(no paper is attached to this panel)

Friends described Esmin Green, an immigrant from Jamaica, as a “beautiful person”. Ms. Green was a mother, deeply involved with her church and visited people to pray for them in the medical facility attached to the psychiatric jail, which involuntarily detained – and ultimately murdered her on videotape. The horrifying video was sensationalized through the media around the world over the 4th of July weekend, 2008 – a weekend when most in America celebrated their freedom. For us in New York State, it was a weekend of fury, hurt, and disgust, in isolation. There was no one who was taking any action – and confusion over what action any one person could even take was thick. We talked to each other over the phone and via the Internet, we clearly saw not only the discriminatory practices of psychiatry - who left this woman to die – but that racist and classist practices also had a hand in her death. Within a month, we took our fury to the streets. We held a protest of the facility – in front of the facility – with a vigil to follow. Moreover, people all over the world signed on with their support and outcries for change – and simultaneous vigils were held around the world. We have formalized as a network and taken our concerns cross-country (electroshock on children and all people, forced drugging, involuntary detainment, restraint and seclusion, outpatient torture) to those in power – and when not heard – to the streets in front of their domains. We are survivors of psychiatric atrocities and allies. Our mission is to end abuse and torture by organized psychiatry.