Guard brutality may have led to "suicide"

I am currently incarcerated in the worst prison in California, [the] Segregated Housing Unit (S.H.U.). This is the end of the line, it doesn't get any worse than this. The violations of the prisoners' human rights go unchecked. Enclosed is correspondence between myself and [a legal investigator] with [California Prison Focus]. This is one of many incidents that go on here. There was little that could be done for the man in question -- Prison Focus did come to see him. They made sure he got his property, clothing, mattress and blanket. The taunting and mistreatment stopped for a while, but soon started up again when the pressure was off. Shortly there after, the man, during the night count was removed from his cell with a sheet rope tied around his neck. We have never seen nor heard from again. I would ask that you print this article about him in your newspaper, with others to follow if you'd like. Thank you for your time in reading this, and bring it to the attention of others.

--A California prisoner, 17 October 2001

Here are excerpts from the article by California Prison Focus sent by this prisoner:

The videotape of the police beating Rodney King was taken in the open. But how can anyone see the police brutality that takes place inside California prisons? [Here is a letter from a California prisoner.] ". . . There is a matter of urgency here. Today. . . they extracted another inmate ["extraction" is the term for forcible removal of an inmate from his cell]. He's a black man by the name Thompson [not real name]....To observe and hear him, he's obviously mentally ill, semi-retarded. They read no admonishment [a required warning against non-cooperation]; there was no video. Lt. Keener was in charge. They used four large canisters of pepper spray. They used the triangle to pigeon his arms and lift his body weight from the ground. All this time the man was crying out in pain. Approximately one month ago, he had thrown what he claims was water at an officer. But even it if was urine he doesn't deserve the abuse he's been receiving from the CDC [California Department of Corrections] staff. He has been without clothes, bedding, mattress; water turned off. They continue to come by his cell to antagonize him. They take him out front and I can only imagine what they do to his simple mind, but they bring him back ranting and raging. This goes on constantly. I can see that they are pushing him into a mental breakdown. I hear him in his cell, crying, talking, yelling to himself. I can see this man taking his own life. This is a case that clearly needs intervention. . . I don't care if you use my name. I'm doing life. I'm in one of the worst prison systems in California. They can't do anything more to me. And all help is greatly appreciated." The next day another inmate wrote to California Prison Focus giving much more detail of the prison staff's treatment of "Thompson," including lying and taunting as well as physical brutality. This inmate wrote that when Thompson told a sergeant, who had not kept his promise to return his property, that he wanted to talk to the lieutenant, the lieutenant looked at Thompson and walked back to the section door. The sergeant, this letter relates, shut the cell's food slot on Thompson's hand and arms slamming them against the cell door. The letter continues: "The sergeant then opened the tray slot and yell "He's [Thompson's] trying to assault me" and start spraying Thompson with pepper spray. Thompson stood there with his hands in the tray slot asking the sergeant why he is doing this to him, and start yelling for the lieutenant. The sergeant use about four big cans of pepper spray on Thompson and he lieutenant never came and said not one word. Thompson fell to the ground in his cell choking from the spray and the sergeant continue to spray him like a bug, telling him to take off his clothes, which was only a boxer and a t-shirt. The lieutenant did not tell the sergeant to stop (it is important to note that Thompson can not hear very well and only weigh about 140 pounds with all his clothes on.)" All that night, the letter adds, Thompson cried that he could not see and wanted to see a doctor. "The correctional officers walked by his cell laughing." At about 3:00 a.m., Thompson started kicking and beating his cell door requesting to see a physician "because he was still having a hard time seeing and he was bleeding from the nose and mouth and his arms was in pain from the sergeant slamming his arms in the tray slot. The officers never call the MTA (Medical Technical Assistant) or took Thompson to be examined by a physician...."

MIM adds: Prison guards' brutal treatment of prisoners and the guards' impunity are grounds both for reform struggles, such as that waged by California Prison Focus and MIM, and revolutionary struggle. Both are in fact matters of life and death. Partial demands are proletarian demands winnable under capitalism, such as ending prison censorship, ending brutal prison conditions, ensuring prisoners' medical care, etc. These are themselves just demands and winning them can in turn advance the revolutionary struggle. At the same time, as long as the state remains in the hands of the bourgeoisie, such reform struggles take place on "enemy territory," and can be easily overturned. Prisons have become a profitable part of the parasitic Amerikan economy, as we discuss in detail in MIM Theory 11 -- a gravy train for both capitalists and prison-guard "workers." And the corruption endemic in bourgeois politics ensures that prison guard unions can block important reforms and keep abusive guards on the job.

Florida prisoners prep through study

My fellow Comrades: A clenched fist salute to all your educators of tha struggle. . .I just wanted for you to know that I have not only stuck by my word as a man but as a Latin King. I've put into manifestation my revolutionary spirit and the responsibilities therein as a leader by beginning a study group based on the many forms of U.$. oppression inflicted upon Latin America and Latinos as a whole. Primarily our studies are related to the information provided by our MIM Notes. This week we read and discussed two articles in No. 241 about Vieques. Among the topics most discussed were the lesson received in "U.$. electoral practice around the world: when unable to control the outcome of a vote, control the terms of voting or try to buy off the voters." [. . .] At the time our group is small, however multiplication is evident as so many people express an interest in educating themselves about u.$. oppression and productive resistance thereto. I encourage all those of revolutionary spirit and mind to manifest your thoughts and goals and in doing so awaken and prepare all those within tha struggle! I want to thank MIM for your enlightenment and support. --A Florida prisoner November 2001

In Iowa prisons, ghetto style = gang style

If your pants are sagging or look too loose, they will lock you up for being gang-related. Everybody basically has to wear tight pants. People still try to wear loose, but not too loose! You can get a year in lock-up for your pants sagging. Now we cannot get a haircut fade, they say it's gang- related. So it's either short, or bald, or let it grow. ... People need to be organized no matter where they are. But here, if there's more than five or six people together, they lock you up saying it's gang-related. They love that word here. And yes, you have gangs but there is no gang activity. People leave that on the streets. Everybody here talks to each other. It's always these imperialists that say something is wrong when it's not. It's basically harassment. -- an Iowa prisoner, 6 December, 2001

MIM adds: State prison systems throughout the united snakes enacted "Security Threat Group" policies during the 1990s. These rules are supposed to prevent so-called gang activity -- violence, drug smuggling and selling, the works. But the STG regulations target oppressed people simply for having some culture that is not white- bread. Suburban white kids can use all manner of slang, have tattoos and wear all the baggy pants they want. But prisoners who express themselves in the same way can be re-sentenced and re-classified without trial or representation.

Administrative Lockdown in Tennessee

There was an event in the close custody unit, which I am housed very near to, here at the Hardeman County Correctional Facility in Tennessee which is run by the Correctional Corporations of America [a for-profit company which runs a number of prisons across the country]. Several inmates had an altercation with one another. Shortly after this incident, they were detained and placed in punitive segregation. Although they were removed from population, "we", I'm speaking of us innocent inmates, were held under administrative lockdown, but a large majority of the population was still active and running. As of [December 21] we are being still punished for others' actions. We are not being fed properly. On some days, just until recently, we were not given the procedural 1 hour out of 24 for personal exercise purposes. Now we are given 2 hours a day for our own use, which I believe is out of guilt because of rumors spreading that one of the gentlemen that was involved in the incident is released from seg. and is now housed on another wing of this facility. As of now we're kissing at 30 days of administrative lockdown. We are being fed by inmates who are still classified as close custody, which have no medical permit. Clearly these actions are against state laws. I am in the process of obtaining legal counsel to further admonish this institution of its operation. --a prisoner in Tennessee, Dec 2001.

Oppressive conditions in New Jersey

I am in prison here in the state of New Jersey and now I am going through hard times. I am a diabetic and some times I have a hard time getting my insulin. I am supposed to get it early, before we eat, but sometimes we get it late after we eat and that goes on during all three shifts. We also get served bad food here and for our diabetic snacks they mostly serve us cheese sandwiches which are not good for us. The medical conditions are bad here too. They have nurses on the first and second shifts, but they don't have a nurse on the third shift. If someone gets sick on the third shift they have to call over to the main hospital and it takes an hour for them to come over and a person could be dead by then. In fact it has happened before and we would like to have a nurse on third shift just like the other shifts. There is also a lot of other stuff that goes on in this prison that you should know about. A lot of brutality by the prison guards on prisoners. Males and females. Prisoners are set up on false charges, racial profiling goes on in here just like out there. It is hard for us to get a roll of toilet paper or a bar of soap. They play games with our money and canteen. Please write to Mr. Al Faro Ortiz jr., Admin. Supt. or Mr. Russell Henry, Assistant Admin. Supt, at NSP, 168 Frontage Rd. PO Box 2300, Newark, NJ 07114. Or call 973-578-2200 or 973-465- 0068. Let them know how your feel and demand that some changes be made. I have put in complaint forms and nothing happens. We even put in a class action civil law suit and nothing happened. So the inside is not doing any good. We need the outside. -- a prisoner in New Jersey, December 2001

Small anti-censorship victory

Please find enclosed the paperwork concerning a recently failed censorship attempt against me by an ODOC pig. On 10 October, a hick-town oinker that worked in my housing unit confiscated the 1 Sept & 15 Sept issues of MIM Notes because he thought that they were "gang-related" and constituted a threat. I went the normal route, not expecting to get them returned, and what a surprise it was when I did receive them: in November! The only reason I'm telling you about this is because my accomplishment using the tools of the regime was an extreme rarity. (I can't emphasize the word "extreme" enough.) A minor victory, but victory nonetheless. -- A prisoner in Oregon, December 2001.

Oregon USW call to arms

A clenched fist salute! First, I would thank and commend those comrades who have had the balls to expose the Oregon pigs' corruption. Another clenched fist salute to you!!! Comrades, I write this letter as an Oregon call-to-arms. Now is our hour upon the stage, we dare not waste it! Noww is the time to put aside our petty differences, pull on our commando helmets and go to war! We stand no chance of victory without the powers to unite. This is why our first offensive on the Oregon front (and this is a war) is the abolishment of censorship! This $y$tem will NEVER change if we don't speak out. I urge at least one (a bare minimum) comrade in each prison -- including OWCC - to step forth and take the reins of leadership. I also urge ALL Oregon comrades to take the time to list every grievance you have with the Oregon $y$tem, no matter how petty. Our various leaders will then decide what further actions are necessary. Though our battle will be long and hard, we must stand tall, resilient, united. Let us speak with one voice, hear with one ear, and see with the same sight. "Let there be such oneness between us that when one cries, the other tastes salt," (quote by Rosabelle Belleve) The Time for change is now. The weapon of change is unity. Let the hour not be later; the time not next week, but now! For, "If not you, who? If not now, when?" (quote by Hillel a Palestinian Rabbi). Comrades, the stage is ours. We must act now! Listed below you will find an example of worthwhile battles to fight: 1. Fight against censorship by acquainting yourself with OAR division 131 (the rule on mail). 2. Get a study group set up. 3. Find out your prison's policy on getting MIM's literature donated to the prison library. 4. Try to get hobby shop and clubs started (if you don't already), this is what the "Inmate Welfare Fund" is for. 5. Try too get CD players for all prisoners, not just the ones with 2 years clear conduct. (OSCI and any others) It is a denial of the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment and violates Article I, Section 20 of the Oregon Constitution. 6. Try to get more religious items (such as prayer rugs, talismans, tarot cards, herbs, etc.) on your prison's canteen. 7. Fight any L.O.P. sanction that was given without your abuse of a privilege such as yard, library, canteen, etc. See OAR division 105 which creates a protected liberty interest enforceable under the due process clause of the 14th amendment. 8. Any time your property, bedding, hygiene items, or clothing is taken when you didn't "abuse" it, grieve it. Read LeMaire v. Maass, 745 F.Supp. 623 (D.OR. 1990) aff'd in part, rev'd in part 12 F3d 1444 (9th Cir 1993). The court held that OAR 011 created a protected liberty interest. Please sign your letters with your prison after your signature so our USW leaders will better know how to address your issues. The time is now, the choice is ours. Stand up and be heard comrades.

With a clenched fist, Warlock, USW, SRCI

Attention Prisoners: Serve the People Free Books for Prisoners info

The MIM Books for Prisoners program is not a charity program. It is a revolutionary independent institution of the oppressed. Its purpose is to serve immediate needs of the people at the same time that we build the most important service to the people: a revolutionary anti-imperialist struggle. We ask our comrades behind bars to exchange political work for literature if you cannot afford to pay for books. With your requests for books please also send a note describing what kind of work you can to do in exchange. Suggested tasks include: 1. Writing an article about the conditions in your prison. See articles in Under Lock and Key for examples. 2. Writing an article about events in the united states, or in another country. See articles in MIM Notes for examples. 3. Producing anti-imperialist art. 4. Organizing a study group in your prison to read MIM Notes and the literature that we send you. 5. Writing up a review of the literature we send you describing your views on what you read. 6. Helping with the censorship or other anti-repression campaigns MIM and United Struggle from Within are fighting in prisons across the country. 7. Doing legal research within an anti-imperialist context. 8. Writing political poetry for publication in MIM Notes. 9. Organizing others in your prison to join the anti-imperialist movement. 10. Any other tasks that help to build United Struggle from Within and the anti-imperialist movement.