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Jul 11, 2008 11:33 pm US/Eastern
Georgia Ayers Complains Of Mistreatment At TGK
NORTHWEST MIAMI-DADE (CBS4) ―
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Community activist Georgia Jones Ayers held a press conference outside the TGK jail.
CBS
Corrections officials say Miami activist Georgia Jones Ayers did not go through the front entrance at the Turner Gilford Knight Correctional facility during one of her regular visits to see inmates. Officials say she went through the police entrance in the back, but Ayers says that was no reason to harass and humiliate her.
Ayers have done a lot in her lifetime. She's a respected local civil rights advocate in Miami, who's spent most of her years visiting and helping African-American inmates who've lost their way. She was the only person who could get a confessed child abuser to surrender in 2005.
"He walked over to me, I said, 'you don't have anything on you boy?'," said Ayers. "He said no ma'am and I put my arms around him."
But Ayers says when she went to TGK to visit Tuesday, she was verbally accosted by a lieutenant at the jail after she came in the police entrance, and even threatened with arrest.
"I've been going into Dade County Jails on my own since 1967—1967 on my own," said Ayers.
"Ms. Ayers was working helping inmates and citizens of this community since a time I can remember," said retired corrections Sergeant Walter Clark. "She's been able to come and go in all the corrections facilities."
Community activists held a news conference demanding disciplinary action be taken against the lieutenant, who has worked at corrections for 20 years.
"Mr. Mayor, we're asking that you resolve this matter swiftly because we feel this is a personal affront to the black community," said activist Tangela Sears.
"When the appropriate entrances are not made into the facility, then actions can be taken," said corrections spokeswoman Janelle Hall. "It is more appropriate for a person to enter the facility at the front entrance."
Hall says even though Ayers did not come through the public entrance, an internal affairs investigation is taking place to make sure the lieutenant was not out of line. She also said it's important this issue be investigated, because she says corrections want all visitors to feel welcome here.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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