Protest Electro Shock Therapy in Minnesta -Needs Support

[Guest guest]

MindFreedom International News - 1 May 2009

For a Nonviolent Revolution in Mental Health!

http://www.mindfreedom.org/ray - please forward

 

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Today, Friday, 1 May 2009:

 

Successful Protest Held Inside Minnesota State Capitol Rotunda

to Stop Ray's Forced Shock

 

by David W. Oaks, Director, MindFreedom International

 

ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA: For three hours today, several dozen participants

successfully held a peaceful MindFreedom International protest of the

ongoing forced electroshock of Ray Sandford, a 55-year-old resident of

Columbia Heights, Minnesota. The loud protest was held directly inside

the majestic Rotunda of the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul,

Friday, 1 May 2009.

 

Speakers during a news conference, covered by both mainstream and

alternative media, included myself (flying in from Oregon, thanks to

donated air ticket by MFI member Darby Penney), plus:

 

* Louise Bouta, long-time psychiatric rights activist and

electroshock survivor.

 

* Al Galves, PhD, psychologist, author, mental health consumer,

and MindFreedom board member, from New Mexico.

 

* Daryl Trones, mental health activist and father of a

psychiatric survivor.

 

* Janet Saugstad, author and psychiatric survivor of the

Veteran's Administration.

 

* Amy Storbakken psychiatric survivor and promoter of alternative

medicine for mental health.

 

* John Wilson, a psychiatric survivor running for Mayor of

Minneapolis.

 

* Jennifer Padelford, representing the Mental Health Consumer/

Survivor Network of Minnesota, who spoke out about the need to hear

the voice of mental health consumers/psychiatric survivors.

 

Louis Kayser, a MindFreedom member, drove for hours from Iowa to

participate saying, " I have always wanted to be in a MindFreedom

protest. I want to go to more protests! " Louis made signs for the

event, videotaped the news conference, and even carpooled speakers

back to their homes.

 

For a few photographs of the MindFreedom " May Day for Ray " protest

inside the Minnesota Capitol Rotunda, click here:

 

http://www.mindfreedom.org/shield/ray/ray-sandford-may-day-minnesota

 

or go here:

 

http://tinyurl.com/may-day-for-ray

 

A number of speakers told their stories, and expressed their support

for Ray, during a public speak out.

 

Then, after a post-protest lunch, about nine MindFreedom activists

visited a number of Ray's elected officials. The delegation discovered

special interest from Ray's State Representative, Carolyn Laine, who

met with the delegation for about half an hour. Ray is a constituent

of Rep. Laine, who pledged to work with the new ECT Work Group that

has been formed by several mental health agencies because of the Ray

Campaign.

 

See ACTION below about how to thank Rep. Laine!

 

The reception was much chillier at the office of State Senator Satveer

S. Chaudhary, who is supposed to represent his constituent Ray

Sandford. To read about Sen. Chaudhary's " stonewall " positiion on Ray,

click here:

 

http://www.mindfreedom.org/ray-sandford-minnesota/satveer-s-chaudhary

 

A six-month campaign to stop Sandford's electroshocks has gained

international attention. Sandford has been shocked more than 40 times

on an outpatient basis under a court order even though he and his

family have clearly stated his desire not to be shocked. Sandford

lives in a residential group home and is under the general

guardianship of Lutheran Social Services.

 

" It's amazing that a man who is supposedly being protected by

Minnesota court-appointed guardians and who has been represented in

court hearings by a Minnesota public defender is suffering this kind

of human rights violation, " said Dr. Galves.

 

Galves said that electroshock -- also known as electroconvulsive

therapy or ECT -- subjects the patient to as much as 600 volts of

electricity for between one-half and four seconds. " It disables the

brain, " Galves said.

 

MindFreedom International is an independent nonprofit coalition of

psychiatric survivors and others who advocate for the increased

availability of safe, humane and effective care for people who are

experiencing psychiatric emergencies and who oppose involuntary

treatment. MindFreedom can be contacted at office.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

ACTION * ACTION * ACTION

 

Please *THANK* Ray's elected State Representative Carolyn Laine for

personally meeting with the MindFreedom delegation, and agreeing to

look into Ray's human rights!

 

Show Rep. Laine there is widespread support for her taking action,

from throughout the USA and the world!

 

E-mail: rep.carolyn.laine

 

phone: 651-296-4331

 

Postal mail:

 

Rep. Carolyn Laine

407 State Office Building

100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155 USA

 

For more information on the Ray Campaign see:

 

http://www.mindfreedom.org/ray

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

SUPPORT NONVIOLENT DIRECT ACTION?

 

Then Support MindFreedom International!

 

MindFreedom International is one of the few totally-independent

nonprofit organizations in the mental health advocacy field, with zero

funding from the mental health system, governments, drug companies or

religions.

 

That means YOUR membership and donation are CRUCIAL to MindFreedom

International's campaigns for human rights alternatives.

 

Join or donate now:

 

http://www.mindfreedom.org/join-donate

 

Times are tough, so that makes it even more important that each and

every person give what he or she can.

 

Benefits include MindFreedom Journal, special web and e-mail

networking, discount on http://www.madmarket.org purchases,

MindFreedom Shield, member services office... and a nonviolent

revolution in mental health.

 

Support voices for choices in mental health!

 

Mind Your Freedom!

 

Donate, join now or renew early here:

 

http://www.mindfreedom.org/join-donate

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

TOMORROW Saturday, 2 May, 2009, MindFreedom Twin City Affiliate

supporters meet in a strategy session at 10:30 am at 1450 West Lake

St., Minnesota. All supporters welcome, free.

 

SUNDAY, 3 May 2009, at 8 am, peacefully leaflet in front of Central

Lutheran Church at 333 S. 12th, Minneapolis. This ELCA church is one

of 'owners' of guardianship services overseeing Ray. (Will LSS let Ray

visit with a new psychiatrist on Monday? So far, they are blocking

this!)

 

Then at noon, Sunday, meet at the Green Medicine booth at the enormous

MAY DAY PARADE FESTIVAL, ask for Amy. We're in the program. This is a

fun event, so we're using humor. Prepare to do roving guerilla theater

to " Screen for Normality " with Al & David, in a an easy street skit

created by clown troupe of Patch Adams. We have doctor outfits for

all, and hundreds of flyers about how nobody is normal... and how Ray

is getting forced electroshock.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Please forward this alert to all supportive people on and off the

Internet, now!

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

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