On Aug. 6, Raul Pinet Jr., a 31-year-old Puerto-Rican man, was brutally beaten by the police after being arrested for trespassing and resisting arrest. He was taken to the Onondaga County “Justice” Center jail, where he was left naked and faced-down in a holding cell. Within five minutes, Pinet lost consciousness and died. The owner of the house where Pinet was allegedly trespassing had given Pinet permission to enter and had allowed him to use her phone. According to her, the police left Pinet “unrecognizable” after throwing him head-first down concrete steps. Tashara Pinet, Raul’s widow, talks publicly for the first time about Raul’s death and her struggle for justice.
 Raul and Tashara Pinet |
Liberation: What can you tell us about Raul?
Tashara Pinet: I can tell you that there was a lot more to him than drugs and arrests as the media is making it out to be. Raul’s character was larger than life. He was very goofy yet compassionate. You couldn’t be sad around him because he would do anything to make you laugh. He was a great listener and very supportive. He also had an incredible musical talent with the ability to write lyrics, rap and sing. He loved children and was willing to help those he considered less fortunate.
Liberation: What has happened to the police officers and jail deputies in Raul’s death?
TP: To my knowledge nothing has happened. This is all very secretive and we don’t even know who these officers are.
Liberation: Have you ever had any negative experiences with the police before this?
TP: I have never had problems on the street with cops before. However, going into the jails to visit Raul is a completely different story. I vividly recall going to the Justice Center last February to see Raul and a short, dark-haired female officer had me to the point where I wanted to leave. She didn’t say anything to me directly, but was being verbally abusive to the waiting room in general. She was screaming at us at the top of her lungs. It really seemed like she having a bad life and taking it out on us. I couldn’t help but think if they treat the visitors like this imagine how they treat the inmates. I have seen this behavior several times in state prisons as well. I can’t honestly say that they all act like this, but a fair majority of them do. It seems as if they do or say whatever they want to the visitors because that visitor is not going to jeopardize their visit. The deputies, I believe, get a sense of power from this and they get off on it.
Liberation: How has Sheriff Walsh responded to Raul’s death?
TP: He responded by telling the newspaper that “people die in jail”. Has he made any real attempt or effort to get to the bottom of this? In my opinion he has not. I think he has no intentions to so because if he did then he would basically be forced to admit that he himself and his officers went wrong somewhere. Why would Walsh care about this? Raul is a poor minority and a felon. He can’t vote or influence the vote. However, his wife is a registered voter and will do everything in her power to influence the vote.
Liberation: How has the community responded to Raul’s death?
 Tashara Pinet, Sept. 4 march for justice |
TP: I would say it has been mixed reactions. There are people in the community that are outraged by this and willing to take a stand. If I may say to all those people I love you and appreciate every effort you are making to end this vicious cycle in our community. On the other hand there are those who give into the sensationalism of the media and believe they are experts on the matter at hand. Those people have said some very nasty hurtful things. I am trying not to concentrate on those people because when what was done in the dark is brought to the light, they will be eating their hearts out.
Liberation: On Sept. 4, the ANSWER Coalition and other community and progressive groups organized a march and rally demanding justice for Raul, Chuniece Patterson, and other victims of police and prison brutality. Do you think that this was effective? How did you feel it went?
TP: I feel that September 4th rally and march was effective to a certain degree. I say this because I feel it went beautifully and opened up people’s eyes on a local level. I feel that we still have to delve a little deeper and bring more awareness on a higher plateau. I have the highest confidence that the ANSWER Coalition and other groups will not stop until that is done.
