by the Comité de Padres Unidos
We have followed with great interest what is happening with the case of Sheriff Mirkarimi, and we are very disappointed by the injustices that the Sheriff, his wife Eliana and his young son are undergoing at the hands of Mayor Lee, District Attorney Gascón and the media in general that disseminates the worthless publicity stunt that has dragged them mercilessly.
As women and Latino activists in the city of San Francisco, we have learned over the years to defend our rights and fight against all forms of injustices, and honestly we find it very unpleasant the political lynching we are witnessing under the guise of an incident of domestic violence, which was maliciously reported by neighbor Ivory Madison, and totally directed against the interests of that family. We never imagined that something like this could ever happen in our city, so respectful of freedom and civil rights of all its inhabitants.
There is a political and public campaign against the Sheriff who is seriously damaging his family and career, and we will not allow it quietly.
We have reached the point to start an investigation, spending a lot of money from our taxes, more than a million dollars, diverting the attention of the Supervisors and our public officials from our problems and their solutions.
Sheriff Mirkarimi won the election by a wide margin of votes because the voters listened to his plans to protect all the residents of the city from injustice or abuse from the police, he opposes the Secure Communities program and planned to reform the prison system that is fraught with problems and is inadequate for the needs of our city, among other things.
We need public officials such as Sheriff Mirkarimi, ready to work on improving our lives and interests, without distinction of any kind.
With respect to Eliana and her son, we believe that the authorities have victimized them terribly by separating this family so arbitrarily and without offering any help, by making their life and private affairs an absurd spectacle to feed the selling sensationalism, and finally the political leaders who take advantage of a family problem regarding one of their elected officials to impose their personal interests over democracy and the will of voters who do our part and we want to be respected, and to do the right thing to end this political injustice.
It is noteworthy that Eliana who is the victim has not been allowed to testify before the Ethics Commission whereas the Chronicle and the Examiner have published a number of Madison’s personal assumptions and opinions and the alleged complaints that Eliana shared with her, but Ivory Madison used the situation to manipulate it at will, as Eliana has made it clear publicly and repeatedly that she never asked her to take any further action. Eliana rightly feels betrayed by that neighbor.
That was the experience of several of us before organizations that help victims of domestic violence while waiting for help, being denied the opportunity to defend the victims and to follow the 3 steps to give them self-confidence and “empower them”, which are:
1. – Counseling or advice.
2. – Plan B at the scene of an emergency, if the victim is in danger, the friend or person you trust will help you with the necessary (money, clothes, documents, etc..), and agree if you call the police or when to do it.
3. – Confidentiality.
This never occurred in the case of Eliana. The supposed friend betrayed the rights Eliana had as a victim, in collusion with Mr. Gascon and Ed Lee.
Eliana had the opportunity to speak freely at last when she left this city and began writing articles in Venezuela expressing her feelings according to her experience. She was denied the right to defend herself, to seek help for her family and because of the suspension without pay from her husband, she had to travel to Venezuela with her family while the situation with the Sheriff is solved here. There is nothing more painful than the separation of a family with young children who do not understand what is happening with their parents, and suffer an unfair separation.
Ross Mirkarimi acknowledged that he acted wrongly when questioned by us, ordinary people, and is willing to take steps to repair his fault and get his wife and son back, who he terribly misses. Like every family, the Mirkarimis should be given the opportunity to solve their problems the best way possible for their and their young son’s welfare.
All voters are disappointed by what is happening and demand that the Sheriff takes his place, because we need him to work for the good of our community, it is unacceptable to continue without fulfilling his public obligations and duties any longer, this must stop.
