From Mind Freedom:
Ray Sandford phoned the MindFreedom office this morning, as he does
most days.
As you probably know, Ray has received about 35 involuntary
electroshocks. MindFreedom's Ray Campaign has activated hundreds of
people like you to support Ray. This won Ray national publicity and a
new hearing last week.
Ray gave me the bad news that the judge ruled against him. Again.
That means Ray is scheduled for another of his every-other-Wednesday
involuntary electroshocks tomorrow, 24 December 2008.
Christmas Eve.
Ray says, "I'm really disappointed in that." Ray thought that maybe
his family's holiday get togethers would delay this week's forced shock.
But Ray said that instead of the gathering, "I'll be having tacos
with my aunt tonight to celebrate Christmas."
So tomorrow morning Ray will be woken up early in his group home, and
escorted to a forced shock.
Ray told me this morning:
"It's a painful awful experience. Every time. It takes away memory
viciously. It is scary as hell every time I go."
Ray says he always objects.
"I say, 'I don't want to do this, I don't want to do this,' which
I've known since the first time. Everyone figures I'm totally nuts."
Ray is not giving up.
So we are not giving up.
We ask that you not give up.
Eye-witnesses at Ray's hearing, held in a dreary hospital basement,
knew he did not have much of a chance.
Ray's court-appointed attorney, Jon Duckstad, refused to call any
expert witness to testify for Ray's side. (See MFI Blog for more on
the hearing.) Mr. Duckstad has refused to respond to any offers of
help from MindFreedom, including a number of skilled attorneys we've
found who offered to assist for free.
Ray is keeping his spirits up.
Ray is so grateful to MindFreedom members and supporters for speaking
out. Ray is proud that even a relative in Alaska heard him oppose his
forced shock on National Public Radio (click on http://
www.mindfreedom.org/ray to hear that, and read more about Ray).
I am deeply impacted by Ray's ongoing psychiatric torture out in the
community.
All abuse is bad, but severe outpatient abuse is traumatizing to all
of us, like me, who have experienced mental health system human
rights violations. It means none of us are safe, even in our homes.
So this e-mail is not one more alert. We'll do another alert soon.
This is a brief note from the heart. This is a note of appreciation
to all who support MindFreedom's campaigns.
This is also encouragement for an end-of-the-year membership to
MindFreedom International, which is tax-deductible.
You may donate securely online, or find other ways to donate by
phone, fax or mail, by clicking here:
http://www.mindfreedom.org/
Your reading MFI public alerts is helpful. Please take the next step.
If you have not already a member, become one today. If you are a
current member, please renew early. Or if you are a lapsed member,
please renew now, for as generous amount as you can.
As an activist coalition, MindFreedom is independent of government
and mental health system funding. Especially during tough times,
every member is crucial.
Ray Sandford phoned the MindFreedom office this morning, as he does
most days.
As you probably know, Ray has received about 35 involuntary
electroshocks. MindFreedom's Ray Campaign has activated hundreds of
people like you to support Ray. This won Ray national publicity and a
new hearing last week.
Ray gave me the bad news that the judge ruled against him. Again.
That means Ray is scheduled for another of his every-other-Wednesday
involuntary electroshocks tomorrow, 24 December 2008.
Christmas Eve.
Ray says, "I'm really disappointed in that." Ray thought that maybe
his family's holiday get togethers would delay this week's forced shock.
But Ray said that instead of the gathering, "I'll be having tacos
with my aunt tonight to celebrate Christmas."
So tomorrow morning Ray will be woken up early in his group home, and
escorted to a forced shock.
Ray told me this morning:
"It's a painful awful experience. Every time. It takes away memory
viciously. It is scary as hell every time I go."
Ray says he always objects.
"I say, 'I don't want to do this, I don't want to do this,' which
I've known since the first time. Everyone figures I'm totally nuts."
Ray is not giving up.
So we are not giving up.
We ask that you not give up.
Eye-witnesses at Ray's hearing, held in a dreary hospital basement,
knew he did not have much of a chance.
Ray's court-appointed attorney, Jon Duckstad, refused to call any
expert witness to testify for Ray's side. (See MFI Blog for more on
the hearing.) Mr. Duckstad has refused to respond to any offers of
help from MindFreedom, including a number of skilled attorneys we've
found who offered to assist for free.
Ray is keeping his spirits up.
Ray is so grateful to MindFreedom members and supporters for speaking
out. Ray is proud that even a relative in Alaska heard him oppose his
forced shock on National Public Radio (click on http://
www.mindfreedom.org/ray to hear that, and read more about Ray).
I am deeply impacted by Ray's ongoing psychiatric torture out in the
community.
All abuse is bad, but severe outpatient abuse is traumatizing to all
of us, like me, who have experienced mental health system human
rights violations. It means none of us are safe, even in our homes.
So this e-mail is not one more alert. We'll do another alert soon.
This is a brief note from the heart. This is a note of appreciation
to all who support MindFreedom's campaigns.
This is also encouragement for an end-of-the-year membership to
MindFreedom International, which is tax-deductible.
You may donate securely online, or find other ways to donate by
phone, fax or mail, by clicking here:
http://www.mindfreedom.org/
Your reading MFI public alerts is helpful. Please take the next step.
If you have not already a member, become one today. If you are a
current member, please renew early. Or if you are a lapsed member,
please renew now, for as generous amount as you can.
As an activist coalition, MindFreedom is independent of government
and mental health system funding. Especially during tough times,
every member is crucial.
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