FREEDOM FOR RAMSEY MUNIZ UPDATE, 2-25-12

Hello once again, Familia and Friends of Ramsey Muniz:

There are many things we don't know about how our Good Brother, Ramsey Ramiro Muniz, got framed and railroaded into federal prison for the rest of his life, but it is clear to all intelligent people of good conscience that he does not deserve, to die in prison, nor does his wife, Irma, deserve to be denied his loving companionship for the rest of their lives. There are Ramsey Supporters like myself who believe in his innocence, those who aren't sure, and those who believe 'Life Imprisonment Without Possibility of Parole' does not fit the drug-related crime Ramsey was convicted of. The punishment should fit the crime, as they say. Many vicious killers, rapists, sadists and other monstrous menaces to society have been freed for far greater crimes than the non-violent crime Ramsey was convicted of. Ramsey is a kind and gentle man who isn't a threat to anyone much less society-at-large. There is plenty of room for disagreement, in our growing Movement for Commutation of Ramsey's Life Sentence by President Obama. We do all at least agree Ramsey should be set free, to live and dwell among us, as soon as possible. A good example of what many Ramsey Supporters believe, in regards to our Call for President Obama to set our Good Brother free, is expressed by Mr. Steven Fischer, a former District Attorney for Willacy County, Texas, and now an elected State Bar of Texas Director and Professor for the University of Texas. (See his Commentary attached below and published in the Wilson County News, Feb. 17, at: http://www.wilsoncountynews.com/article.php?id=41333&n=commentaries-freedom-forramiro-muniz ). Our National Legal Team and Committee to Free Ramsey Muniz encourage all of you, to express your support for Ramsey's freedom, in such eloquent terms, at the local, state and federal level, as well. Ramsey's name needs to be popping up in mass media publications and forums everywhere, as the November Presidential Election nears. It is now being said Latino Voters will decide who our next President of the United States will be. Maybe so, but either way, millions of Latino Voters will be going to the polls in November, and we should be making it clear then and now that President Obama should Commute Ramsey's Life Sentence, ASAP. If you haven't endorsed our White House Petition for the President to Commute Ramsey's Sentence, please do so now, at: https://wwws.whitehouse.gov/petitions/!/petition/commute-life-sentence-ramsey-muniz-

former-candidate-governor-texas-who-has-already-served-20years/tNTslv1l?utm_source=wh.gov&utm_medium=shorturl&utm_campaign=shorturl There are so many other ways we can all help Ramsey gain his much-deserved freedom after 20 years in prison, in our communities and on our computer workstations, as well, because KEYBOARDS ARE MIGHTIER THAN SWORDS, que no?! SI SE PUEDE! YES WE CAN, EVEN IF PRESIDENT OBAMA HASN'T!!! We can change the course of history by standing up, as one for LA JUSTICIA. Let's all rise up, and in one voice, CALL FOR RAMSEY'S FREEDOM NOW! OBAMA CAN!!! Sinceramente, Ruben Barrera Botello, JD National Legal Team for Ramsey Ramiro Muniz freeramsey@blazingwork.com

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Commentaries

Freedom for Ramiro Muniz

February 17, 2012 By Steven Fischer In the 1972 election for Texas Governor, Ramiro (Ramsey) Muniz, Corpus Christi and Waco attorney and his La Raza Unida Party won 214,000 votes. In Wilson County 492 people voted for him which was about 10% of the votes cast. On this 30th anniversary of that election Mr. Muniz celebrates his own 70th anniversary at the Federal Penitentiary in Beaumont Texas. Muniz, a college football star and a Baylor law graduate, is serving life without parole for his 3rd strike against our drug laws. He was sentenced in 1994. I am certainly not the first to write about this. The Internet is replete with editorials most by leftist and/or ethically motivated organizations, such as The Prison Abolitionist and Chicano Mexicano Prison Project that proclaim Munizs innocence and denounce those who framed him, demanding his release.. Its hard to discern the actual facts when they are obscured by hate and covered with venom.

According to his supporters, his 1994 and final conviction was a government set-up. Three strikes youre out means there were two other drug offenses, so was every pitch a foul? Ive been both an elected district attorney as well as a defense lawyer and although any thing is possible, it's hard to believe that Muniz was never guilty as charged. Muniz cant claim he had an ineffective court-appointed attorney, as Dick De Guerin defended his last case. In 2012 where many, including a presidential candidate, are advocating drug legalization; past drug offense shouldnt be shocking. Presidents Clinton, Bush and Obama and scores of others admit to such. Muniz however, in his last conviction was said to be in possession of a trunk full of cocaine. I wouldn't expect this from a successful attorney, but who really knows? Even if guilty so what? According to a Texas Criminal Justice Policy Council Report the average time served for conviction of an Aggravated Violent Offense in 1994 was 5.85 years. Non-violent offenders served less; an average of 3.74 years. In other words, of the majority of 1994 convicts, even violent offenders, were free in 2000. Is Muniz a risk? A United States Justice Department Study Trends in Parole found that age is among the most reliable predictors of recidivism. Whereas over 50% of 18-29 year-old offenders return to prison, among those over 55 the rate was 2%. Muniz didnt live the life of a criminal. He was active in the Model Cities program, Head Start and Drop-out prevention programs. While many in prison promise they will do good deeds if released, Muniz spent his pre-prison career working on youth programs. I cannot imagine why someone who tirelessly advocated for youth education would also be involved in the drugs that destroy them. What I do know is Ramiro Muniz turns 70 in this, his 18th year of incarceration. Society is safe from Muniz and further prison is a waste of our money. I never voted for Muniz for Governor, but I do acknowledge his place in Texas history. Let Ramsay Muniz out of prison to live his remaining years with his family and those who believe in him. President Obama This decision isnt about re-election polls, its about time. Fischer in an elected director of the State Bar of Texas. He has been Willacy County & District Attorney, and a Professor of Criminology at the University of Texas Permian Basin. Ruben Barrera Botello, JD