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Call for Courthouse Support for Andre Jacobs: PA Department of Corrections on Trial for Violating Inmate’s Constitutional Rights at SCI Pittsburgh
Submitted by onion on Fri, 10/31/2008 - 22:42
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Call for Courthouse Support for Andre Jacobs: PA Department of Corrections on Trial for Violating Inmate's Constitutional Rights at SCI Pittsburgh
On Monday, November 3, 2008, the trial Jacobs v. PA Department of Corrections (DOC) is set to begin in Pittsburgh. Andre Jacobs, currently incarcerated at the State Correctional Institution (SCI) at Fayette, is representing himself in a lawsuit against the PA DOC. In 2003, prison staff at SCI Pittsburgh confiscated and destroyed legal documents of the plaintiff, impairing legal efforts of Mr. Jacobs.
An investigator from the Pittsburgh-based Human Rights Coalition—Fed Up! chapter, a prisoner rights' organization, will be called on to testify regarding the widespread nature of human rights violations in Pennsylvania prisons, including subversion of the legal efforts of inmates. Over the past year the Human Rights Coalition has received testimony from hundreds of prisoners and their families alleging systemic violations of the rights of prisoners, including assaults by prison guards, widespread racism, medical neglect, and the denial of due process. HRC/Fed Up! has compiled hundreds of incidents in over a dozen prisons, accumulating over 60 pages of documentation that reveal a clear pattern of criminal conduct by prison personnel.
Jury selection will begin at 9:30 AM on Monday, at 700 Grant Street, court room 5A. Opening statements will follow and the trial is estimated to last 5 days. HRC/Fed Up! will be there throughout to offer support to Mr. Jacobs, who has succeeded in bringing his grievances to a jury trial despite the considerable obstacle placed in his way.
This trial represents a case of precedent-setting significance, as it will outline how officials and employees of the Department of Corrections subvert constitutional rights, humiliating and punishing those in their care who attempt to exercise them, thus creating a climate of mental anguish, depression, hopelessness, and fear. Mr. Jacobs is seeking $150,000 in damages.
Andre Needs Your Support to Ensure His Safety
In 2006, at the end of another civil suit brought by Mr. Jacobs against DOC personnel, he was being escorted from the courthouse by federal marshalls. He was told not to say a word. When Elizabeth, Andre's grandmother, told him that she loved him on his way out of the courthouse, Andre responded, "I love you too, grandma." At this point, as recounted to HRC in personal interviews with both Andre and Elizabeth, the federal marshalls dragged Andre into the elevator and began assaulting him, beating him unconscious for expressing love for his grandmother. To cover up their assault, Andre was then charged under federal statutes with assaulting U.S. Marshalls. At his trial the public defender refused to allow Andre to defend himself, and he was convicted and sentenced to several more years in prison.
Andre needs maximum support to ensure his safety. Please forward this message widely, and contact us (412-654-9070) to let us know when and how you can offer support. Andre should be free by now, but is being retaliated against by the DOC, set up on new charges, and in danger on a daily basis. Show solidarity, have Andre's back.
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Human Rights Coalition - FedUp! Chapter
5125 Penn Ave Pittsburgh, PA 15224
412-361-3022 xt.4
hrcfedup@gmail.comwww.thomasmertoncenter.org/
