Sharif's Essays
WARNING
THE STATE OF FLORIDA HAS JUST PUBLICLY DECLARED
OPEN SEASON ON ALL IT'S PRISONERSThursday, June 06, 2002As you know, State Attorney William P. Cervone and his staff in Bradford County has reached a decision in the Frank Valdes murder case that was as hypocritical as it was predictable.
This past week the DA's office announced they would take no criminal action against the remaining murderers awaiting trial for their part in the sadistic beating death of Frank Valdes at Florida State Prison (FSP) on July 17, 1999.This decision should bring much comfort to Florida's tax-payers concerned about violent crimes knowing that their criminal-justice system has just failed them once again by allowing 9-murderers to go unpunished and walk the streets again.The 8th Judicial Circuits politically-influenced announcement not to prosecute the murderers of a human-being who was confined in the Florida Dept. of Corruption (FDOC), is a public declaration by the State of Florida, Mr. Cervone and his staff, and especially Gov. Jeb Bush and the other elected officials, that it's now "OPEN SEASON ON ALL PRISONERS" confined in Florida's detention centers/jails/prisons.I know of too many people in Florida on death-row, doing natural life, or 25 yr.-mandatory sentences for "questionable murders", that had little or no physical evidence or witnesses, unlike the cases at hand, therefore I don't accept nor do I believe the artful, yet lame excuses, and political rhetoric being advanced in the media as the basis for this Nolle Prosequi (no prosecution) decision in the Valdes murder case. It just doesn't pass the smell test, not even for the simplest of minds among us.And State Attorney Cervone's office has the audacity to claim the motto "Seeking Justice Through Prosecution". Yeah right!!! Obviously this credo does not apply when it comes to thugs, or murderers wearing a FDOC uniform, and backed by a shady and politically powerful Police Benevolent Association (FPBA) that's willing to pour over $750,000 dollars into defending the criminal acts of rogue members like Capt.. Timothy Thornton, Sgt.(s) Marcus Lucas, Robert Sauls, Jason Griffis, Andrew Lewis and guards Raymon Hanson, Dewey Beck, and Donald Stanford.FPBA Pres. Ernie George, has proven to everyone with eyes that his clique is similar to the mafia, and their "above-the-law" mentality lives on inside the Sunshine State. This mentality not only lives on, but it spearheads and endorses further violent mistreatment and even the murdering of Florida's prisoners.Contrary to the deceptions FPBA's Ernie George is promoting in the media ,"YES" there are many juries "outside of Bradford County" that wouldn't have hesitated in finding those 9 thugs guilty of murdering a defenseless human being. The majority of citizens in mine and Mr. Cervone's hometown agree that the guards are guilty of murder: The only debate was whether or not they should be convicted of 1st degree rather than 2nd degree murder as charged, based on their actions which clearly were planned and premeditated.It is difficult for one not to compare the Valdes murder trials to sham trials held in the deep South during an era of Jim Crow justice when it was nearly impossible to convict a white man of killing a person of color. It's all in the makeup of the jury. Jurors in a rural county are undeniably sympathetic to guards, (even murderous ones) because the FDOC provides the majority of that region's employment and economic life.It's this culture of oppression that institutionalizes the precepts that members of the oppressed group are somehow less than human and need to be kept in their place. It's the acceptance of the notion that, unfortunately, homicidal violence is often necessary (and will be accepted) as a means of keeping these sub-humans (e.g., prisoners) in line. After all if you believe everything Gov. Bush, the FPBA, FDOC and their allies tell you, prisoners are all "violent predators", and those housed at FSP, and particularly on "X-Wing" are supposedly the "worst of the worst", therefore they deserve whatever guards do to them, even cold-blooded murder.But I disagree with this, because nobody should die like Frank Valdes did. I'm sure there are others who feel the same as I do. Yet the state's refusal to prosecute and Gov. Bush and his staff's refusal to intervene simply encourages prison administrators and their guards/staff to continue thinking they own the prisoners, and that because prisoners may have victimized someone on the streets, they should be victimized themselves while in prison.They want to feel superior with their uniform and those "jack-in-the box" badges they possess. They think those items lend them some sort of unlimited credibility and power to do whatever the hell they please. But I'm here to tell you that such thinking is an illusion that must die and will die once the smoke clears and "WE THE PEOPLE" see that real justice is served in the case of Frank Valdes and countless others like myself who have been the victims of violence at the hands of Gov. Jeb Bush and Michael Moore's FDOC henchmen.Justice and rehabilitation are the principles behind the creation of the Corrections (not Corruption) Departments, and this requires treating "ALL" persons under the department's charge equally, fairly, and humanely, in accordance with the laws of the state and the U.S. Constitution.Anyone, and I do mean "ANYONE" who deviates from these requirements must be held accountable pursuant to the same state and federal laws they were sworn to uphold. This even includes violent men in FDOC uniforms who abuse, maim and even murder prisoners. There can be no exceptions.Until Justice Is Finally Served,"Sharif"
Sharif's Comments on "Up In Arms"
