Presario Says: The Free Shaquanda Cotton Campaign

I know this has been written about and blogged about in many places, but I still feel that this was definitely worth me personally writing about it. I will try to suppress my opinion as to present both sides of the story and let you formulate your own decision.

If you paid any attention to the news in the past year or so, you probably have heard the story about Shaquanda Cotton. This is the 14-year-old from Paris, TX that was sentenced to jail (Texas Youth Commission) for pushing a hall monitor. She is now entering the second year of a 7-year prison term. Here is what I have learned through doing some research on the internet:

There were no injuries in the incident and this was her first arrest. Cotton is black and just three months earlier the same judge, M.C. Superville, sentenced a 14-year-old white girl who was convicted of arson for burning down her family's house to probation. It has been said that this is because the white girl took a plea bargain and Cotton's mom refused to plea. Others say that she could have been out by now, but because of her behavior she has stayed in jail. The truth is that during her imprisonment, Cotton has tried to seriously hurt herself three times. She says she is depressed and afraid of the other girls, most of whom have prior criminal records and serious felony convictions. To top things off, a guard at the prison where she is being held is supposedly accused of molesting four girls.

Superville said in an interview with Paris news that after a three-day jury trial, which found that Cotton committed an act of juvenile delinquency — namely assault causing bodily injury against a public servant — he determined the best place for her would be Texas Youth Commission. "The juvenile officer said the mother refused to cooperate and said he had no reason to believe the mother would cooperate if Shaquanda received probation," Superville said. "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."
Cotton's mother said her daughter was singled out because she accused the school district of racism on several occasions. In fact, 12 discrimination complaints have been filed against the school district in recent years. School district officials dispute the charges, but the US Department of Education, which is still investigating, has reportedly asked the US Department of Justice to investigate.

A case of racism and discrimination or justice? In attending college in a small Texas town, I can tell you how some things haven't changed much in some places in the area of race relations. I definitely think that race played a major factor in the outcome.

The real question is – what now? What is it that you can do to help this child? There are a few things going on right now:

First, messages of support are being solicited at Shaquanda's blog at http://freeshaquandacotton.blogspot.com/.
If you rather send mail the traditional way, her mailing address is as follows:
Ron Jackson Correctional Complex,
Unit 2, Dorm 4
P.O. Box 872
Brownwood, Texas 76804
1125308
If you are a member of the popular networking community called Facebook, a Facebook group has been created. This is a good place to get news and updates, as well as post your support.
The famous blogger Paula Mooney (see the exact blog post here) is urging that protest letters be sent to Judge Chuck Superville, who handed down the sentence:
Honorable M.C. (Chuck) Superville, Jr., Judge
Lamar County Courthouse
119 North Main
Paris, TX 75460
Phone # 903-737-2410
Fax # 903-785-3858
Rickey Smiley of Dallas' 97.9 The Beat has taken action and staged a couple of protests in Paris, Texas. Support him in his efforts.
Letters can also be sent to Texas Gov. Rick Perry through his website.