-Caveat Lector-
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Sat, 18 Sep 1999 09:39:37 -0400
From: DAMN <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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Subject: DAMN: 18-SEP-1999: Women's Campaign Keeps Mother Out of Jail
Title: Women's Campaign Keeps Mother Out of Jail
Date: 18-SEP-1999
Author: Kathy Durkin
Source: Workers World, Sept. 23, 1999 issue (by way of Diane
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>)
Style: News story
Reference: http://www.workers.org/ww/1999/walrond0923.html
Tabitha Walrond, a young Black woman who lost her two-month-old son,
Tyler, and was then wrongfully prosecuted for responsibility in his
death, received five years probation from New York State Supreme Court
Judge Robert H. Straus on Sept. 8.
The state and media had attacked Walrond from the time the state brought
charges against her in a racist, anti-poor, anti-woman campaign. She was
vilified for being a poor, teenaged mother. The prosecution was
determined to imprison her; she faced up to four years in jail.
But a campaign by women's groups, community activists and international
supporters stopped the state from jailing her. Picket lines, publicity
and a letter-writing campaign demanded the charges be dropped and no
punishment be leveled against Walrond.
Nine hundred people from as far away as Japan had written letters,
postcards and e-mails to the court on Walrond's behalf, asking that she
not be punished. Many were women who had had similar problems with
breast-feeding their infants but had received medical help from private
physicians and health-care workers. When Tabitha Walrond sought medical
help for her baby, she was turned away from a clinic for lack of a
Medicaid card.
According to Susan Tipograph, Walrond's attorney, "The letter-writing
campaign made a big difference. Every one of the 900 letters supported
Tabitha Walrond. Some were read by the judge into the record, especially
from mothers with similar experiences. Not one letter was unfavorable.
The support meant a great deal to all of us."
This case exposed the hypocrisy of a system that will prosecute a young,
oppressed, single mother while denying her child medical care. It showed
that while the state is quick to persecute and vilify poor people, it
exonerates the government officials responsible for providing decent
health care. It also showed that health care itself is in jeopardy for
many and that there are limitations and dangers inherent in privatized
medical care.
Women's rights and health-care advocates brought the policies of
Medicaid, New York City hospitals and health maintenance organizations
under public scrutiny for limiting care. They pointed out the
responsibility of the Human Resources Administration, which administers
welfare and Medicaid programs.
A report issued by the Committee on Women's Issues of the New York City
Council stated that there is a "pattern of restricting accessibility to
medical care for infants and young children."
States that have cut welfare now have fewer children receiving Medicaid
coverage than need it. The restrictions and privatization of the
health-care system are part and parcel of the cuts in the welfare
program made under the Welfare Reform Act of 1996. That bill has been
accompanied by cuts in all social services, including public education
and public housing, that affect poor people.
Workfairness is a group that fights for the rights of people receiving
public assistance and those on workfare. It sent over 100 letters to the
judge supporting Tabitha Walrond. William Mason, co-chair of
Workfairness, said, "How many mothers and other poor people will face
the same situation and be blamed in the future for the faults of the
health-care system?"
For more information, contact:
Workers World
55 W. 17 St.,
NY, NY 10011
E-maill: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Website: http://www.workers.org
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