Recall Mandate: Gov Davis Denies Parole for Battered Woman

Fascist Gov Davis apparently feels no pressure from his pending recall when it comes to parole decisions as he just reversed the parole for a second time of a battered women who has spent 16 years in prison for killing her batterer, namely her husband, despite the Parole Board's recommendation for parole Flozelle Woodmore.

Gov Davis is doing all kinds of things under the pressure of recall but not when it comes to the key issue of the prison-industrial complex, and his stinking rotten death penalty Democratic Party, and its twin rotten death penalty Republican Party, do not make an issue of it.

When it comes to parole, his fascist predecessor Republican Pete Wilson granted parole to people sentenced to life with the possibility of parole, with several people per year receiving parole. Not Gray Davis. He rarely grants parole and that alone, much less all his other evil deeds, is sufficient cause for recall.

Three reasons to recall Gray Davis:

(1) He supports the death penalty
(2) He supports prison construction so he can permanently house more people he refuses to parole, making the prison-industrial complex a jobs program for the hoodlum sector of the workingclass, the prison guards.
(3) He supports private utility companies.

Vote Yes on the Recall!
Vote Socialist for Governor: John Christopher Burton of the Socialist Equality Party, http://www.socialequality.com or http://www.wsws.org
or
CT Weber of the Peace & Freedom Party
http://www.peaceandfreedom.org and http:///http://www.la-peaceandfreedom.org
Vote No on 53 and 54!

From: http://la.indymedia.org/news/2003/09/82471.php
Davis Reverses Parole for Flozelle Woodmore
by Free Battered Women Thursday September 11, 2003 08:10 AM

9-10-03: Davis reverses Board of Prison Terms's recommendation to parole woman who was convicted at 18 of killing her abuser, prior to the allowance of testimony regarding battering and its effects.

Twice the Board of Prison Terms has recommended Woodmore’s release, and twice the Governor has decided to keep her in prison.

9-10-03: DAVIS PLAYS GOD WITH BATTERED WOMEN'S LIVES

For the second year in a row, Governor Davis reversed parole for Flozelle Woodmore, an abused woman who has served 16 years in prison for killing her batterer. Both years, Davis concluded that Flozelle was a threat to society, contrary to recommendations of the parole board, sentencing judge, victim's family, a nationally-renowned domestic violence expert, dozens of state legislators, and thousands of other individuals and organizations. Davis' decision, which was filled with inaccurate statements of fact and law, has outraged voters, who will be forced to shoulder the burden of the $30,000 it will cost each year to keep Flozelle in prison.

Flozelle had no prior criminal history when she was convicted of second-degree murder at age 18, prior to the allowance of testimony regarding battering and its effects in California criminal trials (such evidence has been allowed since 1992). She is now 35 years old, with two grown children. News of the governor's parole reversal hit Flozelle's family late last night (9-10-03).

Juliette Lett, one of Flozelle's sisters, said tearfully, "It's so unfair. It's not like she hasn't done her time, or shown that she can be a productive member of society. Where is the justice? It doesn't make any sense to me. My niece [Flozelle's daughter] is going to be devastated."

Flozelle's ailing stepmother had this to say: "She has lost so much of being a mother to her children, who went from babies to children to young adults now. She missed out on all of it. I think Davis is a dog--he doesn't have a heart. He has to take into consideration that she was young. The abuse is something she held and held until she exploded. Her boyfriend could've killed her, instead of the other way around."

Flozelle's father was likewise crushed by Davis' decision: "[The victim's] parents have a different outlook from Davis--they have forgiveness in them. They weren't against her coming out."

Flozelle's attorney, Olivia Wang, will challenge Davis' decision in court. "Davis is playing god with Flozelle's and other battered women's lives--all for his own political career. Yet this was a bad decision on his part, and the voters will respond on election day."

Be prepared for upcoming actions to protest this decision. Meanwhile, write or call Governor Davis to express your outrage.
Governor Gray Davis
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916-445-2841
Fax: 916-445-4633
governor [at] governor.ca.gov

For more information, visit http://www.freebatteredwomen.org