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Announcement:MAY MOLINA, FIGHTER AGAINST CHICAGO POLICE CORRUPTION, DIES IN CUSTODY05.28.04 Chicago-May Molina, 55, was the founder of the organization Families of the Wrongly Convicted. She worked hard to free her own son, Salvador Ortiz, and others who have suffered wrongful convictions at the hands of corrupt and brutal police officers. She was found dead Wednesday, May 26, in a holding cell at the Belmont and Western police station. May was arrested on drug charges Monday night. She died early Wednesday morning. There are a lot of questions and suspicious circumstances here. Why was a wheelchair-bound diabetic, asthmatic, overweight woman with a thyroid condition arrested and thrown into a naked cell with a steel bench? Why, as many have asked, was she denied access to her needed medications? Both her lawyer and her family members have contended that they brought her condition to the attention of police and that their pleas were ignored. It is contended that May had swallowed a number of tin packets of heroin. But why, after 40-plus hours in police custody, would these be found in her esophagus? This doesn't seem medically or physically credible, on the surface. These and other questions were raised at the meeting of the Chicago Police Board Thursday night. Family members, friends and comrades spoke of their loss and anger. There were also calls raised for an independent investigation into May's death. The meeting ended when former death row inmate Aaron Patterson declared that "This meeting is too formal" and the hundreds in attendance began walking toward the Police Board members seated at the front of the room. They beat a hasty exit. Friday morning officials did agree to meet with members of May's family and we will be watching what happens next. Joan Parkin of Enough Is Enough! and Ruth Pena of Comite Exigimos Justicia made the important point that May was planning to open an office on the West Side dealing with cases of police brutality and wrongful convictions. This could have been a step toward breaking down boundaries in Chicago, a necessity if the movement here is to go forward. Despite her loss, her work on this should be followed up. The coming period, in light of all these events, will be extremely important. One more point: As a number of people said at her vigil and beyond, her family members and fellow activists will continue the fight for her son Salvador's freedom. * * * Activist May Molina It is hard to describe May Molina Ortiz in such a brief document, because who she was could only be written in her life story. A co-founder of Comite Exigimos Justicia is where I first met her and immediately she made me feel welcome. One thing for sure-she had a very big heart. Whenever we were planning to organize a rally or bringing in supplies for our fundraisers, no questions asked she was ready to volunteer. That was the kind of person she was. Sometimes she'd call me at home and we would talk about all the ideas on what we should do to help bring our boys home. May felt that if we worked hard on our sons' cases someone would listen to our pleas. I can still picture her sitting under a tree right outside of Grand/Central during one of our rallies, listening to everything that was being said. Then she would speak and we all listened to her because she knew the corruption that was going on in Chicago. That definitely would send a spark because her words were simply telling the truth about what was going inside that building. That's the reason why someone made sure she was kept quiet...If I were one of the guys in blue, I would be ashamed to admit that I was a Chicago cop. Because how can you be afraid of a woman who was in a wheelchair, diabetic, and unable to get around on her own. It's a very sad day for all of us because a great woman's life ended in a cell. The very essence of her fight for Justice, tarnished by awful lies disgracing her name and memory. Not only was she humiliated by being placed behind bars but also she was denied the medication that she so needed to survive. No human being should be treated with such cruelty. What happened to "INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY"? All I know is that as long as the City of Chicago allows these criminals to do whatever they want and hide behind their badges we have to be very, very afraid. Because just like May's life was taken away for fighting for her son's freedom it can happen to any one of us here. I have learned on thing today: this so-called Freedom of Speech applies only to the politicians and wealthy. Where do the poor people of Chicago go, is there anybody out there who cares about the injustices that are being committed daily here in Chicago? And don't tell me the Office of Professional Standards is investigating because we have all been there, done that with no results whatsoever. We need answers and we need them NOW!!! -Rose Sifuentes, Mother of a wrongly convicted son, Comite Exigimos Justicia |
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