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Bush to meet parents of boot camp victim

The governor meets with student sit-in leaders and will meet with the parents today.

By AARON SHAROCKMAN and ALEX LEARY
Published April 19, 2006

TALLAHASSEE - Gov. Jeb Bush agreed to meet today with the parents of a 14-year-old boy whose death at a juvenile boot camp sparked a sit-in at his office Wednesday by 30 college students demanding justice in the case.

Today's meeting comes more than three months after the death of Martin Lee Anderson and a day before protesters, including the Revs. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, plan to march on the state Capitol.

Wednesday's sit-in, led by student government leaders of Tallahassee's three colleges, started about 9 a.m. and continued even after a private, late-afternoon meeting with Bush. The students carried a list of demands, including the immediate release of the autopsy of Anderson and the arrest of guards seen on a videotape kneeing and punching the teenager.

"We still stand here today having great concern about the lack of commitment, dedication, and focus towards this case," said Ramon Alexander, 21, Student Government Association president at Florida A&M University. "Justice delayed is justice denied."

Emphatically repeating that refrain moments later, the students locked arms with members of the Legislature's black caucus and marched into the hallway outside the governor's office, where they planned to spend the night.

They set up camp on office chairs under portraits of former governors. Backpacks, high heels and pillows lay at their feet on the cool marble floor. Another 50 students marched outside, holding signs saying: "No Justice. No Peace."

"You've got to keep the pressure up and stay involved," Rep. Audrey Gibson, D-Jacksonville, told demonstrators through a megaphone. "When you know the process and get involved in the process, you can change the outcome."

Reporters were not allowed in the meeting with Bush, who did not speak afterward. He did speak briefly about the sit-in when he arrived home from a weeklong trip to the Middle East.

"We're doing everything we can to make sure that justice prevails here," he said. "I think that's what these students ... should ask for, and that's what they're going to get."

Bush said it was premature to take any action until Hillsborough County State Attorney Mark Ober finishes his investigation. Bush appointed Ober to oversee the case at the request of the Bay County state attorney.

Anderson was sent to the Bay County boot camp in early January after violating probation for stealing his grandmother's car. He collapsed after running laps around a dirt track, prompting guards to rough him up. Anderson died the next day in a Pensacola hospital.

Barely gaining attention at first, the death became national news when a videotape showing the beating was released in February. The controversy grew when Hillsborough's medical examiner discredited an earlier autopsy by his counterpart in Bay County, who said Anderson died from internal bleeding caused by sickle cell trait, not the beating. The second autopsy results have not been released.

The students demanded that Bush revoke Dr. Charles Siebert's medical license "for his participation in this attempted coverup."

Siebert issued a statement Monday defending his findings. "I urge special interest groups to put emotions aside and from making baseless accusations and requests," he said.

The students filled the governor's office lobby in a demonstration they said was planned for weeks. They were forceful in their demands but not unruly or aggressive. Most dressed in suits, kept their voices calm and cleared a path for visitors.

They worked on term papers and read school texts in between. They called and text-messaged friends and family on cell phones. Gabriel Pendas wrote to students back at Florida State shortly after 9 a.m.: "We're in. Let everyone know."

Pedro Gassant read aloud Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech. Gregory Woodall, a FAMU physics major, closed his eyes and repeated the words by memory. At each hour, the group stood as a student read a letter of grievances.

"We won't leave," said Gassant, a 17-year-old freshman. Added Monique Gillum, the FAMU incoming student government vice president, "This may be the most important thing we ever do."

The drama intensified as the day unfolded.

When Bush returned to the Capitol about 12:30 p.m., an aide said he would meet with five of the student leaders. But when Bush would not allow reporters to attend, the students sat back down.

"What's there to hide?" asked Alexander, the FAMU student government president.

After further discussion, the students agreed to the closed-door meeting, entering Bush's office at 3:45 p.m. Later, Bush met with three lawmakers: Sens. Tony Hill, D-Jacksonville; Frederica Wilson, D-Miami; and Les Miller, D-Tampa.

Wilson said later that while she respected the students' right to protest, there was little the governor could do about the investigation.

The students, however, said they would stay, warning each other they could face arrest for doing so. "Do not think any of us will think less of you. Do not think any of us will judge," said Pendas, 23, a senior physics major at FSU.

Bush spokeswoman Alia Faraj said they were welcome to stay but that the doors to the office would be closed and anyone who left could not return. Students who wanted to stay also faced a night without access to a restroom, she said.

Rep. Ron Greenstein, D-Coconut Creek, urged the students to stay.

"Sit in there," he told student leaders. "When someone has to go, have them come out. Hang in there as long as you can until the last person falls. Let the last person fall."

The group, however, decided to move to the hallway in front of Bush's office. They would re-enter when the doors reopened at 8 a.m., they said.

Greenstein and the black caucus found food, pillows and blankets for the demonstrators.

"This is democracy at its best," said Rep. Frank Peterman, D-St. Petersburg.

This is not the first time Bush's office has been the site of a sit-in. Six years ago, Sen. Hill and Rep. Kendrick Meek, D-Miami, occupied part of Bush's suite for about 30 hours to protest an overhaul of Florida's affirmative action laws. That sit-in ended only after Bush agreed to a meeting.

Staff writers Jennifer Liberto and Steve Bousquet contributed to this report.

[Last modified April 19, 2006, 23:24:16]