PRAYERS FOR MRS. EVELYN RASCO

From: Sis. Jamia

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

S.O.P.E. - SUPPORT OUR PEOPLE'S EFFORTS - Founder/President - Jamia Shepherd

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Our Prayers go out to Mrs Rasco, who is the Mother of Jamie and Gladys Scott , who was recently released earlier this year from 16 years of Incarceration, having been charged with an $11.00 Robbery, which they have always Proclaimed Innocence. Those of you who have been receiving my Newsletters (at least for a year and more)...should recall the many times that Mrs. Rasco was spoken about. She is a Mother who has given UnConditional Love to her Children and Grandchildren. She is a true Warrior Woman, whom is Dedicated, Loyal, Committed and Loving. You would want a person like Mrs Rasco in your corner. Throughout the years Mrs Rasco has been fighting to be Healthy herself, while in the Fight for Jamie and Glady's Release. Mrs Rasco had been in much pain and agony for months.

After a couple of prognosis from doctors to have her leg amputated, it was done on Monday. I communicated with Nancy Lockhart earlier (when unable to reach Mrs Rasco this morning, again, via phone) that the amputation did take place on Monday. Of course, we Pray that Mrs Rasco will be as healthy as possible, and that this 'stumble' in the road, will only be that...and she will proceed with Health Challenges out of the way...for a Better Life.

7/22 SCOTT SISTERS UPDATE!

Greetings all,

Mrs. Rasco just returned from visiting with Jamie and Gladys and wanted everyone to have an update right away. Jamie no longer has evidence of infection and the boils that were on her body have cleared up. She is, however, still very weak and exhausted from her dialysis and at times during the visit was speaking while her eyes were closed. She told her mother that she wants and needs a kidney transplant.

Thanks to you supporters, Mrs. Rasco was able to get in to visit Gladys! Mrs. Rasco said that Gladys was so happy to see her that she picked her up off of the ground and kissed her, to the delight of everyone in the visiting room! It was truly a beautiful moment. Gladys' daughter, Courtney, was at first denied due to a claim that she was not on the visiting list. Thanks to the efforts of Sondra Humphrey, Director of MS CURE, Courtney was able to finally visit her mother the following day for one hour. Mrs. Rasco is very, very grateful for her intervention.

The Scott Sisters are still in need of pro bono legal representation and we are asking for an individual, group or class to please help develop ideas for these women's legal defense. This is incredibly their 16th year on this outrageous charge, the injury just grows each and every day that their lives are hijacked in that place and their children and grandchildren suffer without them.

We also are seeking mainstream publicity in a very BIG way, please help by sending out our press release to every major media outlet that you can, http://www.scribd.com/doc/30178263/Scott-Sisters-Press-Release and help
to distribute our flyers at: http://www.scribd.com/doc/28847395/Scott-Sisters-Flyer-Black-23-Mar-2010-20
(Front of flyer) and http://www.scribd.com/doc/34548313/Flyer-Back (Back of flyer).

Please purchase t-shirts to help with fundraising efforts!! We need folks to wear them to help raise awareness as we need everyone to begin talking about this case so that no one can say that they have not heard about it. Visit http://www.radicaljack.com/scsit.htmland get yours today!

Additionally, both women said that they have practically exhausted their commissary funds and anyone who wishes to donate to the women directly may send donations via http://www.inmatedeposits.com,
register for Access Corrections and use each of their name and number to make your donation. Jamie is #19197 and Gladys is #19142.

Ask Color of Change to feature the Scott Sisters at http://www.colorofchange.org/, and also copy and paste in an e-mail to: info@colorofchange.org.

Thank you! More updates will come soon!
==============

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)

7/4 SCOTT SISTERS UPDATE!

Dear Supporters:

Jamie and Gladys would like to thank all supporters for everything that is being done to assist in securing their freedom. They would especially like to thank The Gray Haired Witnesses for the most recent Washington, DC event.

Jamie sends a special thank you to everyone for contacting the Health Department regarding conditions at MDOC's- Quickbed Unit which is where she and many other inmates are housed. She has said that the prison made noticeable improvements and are continuing to do so. Many other inmates have also expressed their thanks to everyone who called and wrote the Mississippi Health Department. The Health Department did visit the prison and it has made a great difference in the lives of inmates.

Mrs. Rasco said that Jamie has broken out in boils again. The medical clinic has given her antibiotics and hopefully this will clear her condition. Although Jamie is sick; she is in very high spirits because of the improved living conditions. I would personally like to thank Ms. Gloretha Darlene Pinckney-Gray for sharing the idea of contacting OSHA and the Health Department. Ms. Gray - you have made a difference in many lives there at MDOC - Quick Bed. We thank you!

Jamie's Birthday is on July 16th and she would very much appreciate receiving cards and letters from supporters. Please write to Jamie Scott at the following address:

Jamie Scott # 19197
CMCF/2A-B-Zone
P.O. Box 88550
Pearl, MS 39288-8850

Anyone who wishes to send funds directly to Jamie for her commissary privileges may do so by following instructions provided via this link. http://www.mdoc.state.ms.us/Sending%20Money.htm

Free The Scott Sisters T-Shirts are available and may be purchased via the link below. Thank you to Paul Lefrak for organizing this and to Jack and Mike for picking up the torch! Please order your shirts, wear them and assist us in spreading the word. http://www.radicaljack.com/scsit.html

Last but not least, a documentary is now being produced of The Scott Sisters, their family and this tragic case. The producer and his team are working around the clock to meet deadlines and ensure that all bases are covered. This documentary should be released in a few months!

In Solidarity,

Nancy R. Lockhart, M.J.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

6/27 SCOTT SISTERS UPDATE!

Greetings all,

The prison sends out visitation lists two times a year and Gladys mailed one to Mrs. Rasco that she never received. Now the state of Mississippi is trying to keep Mrs. Rasco from visiting Gladys at any cost. This is truly ridiculous because they know that she has been visiting her there for the past 15 years! The next time forms will be sent is October, but it's not even guaranteed that she will receive it or be able to get onto the list because of the way she is being treated. At this rate, she may not even be able to see Gladys until next year!

Please contact Christopher Epps and tell him that Mrs. Rasco needs another form sent to her right away so that she can get in to see Gladys!
--------

Jamie and Gladys were visited by a mutual friend on June 17. Gladys was in good spirits and happy about the fast in Wash, DC on June 21. Jamie was feeling weak initially but after 2 1/2 hrs. began to feel better and optimistic about the future. Sometimes the hot temperatures in Quik Bed make it difficult for her to breathe. The health department has investigated Quik Bed and found the area to be extremely hot and gave the prison officials a date in which restroom repairs had to be completed. Jamie says that her dialysis is going better than before. Jamie and Gladys send their love and are thankful for the efforts
of everyone.
---------

The 6/21 Gray-Haired Witnesses Fast for Justice began at the Department of Justice with a small but spirited protest and speak-out against the prison industrial complex, the disparity in arrests, sentencing and treatment during and after incarceration, particularly of Black people. Supporters came from as far as Boston and Mississippi to proclaim that the Scott
Sisters be released from prison, as well as all those suffering under the MDOC system, one of the worst prison systems for medical care in the country. Later that afternoon at Lafayette Park, the energy was still very high and a lot of information was shared with attendees and passersby.

View some of the photos at: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=4491610&op=1&o=all&view=all&subj=122487714448868&aid=-1&oid=122487714448868&id=524327824
http://www.grayhairedwitnesses.blogspot.com! Thanks so much to all who supported in any way at all, stay tuned for next steps!
---------

The following poignant letters were sent in for the rally:

A Letter from Jamie Scott
From Inside the Central Mississippi State Prison
Pearl, MS

June 17, 2010

Hello Everyone,

I want to thank each of you for your support in helping my sister, Gladys and me. It seems as if the fight will never end. I never want to lie to any of you, the truth is, at this time my heart is so heavy and tired. How does this happen in a country that is suppose to be free? With the loss of my kidneys, my hypertension, and diabetes, I cry a lot these days. I ask God to please help me because it seems like I am losing my mind. As July approaches, I feel so guilty to be thankful for turning 38 years old, because that’s the day in 2008 my sister died and I had to go to her gravesite shackled like an animal.

I’ve been robbed of so much by the state of Mississippi until I can’t feel anymore. But in the midst of this pain, I do also feel the love and support from each of you. Please stay strong in your stand for justice. One day we shall overcome. I just pray my day won’t be too late. I am sorry I couldn’t write more now but you will hear from me again.

Love,

Jamie Scott

--------------------------------------

A Letter from Gladys Scott
From Inside the Central Mississippi State Prison
Pearl, MS

June 17, 2010

To All of My Supporters,

I would like to thank you for helping Jamie and me fight for justice. Life is not easy but I know with God’s Help, He will see me through. As I write this letter, I feel so much joy and happiness because I have prayed for this day when people hear our cries but at the same time, my heart is sad because my sister, Jamie is fighting daily for her life. I have been behind these prison walls for almost 16 years. I have seen many people come and go through these prison gates. I’ve seen some folks who walked in later being carried out in body bags and hearses because of the terrible medical care received here in the Mississippi penal system. I pray my sister, Jamie will walk out of here and lead a normal life with her health restored. Yes, I want freedom and justice for both Jamie and me. I am so grateful for all the cards, letters and support of the people. Everyday, I feel the love through your prayers. If it weren’t for your support, I don’t think that I could go on much longer. So thank you and we will see justice one day soon.

Love,

Gladys

-----------------------------------

Statement from Mrs. Evelyn Rasco:

I would like to thank all of the Gray-Haired Witnesses for the stand that they took on behalf of Jamie and Gladys and all women that are locked down in Pearl, Mississippi and all around the world. What has been done to Jamie and Gladys is the greatest injustice that could be done to a human being. In 1994 Jamie and Gladys were sentenced to two life sentences each with no chance of parole for 20 years. On Oct. 7 they will have been in prison for 16 years. Judge Marcus Gordon ran one of the most inhumane courts in the land. He used our justice system to express his hate for the Rasco name and will have given Jamie and Gladys a death sentence if they are not freed. How can someone get a double life sentence when the alleged victums say you didn't rob them and never held a gun on them -- how can a jury find them guilty? Because they were seen as guilty when they first walked into the court of Judge Marcus Gordon. The part that really hurts me is that my oldest son has been in the military for 29 years and is on a second tour to Afghanistan to fight for a country that has taken his sisters' lives and will not give them justice. What has our justice system come to? It must be reformed. Our black women are dying in prison, our white women are dying, and our children are being destroyed.

===================

The national NAACP is sending out an e-mailer announcing their upcoming convention and asking which issues they should focus on and what questions they should address there. Please log-in to http://action.naacp.org/YourIdeas and write the question as something similar to: "When is the NAACP going to join the growing national and international movement for justice for the Scott Sisters of Mississippi?" and include the website "http://freethescottsisters.blogspot.com" as the theme. The Convention is just a few weeks away, so please do this action as soon as possible and pass the word!
===================

6/27 -- SUPER SUNDAY ALL DAY EXCLUSIVE SPECTACULAR -- THE SCOTT SISTER'S MODERN DAY LYNCHING ON HARAMBEE RADIO - www.harambeeradio.com
======================

Write some encouraging words to Jamie and Gladys (for commissary donations go to http://www.inmatedeposits.com, register for Access Corrections and use each of their name and number to make your donation):

Gladys Scott, #19142
CMCF/B-Bldg.
P.O. Box 88550
Pearl, MS 39288-8550

Jamie Scott, #19197
CMCF/2A-B-Zone
P.O. Box 88550
Pearl, MS 39288-8550

------------------------------

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

Mrs. Rasco needs to visit her daughter, Gladys, Christopher Epps, get her the necessary form so that she can get back on the list!

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)

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)

4/25 SCOTT SISTERS UPDATE!

Greetings all,

Mrs. Rasco recently learned that Jamie's condition is unchanged and that when last they spoke she was being worked up for a possible urinary tract infection. She was mentally strong, however, and very grateful that her mother and supporters are sticking by she and Gladys through all that they have suffered.

MDOC Commissioner Christopher Epps, whom we've been contacting for months regarding the disastrous level of Jamie's care and who's been steadily misinforming people that she's not as sick as we've regularly documented, even after she had to be hospitalized several times for high toxicity and infections that almost took her life, is being HONORED as the KEYNOTE SPEAKER by the Jackson County, MS NAACP at their upcoming banquet on April 30, 2010!

Link: http://www.gulflive.com/sendthispage/sendthispage.ssf?http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-living/2010/04/christopher_epps_to_speak_at_freedom_fund_banquet.html

How could this branch, which is actually portrayed as an activist branch that has courageously taken on the police dept. and most recently the fire dept., completely ignore the sickeningly outrageous case of the Scott Sisters! And to add insult to injury, laud Christopher Epps, who covers up the low-budget, some-timey care that denies Jamie Scott regular medications, regular dialysis, and the specific diet she has been told repeatedly that she needs to maintain any semblance of health. The medical care is said by inmates there to be abysmal on every level, and particularly so for Jamie Scott, with end stage kidney failure!

This is a smack in the face to Mrs. Rasco, to whom Epps made false promises of relief for Jamie, as well as Jamie and Gladys Scott, their supporters, and the community at large! This organization should be fighting on the front lines for justice for the Scott Sisters and not inviting Christopher Epps to some banquet! And what of the national NAACP, why are they NOT responding to the many requests that have been made of them for the past 15 years to become involved in this case!

This is the final indignity and must not go unchallenged. This bureaucrat should not pompously sit up there picking his teeth and pontificating while Jamie Scott lay suffering in one of the very prison cells that he oversees, a prison cell that she (nor her sister) should even be in!

Please contact the president of the Jackson County, Mississippi NAACP, Curly Clark, and ask him:

* Why is the NAACP distinguishing a man who would allow a woman to deteriorate in a prison on his watch until she is now at end stage of kidney failure?

* Why does the NAACP want to hear from a man that won't permit this same, very seriously ill woman to be housed in the Medical Bldg. on the grounds of that facility so that she can be cared for by her sister and instead has her housed in a mold-infested, damp, breeding ground for the infections which have repeatedly threatened her life?

Ask Jackson County NAACP President, Curly Clark, and State President, Derrick Johnson, why they are not involved in the fight for justice for the Mississippi Scott Sisters, a shocking and internationally known atrocity occurring right in their own backyard!

This entire event should be protested if Epps remains on the program and attendees given refunds for their $30 tickets!

Curly Clark, President, Jackson County NAACP
228-762-9692

Derrick Johnson, State President
Mississippi State Conference NAACP
1072 West J.R. Lynch Street
Jackson, MS 39203
Phone: 601.353.6906
Fax: 601.353.1565
Website: http://www.naacpms.org

4/19 JAMIE SCOTT CALL/HELP NEEDED WITH PRESS!

UPDATE: 4/19 CALL FROM JAMIE

Jamie Scott called her mother this morning and informed her that Warden Holman woke her from sleep, demanding to know what her mother was posting on the internet regarding mold on the walls and leaking in her unit. She got up and showed him the mold all over the walls as well as sewage that was coming up out of the toilets and the spiders overrunning the unit.

The warden then told Jamie (who only has the use of one arm) to scrub down the walls, to which she refused! Jamie told him that her mother is posting the truth and would continue to post about the disgusting conditions of the unit and how it was making her sicker and more prone to infection, and that all of those years of mold would need more than scrubbing anyway. She told him if she was allowed to lay there and die that he hasn't seen anything yet and would never hear the last of her mother!

The other women were awakened by the Warden and told to scrub the mold off of the walls and they also refused! They told the Warden that they were glad that everybody is finding out about their horrible living conditions and that the building needs to be torn down! No matter how the prison tries to hide it, the truth will continue to be told!

One prison doctor has diagnosed Jamie with an infection and another has not, but she has the discoloration that is a hallmark of recurrent infection. She clarified that it was determined that she was only on Heparin while in the hospital and that it had been discontinued.

PLEASE PARTICIPATE in e-mailing our press release to at least three press contacts as often as possible! It's at:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/30178263/Scott-Sisters-Press-Release
Many newspapers can be reached by e-mail or contact form at http://www.usnpl.com/ - please also contact other forms of media that you can easily find info for. We need a whole lot of help to attract as much attention to this case as possible to truly make a difference!

Thank you all, don't let up!!

SUPPORT 10,000 LETTERS TO LUMUMBA EFFORT

Please copy and paste the below, sign and return to Atty Lumumba's office as instructed, this is very important so PLEASE participate!!

FREE THE SCOTT SISTERS NOW
Information Line: 1-888-600-5311

Governor Haley Barbour
P. O. Box 139
Jackson, MS 39205

RE: The Scott Sisters

Dear Governor Barbour:

I would like to bring your attention to the case of Jamie and Gladys Scott. These sisters have served more than 15 years of a double life term where no one was murdered or injured. State’s witnesses have testified to their innocence. Jamie Scott’s kidneys have failed and her health is fading fast. We need your help now. Mississippi needs to know that those of us who believe in justice and human rights are prepared to take a stand for the Scott Sisters.

FREE THE SCOTT SISTERS NOW!!!!!

Signed,

___________________________________
Truly Concerned

Name: ______________________________

Address: ____________________________

____________________________

____________________________


Please forward this letter of support ASAP to:
Free the Scott Sisters
c/o Attorney Chokwe Lumumba
440 N. Mill Street
Jackson, MS 39202

4/5 JAMIE SCOTT MEDICAL UPDATE

Greetings all,

Jamie Scott was returned to her regular jail cell at CMCF in 2A B Zone on approximately March 30. A permanent fistula was placed in her arm, however she still has the painful catheter in her groin area. Jamie was told this will remain there for about 6 more weeks as her arm heals and her veins become strong enough to take the dialysis. After surgery her potassium spiked and she had vomiting and seizure. She has been stable since that time as far as we have been able to determine.

One of the doctors who examined Jamie told her that she is at stage 5 kidney failure, which is the worst and considered end stage, and that in the "free" world she would qualify to be on the list for a kidney transplant. Other testing confirmed this and concur that it is the fault of MDOC because they should have caught it much sooner than when it reached stage 5, especially in light of Jamie's constant medical complaints and their denial or shuffling of her medications. MDOC should not have been placing those temporary catheters into her neck instead of placing a shunt in her arm before now, but they were basically taking the cheap way out. Jamie needs to be RELEASED because the prison cannot be trusted to give her ANY SEMBLANCE of adequate medical care, particularly in her advanced stage of disease! As has been posted previously, Dr. Gloria Perry stated that Jamie is not a candidate for transplant! Jamie's sister and other family members have offered to be tested for compatibility, yet been denied by MDOC.

In a Mississippi Clarion Ledge article on March 18, Commissioner Epps was quoted as stating:

"We've got a lot of sick people in Mississippi," he said. "Prison is just a subculture of the culture. When they come in to us, unfortunately, many times they haven't gotten treatment until we get them." All told, Epps said MDOC has 258 male and female inmates with HIV or AIDS. But it doesn't end there. Altogether there are 5,621 inmates with medical conditions ranging from failing kidneys to heart disease. "Those are some staggering numbers for a population of 21,000 people," he said. He said he hopes the department can "get by" spending $50 million this year on medical costs. Some inmates with complicated medical problems are released, he said. "I just signed off on 72 persons for medical release," he said.

Jamie nor Mrs. Rasco have received any information to indicate whether or not Jamie's name might be on this list.
======

Free The Scott Sisters Now in Mississippi is collecting 10,000 signatures on the below letter, so please support and pass them on! Please copy and paste the below, sign and return to Atty Lumumba's office as instructed, this is very important so please participate!!


FREE THE SCOTT SISTERS NOW
Information Line: 1-888-600-5311

Governor Haley Barbour
P. O. Box 139
Jackson, MS 39205

RE: The Scott Sisters

Dear Governor Barbour:

I would like to bring your attention to the case of Jamie and Gladys Scott. These sisters have served more than 15 years of a double life term where no one was murdered or injured. State’s witnesses have testified to their innocence. Jamie Scott’s kidneys have failed and her health is fading fast. We need your help now. Mississippi needs to know that those of us who believe in justice and human rights are prepared to take a stand for the Scott Sisters.

FREE THE SCOTT SISTERS NOW!!!!!

Signed,

___________________________________
Truly Concerned

Name: ______________________________
Address: ____________________________
____________________________
____________________________


Please forward this letter of support to:
Free the Scott Sisters
c/o Attorney Chokwe Lumumba
440 N. Mill Street
Jackson, MS 39202
~~~~~~~~~~~~

JAMIE SCOTT NEEDS TO BE HOUSED IN THE MEDICAL BUILDING. Someone as seriously ill as Jamie needs to be somewhere that she can get assistance in better living conditions, and that's not in the infirmary and definitely not in her original cell. The Medical Bldg. would give her access to her sister, Gladys, who would help her with her activities of daily living and monitor her condition, just as other family members incarcerated together there are permitted to do with less life-threatening illnesses than Jamie suffers.

We must keep pushing for media attention to what's going on and are continually pressing for nationwide press. A complete and in-depth examination of this travesty of justice must be exposed!! Please forward the Press Release http://freethescottsisters.blogspot.com/search/label/press%20release and Case Summary http://freethescottsisters.blogspot.com/2009/08/case-summary_19.html far and wide, the Scott Sisters need to go prime-time to apply enough pressure to make this Gov. do the right thing.

Jane Velez-Mitchell should do an entire segment on the Scott Sisters now that she is aware of the case, please contact her and urge her to follow-up her brief mention of the Scott Sisters on her 3/6 "Issues with Jane Velez-Mitchell" with a more significant segment that will focus on Jamie's serious medical condition and the Scott Sisters case period. The contact form is at http://www.cnn.com/feedback/tips/newstips.html

----------------------------

TELL GOVERNOR BARBOUR TO GRANT INMATE JAMIE SCOTT, #19197, CMCF, AND GLADYS SCOTT, #19142, CMCF, PARDON AND RELEASE FROM PRISON. Neither sister is a threat to anyone and Jamie has a supportive family willing to care for her and obtain the medical care that she has not adequately received while in prison. These women are first-time offenders who have served 16 years in prison and are not a risk for recidivism, particularly with the gravity of Jamie's declining health. They must be released AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!

Thanks to everyone, please help to really spread the word as far as you can & ACT!
---------------------

BE DIRECT BUT PLEASE BE COURTEOUS -- NO YELLING OR CURSING!
IT WILL ONLY TAKE A FEW MINUTES, PLEASE PARTICIPATE!

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)

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

PLEASE CONTACT POLITICIANS AND MEDIA

A complete list of politicians to send Scott Sisters info to is at:
http://www.commoncause.org/siteapps/advocacy/search.aspx?c=dkLNK1MQIwG&b=4860375

A complete list of the media that we have listed (feel free to send to any others that
you wish to!) is at http://freethescottsisters.blogspot.com/2010/01/119-emergency-update.html

3/30 SCOTT SISTERS UPDATE!

Greetings, all,

Mrs. Rasco and family safely returned from Mississippi on Saturday and Jamie has been returned to the hospital. She's been told that Jamie is scheduled for surgery this week to remove the painful and dangerous shunt in her groin and implant a permanent fistula into her arm to receive dialysis. Infection remains a concern, as well, and that is supposedly being dealt with. Jamie is still very weak and needs a great deal of assistance.
~~~~~~~~

The leader of the 3/26 press conference activity in MS was a no-show and the entire event was disorganized. This debacle was partially rescued only because of the people of Mississippi who were there. Mrs. Rasco and 11 family members came in to support this event. Approximately 50 people were in attendance and several supporters spoke, including Mrs. Evelyn Rasco, Jonette Primm, Chokwe Lumumba, Earnest McBride, Jaribu Hill, Mr. Powell, Bro. Clarence from Gloria's Kitchen and Gladys Scott's daughter, Olivia. Thanks to those who stepped in and handled things at the last minute and under great duress, the family is deeply appreciative. Part of the rally was aired on Mississippi Fox News and pictures will be posted here as soon as they become available. Mrs. Rasco wants to especially thank Gloria's Kitchen for feeding all of the children as well as Rip Daniels and Charles Evers for their continuous support.
~~~~~~~~

Free The Scott Sisters Now in Mississippi is collecting 10,000 signatures on the below letter, so please support and pass them on! Please sign and mail one in as instructed.


FREE THE SCOTT SISTERS NOW
Information Line: 1-888-600-5311

Governor Haley Barbour
P. O. Box 139
Jackson, MS 39205

RE: The Scott Sisters

Dear Governor Barbour:

I would like to bring your attention to the case of Jamie and Gladys Scott. These sisters have served more than 15 years of a double life term where no one was murdered or injured. State’s witnesses have testified to their innocence. Jamie Scott’s kidneys have failed and her health is fading fast. We need your help now. Mississippi needs to know that those of us who believe in justice and human rights are prepared to take a stand for the Scott Sisters.

FREE THE SCOTT SISTERS NOW!!!!!

Signed,

___________________________________
Truly Concerned

Name: ______________________________
Address: ____________________________
____________________________
____________________________


Please forward this letter of support to:
Free the Scott Sisters
c/o Attorney Chokwe Lumumba
440 N. Mill Street
Jackson, MS 39202
~~~~~~~~~~~~

3/25 SCOTT SISTERS UPDATE!

NOTE: If reading this before 10:00 a.m. EST on 3/25, please tune into http://www.wjzd.com for a possible live Scott Sisters update from Mrs. Rasco on the Rip Daniels "It's a New Day" show if she's able to call in; she's been suffering from hoarseness as well as a poor telephone connection which may interfere with her ability to do so. Rip Daniels is a very dedicated supporter who starts each show off at 10 a.m. daily counting down how long Jamie and Gladys have been wrongfully locked down and tormented in that prison and will even discuss the case during some mornings on his program, so please check in as regularly as you can.

Mrs. Rasco and her entire family are in Mississippi to visit Jamie and Gladys as well as to participate in the 3/26 MWM/BWDL Press Conference scheduled for 12 noon in front of the Jackson, MS Capitol Bldg. at 400 High St. The organization is asking for letters of support for their campaign by 12 midnight 3/25 to be sent to nationalmwm@aol.com or officialmwm@yahoo.com. For more info call: 267-636-3802.

THE VISIT

Jamie has been in the hospital since 3/15 with a very serious infection, severe weakness, extreme pain and swelling. Jamie stated that she was "kicked out" of the hospital on Tuesday to prevent Mrs. Rasco from coming up in there and asking a lot of questions, in fact an extra guard had been placed there to make certain that Mrs. Rasco didn't come in there to see her. Jamie told Mrs. Rasco that she couldn't believe how her 4' tall momma caused so much worry among those prison officials!

She was abruptly moved to her old cell in the prison to await the visit with her mother and family to take place Wednesday for an hour, after which her family was to visit with Gladys for an hour. However, the Assistant Warden met them at the entrance and stated that some of the children weren't on the list to come in. After much wrangling and his personally searching the young men he permitted everyone to visit both women together BUT for one hour total, which actually ended up being less than an hour due to all of the wasted time spent being searched and with the Asst Warden on the phone rechecking names in the waiting area.

The family watched in tears as Jamie climbed off of a bus and limped slowly and weakly to the visiting area and questioned staff as to why she wasn't given a wheelchair, to which they had no answer. Jamie and Gladys grabbed onto each other and their family membersfor a very emotional reunion, especially for the children. Both women had lost quite a bit of weight, Gladys from extreme stress and depression and Jamie due to her serious illness. Jamie stated that she was told by the doctor that 6 catheter infections was much too much and that she never should have had so many temporary catheters, which blew out all of her veins where they were placed. She currently has a shunt in her groin which is extremely painful and must be surgically removed next week. She is scheduled to stay in her old cell until Friday, at which time she is told that she will be returned to the hospital.

Both Jamie and Gladys want all of their supporters to know that our activities are very greatly appreciated and that they want us to keep on! Mrs. Rasco and family are also very thankful and hopeful that together we can get those women released from this horrific situation soon! If we keep pushing and use our creativity to call attention to this case, it will happen! If you write, then write about it; if you sing, sing about it; poet about it; creatively perform about it; print out flyers and distribute them at programs and events, however you can do it, please help get the word out about the plight of these women, there's something that every one can do!

WHAT YOU CAN DO

The Days of Blogging for the Scott Sisters that happened on 3/18 and is so wonderfully happening again today will really help get the word out on the case in wider and broader areas of the internet and hopefully lead to much more support and national attention! Thanks so much to all of the participants and we will be posting links to all of the blogs that participated at the Scott Sisters site, so please send them in so that you can be acknowledged! Of course everyone is encouraged to continue blogging beyond today and please do!

We still don't trust that Jamie will receive adequate medical care once these hospitalizations are completed, which was proven by the fact that as soon as she was returned from the hospital yesterday she was put right back in that moldy building where she was originally housed! JAMIE SCOTT NEEDS TO BE HOUSED IN THE MEDICAL BUILDING. Someone as seriously ill as Jamie needs to be somewhere that she can get assistance in better living conditions, and that's not in the infirmary and definitely not in her original cell. The Medical Bldg. would give her access to her sister, Gladys, who would help her with her activities of daily living and monitor her condition, just as other family members incarcerated together there are permitted to do with less life-threatening illnesses than Jamie suffers.

We must keep pushing for media attention to what's going on and are continually pressing for nationwide press. A complete and in-depth examination of this travesty of justice must be exposed!! Please forward all of the info at the site to anyone, anywhere that can help to make that happen, the Scott Sisters need to go prime-time to apply enough pressure to make this Gov. do the right thing.

Jane Velez-Mitchell should do an entire segment on the Scott Sisters now that she is aware of the case, please contact her and urge her to follow-up her brief mention of the Scott Sisters on her 3/6 "Issues with Jane Velez-Mitchell" with a more significant segment that will focus on Jamie's serious medical condition and the Scott Sisters case period. The contact form is at http://www.cnn.com/feedback/tips/newstips.html

PLEASE TELL GOVERNOR BARBOUR TO GRANT INMATE JAMIE SCOTT, #19197, CMCF, AND GLADYS SCOTT, #19142, CMCF, PARDON AND RELEASE FROM PRISON. Neither sister is a threat to anyone and Jamie has a supportive family willing to care for her and obtain the medical care that she has not adequately received while in prison. These women are first-time offenders who have served 16 years in prison and are not a risk for recidivism, particularly with the gravity of Jamie's declining health. They must be released AS SOON AS POSSIBLE! Thanks to everyone, please help to really spread the word as faras you can & ACT!

MRS. RASCO GRANTED VISITATION

Mrs. Rasco would like to thank everyone for all calls and e-mails into the prison. The prison has approved a special visit!

She thanks you ALL for your tremendous support!

Stay tuned for more updates...

3/16 JAMIE SCOTT MEDICAL UPDATE

Mrs. Rasco received word last evening that Jamie was rushed to the hospital in terrible pain with the intention of getting her pain stabilized and returning her directly back. She was examined by a doctor who determined that infection had spread through her entire body and that the veins in her neck had collapsed. He said he would not treat her pain and then release her back to the prison as they wanted because she would die from the blockages and the constant catheter infections. The doctor angrily stated that the MDOC had dropped the ball when it came to Jamie's medical care. He said she should have been admitted long-term to clear up her infection when she was previously sent there instead of quickly returning her back to the prison on antibiotics. He scheduled her to have emergency surgery to insert a shunt into her groin for the purposes of dialysis.

As of the time of this posting Mrs. Rasco doesn't know if Jamie is still in the hospital or back at the prison, as usual the prison is not forthcoming with information and the family is in a constant state of anxiety and extreme worry. All we can say with certainty is that the behavior of the prison is what is truly criminal when it comes to the medical care of Jamie Scott. The prison is well aware of everything that has been happening and is taking far too many risks with Jamie's life.
------------

PLEASE CONTACT POLITICIANS AND MEDIA

Congressman Bennie Thompson
3607 Medgar Evers Blvd.
Jackson, MS 39213
601-946-9003(ph)
601-982-5337 (fx)
Benniethompson@mail.house.gov

Congressman John Conyers
2426 Rayburn H.O.B.
Washington, DC 20515
Ph: 202-225-5126
Fax: 202-225-0072
John.Conyers@mail.house.gov

(More listed at http://freethescottsisters.blogspot.com/2010/01/119-emergency-update.html)

3/5 DAY OF ACTION FOR THE SCOTT SISTERS + MORE!

Greetings all,

Mrs. Rasco has not received any updated information from either of her daughters to report, but as soon as we learn something that we can share we will most definitely make everyone aware of Jamie's condition. Your phone calls, e-mails and support continue to be very much needed as not knowing what's happening day to day is extremely hard on the family.

There has been a lot of activity going on in Mississippi in support of the Scott Sisters, which is fantastic! There was a little mainstream ink achieved last week after the rally:

Rally at state capitol to free Scott sisters
Posted: Feb 26, 2010 11:59 AM
By Julie Straw

http://www.wlbt.com/Global/story.asp?S=12047900

JACKSON, MS (WLBT) - For nearly 16 years the Scott sisters have been behind bars serving double life sentences. Their crime? Two counts of armed robbery. Thursday dozens rallied at the state capitol and voiced that in this case the punishment does not fit the crime. They wanted both sisters released.

34 year old Gladys Scott and 38 year old Jamie Scott have been behind bars for more than 15 years. The women were convicted of two counts of armed robbery from an incident back in December 1993. Three males were also involved in the robbery. Two of them were teenagers that testified against the Scotts.

Only $11 was stolen and no one was hurt, but a jury decided the sisters should serve two life sentences each. "The crime that these allegedly young ladies does not merit the double life sentences that they were given," said District 28 State Senator Alice Harden.

Both women are mothers. A blog, complete with pictures of their children and grandchildren, pleads for help. "This case has been through trial. It has had an appeal. It has actually had a post conviction. Usually after you get finished with all of that you're dead and buried. It's almost impossible to do anything, but we have to make the impossible possible," said attorney Chokwe Lumumba who is representing the Gladys and Jamie Scott.

Jamie Scott is in the hospital due to kidney failure. Charles Evers who organized the rally said a compassionate release from Governor Haley Barbour is the Scott sisters' last hope. "The Governor and I happen to be political friends. And I feel like if I have any influence with a man that's a friend of mine I'll ask him to release these young ladies because they deserve it," said Evers.

©2010 WLBT. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

=============

GET READY AND SPREAD THE WORD FOR THE FRIDAY MARCH 5 DAY OF ACTION FOR JAMIE AND GLADYS SCOTT!

Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour is faced with the possibility of releasing 3,400 inmates because of budget overruns in his state. There is no reason on this earth that Jamie and Gladys Scott should not be among the very first considered, particularly with Jamie's rapidly declining health!

On Friday we are asking everyone to CALL and FAX GOV. BARBOUR, give your name and state (country if from overseas) and
let them know that the whole world is watching and that he needs to PARDON Jamie and Gladys Scott now! Please be courteous and leave a VM if there is no answer. WE WANT TO RING THOSE PHONES OFF THE HOOK!!

COMPASSIONATE RELEASE FOR JAMIE SCOTT, #19197!
PARDONS FOR BOTH SCOTT SISTERS!
PLEASE MOVE JAMIE SCOTT TO THE MEDICAL BUILDING!
~~~~~~~~~~

Please continue to sign-on to the Change.org petition for the compassionate release of Jamie Scott at
http://tinyurl.com/yfrj5g6 and pass the word!
~~~~~~~~~~

Empress Chi, coordinator of the MWM/Black Women's Defense League, is organizing a Free the Scott Sisters Demo and Rally in Mississippi on March 26, 2010. To get involved in planning this and for more information call 267-636-3802 or e-mail:
nationalmwm@aol.com or BWDL7@aol.com.
======================

Thanks to everyone, please help spread the word & ACT!

PLEASE CALL, FAX, AND WRITE AS OFTEN AS YOU ARE ABLE!

BE DIRECT BUT PLEASE BE COURTEOUS -- NO YELLING OR CURSING!
IT WILL ONLY TAKE A FEW MINUTES, PLEASE PARTICIPATE!

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)

Dorothy Kuykendall
Personal Assistant to Gov. Barbour
(601) 359-3150
DKuykendall@governor.state.ms.us
P. O Box 3150
Jackson, MS 39205

Christopher Epps, Commissioner of Prisons for the State of Mississippi
601-359-5600
CEPPS@mdoc.state.ms.us
723 North President Street
Jackson, MS 39202

Attorney General Eric Holder
U.S. Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20530-0001
HOTLINE - 202-353-1555

Emmitt Sparkman, Deputy Commissioner
(601) 359-5610
esparkman@mdoc.state.ms.us

Margaret Bingham, Superintendent of Central Mississippi Corrections Facility
(601) 932-2880
mbingham@mdoc.state.ms.us
FAX: (601) 664-0782
P.O. Box 88550
Pearl, Mississippi 39208

Dr. Gloria Perry, Medical Department (601) 359-5155
gperry@mdoc.state.ms.us

WE NEED NATIONAL MAINSTREAM MEDIA COVERAGE!!

Please take a moment and fill out Oprah's Contact Form and tell her she must do a show on the plight of Jamie and Gladys Scott at https://www.oprah.com/plugform.jsp?plugId=220 Please include a link to Mrs. Rasco's website, http://www.freethescottsisters.blogspot.com


CLICK FOR COMPLETE PRISON/MEDIA/POLITICAL CONTACT LIST

2/28 SCOTT SISTERS UPDATE!

Greetings all,

Thanks so much to all of the supporters of Jamie & Gladys Scott! Jamie reported that she was taken to a vascular clinic last Monday and an attempt was made to correct the displaced catheter in her neck, but the doctor had a problem getting into her vein. Tests were also run to determine whether she had remaining infection in her body. She is being told that she will return there next week to see her regular doctor, who was not present at the time of this visit. She was not given any information regarding any of the findings by staff.

On Wednesday she began having chest pains following her dialysis and was taken to the hospital. No blockage was detected following ultrasound and catheterization of her heart. She was returned to the prison on Thursday before she was told of any results.

Jamie sounded a bit stronger and her family and your activism have helped her to regain some of her fighting spirit! She was told by staff that she will be allowed to purchase some food on Monday and she is grateful for the donations she has received to be able to do so! Also, she has been told that the chaplain will be coming by a couple of days a week to do her laundry.

Jamie should not be in the prison infirmary, locked in a cell on a hospital bed on the mens' side of the prison, where the care is absymal and frighteningly inadequate, she has had more than enough medical emergencies! There is a medical building on the prison grounds where the environment is greatly improved and where Gladys can help her tend to her activities of daily living, as other incarcerated family members are permitted to do with their ailing relatives. We need the prison officials to know that we want Jamie to be in the environment most conducive to her health and well-being as she struggles with her many life-threatening medical conditions.
~~~~~~~~~~

Please continue to sign-on to the Change.org petition for the compassionate release of Jamie Scott at
http://tinyurl.com/yfrj5g6 and pass the word!
~~~~~~~~~~

The 2/27 Empowerment Hour Online University radio show hosted by Bros. Kermit Eady and Earnest McBride featured Mrs. Evelyn Rasco, Marpessa Kupendua (nattyreb), Nancy Lockhart, and Shakeerah Abdul al-Sabuur. There was a whole lot of good info put out and the archive is available to all at
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/eadyassociates/2010/02/27/the-empowerment-hour-online-university
~~~~~~~~~~

Empress Chi, coordinator of the MWM/Black Women's Defense League, is organizing a Free the Scott Sisters Demo and Rally in Mississippi on March 26, 2010. To get involved in planning this and for more information call 267-636-3802 or e-mail:
nationalmwm@aol.com or BWDL7@aol.com.
~~~~~~~~~~

PULLING OUT ALL THE STOPS! -- We definitely appreciate every initiative that anyone can take to help win freedom for these
women and Sis. Agnes Johnson gave a perfect example of exactly what we mean by pulling out all the stops. She not only has been able to speak to John Conyers and get info on the Scott Sisters directly to his office, but here are excerpts of a report she gave on Friday, 2/26:

"I moved thru the snow and slush to get to Columbia Univ to attend the Obama Admin's NY Universal Periodic Review (UPR). These sessions are being convened across the country to solicit information and recommendations regarding the US Gov. fulfillment of its obligation to protect human rights. Every four years, the UPR assesses each country's adherence to its human rights obligations under the U.N. Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), human rights treaties ratified by the country, its voluntary commitments, and applicable international law. Reviews are conducted by the UPR Working Group, which consists of 47 members of the U.N. Human Rights Council.

"I spoke during the comment time in both the Health Section and the Criminal Justice Section. In the Health Section I demanded that those in US custody had a right to proper and life saving measures and what Jamie Scott was going thru was not just a barrier but a crime. Both times the comments were well received and people actually joined in to say Free the Scott Sisters now.The panel for Criminal Justice was even more cleansed of any of the lightning bolt cases of police brutality or political prisoners or even the presence of historical prison reform advocates.

"I would like to suggest that wherever this national listening event happens that folks attend to keep the Scott Sisters on the floor and even get on the panel to do a presentation. On the phones were reps out of DC Justice Dept and we should be hitting their emails and phones as well. They are:
Julie Fernandes, Deputy Asst Attorney General, Civil Rights Div, USDJ
Daniel Baer, Deputy Asst Sec, Bureau of Dem,Human Rights & Labor, USDJ
Christopher Camponovo, Senior Adv, Bur of Dem, Human rights & Labor, USDJ
Georgina Verdugo, Dir, Office of Civil Rights, US Dept of Health and Human Serv.
The UPR website is at http://www.ushrnetwork.org/campaign_upr."
~~~~~~~~~~~~

If possible please tune into Bro. Rip Daniels' radio show weekdays from 9a-11a MS time. He gives regular Scott Sisters updates and conducts hard-hitting interviews with prison officials, politicians, and many others concerned with the case of Jamie and Gladys Scott. Access this show any morning at http://www.itisanewday.com/

2/25 BRIEF UPDATE & RALLY REPORT!

Yesterday Mrs. Rasco received an unconfirmed report that Jamie had been rushed to the hospital due to chest pains and today that information has been confirmed. To the best of anyone's knowledge Jamie is still in the hospital and Mrs. Rasco has been told that she is "resting comfortably." She has been given no information regarding Jamie's diagnosis or condition. We will post updates as soon as they become available.

Today was dedicated to the Scott Sisters by Mississippi Radio's Rip Daniels, where a ton of information has been regularly aired and today even a song was dedicated to them. It was stated that now, after 15 years, Mississippi is finally hearing Mrs. Rasco's pleas for justice for her daughters. Mrs. Rasco is very grateful to Bros. Rip Daniels and Charles Evers for doing such a fantastic job raising this case to a high level in Mississippi.

Mrs. Rasco was interviewed by WLBT Mississippi TV 3 reporter Julie Straw for a 10pm story they are working on covering today's rally. Bro. Earnest McBride's report on the rally follows. Please continue to support however you are able!

FREE THE SCOTT SISTERS NOW!

------------

REPORT ON RALLY FOR THE SCOTT SISTERS THURSDAY AT THE MISSISSIPPI STATE CAPITOL

The rally opened Thursday afternoon at 3 p.m. sharp. Charles Evers, the brother of civil rights martyr Medgar Evers hosted the rally inside the first floor rotunda of the Mississippi State Capitol. Evers, the general manager of radio station WMPR 90.1 FM said that he got involved because of the work Rip Daniels was doing on the air with his show, "It's a New Day." Daniels broadcasts out of Gulfport, but the daily program is simulcast on WMPR in Jackson. It's all on the Internet, too.
Daniels has been promoting the Scott Sisters' more than any of the other media in Mississippi.

Jackson Advocate Publisher Alice Tisdale asked that we remember her late husband, Jackson Advocate Charles Tisdale,the first person who actually took up the cause way back in 1993 and 1994 when the two sisters were first brought to trial. The Jackson Advocate shared the same building with Attorney Chokwe Lumumba at the time and Tisdale and Lumumba shared the same burning interest in cases like the Scott Sisters' injustice.

About 10 black state legislators appeared and spoke. Attorney Chokwe Lumumba, the attorney who handled the Scott Sisters appeal that was denied by the Mississppi Supreme Court, spoke on the injustice of the case. He urged people to flood the Governor Haley Barbour and Prison Commissioner Christopher Epps with emails and prepare to stage more and more demonstrations near the Scott County site of the miscarriage of justice.

At least five female lawmakers spoke and said they would not let the case rest. They led the cry of "Let my sisters go!" Next action is to get the Legislative Black Caucus on board. Black Caucus Chairman Billy Broomfield, a very competetent and savvy leader, was caught up with other legislative business and was unable to attend. But he will rally the entire Black Caucus. He is personally committed to the Scott Sisters' cause, but he will have to bring the issue before the entire Black Caucus in order to take a specific action in the name of the Black Caucus.

Three Local television channels and the Jackson Advocate were on hand to cover the event for the media. Earnest McBride, the Jackson Advocate contributing editor, also co-hosts the Empowerment Hour and will give a full report on the event this Saturday on BlogTalk Radio. (Check the Empowerment Hour Website for more information.)

None of the Rasco family was present. Mrs. Rasco rushed to Mississippi twice during the last two weeks on word that Jamie Scott's condition was critical. She does not have the money to travel back and forth to important events such as Thursday's rally. For this reason, Charles Evers and the rally organizers urged people to send money donations to Mrs. Evelyn Rasco, P.O. Box 7100, Pensacola, Florida 32534.

Rallies of this sort, while generating a lot of enthusiasm, and getting word out about the cause, tend not to get to the heart of the issues, to the real hurt and damage and suffering inflicted on the victims and the families of the victims.

Although just about everybody there truly sympathized with the Scott Sisters and Mrs. Rasco, their mother, and the children, other sisters and whoever, it is a difficult to say exactly how many of the rally attendees truly empathized with them. Please call us on the Empowerment Hour Saturday 6- 8 p.m. Eastern Time at: 646-716-7472.

Earnest L. McBride

Addendum: The Rally was held at the Rotunda in the Capitol Bldg. and about 200 people gathered at it's peak. One television station did a brief report at http://www.my601.com/default.aspx --(Scroll thru the videos til you see Charles Evers with the grey hat on).

1/7 SCOTT SISTERS UPDATE!

THANK YOU FOR REPOSTING THIS INFORMATION!!

Warm Greetings all,

Happy New Year to you all and may this be the year that the Scott Sisters are AT LONG LAST reunited with their family! Thanks to all of you who have written, called and e-mailed on their behalf, as well as spread the word of this case by forwarding and reposting, we need that to happen! We've received messages from as far away as Germany and as near as the smallest of towns here in the U.S. of people in support of these women, this is about as grassroots of an effort as it gets, we are counting on each person reading these words to ACT.

It's been reported that there was a recent article on the case featured in the Jackson Advocate (Mississippi) for which we are real grateful and will send out as soon as we receive it. Mainstream publicity largely continues to elude us, as you know they would rather focus on Tiger Woods or Mariah Carey instead of the wrongfully convicted who are suffering and dying behind the walls of the prisons in this country! It's gonna take hundreds of letters to these entities to get them to say a mumbling word about this atrocious case, so we're really calling on everyone to contact as many media outlets as possible with the information at our website.

With the help of legal adviser Jaribu Hill, the prison has agreed to allow the Scott Sisters to visit each other for two hours this month! This will mean the world to them as they have been terribly upset about not seeing one another. Both women suffer from depression, Jamie is in poor health, and they need to be in regular contact with one another and their family who love and miss them so much. There's a new photo at the website of the children and grandchildren of Jamie and Gladys so that you can see how much they are needed at home instead of being tormented in captivity like this, it is truly cruel and inhuman punishment!! This situation is really abysmal, it's just gotta get solved!

Please continue to send in your ideas and spread the word about this case, we need you!! Let us know when you contact media so that we can keep up with who has received the info. Also please bear in mind that we are still looking for a criminal attorney to work on this case, please share this information with any leads at all that will assist this family!

Don't forget to send in your letters and to ask others to do so as well! We can make anything happen, we have the power, we just need the MASS NUMBERS of people TO ACT!

------------

SAMPLE LETTER:

Attorney General Eric Holder
U.S. Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20530-0001

The Honorable Attorney General Holder:

I am writing to request that you investigate the cases of Jamie and Gladys Scott. The Scott Sisters were given double life sentences each in October of 1994 for armed robbery in the state of Mississippi. No one was injured or murdered. One witness states that about 11 dollars was netted in the armed robbery. All witnesses and victims of this crime have testified that the Scott Sisters were not involved in the robbery. Witnesses testified that they were coerced and threatened to lie on the Scott Sisters.

A 14 year old witness testified that he signed a statement which was prepared for him before he entered Deputy Sheriff Marvin Williams’ Office. This statement was signed by the 14 year old without an attorney present. He was told that he would be released from the local jail the next morning if he signed it. He was not released.

This is an egregious wrongful conviction and the Scott Sisters and their family has suffered now 15+ years.

Jamie and Gladys Scott are housed in Pearl, Mississippi at Central Mississippi Correctional Facility. Their ID numbers are Jamie Scott #19197 and Gladys Scott #19142.

Sincerely,
(Your Name)
----

Please also send a letter to Governor Haley Barbour:

Governor Haley Barbour
P.O. Box 139
Jackson, Mississippi 39205
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Oprah's last year is coming up and she should be pressured to do a show on this case from her home state, there's a contact form for her that you can fill in online at https://www.oprah.com/plugform.jsp?plugId=220. Imagine if she received 1,000 forms to do something on the Scott Sisters, perhaps she would be moved to do so, who knows? Also, please make sure to print some flyers out and stick them in your bag the next time you are going out among the people to spread the word, we can do this, we MUST! http://www.scribd.com/doc/22154749/Scott-Sisters-Flyer

CHECK IT: 12/6/09 UPDATE!

Greetings all,

Mrs. Rasco, Jamie and Gladys Scott want to thank everyone who has called, written, faxed and e-mailed on their behalf!! It truly is making a difference, as has already been reported! Gladys Scott was recently told by the warden of that prison that calls and letters continue to come in, a testament to the perseverance of all of you who are letting these officials know that there are people worldwide watching what goes on with her and Jamie, which is very important as we agitate for their release!

Legal adviser Jaribu Hill is working with Mrs. Rasco to advise us on next best steps. One is that we undertake a greater and more consistent campaign of making Atty. General Holder and Gov. Haley Barbour recognize our resolve to have these women freed from prison hell with letters from around the country and world, the demand must be massive in order to make any impact at all. So please, EVERYONE, pass the word to send mail to these two officials ASAP.

MORE...

11/17 SCOTT SISTERS UPDATE!

Warm Greetings,

Jamie Scott and others have reported that last week there were protestors out in front of the capitol building with signs on local TV talking about the conditions in their prison!! For two days there were news reports about the lack of medical care,
the way that they live, and their treatment by staff.

The hot water has now been fixed in the building and Jamie wants to very sincerely thank everyone for everything they are doing, not only to help support the Scott Sisters, but also the women of that building. They want someone in authority to come and visit there during a rainy day so that they can witness for themselves the way that the rain pours into the unit.

MORE...

11/2/09 SCOTT SISTERS UPDATE!

Jamie Scott has written extensively about the conditions of her unjust incarceration and recently submitted an update to share on behalf of herself as well as all of the women in the bldg. where she is being housed.

First, she remains grateful for all of the calls, e-mails and letters that went out on her behalf before, she is in a slightly improved situation. She is now under a warden who is treating her more fairly and has a job in the kitchen and so is finally able to at least get some time off of the unit.

Her main concern is the building itself, and states that it's the worst conditions she has ever lived in. She and others are in the part of the prison called "quickbed" because it was built so fast. It was only supposed to be built to empty the county jails and is not fit for humans to live in. When it rains, it rains directly into the unit. Mold is knee deep in the showers and they are unsafe with rain everywhere. The building has not had hot water for over a month and some of the women do not bathe at all. Jamie, herself, is sick with a bad cold as a result of bathing in cold water. They are supposed to have two microwave ovens there but don't have any, so they are unable to even heat up water to bathe with. When they ask the warden about this terrible situation, they are told that it is being worked on. Furthermore, she reports that the beds are not five feet from each other, when the policy states
they are supposed to be farther apart.

The "quickbed" is located at CMCF2/A-Bldg.

MORE...