Michael Vick Facing Bankruptcy, by Mary Neal

According to news reports released today, Michael Vick is imprisoned for animal abuse and facing bankruptcy.

Michael Vick files for bankruptcy
Tue Jul 8, 11:28 AM ET
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Michael Vick, the former star National Football League quarterback serving a 23-month prison sentence for his role in a dogfighting ring, has filed for bankruptcy protection, court papers show.

The swift justice America demanded regarding Michael Vick's dogs is truly impressive. Animal abuse laws have been strenghtened and are vigorously enforced, just as they should be. My family remains hopeful that some day, the rights of mentally ill citizens will enjoy equal protection to our canine friends. However, this seems unlikely to occur soon. Recently I was sent a petition to sign regarding animal rights that had been circulating only a few weeks, and already it had more than 2,500 signatures. Contrarily, I started a petition requesting an investigation of the death of my mentally ill brother, Larry Neal, while under secret arrest in Shelby County Jail, Memphis, Tennessee, which occurred on August 1, 2003, and Larry's petition now has only 120 signatures after six months.

Whether Larry's life is worth less than a pit bull's according to the United States Justice Department and his fellow human beings because he was black, handicapped, or indigent, I cannot say. Perhaps it is even the NATURE of Larry's handicap that makes his death irrelevant: mental illness.

See the petition calling for DOG JUSTICE FOR THE MENTALLY ILL at this site: http://www.petitiononline.com/Neal/petition.html

I was so impressed with the efforts to enforce justice for Mr. Vick's dogs that I penned this poem, which is available in three languages at this site: http://www.nowpublic.com/culture/dog-justice-mary-neal

DOG JUSTICE, by Mary Neal

Too bad you weren't a dog, my brother
In my heart, I cried
Many more people would care about you
And wonder why you died
You had no spots or floppy ears
You never fetched a ball
Instead, you were a human being
But poor, black, and flawed

You died in jail for mental illness
I know down in my heart
Your death would be investigated
If only you could bark

Dog deaths get swift justice
Their abusers are sent to jail
Poor Mama would have closure now
If you'd had a wagging tail

But you were made in God's image
And some day, I have no doubt
The mentally ill and American dogs
Will have at least equal clout

~ by Mary Neal
All rights protected


Assistance to the Incarcerated Mentally Ill
Website: http://wrongfuldeathoflarryneal.com/

Petition Requesting Dog Justice for the Mentally Ill

http://www.petitiononline.com/Neal/petition.html

Sign the Petition

To: United States Department of Justice

See http://wrongfuldeathoflarryneal.com. On August 1, 2003, mentally ill heart patient, Larry M. Neal, died while incarcerated in Shelby County Jail, Memphis, Tennessee. During the 18 days of Larry Neal's fatal incarceration, his family and social worker searched for him as a missing person, while the jail repeatedly denied having Larry Neal under arrest. In 2003, Shelby County Jail was under the jurisdiction of the United States Justice Department, following suit by the United States of America due to violations of inmates' civil rights. To date, all requests by Larry Neal's family for official reports and an investigation regarding his death have been denied or ignored. The undersigned petitioners ask that Larry Neal's death be thoroughly investigated by the United States Justice Department and that Larry's family be given full disclosure of the results of the investigation on a regular basis, with a final report upon close of investigation. We ask that the Justice Department also investigate the possibility of a conspiracy between Larry Neal’s family's attorneys and Shelby County Government to deny the family's right to due process of law following Larry’s alleged wrongful death. The undersigned petitioners feel strongly that a mentally ill citizen's death deserves at least the same investigative efforts and call to justice as the abuse and deaths of America's dogs.
Sincerely, Sign the Petition
______________________________________________________________
Request from New Organization
Assistance to the Incarcerated Mentally Ill ("AIMI"):

PLEASE TAKE OUR SURVEY!

Please help by taking our 2-minute survey about incarceration and the mentally ill. Persons concerned about mental health should work to make this a primary campaign issue during our upcoming elections. Your identity will be anonymous, unless you otherwise instruct. Thanks in advance for your participation!
Click here to be taken to the survey.

____________________________________________________

DOG JUSTICE, by Mary Neal

Too bad you weren't a dog, my brother
In my heart, I cried
Many more people would care about you
And wonder why you died

You had no spots or floppy ears
You never fetched a ball
instead, you were a human being
But poor, black, and flawed

You died in jail for mental illness
I know down in my heart
Your death would be investigated
If only you could bark

Dog deaths get swift justice
Their abusers are sent to jail
Poor Mama would have closure now
If you'd had a wagging tail

But you were made in God's image
And some day, I have no doubt
The mentally ill and American dogs
Will have at least equal clout

by Mary Neal
http://wrongfuldeathoflarryneal.com