2005--U.S. Justice Department Package (2nd), sent on behalf of Lowndes County Inmates

Valdosta-Lowndes County Branch (NAACP)
P.O. Box 1324
Valdosta, Georgia 31603

To: All who love truth and justice (Luke 4-18)

The Sheriff said that Willie James Williams "died from injuries he received when he fell while resisting arrest. " An indiependent investcgation was conducted by the People's Tribunal. It is shown on this website, including pictures. Judge for yourself, and thank God for this Great Nation of ours!

http://www.geocities.com/altpptla/pTribunal/index.html


GEORGE RHYNES
President,
Valdosta, Lowndes County Branch NAACP

A concerned citizens and brother of humanity!




George Rhynes (229-251-8645) 26 September 2005

Valdosta, Lowndes County Branch (NAACP)
P.O. Box 1324
Valdosta, Georgia 31603

SUBJ: 15 arrested, local press, department heads, another dead inmate, and the silence of elected officials

To: U.S. Department of Justice, United States Attorney General Gonzales & Crystal M. Roberts/All who seek to build upon that rock of truth, justice, and freedom for all humanity.

(Ref: Your letter dated, 23 August 2005),

On 9 September 2005, the Valdosta Daily Times front page reported that Valdosta City Mayor John Fretti and Valdosta City Council disagreed with Judge Kelly Turner’s ruling that the 15 people arrested during a May 2005 Valdosta City Council meeting is unconstitutional and vague.

Regardless of the city’s decision to appeal the judge’s decision on behalf of the tax paying public. It must be noted that when a Black Candidate was threatened at a polling place and received racial slurs that closed a polling station, a person was arrested, and a Sheriffs Deputy remained on the scene. But the candidate’s name was never released to the public, and our elected officials said, and did nothing. Much like the local media when fifteen citizens arrested and jailed. But not a single person arrested was interviewed by local newspapers, television stations etc, which seem to have become routing practice in this South Georgia Town.

Since 1988, citizens (inmates) many of whom are American Veterans who served their country with honor, pride, and distinction have complained of abusive, inhumane, unsanitary conditions and the denial of their Constitutional Rights in the Lowndes County Jail to no avail.

Yet, Mayor John Fretti, Valdosta City Council, Board of Commissioners, Local Solicitor General, District Attorney, Grand Jury, State Representatives, Local Law Enforcement, and Local News Media have never fought vigorously to stop or correct the 105 Violations that were ordered corrected in 1997, by the United States District Court Judge (The Honorable Hugh Lawson), of the Middle District of Georgia Valdosta Division. (See Civil Action 89-54-VAL), over 100 inmates signed petition letter for help (Copy available upon request).

Therefore, these ill conditions have continued for nearly two decades in Lowndes County. Yet, our elected officials are seeking to prosecute fifteen patriotic citizens with no prior criminal record for exercising their right to address their elected officials over a Civil Rights issue and other shameful practices in our beloved community.

Moreover, it should be of concern that out of eleven Valdosta City Department Heads only ONE is held by an African American as of 1 August 2005, in a city that is 52 percent Black. There are 12 Department Heads in the county and only ONE is held by an African American as of 1 August 2005. There are questions concerning the At Large Voting Districts, the selection process of jurors, the awarding of contracts to Blacks, the very low number of Black teachers in the City, and county school system. This is especially true in city schools where Blacks are about 75 percent. On 22 Sept 2005 at city council meeting the mayor and council were asked if they had heard about the death of another inmate in the local Jail on 2 September 2005, and they said nothing.

In my opinion they have refuse to hear, and give equal attention and consideration to these problems and other ill conditions in our community. FOR EXAMPLE: The following deaths have occurred in or surrounding the Lowndes County Jail. However, elected officials, news media, and other Georgia State Individuals and Agencies seem unconcerned about the death of these American Citizens (inmates):

Willie Mc Far land (1), Willie Lee Gaye (2), age 39, died 23 October 1995, Willie James Williams (3), age 49, died 2 September 1998, Ronzie "Sonny" Graham (4), age 48, died 13 July 2000, Rosemary King (5), age 40 died 20 July 2001, Sandra J. Wallace (6), age 39, died 31 August 2002, Lisa Sanders (7), age 38, died 2003, and John Henry Dejonghe (8), age 49, died 21 June 2004, and Amaruy Quinones, (9), age 34, died 2 September 2005 while in the Lowndes County Jail but inmates believe there have been more.

Therefore, perhaps the best thing that could happen to our Metropolitan Metropolis is for Mayor John Fretti, and the City Council to go forward on behalf of the tax paying public and appeal Judge Turner’s decision. Their action may help foster change, respect, and inclusion and bring some level of humanity to Valdosta-Lowndes County. Then maybe our elected officials will begin to respect the people who elected them to office.

Their present employment record seem to indicate that there are problems in hiring of Blacks to key positions. On any given day, there are few if any Blacks involved in the day to day administrative court room proceedings that I observed. This is not a Black or White thing. It is a right thing, and the negative impact upon Black Children can’t be good.

This may be why the EEOC gave a local Black citizen the right to go forward in a case against the Valdosta-Lowndes County, and Rainwater Conference Center on discrimination.

To better understand Valdosta-Lowndes County one must understand that just last year (2004); an old 1860 Valdosta City Charter was removed from the Wall (after twenty or thirty years) that led into Valdosta Municipal Court Room at citizens request that read:

"Article 100, Section XI, "THAT THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL SHALL PASS ALL PROPER AND NECESSARY LAWS AND ORDINANCES FOR THE CONTROL OF SLAVES AND FREE PERSONS OF COLOR IN SAID TOWN AND SUPPRESS AND ABATE ALL NUISANCES ARRIVING FROM HOGS, DOGS, HORSES, OR OTHER STOCK STRAYING AT LARGE IN SAID TOWN, OR FROM OTHER CAUSES."

Our Honorable Mayor John Fretti infuriated many citizens both Black and White on 5 May 2005 when he made the statement regarding "stray animals etc. " His comments seem to reflect in part the 1860 Valdosta City Charter, and was certainly the wrong time for such a statement in my opinion.

Apparently, these words were removed from the wall leading into the Valdosta Municipal Court Room. But remains in the heart of too many of our elected officials in 2005. However, I am confident that right, truth, equal respect, and justice will win in the end for all citizens living in, and visiting our beloved Southern Metropolitan Metropolis.





GEORGE RHYNES

President of the Valdosta-Lowndes County Branch-NAACP

A concerned citizen and brother of humanity!

http://www.geocities.com/altpptla/pTribunal/index.html