Mary Madewell reports that the Paris branch of the NAACP calls for a timely release of Shaquanda Cotton.
The Paris Branch of the NAACP called for a timely release of Shaquanda Cotton from the Texas Youth Commission after a four-hour executive committee meeting Saturday.
The group also asked that an emergency item be placed on Monday night’s Paris City Council agenda to consider naming a diversity task force.
The group also called for an expedited appeal of the Cotton case by the Texarkana Court of Appeals in motions approved unanimously by nine board members at Saturday’s meeting.
With the media attention, official in Paris are getting a little nervous. Judge Superville suggest that folks look at all the facts in another article by Madewell.
County Judge Chuck Superville says he fears for the community’s safety and is calling for the national media and other organizations to investigate the facts before drawing conclusions about the Shaquanda Cotton case..
I called Judge Superville's office and left a message. I found this statement to the media about the failure to release Shaquanda Cotton on bond insightful:
The March 2006 case is on appeal with the Texarkana Court of Appeals. The court conducted a 10-hour hearing in August 2006 to consider a request that Cotton be released on bond.
The judge said Cotton could have been released at that time but would not speculate why the appellate court did not grant the bond. The judge said he presented the facts of the case and that attorneys for both the prosecution and for Cotton presented arguments.
The real deal..they just did not give a care.
Another statement by Judge Superville:“That theme was repeated witness after witness—that the mother made it impossible to help Shaquanda,” Superville said. “She blamed everyone except the child for misbehavior.”
Weak as dirty dishwater, can we say foster care.
The spotlight of Cotton's case has illuminated some deep seated racial tension in Paris, Texas. Free Shaquanda Cotton and let the citizens work peacefully in making the necessary changes. Dallas South Blog, Shawn Williams has some interesting comments on his blog. Here's another blog.
I talked to A LOT of people involving this case and thier comments about the young lady and her mother were consistent. The one mistake here I think is that foster care should have been an option that was given., you're right.
ReplyDeleteNone of the people of Paris, including myself, want to air all the issues that was going on in the home, or all the incidents that the minor was involved in. It's just not right and not something god Christian folks will do. But there are so many half truths, and they have made it real hard for anyone local to want to help very much. That's why outsiders are now taking up the cause.
But if this young lady is released, there is NOTHING, that suggests that there will be any changes in behavior. This has to be one of the requests of those of us who feel she should be released. At some point, the supporters will have to take responsibility to help rehabilitate this young woman.
Shawn Williams
Paris High School Class of '92
www.dallassouthblog.com
Shawn
ReplyDeleteThank you for your response.
It concerns me that the church is not involved in supporting this young woman while incarcerated. You refer to rehabiliation, and I am thinking behavior modification. Reports state the young woman is being treated for a disorder.
Let's look at treating the illness which may impact behavior of the young child. Of course we are outsiders without all the facts. But unless that child used a weapon or attack a teacher without provocation, I can't get on the same page with the lock up for one year to teach them a lesson.
Child Protective Service should be available to look out for the best interest of the child. If there are issues that are in the home that are beyond the control of the child, the child needs an advocate.
Once again social services should be available which support and monitor certain activities.
And parents are mandated to participate in certain programs. I am not saying Creola Cotton needs such programming. But if folks keep saying the mother is to blame, I want to know why was nothing done to disenable the behavior by the mother?
Unless all information is available we are speculating in the blogospher. But, I believe many believe that Judge Superville did not get it right, in sentencing Shaquanda Cotton.