A Prisoner on the Ladder

By Kevin Tower

Kevin is a remarkable person. His attitude is one of constant hope and thankfulness. If you are interested in learning more, and want to help us help Kevin and others who are in similar gravely unjust situations, please contact:

Lindy Morelli
Lighthouse in Scranton Inc.
O. Box 199
Scranton, PA 18504
Mercy Only Goes One Way]

There He was standing as the crowd yelled, “Crucify, crucify, crucify him!” The crowd consented and gave authority to the punishment. The beating and bloodshed began. Many looked on, at first amused. Then, the blood became apparent. Some left. Then the torn flesh became apparent. Many left. Only a few cold hearts likely remained. The guards were only doing their duties. They were immune. The prosecutor and court were not there. Maybe there was a soul or two who sat and absorbed the pain and cruelty they saw. Perhaps they were chased off.

Government employees who commit civil rights violations are unlikely to be disciplined to any degree. This allows the violations to be explained away, preventing monetary damages from being awarded.

There is no question that it was cruel, all too cruel, in fact. What about the injustice that led to the punishment? What if His flesh was never torn? What if there was no blood? What if He was only beaten? Would anyone have cared? This Man gave Mercy to all “because they did not know what they were doing.” He was never given mercy, all due to the chant of a few. With the sound of a few, that chant slowly grew. Have we been in the midst of that few before? Yes. We know better now than what we once knew. Mercy only goes one way.

Prosecutors, judges, and detectives . . . to name just a few that mercy seems to belong to. Only a few. This is not to disparage good servants, but to encourage them to act. We must encourage them to protect the rights and liberties of all, not just a few.

It is very expensive and difficult to uncover police and prosecutorial misconduct. What makes the news are only a few very rare instances where the violations were caught on camera to prove the abuse. Most all cases of abuse of rights and privileges go unnoticed. Most government civil rights agencies are not allowed to investigate or are deterred from investigating violations involving an accused person. Public defenders are not given the resources or time to investigate these violations. If those offences are not clear and in the open, they cannot challenge them. Non-government civil rights organizations likewise lack the funds to investigate all of these violations, let alone litigate them. Private persons rarely possess the resources to investigate, and neither could they cover the cost of obtaining the documents involved.

Even if someone were to have the time and resources to investigate and litigate these claims, the officials are in no way required to reveal anything to them. Officials are even discouraged from providing information, for fear their agencies might be subject to financial liabilities. Whistle blowers are few and far between. Why? Because law enforcement is a very specialized field. If someone blows the whistle on their boss or co-worker, their work environment would likely became hostile. They would have great difficulty changing jobs or careers. In fact, government employees who commit civil rights violations are unlikely to be disciplined to any degree. This allows the violations to be explained away, preventing monetary damages from being awarded.

Prosecutors, judges, and police are largely immune from liability and prosecution. Why? If there is not a law that provides for their immunity, prosecutors and judges have the discretion to choose not to pursue claims against their co-workers. And if that discretion fails to provide sufficient immunity, the chance of even uncovering a violation that occurred confers an equally effective form of immunity.

Yes, here it is: mercy only goes one way. A merciful government upholds the rights and liberties of the least to the greatest, not the greatest and — by chance — the least. Mercy here is discretionary. Yes, here, mercy is segregated. Yet mercy is Divine and must be afforded to all.

Prosecutors, judges, and detectives . . . to name just a few that mercy seems to belong to. Only a few.

What would be a greater challenge and good? To kill the heart of man or correct the heart of man? Apparently, killing the heart of man involves fewer liabilities. We are a weak nation, when death in many forms is preferred to life and everything that leads to it. Mercy must be for all. Mercy of healing. Death only kills.

Stand up and counter the few voices that yell “crucify” with “mercy.” Mercy must be for all. Violations of civil rights and liberties are crimes. They must be prosecuted as such.

Mercy, mercy, mercy.

I am writing as a prisoner who is on the ladder of hope, mercy, and justice. A prisoner on the ladder, whose sight is aimed upwards in life, and not down.

Note: Kevin Tower is currently serving a life sentence in Michigan. We believe he has been wrongfully convicted. As part of the mission of Lighthouse in Scranton Inc. we have become committed to helping Kevin, and other people in similar situations like his, to find justice. At present, a private investigative reporter is working on a story about his case. Kevin’s example of courage, fidelity, and hope gives inspiration to many! We humbly thank you for your interest and support.

For more information about this, and how you can help, or be a part of the work of Lighthouse, please call at (570) 341-5858.

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