NEWS RELEASE - 4 February 2005 http://www.MindFreedom.org - please forward


      A member of MindFreedom International's Shield program has been locked up in a psychiatric institution.


CHRISTOPHER A. MCKNIGHT is a member of MindFreedom in Michigan who has been locked up TODAY in a psychiatric institution, St. Joseph's East, in Mt. Clemens, Michigan.


Chrisopher is also a participant in the MindFreedom Shield program, which is an alert system set up just for these circumstances. Christopher is the first registered shield participant to activate the alert network.


The last few days have been rough for Christopher. He said the police were very aggressive to him.


"The police beat me pretty badly. I was handcuffed, beat with flashlights, maced, placed in a room they call the 'bam bam' room, no clothing -- just this suit that looks like it's out of the Flintstone's which is why it's called the 'bam bam room."


Today Christopher is out of police custody... but is locked up in a psychiatric facility where he says he has been many times before. He is being given psychiatric drugs over his objections, but he is agreeing to take them orally so he does not get injected.


Christopher says the reason he keeps getting locked up, including this time, is that he doesn't like taking psychiatric drugs, and his family and community members report him and he gets locked up.


Christopher asks that people phone the GOVERNOR OF MICHIGAN to complain about his situation.


The phone and fax number for the GOVERNOR OF MICHIGAN is here:


http://www.michigan.gov/gov/0,1607,7-168-21995---,00.html


I talked to the Governor's office.


I encourage others to call. They will probably refer you to an issues specialist on health issues in the office, which is fine.


It's a chance for a dialogue and education with that individual about the system, and to ask them to look into Christopher's situation


In the intake person in the Governor's office I talked to was SHAWN.


Also, Shawn recommended another number to complain to, 517-373-3247 Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services


You can also file a civil complaint to the CEO of St. Joe's --Barbara Rossmann at 586-263-2300.


Christopher would also appreciate phone calls on his ward. His ward phone number is 586-469-9216 or 586-307-9196.


He also said he would really like to receive any written materials, including support letters, articles, books, etc., that he can use in his court hearing which is on or about 11 February, in one week.


You may write to him here:


CHRISTOPHER A. MCKNIGHT, patient St Joseph's Mercy-East 215 North Ave Mount Clemens, MI 48043  USA


MindFreedom has already provided him the toll free number for the Michigan Protection & Advocacy Service, which will also be e-mailed a copy of this alert. To encourage Mich. P & A to assist, you may send a civil email to them at ECERANO@MPAS.ORG.


PLEASE FORWARD THIS INFORMATION TO ALL APPROPRIATE PLACES ON AND OFF THE INTERNET.