While Mississippi governor Haley Barbour did authorize the release, speculation abounds that the humanitarian aspects of the release were secondary to economic factors. Jamie Scott is in level five renal failure and requires dialysis three times a week, costing the state $190K each year.
Attorney Lumumba remarked that the two were going to get out of the state of Mississippi before the sun goes down, commenting that “Our view is that these women were never really guilty of anything,” said Lumumba who vows to seek a pardon for the sisters. The primary condition of the prison release is that Gladys donate a kidney to ailing sister Jamie. The two have not been tested yet to determine whether the kidney is compatible, but will begin medical testing in Pensacola, Fla. on Saturday, Jan. 8, in preparation for a possible kidney transplant
The NAACP’s national president, Benjamin Jealous addressed supporters and celebrants at the press conference. “This is a great day for Jamie and Gladys, it’s a great day for the family and its a great day for literally hundreds of thousands of people around the country who worked for this release … This case resonates for many reasons and we have to be truthful about [the fact] that this country has only 5 percent of the world’s people but 25 percent of the worlds prisons … something is seriously wrong,” remarked Jealous.
“It’s been a long hard road and there were times when we wanted to give up, but I told my sister no, we coming up out of here. The man gave us until 2014, but God said no,” said Gladys Scott. Both sisters maintain their innocence and attorney their attorney Lumumba stated that he will seek a full pardon for the two.
“I never thought this day would come wehn I would be on the outside of the wall… Now I can get me some decent medical … I haven’t woke up,” exclaimed sister Jamie, who is expected to receive a kidney from Gladys.
Both Gladys and Jamie Scott promised to be the voice of and speak for women still incarcerated and to fight to improve prison conditions and the release of the wrongfully imprisoned. At least one witness in the original robbery case has recanted his testimony and says the Scott sisters are innocent of the charges.
–roz edward
