If you haven't been in a cave these last days you know the story. A man with addiction problems, locked up over a traffic ticket, died over a 17 day period as video cameras watched as he suffered, spasmed and ultimately expired untreated.
When I was just a baby My Mama told me, 'Son Always be a good boy Don't ever play with guns.'David Stojcevski did not play with guns. His offense was being too poor to pay a $772 traffic ticket. He was unfortunate enough to be addicted to drugs he was being treated for, and unfortunate enough to be in the Land of the Free, where they lock you up without medical care for being too poor to pay your fines, in violation of law and a Supreme Court decision - but who cares, 'cause he was just a bum drug addict no one gives two fucks of. Freedom really is just another word.
But I shot a man in Reno Just to watch him dieNo one shot David Stojcevski. Unlike so many others who died before they even saw a jail cell. But someone watched him die. Or even worse, the video cameras rolled while no one watched him die.
Mr. Stojcevski's life drained away alone on a cell floor, but his death was not a singularity. Hundreds, perhaps thousands, even tens of thousands may die each year in American jails and prisons due to medical neglect, uncaring and/or sadistic guards, and cruel policies that value profit more than life, security over sense.
When I hear that whistle blowin' I hang my head and cryIn an insane twist, David's brother, Vladimir, was also imprisoned at the same time at the same jail, also for a traffic ticket; he also suffered at the jail's hand, but he was ultimately transfered out to receive medical care. He is part of the lawsuit being filed against the County, the Sheriff, the Jail Administrator, Correct Care Solutions LLC, and various individuals.
Here is Vladimir's crying tribute to his brother:
1 year brother, it still hasn't fully sunk in for me...I am glad that we are finally moving into this next process, you will never be forgotten, I can tell you one thing. I will not rest until I finish this process, because we are so broke up how your life was taken from you. Not by choice or want on your end, but on someone else's , inhumane and senseless acts. We had so much stuff yet to see, do, learn, and enjoy.... Hopefully one day we will meet again and we will be able to do the things we talked about, and wanted to accomplish... Miss you Big Bro and I will finish what I've started and soon the truth will come out! Love you and Missin you every damn MINUTE!
I bet there's rich folks eatin' In a fancy dining car They're probably drinkin' coffee And smokin' big cigarsOnly suckers would accept the other side of that bet. There are far too many rich folks who belong on the other side of steel bars. And we know beyond all doubt that there are far, far too many regular folks where those rich folks ought to be. And many of those same rich folks are making plenty more richiness from those regular folks being there.
It wasn't this way. It doesn't have to be this way. No one has to die in a jail cell naked, alone and untreated.
Well, if they freed me from this prison If that railroad train was mine I bet I'd move it on a little Farther down the lineA lot farther.