Comments | boomtownrat: Sickening news about prisoners in a NOLA jail

boomtownrat

Sickening news about prisoners in a NOLA jail

Sep 29, 2005 21:38

"A month after Hurricane Katrina, serious questions remain about the fate of hundreds of prisoners in New Orleans. Human Rights Watch says there are 517 unaccounted for, while prisoners and their lawyers say many were abandoned in the flooding jails."I listened to this on the Democracy Now! podcast and felt sickened. The former inmate they spoke to ( Read more... )

news, hurricane

Comments 11

egretplume September 30 2005, 05:22:47 UTC

I don't have anything to add except to say that I was also horrified by this story. Prisoners' rights is not a popular cause in this country; the "tough on crime" people have succeeded in demonizing everyone in prison to the point where no one cares about their human rights. That's why there's no outcry. But it's just sickening.

There's no outcry over Guantanamo or Abu Ghraib or 24-hour lockdowns in American prisons either.

OK, I'm not gonna rant in your journal. I'm just agreeing with you.

boomtownrat October 1 2005, 02:46:59 UTC

You can rant if you want. It's definitely rant-worthy material.

strontium90 September 30 2005, 12:29:02 UTC

I can tell you with authority that Louisiana prisons are not someplace you ever want to be. I'm shocked - shocked, I tell you, to learn of possible prisoner abuse in New Orleans. Shit, the pigs there don't bother waiting till you're booked to start abusing you.

boomtownrat October 1 2005, 02:48:40 UTC

I can believe it, but I guess I thought maybe a hurricane would make a difference. Have I been smoking something? Not that I remember, but then, maybe I wouldn't remember...

But it did surprise me a little that one of the death-row inmates *was* a New Orleans cop.

gaston76 October 1 2005, 02:36:22 UTC

Wow...I never even thought about that. Geez...what about the guys in prison? Nice work. Just let 'em sit there, after all, they're prisoners!

The whole issue of prisoners rights is an interesting one. As a society, we believe in a Universal Standard of Human Rights, but we also believe that for certain crimes people need to have their rights revoked or restricted. But to what extent? And how can we determine this? Are there some rights that cannot be violated at all?

As for your final point. CNN not doing a thorough job of reporting? Say it ain't so! ;-)

boomtownrat October 1 2005, 02:52:04 UTC

Well, I check out CNN and sometimes ABC and MSNBC to see what their spin will be. I can't even stomach Faux News Channel. Currently, I'm getting my real news from National Public Radio, the BBC website, and Democracy Now!, but there have been a few times when I found out about some more obscure bits of news from Morning Sedition on Air America Radio (yes, a stand-up comic -- Marc Maron -- gives me some of my news).

boomtownrat October 1 2005, 03:02:54 UTC

Oh, and I meant to say this in my other comment: I feel that the basic right to exist with food, water, shelter, and have "facilities" (toilet and a place to wash) is something that should never be denied. I know that there are people in the world who have done the most evil and disgusting crimes against humanity, but I still think they deserve to exist. I may be in a small minority, at least where I live.

gaston76 October 2 2005, 01:52:46 UTC

I agree with you there Boomy...you can't deny those things to anyone. I can't see how anyone could come up with good reasons to withhold those rights.

As for news sources, I also like the CBC...okay, I'm biased. But, I've gotta say that the CBC news is usually really good. Not right now, b/c the CBC has locked out all of its employees...which is material enough for a rant that I've been pondering myself. Wait until a couple of weeks into the NHL season. Then, the CBC will miraculously find a way to end the lockout.

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