dispute: the nature of the crime. If it was "assault causing bodily injury" what were the nature of those injuries? Was it really a "hall monitor" or a police officer? Was there a weapon involved or intent to injure?
Don't get me wrong. This is a modern day lynching. A conspiracy commited by the school board, the judge, the jury. I don't doubt that. However, not all the facts have come to light yet.
You are right you don't have all the facts. she was not sentenced to 7 years. In fact she could be out now if she would behave. Her fate in jail is her hands!! her mother testified in court the she would not cooperate with probation or any other terms the court set, that's why she is in jail. In the arson case the child was offered plea and took the plea. Ms. cotton was also offered a plea, but chose not to take it!! Please get all the facts before you judge!!
Here's the latest:
The Paris News has details on the Department of Education's investigation of the Paris Independent School District, including details on discrimination complaints that have been dismissed.
According to the school district, five complaints are still under investigation.
The reporter who did the original story has in article in yesterday's Chicago Tribune that says the special commission looking into alleged improprieties in the Texas juvenile justice system will give special attention to Cotton's case.
What kind of fucking human being sends a girl suffering from ADHD to seven, SEVEN, years in prison for barely pushing a hall monitor. The worst case scenario should be that she is suspended from school for a week. Seven goddamn years! That's half of her life (she was 14 when sentenced), the most important part. Arsony vs. light pushing, hmm.... Which endanger more lives?
I lived in Paris for 22 years and never knew that the fairgrounds were the town's best known landmark! In fact, I didn't even know it was a landmark. I never heard in 22 years that black men were routinely lynched there! I knew that there were some black men lynched in Paris in the 1800's, but this article made it sound like Paris people had turned the fairgrounds into a shrine for their shame... like Paris people are proud of that ugly part of their history. Every town has ugliness in their past, Paris is no different, but white people there aren't boasting about how many black people were lynched there! In fact, if you asked anyone in town, I bet you can't find 10 people that even knew that ever happened at the fairgrounds. The fairgrounds are forgotten except about twice a year. Quit sensationalizing! I would say the town's best known landmark is the big stupid Eiffel tower w/ the red cowboy hat on top that the town council thought was a great idea...not the fairgrounds!!
"Anonymous" above posted the exact same comment at my wife's blog entry about Ms. Cotton. I think they must be going around pasting that comment in every blog entry on the subject that shows up in Google.
It's called "astroturfing," but I can only assume it's coming from genuine deep-seated bigotry.
I have heard, (and again only heard)that many of the facts being promoted by those trying to free Shaquanda are not completely accurate. I don't know for sure, but there are some things that might need to be checked out before everyone gets so bent out of shape. For example, I heard that her mother actually asked the school to send her daughter somewhere because she was unable to deal with the girl's behavior! Shaquanda, although not having a previous criminal record, had a long list of infractions and discipline issues on the school record. This was not her first time to be in trouble at school. Do those of us on the outside really know how badly the school employee was hurt. I heard (again...heard) that she was not merely pushed out of the way, but knocked to the ground and really banged up. She was 58 at the time...no spring chicken and falls can tend to be more intense at that age. Maybe people ought to check and see if any of these things are true. As for the girl that was sentenced to probation for arson, first she took the plea bargain. I've also heard (again...)that there were many facts not made public because of the situation which makes the sentence she received very reasonable. Another thought...she was NOT sentenced to a full seven years in TYC....It was UP TO seven years based on behavior once there. She is in control of that! I do not know all the facts. I don't assume to know what all is right and wrong. I don't even know if what I've "heard" is compeltely accurate, but they do deserve to be checked out. I am not sure whether the sentence Shaquanda got is fair or harsh. I don't know all the facts. All I'm saying is that there seems to be many more facts to the examples being used by Shaquanda's supporters. I just want to make sure in the interest of justice and justice alone that all the facts are on the table before any of us jump to conclusions about what has happened here. I really do hope she has some time to make a real commitment to be a productive citizen when she gets out. She has so much life ahead of her, and I am confident that she has the ability to shape that life as she chooses.
I do believe that there are some situations that warrant a 7 year (or up to 7 year) sentence in prison. However, I cannot believe that this is one of them. I don't really care what sentence was given to the arsonist. If they choose to let people who burn down buildings roam free in their city, that's on Paris, TX. What I don't understand is why it is constant in Texas justice that the longest and harshest sentences are imposed on African-Americans. We can play politics all day and say maybe the hall monitor was hurt badly or maybe she wasn't...but what it truly boils down to is that if it were a Caucasian student who was in the same situation, the sentence wouldn't have been that harsh.
And for those talking about how she can get out with good behavior, think about this...how well would you behave if you were in prison with murderers and violent criminals? how do you make it trying to be an angel when you are surrounded by devils ready to pounce on and kill whatever doesn't fit with them? Could it be that if the child (because that is what 14 year olds are by law...children) had behavioral problems that maybe she should have been forced into counseling?
No, I don't think she should have put her hands on anyone, but children make mistakes and the punishment should fit the crime. You don't send your kids to the police station when they bite another child (which is called assault), do you?
And how in the world do you fix your mouth to say that 7 years (or even up to 7 years) is an appropriate sentence for a push/shove/punch from a child. The punishment doesn't fit the crime. Again, I will say it...the punishment doesn't fit the crime.
As far as people saying Paris is racist...where in America is there not some form of racism? You can't judge an entire city based on the incompetence of one person.
I just wish people would "be for real." If it was your child and they had received a 7 year (or even a 1 year)sentence in prison at age 14 for pushing/shoving someone, wouldn't you be outraged? the bottom line is children make mistakes. that is why they are children. it is ridiculous and just plain sad. there are so many other ways for her to learn a lesson...make her volunteer as a teachers assistant/aide so that she can put herself in their shoes, make her attend anger management courses, make her shadow someone who has been personally affected by violence so she can see what the after effects are...anything. it is sad that the only thing he could come up with was prison time.
(btw...i think the fire bug should have to volunteer in the burn unit of the local hospital so she can see what a fire can really do).
that's my two cents and I am keeping all of our children in my prayers.
FACT: This juvenile girl assaulted a teacher, who by Texas law is a public servant, in September 2005. It was witnessed first-hand by two other teachers who testified.
FACT: Before trial, the Lamar County and District Attorney's Office (prosecutors) offered a plea bargain reduction from felony to misdemeanor assault and 2 years juvenile probation, which the mother and defense attorney turned down.
FACT: The juvenile had a trial and was found adjudicated delinquent by a jury (we don't refer to juveniles as "guilty" or "not guilty" in Texas - it's "adjudicated" or "not adjudicated") in March of 2006.
FACT: After the jury adjudicated the juvenile as delinquent, the defense asked Lamar County Judge Chuck Superville to set punishment. The defense could have had a jury set punishment, but asked for the judge to decide.
FACT: This juvenile did NOT receive 7 years in prison. She was given an indeterminate sentence to the Texas Youth Commission, which means her conduct and cooperation with their behavior rehabilitation programs determines when she gets out. Minimum time to complete those programs is 9 months. She entered TYC in March 2006 and could have been out in December 2006 if she was being cooperative. But note that she never had to go to TYC in the first place: she could have gotten probation.
FACT: Texas statute under the Family Code (governing juveniles) left 2 options for the judge: 1) release the juvenile on probation back to a family member who verbally assures the judge that cooperative efforts to meet probation conditions will be met, and 2) sentence to the Texas Youth Commission. Often, parents are part of the problem and other family members step forward to offer to take the juvenile in their care and see to it probation conditions are met. NO other family members came forward and this juvenile's mother (Creola Cotton) told the judge she would not comply with conditions of probation. The judge's hands were tied by the law and he had no other choice but TYC.
FACT: School officials testified during the punishment phase that this juvenile had been a continuous discipline problem and that her mother continually defended her actions, telling her she did nothing wrong, and fought against disciplinary actions against her daughter for legitimate infractions.
FACT: The defense filed an appeal, fired the defense attorney trial attorney they hired (Wesley Newell of Dallas) and alleged ineffective assistance of counsel (saying the defense attorney didn't do his job well enough). The Court of Appeals in Texarkana ruled that the juvenile would not be released on bond pending their final appeal decision. That decision has not yet been handed down.
FACT: This juvenile would not be in TYC if her mother had agreed to cooperate with conditions of probation after the jury found her essentially guilty.
You will find these facts with additional comments at http://www.lamarcountyattorney.com/cotton.html
BREAKING NEWS: Cotton to be released
Staff reports
The Paris News
Published March 30, 2007
Shaquanda Cotton is to be released Saturday from the Texas Youth Commission facility in Brownwood, according to a report from the Associated Press.
“We are glad she is getting out and are happy for her family but we have concerns about the way it is happening,” Lamar County District Attorney spokesman Allan Hubbard said.
Rep. Harold Dutton, the Houston Democrat who chairs the House juvenile justice committee, said the newly appointed conservator of the Texas Youth Commission told him Cotton was being freed, according to the AP report.
“This is one of those cases that is the poster child of everything wrong with the criminal justice system,” Dutton told the AP.
Dutton said he was informed of Cotton’s pending release by Jay Kimbrough, who Gov. Rick Perry appointed to investigate the agency accused of ignoring multiple allegations of sexual and physical abuse of young inmates.
“Apparently, cases that get the most public attention can grab the ear of state legislators who can simply order people to be freed from incarceration,” Hubbard said. “That sets an alarming precedent.”
Local activist Brenda Cherry, a friend of the girl’s mother, confirmed that they have been told of Shaquanda’s release.
“She should be home by tomorrow,” Cherry said.
Dutton told the AP late today that the 15-year-old would be released to her mother on Saturday. He said Creola Cotton was unable to pick up her daughter on Friday because of bad weather.
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(@ anonymous)if this girl had been a problem for so long, as i have heard, why are they now tryna do something about it like giving her "UP TO SEVEN YEARS," they should have been put her out of school, for "ALL THE TROUBLE" she has been causing. The system kills me by waiting til some major happens before they say "oops" and try and correct a problem. And of course if the girl has ADHD, how "easy" is it to behave in prison "in that closed and environment." They should've been trying to get her some help instead of throwing her in prison. By putting her in prison doesnt change the situation, or help her in any way. All it does is ruin her criminal record which is gonna make life for her even more hectic once she gets out. Shonte I agree wit u 110%!!!!!!
She was released on March 31, 2007
God is Good, and thank God for the internet that hwlp spread the word of her unfair imprisonment; But the other day in NYC a 13 yr old was arrested for writing on her school desk. They can arrest children but they can't find the rapist, drug dealers or murderers.
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