Reuters: Students stage protest at Gov. Jeb Bush's office

[seafan]

Students stage protest at Jeb Bush's office

By Michael Peltier
April 19, 2006

TALLAHASSEE, Florida (Reuters) - Thirty students staged a sit-in at the office of Florida Gov. Jeb Bush on Wednesday to protest what they called a slow investigation into the death of a teenager at a juvenile boot camp in January.

"It's been 105 days since this young man's death and nothing has been done," said Gabriel Pendas, 23, president of the student senate at Florida State University. "We will stay here until something is done."
Bush, the younger brother of President Bush, was in Washington, and a staff member said she was unsure if he would speak to the students sitting on the floor and in chairs in his outer office.

snip

Martin Lee Anderson, 14, died hours after arriving at the juvenile detention facility in Panama City, Florida, for stealing his grandmother's car and violating probation. A videotape taken at the camp showed guards punching and kicking the boy, who at times appeared limp.

snip

The protesters want the second autopsy to be made public and for the Republican governor to publicly apologize to Anderson's family. They also want law enforcement officials reprimanded, and all seven guards seen in the video arrested and charged.
"This is going to be a historic case," said Vanessa Baden, a 20-year-old FSU student. "We just hope it goes down in history for the right reasons."

http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=politicsNews&storyid=2006-04-19T180359Z_01_B17435_RTRUKOC_0_US-PROTEST.xml

[uppityperson]

1. Good for them protesting. Good job, keep up the publicity

murderers

[RagingInMiami]

2. They've been staging sit-ins at the University of Miami as well

over the striking janitors.

I'm proud to say that Florida, for all its problems in the last few years, is producing some pretty progressive students.

[DaveColorado]

3. Power to the people~!!@!!11

[rodeodance]

4. yes, good for them.

[greekspeak]

5. I hope that some of my students were there. I would be proud!

but to the others.... :yourock:

[soup]

6. Morning Update

a must read for those who are following this:
http://sptimes.com/2006/04/20/State/Sit_in_carries_on_at_.shtml

I'm loving this write-up - and the students and legislators involved.

[seafan]

7. Great article, soup, thanks! Here are some clips:

"Justice delayed is justice denied."

Emphatically repeating that refrain moments later, the students locked arms with members of the Legislature's black caucus and marched into the hallway outside the governor's office, where they planned to spend the night.
They set up camp on office chairs under portraits of former governors. Backpacks, high heels and pillows lay at their feet on the cool marble floor. Another 50 students marched outside, holding signs saying: "No Justice. No Peace."

"You've got to keep the pressure up and stay involved," Rep. Audrey Gibson, D-Jacksonville, told demonstrators through a megaphone. "When you know the process and get involved in the process, you can change the outcome."

Reporters were not allowed in the meeting with Bush, who did not speak afterward.

snip

The students filled the governor's office lobby in a demonstration they said was planned for weeks. They were forceful in their demands but not unruly or aggressive. Most dressed in suits, kept their voices calm and cleared a path for visitors.

They worked on term papers and read school texts in between. They called and text-messaged friends and family on cell phones. Gabriel Pendas wrote to students back at Florida State shortly after 9 a.m.: "We're in. Let everyone know."
Pedro Gassant read aloud Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech. Gregory Woodall, a FAMU physics major, closed his eyes and repeated the words by memory. At each hour, the group stood as a student read a letter of grievances.

"We won't leave," said Gassant, a 17-year-old freshman. Added Monique Gillum, the FAMU incoming student government vice president, "This may be the most important thing we ever do."

The drama intensified as the day unfolded.

snip

http://sptimes.com/2006/04/20/State/Sit_in_carries_on_at_.shtml


Love these progressive, courageous young people!

[seafan]

8. The sit-in continues into Day 2.

Student sit-in continues at Jeb's office

April 20, 2006

The Governor's doors opened at 8 a.m. today for 30 Tallahassee college students who kept up their protest throughout the night at the Capitol, hoping to stir more progress into the investigation in the death of Martin Lee Anderson.

At about 9 last night, while students from Florida State, Florida A&M and Tallahassee Community College huddled in the hall outside Gov. Jeb Bush's office, a Capitol guard told them to clear a path from the office so as not to cause a fire hazard.

Up until the early morning, students sang everything from spirituals to television theme songs. Some sang, while others slept.

At about 1:30 a.m. the group quieted down for the night. Some slept on pillow cushions provided by legislators, while others slept on the cold floor.

snip

[seafan]

9. We're getting somewhere! Jeb finally meets with parents of deceased boy.

Florida's governor meets with parents of boy who died after boot camp beating

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. The parents of a 14-year-old boy who died after being kicked and struck by guards at a Florida boot camp have met with Governor Jeb Bush -- and they say he's on the "right path" about the case.
The meeting came following a marathon protest by students at the governor's office.

Gina Jones, the mother of Martin Lee Anderson, says she was surprised it took Bush four months to meet. But, she also says that she's satisfied with the governor's responses in a private meeting.

snip

[seafan]

10. Breaking: FDLE commissioner resigns (boot camp investigation)

UPDATE: FDLE commissioner has resigned, Bush's office says

April 20, 2006

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Guy Tunnell resigned today.

A statement from the governor's office did not explain why Tunnell resigned. Tunnell could not immediately be reached for comment.

snip

...Tunnell started the Panama City juvenile boot camp where a 14-year-old boy's January altercation with guards was caught on security videotape. The teen, Martin Lee Anderson, died a day after being kicked and kneed by guards.

Tunnell has recently been criticized for the handling of the investigation into Anderson's death.

[soup]

12. Interesting development.

Thank you for your ongoing effort to keep track of this.

Posted on Fri, Apr. 21, 2006
Statement from Gov. Bush on Tunnell's resignation

"This evening I accepted the resignation of Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Guy Tunnell. I thank Guy for his service. He is a dedicated law enforcement officer who leaves behind an agency that is second to none.

During Commissioner Tunnell’s tenure, FDLE continued to make great strides promoting public safety and strengthening domestic security. Under his leadership, hundreds of state law enforcement officers responded to those most in need during the unprecedented 2004 and 2005 Hurricane Seasons. Their response efforts were not limited to our state. These officers were among the more than 6,000 Florida responders deployed to our neighboring Gulf States following Hurricane Katrina.

On behalf of all Floridians, I thank the dedicated men and women of FDLE for their continued service to our great state."
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/14392589.htm

blah blah blah heck of a job - I'm SURE it has nothing to do with this:

Since Anderson's death, Gov. Bush has appointed Special Prosecutor Mark Ober to handle the case and there's been a second autopsy performed which purportedly shows Anderson did not die of natural causes, as local medical examiner Dr. Charles Seibert found.Then last week, Ober relieved the Florida Department of Law Enforcement from investigating the case because of some e-mails between FDLE Commissioner Guy Tunnell and Bay County Sheriff Frank McKeithen. Anderson's family has claimed there's been a cover-up. But Gov. Bush continues to defend the Department of Juvenile Justice, and he also rejected any suggestions that he put pressure on prosecutors to wrap up their investigation of the teenager's death. >snip<
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12172636/

---

They're in full CYA mode - Scramble and scurry. Pointing fingers...

March 30, 2006

NAACP: Boot camp withheld details

Associated Press

PENSACOLA -- Citing a report from the medical examiner for Escambia County, state NAACP leaders said Wednesday that Bay County juvenile boot camp officials withheld crucial details about Martin Lee Anderson's encounter with guards from doctors who struggled to save his life.

The medical legal investigation report states that the 14-year-old was exercising for approximately 15 minutes and passed out after telling guards "I can't do it anymore."

But the report does not mention that Anderson was hit, kicked or dragged around an exercise yard during a 30-minute videotaped encounter with guards before an ambulance was called. >snip<
March 30, 2006

NAACP: Boot camp withheld details

Associated Press

PENSACOLA -- Citing a report from the medical examiner for Escambia County, state NAACP leaders said Wednesday that Bay County juvenile boot camp officials withheld crucial details about Martin Lee Anderson's encounter with guards from doctors who struggled to save his life.

The medical legal investigation report states that the 14-year-old was exercising for approximately 15 minutes and passed out after telling guards "I can't do it anymore."

But the report does not mention that Anderson was hit, kicked or dragged around an exercise yard during a 30-minute videotaped encounter with guards before an ambulance was called. >snip<

Waylon Graham, an attorney for Lt. Charles Helms, the officer who was second in command of the boot camp, said he believes the report shows the hospital where Anderson died is trying to protect itself from a lawsuit.

"I take it with a grain of salt. It's like a cat covering up manure. Everyone is panicking because they are afraid of a civil lawsuit," he said.

Helms was present when Anderson was transported from the boot camp to the Bay County Medical Center in Panama City and later at Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola, where he was pronounced dead.
http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/Florida/floSTAT01033006.htm

[seafan]

15. Well, well, well. Ugly racism rears its head yet again.

Cross-posted from LBN


Florida top cop resigns post under cloud


Controversial FDLE Commissioner Guy Tunnell has stepped down after allegedly comparing U.S. black leaders to Osama bin Laden and Jesse James.

BY MARC CAPUTO AND MARY ELLEN KLAS
April 21, 2006

TALLAHASSEE - Guy Tunnell abruptly ended his controversial run as head of Florida's Department of Law Enforcement on Thursday, days after sources said he made off-color remarks comparing black leaders who were to attend a Capitol rally to Osama bin Laden and Jesse James.

Tunnell submitted his resignation to Gov. Jeb Bush hours after The Miami Herald requested he comment on whether he likened U.S. Sen. Barack Obama to terrorist leader bin Laden and the Rev. Jesse Jackson to outlaw James during a meeting of Bush's agency heads Tuesday. One person in the room and another source who spoke with an agency head told The Miami Herald about his remarks.

Obama and Jackson were invited to a march today to bring attention to the death of 14-year-old Martin Lee Anderson after an altercation with guards at a Panama City boot camp. The FDLE was initially investigating, until a special prosecutor threw it off the case after The Miami Herald reported Tunnell exchanged e-mails with the sheriff who ran the camp. Tunnell told The Miami Herald he was ''embarrassed'' by the e-mail exchange because it ''tarnished the agency.'' He said he did nothing wrong, but said he apologized for the ``appearance of impropriety.''

Tunnell, whose predecessor held the job for 15 years, is the second agency head of Bush's to resign under a cloud this year. State prisons chief James Crosby was fired by Bush in February because of numerous scandals at his agency. Meantime, juvenile-justice chief Anthony Schembri is under fire for the way his agency handles boot camps and for complaints that he has lied to lawmakers.

Bush had only kind words for Tunnell in a written statement Thursday night.

snip

Sources said Tunnell joked that he wished he were in uniform to meet Osama bin Laden and Jesse James.

snip

[seafan]

11. Update: Protest ends after Bush talks with parents of Martin Lee Anderson.

Students end boot camp death protest in Bush's office


ANDREA FANTA
Associated Press

April 20, 2006

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - A group of student protesters ended a two-day sit-in inside Gov. Jeb Bush's office Thursday after the parents of a teenage boy who died a day after an encounter with guards at a Panama City boot camp met with the governor.

Gina Jones and Robert Anderson, the parents of 14-year-old Martin Lee Anderson, said they finally felt satisfied that they were able to talk with Bush about their grief over their son's death in January. He died a day after being kicked and kneed by guards at the Bay County juvenile boot camp during a half-hour altercation caught on security videotape.
"I was shocked he wanted to talk to me, after four months," Jones said of her hour-long meeting with Bush.

snip

"It was very hard for Miss Gina and Mr. Robert because they told him personally how their lives have been, and they made it clear to him that every day that passes is like a year, and holidays are the worst," said Benjamin Crump, the family's attorney, who also attended the meeting with Bush.

snip

After the meeting Jones thanked the 71 students protesting how the investigation into Anderson's death was handled.

snip

Before they left Bush's office, the students pledged to meet Friday morning for protests at Florida State University, Florida A&M University and Tallahassee Community College that will end in a march to the Capitol. The Rev. Al Sharpton's office said he and the Rev. Jesse Jackson would participate.

snip

[soup]

13. Kudos to the students for standing up (sitting in)

>snip<
The students from Tallahassee's three colleges disbanded their sit-in but only, they said, out of respect for the family. Gabriel Pendas, a senior at Florida State, lambasted Bush for not making a public apology or producing immediate results.

"When you look at Terri Schiavo and how far he went above and beyond the call of duty for this woman ... and he won't even make a public statement in this case?">snip<
http://www.sptimes.com/2006/04/20/State/Parents_meet_with_Bus.shtml

--

There's such an obvious cover-up going on here:

Bush asks for probe of missing e-mails
DEMOCRAT STAFF REPORT
April 20, 2006

Governor Jeb Bush today asked the prosecutor who is investigating the death of Martin Lee Anderson to look into the deletion of January and February e-mails from the Bay County prosecutor's office.

In a two-page letter to Mark Ober, the Tampa prosecutor he appointed to handle the case, Bush asked him to take "a thorough look at the circumstances culminating in the loss of these public records and to determine whether or not they contained any information that might be relevant" to the investigation.

He also said he was passing on documentation related to other examinations by Dr. Charles Siebert, the Bay County medical examiner who found Martin died of complications from sickle cell trait and not in connection with an altercation with guards at the Bay County boot camp.
http://www.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060420/CAPITOLNEWS06/60420006

[seafan]

14. More on the deleted e-mails in the State Attorney's office:

Florida Bootcamp Death Emails Missing

April 18, 2006

(CBS4/AP) PANAMA CITY, FL A State Attorney involved in the Panama City death of a teenager in boot camp says he did not intentionally delete emails requested by a newspaper as part of the investigation into the boy's death.

State Attorney Steve Meadows says his deletion of e-mails was unintentional and was not an effort to hide information in the death of a boot camp detainee.

Meadows says he could only produce e-mails from March after The News Herald in Panama City requested the messages for all three months. The paper is looking into the death of 14-year-old Martin Anderson.

The prosecutor says he deleted e-mails from January and February, thinking a copy was being held in a main server in Tallahassee. But his office had the wrong kind of account and the
server was not storing his e-mails.

snip

I don't doubt that this was intentional. Hopefully, some good computer forensic folks can resurrect them.

[seafan]

16. Update: 1,500 marching on Capitol in Tallahassee (Jackson and Sharpton)

Students March Outside Florida's Capitol To Protest Boot Camp Death


April 21, 2006

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) _ About 1,500 students marched with the Revs. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton on Friday to protest how the state has handled the death of a black teenager who was punched and kicked by guards at a juvenile detention boot camp.

Martin Lee Anderson, 14, was the third young black male to die in state custody in the past three years. His death in January came a day after black and white guards were videotaped kicking, dragging and kneeing him. A medical examiner found the death was caused by complications from sickle cell trait, a usually benign blood disorder.

Friday's protest came a day after the state's top law enforcement officer resigned amid criticism over his handling of the case and a joke that Gov. Jeb Bush called ``inappropriate.''
The Miami Herald reported that Guy Tunnell compared Sen. Barack Obama to al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden and Jackson to the outlaw Jesse James at a meeting of department heads. The newspaper cited one unnamed source who was at the meeting and another who had spoken to a department head who was there.

snip

``He made a joke that was inappropriate,'' Bush said. ``He apologized to Lt. Gov. (Toni) Jennings. I don't know exactly what he said. It's important that the agency which is a critically important agency for people to have confidence, move forward. I thought it was appropriate to move on.''

Sharpton said the march was about the death of Martin Lee Anderson, ``not because somebody called us names.''

snip

[soup]

18. >>``He made a joke that was inappropriate,'' Bush said.

``He apologized to Lt. Gov. (Toni) Jennings. I don't know exactly what he said. It's important that the agency which is a critically important agency for people to have confidence, move forward. I thought it was appropriate to move on.''<<

FREAKIN' HYPOCRITE!

1. INAPPROPRIATE!

>"It looks like the people of San Francisco are an endangered species, which may not be a bad thing. That's probably good news for the country," he quipped, according to the AP.

The comment reportedly sparked laughter in the room, prompting Bush to add: "Did I just say that out loud?"<
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=35580

2. INAPPROPRIATE!

> Bush bragged to the lawmakers he had some "juicy details" about the caregivers of Rilya Wilson, the girl who disappeared from her Miami home this year after state workers failed to check on her.

Bush intimated that Wilson's caregivers, who were arrested Wednesday on fraud charges, were lesbians.

"Bet you don't get that in Pensacola," Bush quipped.<
http://www.dailykos.net/archives/000338.html

3. INAPPROPRIATE!

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – In the dead of night, an unknown graffiti artist is placing a big sticker on Jeb Bush campaign posters across the state. The sticker has just one word: “Devious.”

The problem for Bush is that it is his own word. The swaggering Bush was caught on a tape recording by a Gannett News reporter bragging to his aides that he has “devious plans” to nullify a ballot initiative requiring the state to reduce class size in the state’s public schools if voters approve it Nov. 5. <
http://www.pww.org/article/view/2248/1/117/

and that's just 3 off the top of my head, mr. bush.
Excuse me a minute while I unleash a string of expletives...

[Judi Lynn]

17. This really needs to happen. They are doing something important.

If there's anyone who didn't see the clip of the beating of this 14 year old child, here's the heavily edited, but clearer clip:

http://www.nospank.net/anderson.htm

and here's the longer version which shows guards going out for cup after cup of water after it looked as if he was really down for keeps, and throwing it on him, apparently, while others appeared to come up with paper towels or something similar, and finally see these materials carried away from the scene until there was nothing around when the medics arrived.

http://www.newsherald.com/bootcamp/video.shtml

I just saw these things overnight for the first time. I hope every one of these men and the nurse will be forced to face the music. This is desperately wrong. Nine men on one frail child.

[soup]

19. Oh, Judi Lynn

:hug:

Devastating. I was so saddened and pissed-off seeing red furious when I saw those tapes back in February, I could barely contain myself. I cannot even begin to imagine what his parents were going through when they saw them.

and even to this day - when I see the words 'scuffle' or 'altercation' or somesuch used to describe the beating of that poor child - I come unhinged.

I am so glad these students and these people rallying today are making some noise. Florida's Juvenile 'Justice' System, the FDLE, the DCF - so much of it is just so screwed up.

[struggle4progress]

20. kick

:kick: