MUMIA SOLIDARITY/MS BUS APPEAL!!

DONNIE FINLEY IS NOW DOWN TO THE LAST DAY OF TRYING TO GET A BUS PAID FOR IN ORDER FOR MRS. RASCO AND FAMILY TO COME FROM MS TO THE RALLY AND IS ASKING TO HAVE A BUS DONATED OR DONATIONS BROUGHT INTO THEM SO THAT THEY CAN PAY THE CHARTER COMPANY TODAY (6/18)! DONNIE'S CONTACT INFO IS AT THE END OF THIS POSTING, THIS MAN IS WORKING AS HARD AS HE CAN AND NEEDS A SPONSOR OR FOR A CHURCH OR OTHER GROUP WHO OWNS THEIR OWN BUS TO LOAN ONE TO THEM.
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SUPPORT THE GRAY-HAIRED WITNESSES FAST FOR JUSTICE!
JUNE 21, 2010 -- WASHINGTON, DC
10 AM - DEPT. OF JUSTICE
12 NOON - WHITE HOUSE PRESS CONFERENCE
1PM-9PM - LAFAYETTE SQUARE PARK

We need your support in bringing national attention to the case of the Scott Sisters and all other women who have been incarcerated wrongly and egregiously over-sentenced, punishing and destroying our families and children, please plan to participate!
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IN SOLIDARITY:

Dear Gray-Haired Witnesses:

It's wonderful that y'all are supporting the Scott Sisters of Mississippi.

I salute you all for your efforts to obtain justice and liberation for them.

From the dawn of human time, the 'gray-haired ones' -- the elders, were the communal repository for knowledge of things seen and unseen.

This arises from the great respect accorded the aged in African traditional society.

That sistas such as y'all are doing this, in this society of coldness, repression and what I call the 'Prisonhouse of Nations', is a good and necessary thing.

As Michelle Alexander has written, the prison industrial complex is the 'new Jim Crow'.

So, the battle continues.

So, kudos. i salute you all.

Ona Move! LLJA!

Alla best,

Mumia (Abu-Jamal)
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Solidarity, a democratic revolutionary socialist, feminist, anti-racist organization, emphatically endorses the fast at the U.S. Department of Justice in D.C. undertaken by the Gray-Haired Witnesses for Justice in support of freedom for the Scott Sisters of Mississippi, Jamie and Gladys Scott. We support the immediate inspection of the prison where Jamie is being held despite suffering from end-stage renal disease and call for her immediate hospitalization. This outrageous case of injustice—double-life sentences for these sisters over a theft of less than $11—is a racist and class-based extreme injustice of the worst sort. The Scott Sisters must be released at once! Solidarity joins this growing movement for justice for the Gladys and Jamie Scott and for all women suffering behind bars in inhuman conditions.
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Mrs. Rasco, mother of the Scott Sisters, loved Bro. Toure Muhammad's wonderful Final Call article (http://www.finalcall.com) on their case and was very thrilled to see it! She apologizes for any misstatements she has made and wishes to clarify that the jury racial make-up was 7 whites, 5 Blacks, 1 black and 1 white alternate, (altho the Black alternate did not return). She's very grateful for the support!
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SUPPORT NEEDED!!

-- Anyone coming to the event from VA have room to bring anyone else? Please respond ASAP if you are able to share your ride up, thank you!!!

- THE SITUATION WITH GETTING THE BUS UP TO THE DEMONSTRATION FROM MISSISSIPPI IS GETTING VERY DIRE, HELP IS URGENTLY NEEDED OR ELSE THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO COME. PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD AND STRONGLY ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO GET INVOLVED, IT IS VERY MUCH NEEDED TO BRING MRS. RASCO, FAMILY AND MS SUPPORTERS TO DC, THEY NEED TO BE THERE TO SPEAK OUT TO THE NATIONAL PRESS!
Please mail an M.O. for whatever you can spare (no amount is too small!) ASAP made out to Donnie Finley and mail to: Donnie Finley c/o Gloria's Kitchen, 2855 Bailey Ave., Jackson, MS 39206. If you need more info please phone Donnie at: 601-454-6507. Thank you in advance for your kind support!

MORE UPDATES TO COME VERY SOON! PLEASE GET YOUR PLANS NAILED DOWN, NOT EVERYONE WILL BE WEARING WHITE OR FASTING, SO PLEASE DON'T LET THAT STOP YOU!!

All info is at http://www.grayhairedwitnesses.blogspot.com.
Press Releases: http://www.scribd.com/doc/31674423/grayhairpr and http://www.scribd.com/doc/32890430/ALEXGREGPR
Flyer: http://www.scribd.com/doc/32978058/ghflyer613
PSA: http://www.divshare.com/download/11504574-e65
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YULqQ9qPxio&feature=player_embedded
Facebook: GRAY-HAIRED WITNESSES FOR JUSTICE
Phone: 1- 866-968-1188, Ext. 2
E-Mail: ghwitnesses@gmail.com

SOLIDARITY/PARKING +MORE FOR 6/21 FAST FOR JUSTICE!

SUPPORT THE GRAY-HAIRED WITNESSES FAST FOR JUSTICE!
JUNE 21, 2010 -- WASHINGTON, DC
10 AM - DEPT. OF JUSTICE
12 NOON - WHITE HOUSE PRESS CONFERENCE
1PM-9PM - LAFAYETTE SQUARE PARK

We need your support in bringing national attention to the case of the Scott Sisters and all other women who have been incarcerated wrongly and egregiously over-sentenced, punishing and destroying our families and children, please plan to participate!
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PARKING FOR CARS/BUSES:

Thanks so much to Julie Turner for all of her help in organizing support in solidarity with the Gray-Haired Witnesses!

The New York Avenue Presbyterian Church has confirmed the Radcliffe Room for press conference/rally attendees on Monday, June 21, 2010 to rest, use the bathroom and get situated. The times we may use the room are from 8:30a until 9:45 and 11:45a until 1:00. The Church will close at 3 on Monday, but this will give everyone enough time to sort things out. The church is at 1313 New York Ave, NW—2 blocks from the White House and Lafayette Square Park.

Directions to Dept. of Justice from the New York Ave. Presbyterian Church: Come out of the building at 1313 New York Avenue, NW and turn left, cross the street at corner of the church,---you will be in front of the Inter American Bank—which is now H St, NW. Stay on H, cross at 13th, and count the numbers down to 9th—turn right on 9th, now count down the letters until you reach Pennsylvania Ave., NW –the address is 950 Pennsylvania. It’s about 10 city blocks.

There is a public parking lot located 4 blocks from the church and 4 blocks from the Department of Justice. It’s the best deal in town—most other parking is in garages that will not fit a bus. This is the contact information: City Center Parking operated by U Street Parking - 900 9th St., NW—the entrance is on 9th St, which is one way. Cars can park all day for $20 and buses can park all day for $35. Come down H St, NW to 10th, turn right on 10th go up 1 block, turn right, and then right again on 9th—the entrance is mid block on the right. Buses park to the far right of the lot. The telephone number is 202 265-0010.
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IN SOLIDARITY:

The California Coalition for Women Prisoners expresses our strong solidarity with the courageous fast by the Gray-Haired Witnesses for Justice to demand freedom for the Scott Sisters and an inspection of the prison where Jamie Scott is being held. In California, we witness similar inhuman conditions for women in prison on a daily basis, and we condemn the systemic racism and sexism which has caused the population of women in prison to triple in the past twenty-five years. Jamie and Gladys are serving outrageous life sentences which in Jamie’s case could well turn into a death sentence if the criminal health care conditions she is enduring aren’t quickly improved. We deeply appreciate your determination to stand up and expose the grave injustice being perpetrated against the Scott sisters and the tens of thousands of other sisters who are wrongly incarcerated across the United States. -- Diana Block, Founding Member
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Legal Services for Prisoners with Children endorses the June 21, 2010 Gray-Haired Witnesses Fast for Justice in DC and your mission to free the Scott sisters. LSPC is a non-profit organization based in San Francisco, California, with a 32 year history of advocating for the rights of prisoners, formerly incarcerated persons, and their families. We know that the unique situation of incarcerated women is often overlooked. Prison medical care is notoriously inadequate. Sentences are too long. Justice is often not served in our criminal courts. We support your efforts to free the Scott sisters and call on the Obama administration to help justice be served here. -- Carol Strickman, Staff Attorney
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Thank you Bro. Rudolph Lewis of ChickenBones for sharing this critical information on your illustrious pages: http://www.nathanielturner.com/freescottsisters.htm

Thank you also to Rev. Kenneth Glasgow and T.O.P.S. (THE ORDINARY PEOPLE SOCIETY) for writing and sending out a press release in support of this effort. Website: www. http://www.wearetops.org

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WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT, THERE IS SOMETHING THAT EVERYONE CAN DO, NO ACTION IS TOO SMALL!

You can do this by some or all of the following:
- ATTEND THE JUNE 21ST PRESS CONFERENCE AND RALLY AND BRING OTHERS! We need your physical support!
- Post our press release and flyer to your FB and other social networking sites, forward it to your email colleagues and forward it to local and national print, radio and tv media.
Press release: http://www.scribd.com/doc/31674423/grayhairpr -- Flyer: http://www.scribd.com/doc/32238758/New-Flyer
- Write a blog, article or commentary on our mission and call, post it and pass it on for posting on our website.
- Write and publish an article on the case of the Scott Sisters and the issue of Black incarceration. (Case Summary on the Scott Sisters is at http://freethescottsisters.blogspot.com/search/label/Case%20Summary)
- Volunteer to help us prepare for the day, particularly if you live in the DC, Balt., VA area, we need you however you are able!
- Please donate yourself on that day with your conscious and respectful entertainment performance!


URGENT NEEDS!!!

-- SOUND SYSTEM WITH GENERATOR AND RISER FOR USAGE AT LAFAYETTE SQUARE PARK FROM 12 NOON UNTIL 8:30 PM!
-- HELP TO SPONSOR THE BUS FROM MISSISSIPPI WHICH IS VERY MUCH NEEDED TO BRING MRS. RASCO, FAMILY AND MS SUPPORTERS TO DC AND IS VERY EXPENSIVE!
Please mail an M.O. for whatever you can spare (no amount is too small!) ASAP made out to Donnie Finley and mail to:
Donnie Finley c/o Gloria's Kitchen, 2855 Bailey Ave., Jackson, MS 39206. If you need more info please phone Donnie at: 601-454-6507. Thank you in advance for your kind support!


CONTACT US TODAY AND GET INVOLVED!

Contact us at ghwitnesses@gmail.com, 1- 866-968-1188, Ext. 2,

'THE NEW JIM CROW' AUTHOR MICHELLE ALEXANDER ENDORSES GRAY-HAIRED WITNESSES FOR JUSTICE

P r e s s R e l e a s e

Contacts:

B.J. Janice Peak-Graham / Marpessa Kupendua
1- 866-968-1188, Ext. 2
ghwitnesses@gmail.com
http://www.grayhairedwitnesses.blogspot.com/


WASHINGTON, June 9/Gray-Haired Witnesses for Justice News – Author and legal scholar, Michelle Alexander, has taken time from her current national book tour to strongly endorse the June 21, 2010 Gray-Haired Witnesses Fast for Justice in DC and their mission in a statement to their web editor and founding member, Marpessa Kupendua. In her new book this brave and insightful legal scholar and civil rights advocate argues that although Jim Crow laws have been eliminated, the racial caste system it set up was not eradicated. It’s simply been redesigned, and now racial control functions through the criminal justice system. In her support of the Gray-haired Witnesses for Justice movement, Ms. Alexander wrote:

"With extraordinary vision and courage, and in the tradition of Ida B. Wells and countless other women who have stood for justice in the face of severe racial oppression, the Gray Haired Witnesses for Justice are calling attention to the harm caused by America's latest caste system: mass incarceration. Women of color are the fastest growing group of the prison population today and the Gray Haired Witnesses for Justice are shining a bright light on the racial bias and cruelty of our criminal justice system. All Americans who care about justice should join them in their campaign to free the Scott sisters, who have been sentenced to die in prison for an extremely minor, non-violent offense. “

In a February, 2010 article which appeared in the Huffington Post, she wrote, “ The clock has been turned back on racial progress in America, though scarcely anyone seems to notice. All eyes are fixed on people like Barack Obama and Oprah Winfrey who have defied the odds and achieved great power, wealth and fame.”

In referencing the focus of the Gray-Haired Witnesses on the case of the Scott Sisters, she had this to say, “The double life sentences imposed on the Scott sisters for an alleged robbery in Mississippi netting little more than $11 is a glaring example of a criminal justice system that is no longer much concerned with justice. No one was hurt or injured, and these women have no prior offenses. No other Western democracy subjects its own people to such draconian punishment for minor crimes. And no other country in the world incarcerates such a large percentage of its racial and ethnic minorities. This is Jim Crow justice, alive and well today. I urge all those of conscience to support the Scott sisters and the thousands of other prisoners who find themselves in similar shoes. Sadly, the Scott sisters are not alone. The Gray Haired Witnesses for Justice are standing up for all those suffering needlessly behind bars and we must join them. If we fail to act, history will judge us harshly."

Michelle Alexander is the author of "The New Jim Crow - Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness". Her book is taking the nation by storm, especially by major news analysts and commentators in examining issues of race bearing upon the era of the Obama administration. Ms. Alexander is a rising legal star who presents a bold and innovative argument that mass incarceration amounts to a devastating system of racial control.

On June 21, 2010, the Gray-Haired Witnesses will commence a Fast at the Department of Justice in a 10:00 a.m. formal appeal to Eric Holder, rejoin at the White House at Noon with a press conference and formal appeal to President Obama, and then continue at Lafayette Square Park from 1PM until 9PM for the duration of the fast with speakers, live performances and artists. They are calling on all people of good will to join them on that day and demand justice for the Scott Sisters and an end to the oversentencing, degradation and dehumanization of Black women in this system and nation as a whole.

Michelle Alexander is the author of The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness (The New Press, 2010). The former director of the Racial Justice Project of the ACLU in Northern California, she also served as a law clerk to Justice Harry Blackmun on the U.S. Supreme Court. Currently, she holds a joint appointment with the Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity and the Moritz College of Law at Ohio State University.



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6/5 SCOTT SISTERS UPDATE!

Greetings all,

Mrs. Rasco arrived in Mississippi yesterday for a visit with Jamie today and one with Gladys tomorrow, yet was told once she arrived at the prison today that she and her granddaughter had on open-toed shoes and were not permitted in. They had to leave the prison and purchase closed-toe shoes to even get into see Jamie after all of that travelling. She was also told that she would not be permitted to see Gladys at all tomorrow because she is NOT on Glady's visitation list!! She has been on Gladys' visitation list for 15 years and visited she and Jamie recently. This is unconscionable and pure harassment, and the family and Gladys are extremely hurt and disappointed.

Jamie was feeling and looking better today and told her mother that she is getting better medication, although she did state that she feels her body is changing and deteriorating slowly. She has unresolved chest pains that come and go and have not been evaluated. She's very, very grateful to all of the supporters for all that is being done!

The conditions in the Quick Bed unit where she is housed are horrible. This unit is the worst place in the prison, no one even goes back there except those that work there. It is in the back of the prison and there are also men housed back there. When it rains, the water pours into the unit and they all have to mop up the water. Water leaks around Jamie's bed and electrical socket and she is worried about getting sick or even electrocuted. The toilets still have major plumbing problems and overflow. Mold is also still an issue on the unit.

The Board of Health needs to go into the prison and get these problems addressed once and for all, Jamie's health is tenuous as it is! On April 16, 2010 , Mr. Jeffrey Brown of the Board of Health stated that the mold, sewage and spider infestation at CMCF/quickbed would be taken care of but only the insect infestation has been addressed.

Jeffrey Brown - Jeffrey.Brown@msdh.state.ms.us
Mac Arthur Washington - Macarthur.Washington@msdh.state.ms.us

Central Office Phone
601-576-7400 (8am-5pm)
Agency personnel are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in public health emergencies.

==========

Please continue to advocate on behalf of Jamie and Gladys Scott, their children and families need for them to return home alive, the time is NOW!

Attorney General Eric Holder
U.S. Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20530-0001
HOTLINE: 202-353-1555
PHONE: 202-514-2000
202-307-6777 fax
AskDOJ@usdoj.gov

Christopher Epps
601-359-5600
CEPPS@mdoc.state.ms.us
723 North President Street
Jackson, MS 39202

Governor Haley Barbour
P.O. Box 139
Jackson, Mississippi 39205
1-877-405-0733 or 601-359-3150
Fax: 601-359-3741
(If you reach VM leave msgs, faxes, and please send letters)

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Visit and LINK to: http://www.freethescottsisters.blogspot.com

SPONSORS NEEDED FOR MISSISSIPPI BUS TO D.C.!

Sponsors are needed to help pay for the bus bringing Mrs. Rasco and supporters in Mississippi up to the Gray-Haired Witnesses Fast for Justice so that she, her children and grandchildren can speak on behalf of Jamie and Gladys Scott. Gloria's Kitchen is one of Mrs. Rasco's greatest supporters in Mississippi and have made bumper stickers, t-shirts, lots of phone calls, flyering and much more in the fight for freedom for the Scott Sisters and are now making arrangements for the bus, but the expense is great.

Please mail an M.O. for whatever you an spare (no amount is too small!) ASAP made out to Donnie Finley and mail to:
Donnie Finley c/o Gloria's Kitchen
2855 Bailey Ave.
Jackson, MS 39206.

If you need more info please phone Donnie at: 601-454-6507. Thank you in advance for your kind support!

TUNE INTO HARAMBEE RADIO & SUPPORT THE SCOTT SISTERS!

The Legacy Justice Empowerment Hour last evening hosted by Nkechi Taifa on Harambee Radio and TV featured Mrs. Evelyn
Rasco and Sis. Marpessa and can be downloaded at: https://www.yousendit.com/transfer.php?action=download&ufid=OHo2YnU1MHdQb0pjR0E9PQ

Tonight Harambee Radio continues their steadfast coverage of our efforts to nationally expose this horrific case:

TRANSFORMATION
PLUS TV
WITH
DALANI AAMON

9:00 PM EST TO MIDNIGHT EVERY FRIDAY

TONIGHT'S TOPIC

THE MODERN DAY LYNCHING OF
THE SCOTT SISTERS IN
MISSISSIPPI
http://www.grayhairedwitnesses.blogspot.com/

Co-hosted by Dalani Aamon and long-term Activist Jamia Shepherd

Our guest tonight will be:

Sis. BJ Janice Peak-Graham

Sis. Shakeerah Abdul al-Sabuur

Sister Nancy Lockhart

Brother Nat Turner

Sister Agnes Johnson

Rev. Edward Pinkney

Brother Wali Durham

Go to www.harambeeradio.com to see exclusive Scott Sister coverage on demand tv
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Thanks to Sis. Khadijah for covering the Gray-Haired Witnesses Fast for Justice for the DC Community Issues Examiner:
http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-21948-DC-Community-Issues-Examiner~y2010m6d3-Rally-for-incarcerated-women-set-to-take-place-in-DC-on-June-21?cid=sharing_facebook%3A21948

Please continue to contact all media with our press release: http://www.scribd.com/doc/31674423/grayhairpr so we can get more "ink", radio and tv coverage before, during and after the activity, and include filling out the contact form at Democracy Now! to support our efforts for coverage at http://www.democracynow.org/get_involved/contact?to=1

Pictured: Amy Jacques Garvey

DICK GREGORY CALLS FOR MASS SUPPORT FOR GRAY-HAIRED WITNESSES

P r e s s R e l e a s e

Contacts:
B.J. Janice Peak-Graham / Marpessa Kupendua
1- 866-968-1188, Ext. 2
ghwitnesses@gmail.com
http://www.grayhairedwitnesses.blogspot.com/

WASHINGTON, June 3/Gray-Haired Witnesses for Justice News --Fiery human rights activist, Dick Gregory, urged everyone to support the June 21, 2010 Gray-Haired Witnesses Fast for Justice in DC in an interview yesterday. The upcoming day-long event is to call attention to the shocking case of the Mississippi Scott Sisters, two women who each received double-life sentences for an alleged robbery of $11.00 almost 16 years ago. The public fast, press conference and rally also calls attention to the entire system of justice which increasingly incarcerates and oversentences non-violent Black female first time offenders, such as Jamie and Gladys Scott, punishing and many times actually destroying entire families.

"This is one of the worst cases I have ever heard of in my life," exclaimed Gregory, "My jaw dropped when I read that these women have been in prison for almost 16 years and aren't even charged with laying a hand on anyone! This country should be embarrassed to have such a blatant travesty of justice exist while wagging our finger at people abroad for human rights abuses. What we have going on here is the epitome of cruel and unusual punishment and is outrageous, even for Mississippi!".

The Gray-Haired Witnesses Fast for Justice was prompted by the very serious illness of now 38-yr. old Jamie Scott who entered prison in 1994 a healthy young woman yet suffered kidney failure this past January and was deprived adequate medical treatment for an extended period of time. Jamie has quickly declined to stage 5 (end stage) kidney disease and has suffered many life-threatening medical emergencies in an unclean environment.

Mr. Gregory was dumbfounded as to why MS Governor Haley Barbour has ignored all calls to pardon the women. "They went in at the ages of 19 and 22 with no prior criminal record, have consistently maintained their innocence, and even the testimony against them is documented as having been coerced! Even if they were guilty, we are talking about double-life sentences each, how does that make any kind of sense, don't their lives mean anything at all? If Gov. Barbour won't do the right thing then we need Eric Holder and President Obama to immediately step in! Washington, DC should be packed with people on June 21, demanding the immediate release of the Scott Sisters!".

On June 21, 2010, the Gray-Haired Witnesses will commence a Fast at the Department of Justice in a 10:00 a.m formal appeal to Eric Holder, rejoin at the White House at Noon with a press conference and formal appeal to President Obama, and then continue at Lafayette Square Park from 1PM until 9PM for the duration of the fast with speakers, live performances and artists. The Gray-Haired Witnesses are calling on all people of good will to join them on that day and demand justice for the Scott Sisters and an end to the oversentencing, degradation and dehumanization of Black women in this system and nation as a whole.

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