Florida Sheriff Issues Potential Death Sentences for Outstanding Warrants

September 8, 2017 | Revolution Newspaper | revcom.us

On Thursday, as Hurricane Irma bore down on Florida, and officials and meteorologists warned that anyone in the evacuation zones should head for shelters at risk of their lives, Sheriff Grady Judd of Polk County, Florida (east of Tampa), tweeted this message:

“If you go to a shelter for #Irma and you have a warrant, we'll gladly escort you to the safe and secure shelter called the Polk County Jail,” and that “sworn LEO [law enforcement officers] will be at every shelter, checking IDs. Sex offenders/predators will not be allowed.”

When questioned about this, both Florida’s Governor Scott and Attorney General Bondi refused to condemn or countermand Sheriff Grady. Grady himself has not backed down.

So people who missed court dates or have piled up tickets that they can’t afford to pay have to choose between jail and risking their lives in a deadly storm. People who have been convicted of (and served their time for) sex offenses—which can include things like indecent exposure or a 17-year-old having sex with a 15-year-old—will have the door slammed in their face and be pushed out into the storm. And, though apparently not officially included in Sheriff Judd’s policy, his threatening message will undoubtedly scare many of the 18,000 undocumented immigrants in Polk County away from shelters as well.

What kind of fascist shit is this?

Everybody who needs shelter should be allowed in the shelters. PERIOD.

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