Federal Prisons

This is the first article I have written for ULK. I was especially interested in writing about the topic above because, all too often, I have witnessed how the ‘gangster’ type are eager to dictate to others how their mission is to bring unity, yet their actions and attitudes are completely misplaced. For instance, if we are to fight oppression within the prison system, how is extorting other prisoners, assaulting others, et cetera, a means to that end?

I am not, nor would I ever become, gang-affiliated. In my opinion, if a person joins a gang, it is because they are too weak to stand up for themselves. Prison has become a daycare. Whites sell out whites, blacks team up with whites and babies have babies. What the hell? I’ve met pedophiles who are ranking gang officials, and snitches are free to roam as they please. Nothing makes any sense anymore and, just for the record, any gang which encourages a prisoner to extend their sentences or which demand that parents of children perform acts which result in them not being able to see them, that crap is no better than the lowest of the lowly.

The things gangs in Missouri do and continue to do are stupid and their actions bring upon us all the oppression. Gang members in Missouri, though they continuously spout the B.S. about solidarity, unity and integrity are, in turn, the cause and continuing justification for our being oppressed.

Instead of fighting for our right to not be abused by ‘the system,’ Missouri gangs are the tinder with which the fire under oppression is fueled. For every instance of stupidity by Missouri gang members, we, as a whole, lose an integral part of the overall voice with which we need to be able to defend ourselves from the wrongs of the system.

MIM(Prisons) responds: This author asserts that “if a person joins a gang, it is because they are too weak to stand up for themselves.” We ask in return: why is it wrong to seek out others to help you defend yourself? Lumpen organizations arose, on the streets and in prisons, in response to very real threats to the safety of oppressed nation people. It is not realistic to think that, in the face of institutional violence and attacks, or organized violence from other groups of people, one should stand alone. And seeking this help and unity is not a sign of weakness.

However, we do agree with this writer that organizations that require their members to engage in anti-people activity, or which engage in actions that harm the general prisoner population, are not friends of the fight against the criminal injustice system. There are many different types of lumpen organizations and conditions vary in different areas. In some situations staying away from L.O.s might be the best practice for anti-imperialists. But at this stage, to organize the lumpen masses, we need to be building unity between lumpen organizations where possible, not perpetuating the fighting that the prison administration encourages. We regularly print articles in ULK from comrades in lumpen orgs doing just this sort of building behind bars. This is the leadership we need to highlight and learn from as most of our readers in prison are in or have been in lumpen organizations..

I strongly disagree with the exclusion of whites from the ranks of the lumpen within the United $tates. (see the tenth paragraph of Wiawimawo’s article “Sakai’s Investigation of the Lumpen in Revolution” in ULK 64) Although most whites in the United $tates. enjoy “white privilege” there are also whole communities of disenfranchised, impoverished whites. These communities are heavily reliant on government support systems to survive (i.e. food stamps, SSI, welfare, section 8 housing, etc.) They are also rife with crime, drugs, and street gangs.

For example, take the lumpen organizations (L.O.s) from Chicago (i.e. the Gaylords and the Simon City Royals). Both of these organizations were started by disenfranchised, impoverished communities consisting of mostly whites. They were originally founded to protect their communities from outside forces.

By stating that only oppressed “minorities” can be considered lumpen, Wiawimawo is engaging in paternalist politics that causes divisions within the movement. The truth is that any people that fit the political, social, and economic profile are lumpen. Disenfranchisement is not unique, nor immune, to any nationality. In solidarity!

Wiawimawo of MIM(Prisons) responds: We are sending you a copy of “Who is the Lumpen in the United $tates?” so you can better understand our position on this question. First let’s look at the quote from my article that you are responding to:

“This is why, in our work on the First World lumpen in the United $tates, we excluded white people from the model by default. We did this despite knowing many white lumpen individuals who are comrades and don’t fit the model.”

Note i say that we know “many white lumpen individuals who are comrades,” meaning we agree with you that there are white lumpen, we just excluded them from the model presented in the paper cited. So why did we do this? Well, it is mostly based in our assessment of the principal contradiction in the United $tates being between the white oppressor nation and the oppressed nations. In the paper we do write:

“White men [who are currently/formerly incarcerated lumpen] number about 1.3 million, but are much more likely to find employment and join the labor aristocracy after release from prison. While in prison white men do fall into the lumpen class but lack the oppressed nation outlook and so often join white supremacist groups rather than supporting revolutionary organizing. This is just one factor contributing to a national outlook that leads us to exclude whites overall when discussing the revolutionary potential of the First World lumpen.”

We also point out that historically the settler nation made up of Europeans has always been a petty bourgeois nation, while the oppressed nations have histories that are largely proletarian, but also lumpen-proletarian. History affects our national and class consciousness, so we can’t just look at a snapshot in time. But the point of the paper was to show the size of the First World lumpen in the oppressed nations of the United $tates and a snapshot of how their conditions differ significantly from the white nation.

We’d say the examples you provide are exceptions that prove the rule. It takes some digging to come up with them, but certainly they exist. And in the context of the topic of this issue of Under Lock & Key we can certainly agree with you that they should not be ignored.

Most often, in U.$. prisons, when we talk about white L.O.s we are talking about white nationalist groups of some type. In our study, white supremacist organizations that are promoting fascism in this country today are made up of three main groups: former military, members of lumpen organizations/prisoners, and alienated petty bourgeois youth gathering around racist subcultures on the internet. The first two are the more dangerous groups, though the third gives the movement more of a feeling of a mass base of popularity. In our work it is with the second group that we can have the most impact. And we’ve had a number of former hardcore white supremacists become leaders within United Struggle from Within, and many more have participated in progressive battles for prisoner rights. It is in such alliances with the oppressed nations around the common interests of the imprisoned lumpen that we can really win over potential recruits who were initially drawn to fascism.

We welcome reports on examples of white lumpen organizing in the interests of ending oppression, and further analysis of the white lumpen as a base for progressive organizing.

The third goal of the expanded newspaper [from the ULK 64 “Make ULK Monthly” article (1)] states, “Broader distribution of anti-imperialist information.” Furthermore, in the “who should be part of this expansion?” section of the article MIM(Prisons) states that “we will continue to publish articles from individuals who share our anti-imperialist agenda though perhaps are not Maoists.”

I believe that the third goal can be achieved by practicing the above quote. The ULK subscription rate would increase by allowing “outsiders” to publish material within the publication (such as anarchists). This increase in subscribers would also increase the number of art and article submissions to ULK, as well as donations.

Let us remember that Marx agreed with Proudhon and other anarchists in regard to the necessity for the proletariat to abolish the state. It is only by abolishing the state that we can create a class-less society (since the state is the manifestation of class antagonisms). The dividing line between communists and anarchists is not the abolition of the state, but the process in which the state should be abolished. Because there are many similarities between communist and anarchist ideologies both ULK and its readers would benefit greatly from the inclusion of anarchist commentary (besides, MIM(Prisons) can always comment on an anarchist article to correct it if necessary.)

MIM(Prisons) responds: MIM(Prisons) welcomes anarchist writers to submit to ULK. This writer is correct that our areas of disagreement are limited to the strategy to getting to classless society, and we agree on our ultimate goal of society with no groups of people having power over other groups. There is also a lot to agree on in the struggle along the way.

The new newsletter in the works will still be a Maoist newsletter, meaning that all writings will pass through a Maoist editorial staff that will either edit or respond to any writings that disagree with the basic tenets of Maoism depending on the position of the author. We do think our readers benefit from seeing debates, and we want to focus on debates that push our movement and our unity forward. We share this comrade’s idea that expanding the contributors to this publication will also expand our distribution. We invite potential contributors to get in touch.

RE: FDOC/Martin CI security, and other staff members blatant and rampant convenient disregard of Chapter 33-401.401 and Fla.Stat.944.115. Use of tobacco prohibition.

With respect, I’m serving a life sentence for armed robbery, currently housed at Martin CI, where prisoners, (myself included) are facing a very detrimental issue regarding continuous risk of contracting cancer and/or other tobacco related illnesses due mostly to constant exposure to second hand smoke from staff members openly smoking cigarettes here and basically at every Florida prison. FDOC staff members are smoking and/or chewing tobacco on prison grounds with only convenient or selective regards for health concerns and F.A.C. Chapter 33-401.401 and Fla Stat.944.115. Per policy and practice, prison staff are blessed with the legal but unrighteous double standard guarantee of unlimited administrative impunity. Their behavior is condoned and encouraged by administration, they are basically above the law. They smoke and/or chew tobacco as they please while prisoners are subject to confinement for use or possession of tobacco products.

I have grieved this issue to the highest level to no avail. See appeal grievances log #18-6-37611, originally informal grievance log #430-1807-0194 regarding Overseer Swain smoking on numerous occasions. See also appeal grievance log #18-643906 originally informal grievance log #430-1808-0351 regarding Colonel Lankford chewing and spitting tobacco juice in an E-4 dormitory garbage can on 8/27/18, approximately 7:45 PM. All grievances were biasly and conveniently denied. This policy and practice continues blatantly and rampantly as of current by almost every staff member from trainee to warden(s).

On 8, January, 2019 I was issued a low bunk pass by medical Dr. Y Resilard. I submitted this low bunk pass to C-dormitory Sgt. Gilbert, who said that she would call housing and have me reassigned to a low bunk. However, a few hours later, upon inquiring the status of the bunk change, Sgt. Gilbert snapped out loud stating, “I’m not helping any fucking body any more, someone stole my pack of cigarettes from my bag in the officer station.” Thereby, punishing me for someone else’s action by refusing to call housing to honor my medical issued low bunk pass because someone stole her cigarettes, which are prohibited by Chapter 33-401.401 and Fla. stat.944.115. On 1/19/19, as a result, I submitted a grievance on the issue of mentioning the cigarette incident. I’m still assigned a top bunk because of my grievance despite my having a medical issued low bunk pass.

Considering the fact that this is an ongoing issue, there is much more. Martin CI administration are going all out in war on contraband, tobacco. However, this crusade only applies to and against prisoners rather than all within the gates, including administrative higher-ups whom are fully culpable.

On December 22, 2018, for example, two prisoners were hauled off to confinement from CSB medical building lobby for being in possession of tobacco. This incident subsequently resulted in the termination of a medical staff member, a male nurse Mr. Duke. Fired in connection with introduction of contraband, tobacco, and probably prosecuted while prison staff are smoking and chewing tobacco in convenient violation of the very same introduction of contraband rule, Chapter 33-401.401. Thus exposing prisoners, whom are not allowed to smoke or chew, to constant to second hand smoke and serious risk of cancer.

In the administrative war on contraband, tobacco, the rules are subject to change on the fly, depends on which shift is working, the prison is operated this way one hour/day and that way the next. The only thing consistent here is inconsistency. Prisoners are being sent back to their housing units while in the middle of their CSB appoints, being constantly rescheduled. Property, library, chapel, housing, even legal mail gets no priority in the name of limiting prisoner movement in attempt to “stop the so-called passing of contraband,” as claimed by Assistant Warden J. Holtz. All this while Martin CI staff members, Warden down to trainee, are the main ones smoking cigarettes and exposing prisoners to second hand smoke and risk of cancer. The rules here are simply being adhered to or applied conveniently only against prisoners.

Prison staff are highly addicted to tobacco products making this a very sensitively and dangerous issue for prisoners to grieve due to knowing staff full tendency to retaliate. Prisoners are in real fear of prison staff retaliation. Prisoners also have permanently instilled justified lack of faith in the grievance process. Prisoners have gotten so used to being ignored, rubber stamped, denied to the highest level. For example, S. Millikens in central office is 100% anti-prisoner, no matter how timely, factual and/or meritorious prisoner’s claim(s), it is denied, rubber stamped. I am totally aware of the danger I face for writing this letter. I know what could happen to me. I don’t smoke, but I will still end up cancerous, dead, whether I submit this or not. All prisoners may as well resort to smoking cigarette butts dropped by prison staff and catch cancer. We’re all going to get cancer from prison staff second hand smoke anyway.

REMEDY: That you in higher office move to objectively enforce lawful adherence to mandated Chapter 33-401.401 and Fla.Stat.944.115 if prison cancer rate and money for cancer treatment of Florida prisoners is a concern, enforce the rules all the way, not just conveniently abasing prisoners, but against all within the gates.

A copy of the foregoing is being submitted to Martin CI mail personnel to be first class mailed to FDOC South Regional Director, FDOC Secretary and Fla Governor Office on 2/18/19.

FDOC Secretary
Mark Inch
501 S. Calhoun St
Tallahassee, FL 32399

RE: 2/15/19, AND ONGOING BRUTALITY OF PRISONERS IN HANDCUFFS

February 15, 2019, Between 1 pm and 3 pm, during lunch feeding. On walkway in front of medical building, Sgt. Logo and Overseer, St. Croix were roughly escorting handcuffed prisoner, [X] to confinement. Sgt. Lobo literally took out his side arm canister of pepper spray and emptied it in the handcuffed prisoner’s eyes and face area. Sgt. Lobo then slammed prisoner X to the ground and repeatedly kicked him in the back and side. Many other prisoners also witnessed this brutality.

Captain Bensi came running, and rather than stopping the brutality, she literally joined in and participated. Thereby continuing, condoning and encouraging the brutality of prisoner X. Overseer Hampford and all other overseers on the walkway started ordering prisoners to their dormitories so there would be no witnesses. Per Martin CI Policy and Practice, any prisoner caught looking gets the same treatment. This is an ongoing issue here at Martin CI, especially with Sgt. Lobo.

2/6/19: Approx. 1:02 P.M. C-dormitory fixed porch video surveillance will show and prove that prisoners coming from lunch were stuck on the porch outside due to the overseer in the overseer station not opening the two main entrances to the dorm. Sgt. Lobo approached with his large side arm canister of chemical agents in hand (another unknown overseer with him whipped out his handcuffs and fitted it over his fist in brass knuckle fashion), the broken seal in his mouth as he sprayed chemical agents toward the crowded porch causing prisoners (myself included) to start coughing as the overseer in the overstation finally opens the main doors. Sgt. Lobo did this for no other reason other than the fact that he is above the law. There was no disturbance or emergency as is required by SOP to justify breaking the seal of chemical agents canister. And this is Sgt. Lobo’s second time doing this in recent weeks that I’ve witnessed.

1/1/10: between 5:30 PM and 7:30 PM. On walkway in front of medical. During dinner feeding and pill call, Sgt. Lobo gassed a prisoner who was already in handcuffs, in the face and eyes. The victim, as always, was a black prisoner.

This policy and practice clearly amounts to summary brutality, battery, excessive force. See Danley v. Allen, 540 F.3d@1309: “Once a prisoner has stopped resisting, there is no longer a need for force. So the use of force thereafter is disproportionate to the need.” The issue here is the fact that these prisoners are not resisting, they are being gassed and beaten, only after they have peacefully submitted to handcuffs. Other prisoners are looking on, but there is no telling how long prisoners can remain tolerant being caught in such bias and no-win-situations. Our backs are being forced against the walls here. Please do something before the worst comes to pass.

2/13/19: Submitted informal grievance RE: 2/6/19 and prior issues in Sgt. Lobo gassings. Grievance still pending. Legal mail being intentionally delayed, haven’t had legal mail in 2 days. Can’t get out of the dormitory, no reason other than abuse of authority and collective punishment.

I am writing on account of a correctional officer stripping me nude, placing me in handcuffs, slamming me, choking me unconscious for no reason on video trying to kill me. Any help would gladly be appreciated. See:[Case no.] in Bowie County, TX, to view this video admitted into evidence. The correctional officer turned his back toward the camera while choking me, but video shows me unresponsive afterwards.

Forgive me for not staying on top of letter writing to you all, because I really miss the newsletters you send. I’m not sure if you have already heard about this incident that occurred here in Texas at the Ramsey Unit in Roshanon, but I will reiterate it for you and the results it brought. In March, 2018, an email was written and sent out to unit sergeants on the Ramsey Unit requiring them to have their officers write at least two disciplinary cases each day for “unauthorized storage of property” without exceptions. This email was written by Captain Reginald Gilbert on March 10, 2018, and was responded to a couple of hours later by now former Major Juan Jackson, who stated that the instructions on the email “will help greatly in fighting a gig,” which is slang for a unit audit. The quota system was abandoned a few weeks later, but an investigation has begun into this.

Now, even though a write-up for not being able to properly store our property into lockers or storage containers that were designed and built for the amount of property that was allowed during the time they were built, (over 40 years ago when the spending amount for commissary was $60.00 a month compared to the $210.00 that is allowed now) is considered minor, if you have already had two minor write-ups in 90-179 days, the third one would be considered a MAJOR case, which can result in the loss of good time, time earning class, commissary, recreation, telephone, and visitation restrictions being leveled against you. This has been and still is going on throughout TDCJ with NO ONE to monitor these atrocities occurring to us.

Now, as the so-called investigation of the bogus disciplinaries resulted in 180 disciplinary cases being thrown out, an inmate’s mother wrote us saying that her son had been set up by prison guards who had planted two screwdrivers in his cell in connection with the quota. Another investigation was opened, and this time, four men were FIRED and another one resigned. (It was my understanding the Major Jackson walked before they walked him.) That’s not all. Some of those same officers were ARRESTED on misdemeanor charges relating to the planting of the screwdrivers.

Once the information hit the fan about the bogus disciplinaries, 500 were found to be written because of the quota scheme. Along with the five officials that the Ramsey Unit lost, a state jail in Atascocita had one official removed; instead of demoting a Captain at this same state jail, he was FIRED. At McConnell, 293 cases were dismissed along with another 83 cases waiting to be processed, and a Major was demoted. At a state jail in Austin, 91 cases were thrown out and an assistant Warden, a Captain, and a Sargent were demoted and reassigned to other units.

Even though we were glad to hear all of this, it means NOTHING to those of us who have already been scarred by the hundreds and thousands of false & bogus cases that caused many of us to be denied parole, and many other things just so certain officials may look as though they are doing a job. When Disciplinary Hearing Officer (DHO) Captain Lonnie Douglas first arrived here on the Wayne Scott Unit back in August, 2017, she immediately initiated a quota system, threatening to write officers up who didn’t turn in a certain number of cases. The result; officers went to resigning by the dozens because many of them did not want to be part of an injustice against those of us who didn’t deserve it.

The cases against me during her tenure here were so minute that it cost the state more to address the appeals, then it did to write them. Captain Douglas has now been promoted and reassigned, yet there are still inmates whom she left her mark on. These so-called disciplinary quotas are still a part of this system, and will forever be. There are some acts of good news in the air concerning good time being given to help us come up for parole sooner, yet it doesn’t seem as though it will help the thousands of us in need of parole. I will let you know what happens with it at a later date.

It is absolutely imperative to defend yourself or your fellow convicts from harm or threats of harm while in the Department of Corruptions. This also applies to the brainwashed and controlled masses throughout the world struggling against oppression and sadism of the highest degree. We are in an authoritarian environment where oppressive tyrants constantly threaten our safety everyday. This includes the Department of Corruptions, the police force, the Federal Bureau of Investigations, Family Services, and sadly some members of the Parliament, etc. These most vilest of parasites wish to drain any type of resistance the masses can muster up to destroy these evil forces of hatred. I feel it is beneficial that we examine some of these blood-sucking leeches who wish to gain economic influence and any material objects/money they may obtain from the prisoner/slave/proletariat.

Most prisoners are forced to work with no pay what so ever or suffer segregation for their justified disobedience. Not only are we forced to work, but we are given oppressive instructions of what to do and what not to do or suffer the consequences. This means that if a prisoner is indigent or owes big money to the state, he is given a small amount of food to live on. It is the square cooks responsibility to make sure “just enough” food is given to the inmates.

This is where the convict mentality comes in and realizes his fellow prisoners could use some extra food. Put extra chicken or Salisbury patties under everybody’s break or stock up extra pancakes on the trays. Put extra food items in the CRD and suicide bags. You are working for absolutely nothing, so at least gorge yourself and other prisoners. Some may say, “well they’ll throw me in the hole if I do that.” Only so much can happen once the convict blood pumps through the convict’s veins and realized the pigs can only do so much. They always need workers, period. It is only through the unity and solidarity between all prisoners to come to a conclusion that the pigs are outnumbered. We are constantly harassed, taunted and even assaulted by these prison officials. Who’s official don’t amount to shit but a badge. This prison is our home for the time being and it is our responsibility to run the show. More on this later.

Let us now examine the police force. It is these tyrants, whose job pays to exploit the lowly masses. Millions of kids and adults suffer brutal assaults and murders on a daily basis and call it justice. I have come to find a sickness in a pig who will damn near kill you with excessive force and have the audacity to say “watch your head entering the police vehicle.” We are forced to pay excessive fines and do jail time for the pettiest of crimes, while the pigs smuggle any drugs or launder any money they find on us. It is this pig who needs jail. But most importantly destroyed.

As space permits, we will now examine the FBI, who will do anything to destroy the peoples livelihood. I find Ruby Ridge of 1992 a sad example. Vicki Weaver was a nationalist who carried very much love for her children. The FBI dubbed her a racist and attempted to have family services take her baby away from her. Miss Weaver refused to give up her child and was shot in the head while holding her baby. Not only does the FBI carry out secret assassinations, but they sweep their assassinations under the rug and target any radical or extremist they deem a threat. We are monitored through our smart phones, Facebook, chatrooms, tablets, etc. Anybody the federal government deems a threat will not only be placed on a terrorist list, but their every movement shall be watched as well.

America is quickly transforming into a police state and this is where self-defense applies. The Second Amendment clearly states, “A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.” This does not mean that a bunch of rednecks may keep guns just to go hunting. This right was given to us to overthrow a despotic government. May I add it never mentions parolees be banned arms. It is our duty as a nation to put terror into the government that oppresses us. This is where I find this right beneficial to prisoners. We may not have guns, but we have power and might to instill fear into the administration’s brain and really show them what a “safety and security risk” is. Any violation of our Eight Amendment right amounts as a threat to our living conditions when our living conditions are threatened we must instill terror into the administration in any way possible. This does not always automatically mean to resort to violence, though violence is a very nourishing idea when well executed.

Our defense must start with a small group of people, but rapidly rise to the whole prison population. Do not be brainwashed with the duality of consequences or be materialized with worldly possessions. This is only utilized to pacify the convict who has not yet come to terms with his slavery. In war defense is always going to be attacked with absolute monstrosity from the defending respondent. For any people who search for righteousness and justice must be prepared to fight for it. Living conditions can be changed, stubbornness can be overcome. True justice and freedom from bondage must be intravenously hammered into the convicts brain. Love, respect, and hospitality must be shown to the masses, as well as revolutionary education should be distributed among everybody.

To gain trust a sense of anarchy must be issued with an orderly form of resistance. Hierarchies must be initiated from all groups of political opinion. Then the hierarchy must illustrate the plan of success to his group of followers. Only then can we gain a source of order. Unfortunately the people who refuse to cooperate at any level of excellence must be deemed as a threat and handled accordingly. Through this endeavor should then all individuals cooperate. With our unity and dignity shall we then initiate a plan. No matter how brutal the consequences or how horrible the suffering, we must encourage one another to pull through and never give in. We must instill an amount of courage, discipline, and perseverance within our souls that refuse to be eradicated. We must pledge that nothing the diabolical snake of inhumane hatred and poison, injects into us, that we shall never give in. Only the peace and strength of mind, within each individual’s hardness of heart, can we gain solace with one another and solidarity. And this my friends, is how we gain back our power, dignity, and respect. Solidarity is the only way we earn our freedom, behind these crumbling walls. Power to the People!

Arguably the hardest aspect of organizing (especially revolutionary organizing) is building consciousness. Not specifically of the subject matter (i.e., anti-capitalist/imperialist, socialism, equality, prisoner struggle) but of their role in the larger picture and its influence on their lives. Such consciousness leads to meaningful action. Due to this, it is the most rewarding of political objectives. It is also the most difficult to cultivate.

In pursuit of building consciousness, revolutionaries face many obstacles. A predominant, recurring obstacle is expanding peoples’ perspective beyond their individual material concerns. A person’s material interests constitute primary motivation for activism against and contributing to capitalism. In the Third World we see stringent struggles against capitalism. The opposite is equally true within capitalist societies. Material interests/motivations are inextricably welded to an individual’s perspective of, and instinct for, self-preservation. This leads to a spectacular (depending on your ideological bent) narrowing down of alternatives, options and ultimately choices. A non-conducive situation for First World revolutionary organizing.

Our natural inclination is to allow self-preservation to impulse our actions once fear or a threat exceeds acceptable levels. People react as basic as scared animals in danger. Due to social evolution, our responses are more complex and advanced, more involved, what one can call a “social” self-preservation instinct. Similar to the brain shutting down because of excessive stress or trauma, emerging consciousness among First Worlders regresses when one’s standard of living is threatened. Breaking First World attachment to physical/material comforts (possessions, commodities, thing-centrism) is first imperative to any revolutionary organizing, in particular; and wider political consciousness, in general.

A great amount of time, energy and attention must be given to shattering these real constraints. Class suicide among First World activists is the end result of such efforts. Through a patient, methodical process of expansive efforts (educational of real costs of capitalism/imperialism), diligence in those efforts and demonstrating the feasibility of alternative means (non-capitalistic), an organizer can make a meaningful contribution to supplanting capitalism.

People are selfish and revolutionary anti-imperialists should remind themselves that their target is the personal element, first and foremost. Even the perfect rally/demonstration, regardless of how correct its politics, will have a difficult time penetrating the calloused minds of those long accustomed to, and blinded by, capitalism. Especially when it concerns prisoners and penal systems/institutions. Most First Worlders simply deem it a necessary evil to preserve society.

MIM(Prisons) responds: Those First Worlders this author refers to are right that the prison system and institutions are a necessary evil to preserve the society as it is. That’s the main difference between our prison work and that of many prison abolitionists – we know that we can’t get rid of prisons in their current form unless we also get rid of capitalism.

This article brings up real challenges in our work. In ULK, we hope to host an ongoing conversation about ways we can be most effective in accomplishing the tasks this author calls out as most imperative: building consciousness, changing value systems, showing alternatives, etc. Send in your experiences and successes so we can continue learning from each other!

I have been fighting for better conditions in my current prison since I got here in June 2017. Tell the prison masses they have to write en masse to their unit managers, warden and director of prisons in their state. It’s free!! There is no excuse.

The easiest thing to do, which I did, is to write up your declarations and remonstrations using carbon copy paper. Make 2-3 copies for each block/pod in every unit. Pass them out to comrades in those blocks, so they can encourage/force/persuade the masses to take 15 minutes to recopy and post it out. Done.

The first time I initiated these shots the warden called me to his office for a meeting with him, the unit manager, and assistant warden. He stopped the early counts, the 9 p.m. count, and turning off of phones. This sh!t works. On the second salvo he initiated recreation seven days a week. We are still pounding.

MIM(Prisons) responds: More reasonable hours for count, more contact with the outside world, and more recreation are all related to our anti-imperialist struggle, even though they may seem like petty reforms. Better sleep makes us mentally sharper, for writing, self-control, and creativity. Interaction with the outside world can give us motivation and positive social contact. And exercise (especially outdoors) helps with our physical as well as mental health.

We’d love to analyze a little deeper the benefits of running a campaign like the one described, because it’s not just good for changing conditions. The people who are copying the letters and seeing results are at a special place in their recruiting. They might not be ready to initiate a campaign like this, and they might not even identify as part of “the struggle.” But they have some interest in this work and are putting in some (albeit relatively small) effort.

At this stage, the best thing we can do for them is help set up “easy wins.” They probably aren’t dedicated enough to remain committed after a big setback. So asking them to put in a ton of effort for no reward is just not realistically going to inspire them to stay engaged. Whenever we can devise campaigns or activities that give this positive feedback to the people participating, with minimal effort, we should jump on those projects. These folks might not have learned the relationship between working hard and reward, so we can help teach that association. “Without directly experiencing the connection between effort and reward, animals, whether they’re rats or people, default to laziness.”(1)

Also keep in mind that all is not lost on the folks who are not participating, and are watching the campaign from the sidelines. Like we wrote in our response to “Sack the Sack Lunches,” this type of campaign can help spark people’s interest, just by witnessing and experiencing the results. Let’s not condemn these folks for not participating, and instead let’s try harder to inspire them with our successes, and then help them with easy wins when they are ready to participate.

In some states like Texas, where even indigent mail is restricted to 5 letters per month, it’s not free to write to these administrators to change conditions. There are plenty of excuses (or reasons) why people can’t engage in this type of campaign. Still, whenever possible, we agree that we should be pushing campaigns like these. It just means we have to get more creative in developing them.