Health & Fitness
Inmate Death Prompts Protest March
Protest March Against Inmates Death: March 24 11:00am
News Release - February 24, 2012
Douglas County Coalition for Truth & Justice Protest March
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March 24 - 11:00am Douglas County Courthouse
Find out what's happening in Douglasvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Douglas County Georgia: As the media and citizens seek out more information concerning the 2009 death of a Douglas County Georgia jail inmate Rodney Neal Graham, a group is organizing a protest rally to call for the resignation of Sheriff Phil D. Miller and Chief Deputy Stan Copeland and other county officials.
It was announced this week that two sheriff’s department medical staff have been indicted on misdemeanor charges in connection with the inmate’s death. A cash settlement to Graham’s family of $935,000 was made according to media reports. Bell said he feels the two indictments may be only the tip of the iceberg.
James Bell, 52, of Lithia Springs, said he is leading a coalition of citizens and organizations who are seeking a Federal investigation into the inmate’s death and other activities within the Douglas County Sheriff’s Department.
“We need to know did county officials engage in an initial cover up of the Mr. Graham’s death. We want to know what the sheriff knew and when did he know it. Sheriff Miller has allowed the jail to become a death chamber for inmates. We demand answers”, Bell said. “This is a matter of human rights. Our county officials are more concerned about dogs dieing at the animal shelter than humans dieing at the county jail. The citizens are appalled!”
Bell said Sheriff Miller’s statement that “We dropped the ball on this one”, is a “slap in the face of justice and fails to address the scope of the atrocity”.
The group called the “Douglas County Coalition for Truth and Justice” will hold a protest rally and march from the Douglas County Courthouse to the Sheriff’s Office on Saturday March 24 – 11:00am, to bring public attention to what Bell called a “Culture of Corruption” within the Douglas County Government.
A press conference (TBA) will be called next week to lay out the coalition’s plan of action.
For More information contact: James Bell gataxpayer@gmail.com
