I have a correction to make to Charles'
comments. Yes, Patrick sent his article to Judge Mark Kennedy, but
it was not Judge Mark Kennedy who called the US Marshal [read further down
the pages of
Alabama Southern District Court
Chief District Judge Charles R. Butler,20
Jr.
113 St Joseph St
Mobile, AL 36602
Judge Charles Butler called the US Marshal's office in Mobile, Alabama, without having any jurisdiction over Patrick's case, and ordered the US Marshal to call the Warden at Holman Prison and order the Warden to have Patrick thrown in the hole. It was the hottest summer in the history of Alabama with temperatures up in the 100's and heat indexes in the 120's with humidity at 90-95%. We all fought strongly and Patrick's life was saved. His article has been translated into 5 or more languages. Around the world, people are now seeing what Alabama Prisons are like. They are appalled and outraged.
Chief Federal Judge Charles Butler who is Federal ordered a State prisoner thrown in the hole for writing an article that did not threaten the Judge, was20 not a National Security risk, but that told the public what conditions are like inside Holman Prison in Atmore, Alabama. And America insists it does not have Political Prisoners?
Judge Mark Kennedy did nothing. He read Patrick's article and did nothing.
Judge Mark Kennedy is innocent in this case.Later, Patrick wrote another article, titled "Warning to the People of Europe" and because hundreds of us caused so much trouble over Patrick being thrown in the hole for his first article, titled "Too Late To Debate???" we let all the officials know that if they harmed one hair on Patrick's head over his second article, and if they thought they experienced mayhem then, they "ain't seen nothing yet!"
Absolutely no retaliation came of the second article and Patrick remained safe. Again, this second article was translated into several languages and published around the world.
Charles is correct in saying that we are taking chances but what choice do we have? Every single court in the State of Alabama has turned down our requests to look at the evidence that proves that Patrick is completely innocent of the crime for which he was convicted. Every single authority has ignored our requests for adequate medical care for Patrick. So, in that sense, we absolutely have nothing to lose. Patrick is a dead man if we do not speak out and speak out loudly. Our silence would kill him.
The freight train is heading our way and your way too. Do we run and hide and let that train run down everyone? I cannot do that. I will not stand in the tracks thinking I alone can stop the train, but I will tell everyone - everyone - that the train is coming and stress that we need to get to the operators in time for them to stop the train, lest it murders all our freedoms and cast into the grave all that our forefathers and countrymen fought and died for.
If we can be successful in exposing the judicial corruption in Alabama, everyone who is suffering wins. I may get "investigated" and "spied" on in the process, but I personally don't care about that. What I care about is exposing the TRUTH about Planet Alabama. It is time Americans see what goes on here. They can take my life and Patrick's life, but they cannot take away the dream of cleansing this system that is broken beyond repair. For I am not alone with this conviction and all it takes is one - there have many in this country who feel as I do.
I may lose my husband in this process, then again, I might just win his freedom. Rest assured, he is lost - and so are countless others - if I remain silent. In this sense, I have everything to gain and nothing to lose because Patrick's life [and mine too] have already been taken - he is not "living" as long as he is in Prison for a crime he did not commit. Nor am I "living" while my beloved husband is in chains.
"The only thing needed for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing"-- Chief Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes
"There is no more formidable adversary than
one who perceives he has nothing to lose." - Gen. George S.
Patton
Blessings to all, Sherry Swiney
ALABAMA HEADQUARTERS
Executive Director, PATRICK CRUSADE
CERJ -Alabama Coordinator www.cerj.org
The Bannister Foundation - Alabama Co-ordinator
http://www.ibf.brum.net/enter.htm
Member, Alabama Prison Project Steering Committee
for Alabama Restorative Justice Conference 23, 24 & 25 June 2000
It is the inability to experience the suffering of another human being
What is needed is a growth in consciousness, not a growth of government.
"There is nothing more terrifying than ignorance in action." - Goethe
-----Original Message-----
Please forward for the benefit of those concerned
From Charles Sparks-
***** This is important *******
In a previous forward regarding Patrick Swiney, I wrote a short, rather ambiguous comment. Those who know me would agree I normally strive for clarity. On reflection what I said could be completely misinterpreted so for the record I will now clarify and expand. What I am going to say will upset some concerned about Patrick Swiney I am sure but it needs to be said here and now while it can still do some good.
Up until recently Patrick's situation was not unlike a vast number of prisoners. The number of people imprisoned who are truly innocent is disturbing. The number of men claiming innocence is several magnitudes higher still. The number of men who entered prisons throughout America in good health only to suffer a degeneration as a direct result of their living conditions is also great. In this respect Patrick is not an isolated situation. Where Patrick radically veers from the norm is he decided it would be a good idea to write descriptively about the conditions of Holman Prison and then publicly embarrass the Warden by name, judges and public officials. I read the article and have to admit he has a flair for prose and I fully understand when you write something which you feel is really good how you want to have others share it but unlike you and me Patrick is not in a good position to do that. Sort of like writing a letter to the editor of the Calcutta Daily Gazette from within the famous Black Hole.
Then to add injury to insult Patrick ups the ante and send his article to Chief Justice Mark Kennedy of Montgomery, Alabama. Perhaps the heat got to Patrick and his senses left him for a time long enough to put a copy of that article in an envelope and send it off. Whatever his logic was it was the perfectly worst decision he could make. Let me tell you, even as a citizen out here on the street, with no priors, no nothing, I would not write a Chief Justice about anything. Why? Because I like being out here on the street and wish to remain out here on the street. Now here is the important part.... I advise strongly that you re-read what I just said [hint, hint].
How do I explain this so you will understand? Patrick has inadvertently stepped over a very big line and entered into the super jurisdiction of National Security. If you go to the federal BOP and dig around you will find listed 65 individuals classified only as NS. The Governor of Alabama is now powerless, Ron Paul is powerless, hell, even Jerry Spence couldn't speak with him if the powers that be decide against it. What this also means is those most actively working on this champagne are [I'm certain] also being scrutinized, monitored, investigated. Now some of you will heed what I say and others will continue to shake your fist at the oncoming train with feet firmly set between the tracks.
If you have been following federal legislation like have you would know why I am pleading with you to grab your ears and shake yourself severely. Does the Anti-Terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1997 ring a bell? A few months after the OKC bombing, just for fun, I did a search online at the Congressional web site called Thomas for pending legislation with the word 'terrorism' in them. I found in one day 63 separate pieces of legislation. The federal government has been quietly passing laws that grants sweeping powers all in the name of, yep, National Security.
So the question is raised...
*Do we live in a
free society? Yes.
*Is there still such
a thing as free speech? Yes.
*Can you threaten
a public official? No.
*Can you suggest
actions that could be interpreted as potentially destabilizing to the
continuity of government? No.
*If a federal judge
says you threatened him are you in deep dodo... you bet your ass.
Are the first two in conflict with the second set? Ask your local representative because I don't have the answer to that one but I do know as sure as God makes little green apples what will happen if you try to press the issue in a practical sense.
Please understand that I love you people, you care and that is good but some of you are flirting with some rather hot fire by your comments and suggestions both posted and in private email. Public embarrassment does not make people capitulate, it only makes them more obeisant. There are ways to bring about change. The trouble is these ways are difficult and slow. The present situation did not happen overnight and change will not either. It doesn't matter how many rolls of fax paper you use, Patrick will not be released until this matter is resolved to other people's satisfaction. My first guess would be Chief Justice Mark Kennedy's satisfaction. Don't harass the Honorable Justice Kennedy, the Marshall's, the Warden or anyone, it won't do one bit of good and will likely make this whole process go that much slower.
Now, I said it.
Thank
you for hearing me out. Charles Sparks -
Prison Inmate Services Network
Because we're all in this together
http://www.pennpals.org
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-news@pennpals.org
On Behalf Of Charles Sparks
Sent: Thursday, July 29, 1999 7:34 PM
To:
Subject:
-----Original Message-----
I would like everyone to know that Patrick
Swiney filed an FOIA to the U.S. Marshal's office in Mobile, Alabama,
requesting information that was in his file there. The U.S.
Marshal's office wrote back stating that they have nothing on file
for Patrick Swiney. But wait! Here's the truth...
pass it on. They're fixin' to do a coverup.
Blessings
From:20 Taoss [mailto:taoss@worldnet.att.net]
Sent: Thursday, July 29, 199920 6:53
PM
To: PATRICK LIST; The Bannister Foundation;
Edward Britton; Charles Sparks; John V. Wilmerding; John Potter;
Margaret; Kay Sadler; Andi Lavoie; Kelly Myers; Candy
Cc: Dan Hodge - D.A.H. Consultants
Subject: U.S. Marshal Mobile, Alabama
http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/Senate/6470/urgent.html
Taoss