Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty could at least express concern about the ongoing involuntary electroshock of Minnesota citizen Ray Sandford. Hundreds of people have contacted the office of Gov. Pawlenty. Unfortunately, his office has actually supported the “safety and legality” of Ray’s forced electroshock.
Name: Governor Tim Pawlenty
City/State: Saint Paul, Minnesota
Connection to Ray’s case: Governor Pawlenty could at least express concern about Ray’s situation, and call for legislation to prevent this kind of abuse in the future. Instead, Governor Pawlenty’s office has endorsed Ray’s ongoing involuntary electroshock as safe and legal.
Governor Pawlenty has made a name for himself nationally, because of his support and leadership of Republican party values such as keeping a small government, not wasting taxpayer money and respecting the empowerment of citizens.
Yet, in Ray’s case, the Governor apparently supports spending thousands upon thousands of dollars of taxpayer money for the ongoing torture of a citizen, a torture that is even worse than waterboarding, which was supported by President Bush (shown here on right shaking hands with Gov. Pawlenty). Wateboarding, a form of CIA torture, usually does not result in brain damage, but electroshock can and does.
Public position on Ray Sandford’s forced outpatient electroshock: Public relations office for Governor Pawlenty said they had looked into Ray’s forced electroshock, and it was “safe and legal.”
Public position in general on outpatient involuntary electroshock over expressed wishes of subject: Apparently supports taxpayer money going to forced electroshock.
IMPORTANT NOTE: MindFreedom and Ray endorse nonviolence principles. Even if an individual or agency opposes Ray’s human rights, MindFreedom and Ray ask that any communication be civil.
Action:
Telephone Governor Pawlenty’s office now:
From anywhere in the world phone (651) 296-3391.
From inside Minnesota phone toll free: (800) 657-3717.
You can leave a message at any time. You can reach staff any non-holiday weekday from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Central Time.
You can also e-mail to the Governor at tim.pawlenty@state.mn.us
Be polite but be firm and persistent.
Ask one or more of these questions:
- Does the Governor support Minnesota laws allowing involuntary outpatient electroshock?
- Is the Governor aware that some Minnesota citizens are being escorted from their homes using court orders to receive involuntary electroshock?
- How many Minnesota residents receive electroshock against their wishes, as either an inpatient our outpatient? Who collects this data? How is this data reported to the public?
- And if you have any doubts about this campaign, go ahead and ask, “Are reports on the Internet true that some Minnesota residents receive electroshock involuntarily on an outpatient basis?”
You may be directed to another department such as Human Rights. Do not give up. Keep asking. If you do not get a return call soon, call back to complain.
You can read some of the letters in support of Ray that have been sent to Governor Pawlenty:
https://mindfreedom.org/shield/ray/sandford-support-letters
For more information on the MindFreedom web site about Gov. Pawlenty click here: