MIM(Prisons) is a cell of revolutionaries serving the oppressed masses inside U.$. prisons, guided by the communist ideology of Marxism-Leninism-Maoism.
Under Lock & Key is a news service written by and for prisoners with a focus on what is going on behind bars throughout the United States. Under Lock & Key is available to U.S. prisoners for free through MIM(Prisons)'s Free Political Literature to Prisoners Program, by writing:
MIM(Prisons) PO Box 40799 San Francisco, CA 94140.
I have received
ULK24. I love the
article by release coordinator of MIM(Prisons)
Overcoming
Release Challenges. It goes into detail on the “Post-Release Plan”
you all sent me. A comment on the time management is that it’s true that
time is critical, but as we do something like traveling to and from work
or to see our parole officer, lunch breaks on the job, we communicate
with people. This may not seem like much but one conversation on the
basics can change lives.
My backpack will go everywhere with me. And this backpack will be
stuffed with the best zines, newsletters, etc. If I pass a store, I can
place some on the counter: hand them out to “passer-bys.” We should take
advantage of every little opportunity with limited time. These “little”
things will hold some over until more time frees up or until they get
into the habit and get settled.
And another comment is on “the personal vs. the political.” I agree with
MIM(Prisons) on security issues but on the attempt to preventing the
destruction of relationships with friends and family in the name of the
struggle, I don’t agree. I say this to say if they can’t accept me for
who I am, then they’re not real friends nor real family. This doesn’t
include telling them of more clandestine activities, but in telling them
of your position and what you fight against imperialism. Your friends
and family should want you to fight injustice. Not saying that they are
obligated to do the same in order to be my friend - No! Everyone has a
role in the struggle and some peoples’ may be more radical than others.
These challenges are paramount and needs to be tended to fully. The only
way to go is up because we’re at the bottom; we can’t get any lower.
MIM(Prisons) responds: We agree with this comrade on the
importance of advantage of every minute to do some revolutionary
organizing. And there is nothing wrong with talking in general about
political views with friends and family if you think there’s a chance
they might be interested (if you have an FBI agent in your family you’d
be a fool to talk to them about anything). But you have to be careful
about what you share. What happens when they start asking questions
about details on what you do just because they are curious. And when
your friend is angry with you for something and decides to go tell the
cops about your activity, you’ve just put yourself in danger
unnecessarily. We encourage people to keep their discussions of politics
on the level of theory with people you know, until they demonstrate a
real interest in getting involved in something. There are plenty of
strangers out there we can talk to about politics without fear that they
can use it against us: there is no lack for people to educate and
organize.
Seeing as I am SNY [Special Needs Yard], I’m compelled to put forth a
few words on this matter. I’ve met many folks who neither “debriefed”
nor snitched on anyone. After so much time on these lines, just how much
b.s. can one person take? Unnecessary politics and needless racial
tensions get old. That opinion is being held on the line. When young
people get to prison and hear this type of talk, of course they will go
SNY when confronted with an issue that will jeopardize their freedom or
personal health and well being. Why fight a battle that the leaders are
clearly undecided about?
To blame this or that generation is neither manly nor responsible, it’s
downright cowardly. Everyone is to blame and once an individual
recognizes that there are responsibilities and duties to be upheld, that
whether SNY or not, let him be a man and uphold those responsibilities
and duties. Stay in your own land and quit trying to tell the next man
what you think he should be doing. There are recriminations coming from
this side (SNY) that there is more telling on the line than anyone will
ever let on. The point is: get the beam out your own eye before you can
get the speck out mine.
MIM(Prisons) responds: There has been a lot written about the SNY
in the pages of Under Lock & Key as prisoners line up firmly on one
side or the other of the debate over whether SNY prisoners can be
revolutionary comrades.
Our
position falls in line with what this prisoner writes: we want
people to demonstrate their commitments to the struggle through action.
There are many reasons why people go to SNY, and not all of them snitch
or debrief. Similarly, there are many mainline prisoners who snitch or
work with the guards in other ways. So we must judge each person, SNY or
not, by their actions.
The recent article in ULK23 titled
Hunger
strike strategy: tactical retreat or advance? raised some good ideas
on how to move forward in the struggle for human rights in Amerikan
prisons. We need to propose ideas and theory on the situation with the
strike movement now more than ever. We need to develop a clear path on
how to better strengthen our efforts. This development needs not just
California prisoner’s attention but all prisoners across the United
$tates to lend their voice to this debate no matter where their cage is
at as oppression can be found in every gulag from sea to shining sea.
When prisoners participate in this discussion, many are able to take
from this debate, learn and hopefully add to it in a real way. Some may
use the ideas for their own battles or modify other ideas to work in
their efforts. In this way ULK will serve as a message board or chat
room for the captive masses. All this is of course good and healthy for
any movement to grow, and I look forward to read up on new theory and
add to the mix as well. It is expanding on thought for all and a “win
win” for the people.
One of the things that came out of the article “Tactical Retreat or
Advance” was calling on certain people or LOs to provoke their
participation. Had ULK been a strictly internal document that
only prisoners read then I would think ‘yea right on.’ The problem is
that ULKs are read and heavily scrutinized by prison officials and law
enforcement agencies, thus what may mean to be simple criticism becomes
a serious breach. In California prisons - and I suspect it is the same
everywhere - if prison officials find letters, prison kites, etc., with
prisoners names and affiliations this can be used as “confidential
information,” “proving” what they will call gang association. This will
go into one’s file to be used as a point toward validation. By naming
aliases along with the name of a LO, all investigators need to do is
punch in the alias and the database will list those suspected of
affiliating with a certain LO and connect the dots. So listing names and
LOs of people other than oneself is feeding intel to law enforcement
which will be used to later put people in SHUs for decades or life. To
name names and LOs is harmful being that ULKs go through kops hands
before reaching prisoners. We should find ways to criticize our fellow
prisoners while protecting their identity, it’s not hard to do so.
Someone who may be new to ULK may read the naming names and
wonder, is this writer sabotaging these prisoners ability to remain on
the mainline? Is he trying to get them snatched up? So we don’t want to
give mixed messages to people picking up a ULK of what we’re
about.
I know many people who were validated because their last point was
someone else wrote something about them, that they were affiliated with
this or that group, and so I was surprised this was allowed to take
place.
I read awhile back in a MIM Theory about a comrade who was at a rally or
event, and this comrade spoke about how someone walked up and said
something like “hey you’re from MIM, I knew the founder so and so.” Well
this comrade and MIM wrote something about security and how we shouldn’t
name comrades as this information gets in the hands of agents. Of course
I know the difference between a LO and MIM, yet a LO faces repression in
prison in the form of SHU.
If there is a
“pig
question,” I think it begs the question of can there be a “pig
statement”? It’s something we need to look at and see if there really is
a breach in naming prisoners without their knowledge in ULK.
What is the damage that can come out of this? And should MIM(Prisons)
allow it or partake in the same? I don’t think so. I remember another
article a while back where someone did the same and called out people
and identified their LO but I believe it was in NY. I’m not sure how
prisons in NY deal with intel such as this but I am certain of how
California prisons deal with it and I am sitting in SHU for stuff like
that.
I think MIM(Prisons) has an excellent policy of not putting peoples real
names in its publications. MIM(Prisons) says rightly it does not do so
to protect prisoners from more repression by the state. I believe this
should also pertain to prisoners writing about other prisoners as well.
I think there is a way to call out LOs without naming prisoners, and it
is right to call on certain folks to encourage participation, but naming
names is just too harmful. When we write we must always keep in mind it
is being read by not just guards but the larger state as well. I myself
would not want someone to write about me by name if they are putting an
LO beside my name. This is why MIM(Prisons) does not print real names.
It’s a matter of security. The pigs get a lot of intelligence on
prisoners from their snitches who help them out, they shouldn’t get more
help from prison revolutionaries nor revolutionaries out in society.
I think criticism is a good thing for all prisoners and this includes
LOs who are a huge part in what occurs in many prisons. Revolutionary
prisoners need to develop ways to criticize without doing damage.
Writing is not just succumbing to subjectivism no matter how stressful
it becomes. I fully understand the frustration that arises when people
are right at the ledge and all they need to do is make that leap to
freedom and here we are the prison revolutionary nudging and showing the
path and yet it moves at a snails pace and so we put pen to paper to
jump start what seems like a stalled engine. I get this and see where we
need to go but still we must remember ULK is not an internal
cable, it is literally on the world wide web. Let us move forward in our
efforts while staying alert in all areas. People’s Power!
Editor of MIM(Prisons) responds: We thank comrade Cipactli for
calling out this error in Under Lock & Key, and as editor i
fully accept the criticism made. While any potential damage in that
instance has been done, we are printing this publicly to correct any bad
impressions it may have given people and remind all comrades of the
importance of these issues. This was an opportunist error on my part
that risked pushing away people that we hope to ally with, who never
asked to have their names in ULK.
MIM(Prisons) agrees that it is dangerous practice for ULK to
include people’s LO name and affiliation and we will edit articles in
the future to remove this information. While we have never printed
people’s real names, as Cipactli points out, this doesn’t matter if the
prisoncrats can make the connection between a prisoner and their LO
name. We don’t need to be helping the state with their repression, and
feeding them information can have a real impact even when we are
printing common knowledge.
This doesn’t mean people should stop calling out LOs or writing about
them, but ULK writers need to be careful to never use a name that can be
associated with an individual. We can talk about groups without
connecting them to specific names, and we can address lines and practice
without naming groups. As we build the
United Front
for Peace in Prisons this is particularly important: we must build
unity, not divisions, amongst the Lumpen Organizations.
I recently received
ULK24, thank you.
I share your newsletters with more than twenty people and an article
(Correction
on SNY debate) caused quite an uproar. I recognize the opinion of
what people perceive Special Needs Yards (SNY) is (deviants, rats, etc.)
but have major disagreement with the flawed perception.
The first of a few salient points is the strongest. In buying into the
SNY/GP separation a fatal flaw emerges in ideology. The idea that SNY
refugees who pursue personal safety are filth comes from a criminal
mindset of values and morals. This needs correction and as a solution I
offer education. SNY refugees are getting away from criminal mindset
organizations and street gang policies. 99 percent of conflict within
the walls isn’t political struggle. It’s not being able to pay for
drugs, tribalism, promoting racial hatred and warfare for earlier lost
battles, revenge for street gang violence, manipulation by imperialist
agencies, and good old “I can’t do my time so I’ll make everyone else
miserable.”
As a mainline and SHU veteran of fifteen years traipsing across New
Folsom, High Desert, Pelican Bay, Corcoran, Chino, San Quentin, and Old
Folsom, the idea that I should prepare for death because a corrupt
criminal organization declares it so is sheer idiocy. The idea that I
could crawl under a rock in a hole somewhere and meekly keep my head
down and not try to “make” my situation is sheer childlike fantasy.
Convict (criminal) justice isn’t blind, it is premeditated power
struggles, envy, greed and the law of the jungle coming to fruition. The
reality of prison politics is simple, dope is shotcaller. Greed,
self-aggrandizement, negative cultural and educational values run
rampant like a virus. Split by race, geography, imagined fifty year old
slights and insults, the semi-ignorant masses huddle on their claimed
patches of territory on the yard and build up walls of separation that
tower far above the actual prison walls that confine them. Imperialists
stand watching; laughing, and profiting. The convenient high noon-middle
of the street showdown of physical combat isn’t a noble ideal and it has
replaced rational thought as the tool of necessity in the concrete
culture.
It needs to be said that Republicans and Democrats don’t care if you’re
SNY or GP, creating a mental separation to divide and conquer is proven
COINTELPRO strategy. It makes moving the herd easier.
Bear this in mind please. Just because you are in a cell in prison you
are not a political prisoner. As an individual you must make peace with
why you’re in the cell in the first place. Responsibility for your life
is first. If you choose to pull yourself up by your bootstraps and do
that then wipe away the veil and quit dividing the world in to race,
geography, and location, quit dividing your world into SNY and GP,
become more than a convict.
SNY was a choice I made that I must live with. To believe that I have no
redeemable value is ludicrous. I didn’t testify against anyone, no one
went to the hole, I did not become an oppressor of my own people. I did
not leave my morals on the mainline. I do not live, associate, or do
business with deviants, rats, or oppressors. I am vigilant in knowing
who and what they’ve done in my life. I simply now walk stronger alone
in my stride.
If you are still on the path of separatism you’re stagnant and if your
doctrines espouse convict vs. convict violence, drug profits, or control
of the mass. You are not a revolutionary, you are an oppressor, as your
desire is simply to be king of the mountain. Please do not don the guise
of righteousness simply because of a designation the system created that
you choose to use.
It is every day actions that define you. if you’re still gangbanging,
slinging, separating, wake up you’re stuck in the matrix like Neo was.
Do something revolutionary, walk across the yard to that semi-familiar
face with the ink work of a different tribe on his sleeves. Embrace the
viking king, the African warrior, the Aztec warrior and realize that if
you can’t do it you are by choice dividing and separating, and you’re
the one who doesn’t get it.
My heart and mind are guiding my moral compass true and I cannot see
exploiting another for self-gain. Where do you stand really? It doesn’t
matter in the physical sense as it isn’t a physical question. What is in
your heart will show up in your everyday life. If I’m just talking,
blowing smoke, what I’ve written above makes me another windblown
hypocrite and false seer uttering borrowed phrases and aping the
intelligent conversations of my learned betters. But if it resides in
every beat of my heart and my stride matches my hearts intentions,
recognize, wherever I may be.
Just because you read the little red book and you’re on a mainline
doesn’t make you a revolutionary. Educate yourself, enlighten others,
uplift all.
MIM(Prisons) adds: MIM(Prisons) does recognize all prisoners as
political prisoners because who goes to prison is determined by the
politics of those in power. But there is a difference between why you
are in prison, and what you are going to do with your life. So we agree
with this comrade that political consciousness must be learned through
study and work, and is not given to you the day they close you behind a
cell door.
This debate over whether there can be any revolutionaries on SNY has
been raging in the pages of Under Lock & Key for 2 years
now. MIM(Prisons) comes down on the side of all revolutionary prisoners.
We judge people by their work and not by their state-determined
classification. There are revolutionaries on SNY and there are rats on
GP. And we know the rats in all units like to pretend to be
revolutionaries. We can only look at people’s actions to determine where
they really fall.
I recently completed an assignment as a prospective USW leader. The
topic of dissertation was of revolutionary
Fearlessness,
Scientific Strategy, and Security. The study offers a primary
discourse on issues such as applying the scientific method in strategy,
rather than being passionately or emotionally driven. The “fear factor”
is addressed, and how it can be effective or reckless in issues like
security.
I got a lot from the study personally. I understand as materialists we
aren’t supposed to be influenced by ideas of “the divine,” metaphysical,
or spiritual intervention in human affairs, or in any context for that
matter. Maybe it’s the strong indigenous traditions passed on for
generations in my family and culture that lead to such first impressions
and perceptions. Whatever the cause may be, within the time frame of me
receiving and responding to the above referenced assignment, things were
happening on the ground level directly associated with the lessons in
our assignment. Maybe a Christian or Muslim would believe it was God
allowing their faith to be tried and tested by satan or his legions. Or
a pagan may have believed it was a fusion of Mexican and Roman war gods,
Vaitzilopochtli and Mars somehow interfering with material conditions on
Earth in order to sharpen and refine his skills, strategy, tactics, and
security in struggle. But such convictions, regardless of how firmly
believed, have no scientific basis and cannot be interpreted as truth.
Yet the life lesson and the message has been conveyed.
Back in the 80s in the Texas prison colonies known as “ranchos” there
was a spontaneous combustion within the social relations of Chicano
prisoners. It spread like wildfire, like a virus. A true example of
dialectic materialism in a controlled environment. Like Phoenix rising
out of the flames, ashes, and blood, rose a democratic prison society
claiming to stand together against negative activities in prison. By the
late 90s, entering the new millennium there was a loose confederation of
Latino tribes, regional and autonomous in nature, in virtually every one
of the over 100 Texas ranchos. These regional autonomous tribes are now
a dominate factor in almost every correctional institution in Texas. No
longer are they confined to the Ranchos either, but have spread into the
hoods and barrios, infecting our youth. There is ample evidence that the
state has played an effective instigating role in a long and bloody war
of attrition that has been going on for over two decades uninterrupted,
in a now hidden, now open fight, a fight kept from the public eye. A war
between the tribes and organized Texas families. This evidence could be
used to substantiate a claim that the government has encouraged, even
created the conditions for this anarchistic tribal take over of the
social structure amongst Texas prisoners. Similar to how the U.S. has
continuously done in the Third World, funding and provoking civil wars
in the Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East in order to divide,
conquer, and maintain hegemonic control of economic interests and
security.
Within the tribes there is no constitution, rank, or central command
structure. They’re divided into regional districts, and are purely
democratic and autonomous in nature. What’s so important and phenomenal
here is the material dialectics in action. How the tribes are a natural
development, the structure, principle, and form naturally developed over
time under conditions of extreme oppression by more than one force.
Notice how at the beginning it was a Chicano based movement, but has
since embraced the Latino concept.
It should be very well noted that by no means is the tribal structure
revolutionary, nor is it structured as a family. It’s distinct in
nature, a security measure so to say. But it’s phenomenal to me. Almost
any criminal, political, religious, or economic ideas can be retained by
the individual, yet they cannot be instituted as a form from top down.
This is anarchistic and ineffective at times, and leads to much
conflicting interest, but these are the material conditions.
I happen to be a progressive individual. I believe in developing my
mind, body and soul. I’m constantly studying, reading, working out,
collecting my thoughts and energies, and focusing them in a productive
and creative form. This is what I do, it’s how I’ve learned to adapt to
my environment and pull through these wasteful conditions. Yet I’m
surrounded by negativity and destructive individuals. Other tribesmen
are stuck in a state of mental and physical decadence and decay. They’re
manipulative, oppressive and dictatorial, straight criminal by nature. I
understand these too are only character manifestations of these wasteful
conditions. And something I strive against. These two separate and
distinct classifications are both allowed within the context of the
tribe. Of course they oppose each other and conflict at times.
Recently conflict arose between the tribes and ALKQN. What resulted from
the conflict wasn’t good for any of us, nothing positive or progressive
was attained. In fact what resulted was the loss of solid braves,
continuous lockdowns, strategic hits, and “mediation” by the rancheros
to keep the steers in line. As a deterrence, the administration began
rounding up tribesmen. The tribes have the larger numbers and are often
perceived as the aggressors regardless of the circumstances. Anywhere
from 16 to 20 tribesmen were rounded up at different times during the
conflict, seed as collateral, systematically subjected to punishing
intimidation, subjugation, and humiliation, all in order to
psychologically inhibit the young braves, and break their will and
resistance. Of course it was effective on the youngsters who average out
to about 20 years old. Left for weeks without anything, in a bare cell
with only enough soap to wash our ass. No writing, legal, or
correspondence materials. No books or literatures with which to
stimulate our minds. After 3 weeks they gave us our bibles, which we all
know to be pacifist literature telling us to turn the other cheek and
obey our masters. We were systematically served disciplinary cases for
nonsense. Sadly it wasn’t my first, and won’t be the last time I go
through such conditioning. I was a part of the final round up, all my
property was confiscated before I was herded into the holding pen
“corral.” 16 volumes of legal transcripts, including legal notes and
work product was seized and inspected for weeks. The round up lasted
from Dec 6 2011 through January 12, 2012.
The very next day after being released onto the pasture, not any time
during the “investigative” lockdown, but after my release, the Rancheros
called a coup of tribal representatives, to show them a letter that was
found in my property. This letter was correspondence to one of my kin on
the Rancho. A written analysis of our social relations and conditional
circumstances as Chicanos under this neocolonial order. It included
strategy and tactics regarding pending and future litigation addressing
family and communal lands stolen from our direct ancestors after the
Texas revolution. The royalty and mineral rights to raw crude being
pumped and refined on a particular island off the Southern coast of
Texas. The letter was detailed and passionate. It was revealing and
exposing. Nothing that should have fallen into agency files. Truthfully,
I don’t even know the full context of the letter.
Somehow the Rancheros convinced or influenced these two representatives
that I had intentions of waging and leading a guerilla assault against
other tribal bands. This has no logical or reasonable basis. The context
and substance of the letter was written in a language of resistance.
These leaders are steeped in the criminal programming and traditions,
which is only a natural response, I understand. I evolved from these
perceptions myself. Somehow they agreed with the Rancheros that the
content of the letter was a threat to the structure and security of the
tribal alliance. Council was held, both sides brought their points to
the fire. The determining factor was how these so-called gangsters and
criminals were allowing themselves to be used by the rancheros, and
using the word and influence of the Rancheros to substantiate a claim
against a tribesman. Many other subjective and objective factors played
a role in the democratic process. But the objective truth is that I’m
still here. I’m almost 100% sure that had this issue been brought up on
a weak-minded, unrefined, undisciplined and fearful mind, the situation
would have played out differently, and that individual may not be here
to share the experience like this.
What’s amazing to me is that this whole experience happened to coincide
with an assignment on “Fearlessness, Scientific Strategy, and Security,”
that I received from MIM(prisons) while these very events were
unfolding. The experience was very humbling. I learned a very valuable
lesson: “gots ta be mo’ careful.”
To all you would be progressive individuals with a revolutionary vision,
who happen to be involved with LOs who do not follow a well formulated
line, or uphold the principles they claim to represent, be careful.
Limit yourself and your activities, don’t be so careless in expressing
your views and concerns around ignorant unlearned individuals. People
fear what they don’t know. Above all, if your views and beliefs can be
based on science and conditional/material facts, if you feel these
scientific views to be pure and true, be loyal and stay true to them to
da fullest. Stay committed and stare down adversity with a fearless
spirit. Understand your material and social conditions. Please don’t let
no law enforcement elements interfere with your relations and influence
your views to the point they become reactionary against your own. Their
intentions may be all in good faith to maintain peace and security on
the unit level. But their interests and security does not comport with
yours in the objective long term. Proceed with caution.
There are two specific challenges we face with our comrades who get out
of prison and want to stay politically active. First, the difficulties
of balancing work, school, politics and general home life. Second, the
overlap between friendship and politics. It is important that we address
these challenges to help our comrades follow through on their pledges to
serve the people after gaining their freedom.
So far we have been less than successful in this regard, and many
comrades fall out of touch with us, only to re-emerge when they are
locked back up months or years later. In a country with such a
relatively low number of active, committed anti-imperialists, losing
these comrades to the streets is a significant blow to our work. As we
expand our Re-Lease on Life Program, we are working to address specific
challenges with life on the streets in the belly of the beast.
Meeting Your Basic Needs
There are few resources for released prisoners, and without family or
friends to provide support it’s very difficult to find housing, get a
job and provide for basic necessities. There are few studies of
homelessness among released prisoners, but those that we’ve found
suggest that at least 10% of parolees end up on the streets without
housing after release.(1) The numbers are probably higher; sleeping on a
friend’s couch is not a long term solution but it won’t get you counted
as homeless in these studies.
Unfortunately MIM(Prisons) doesn’t currently have the resources to
provide much help in the area of basic needs for released prisoners. We
do have some resource guides for some states, and we can help you think
through the best plan for your circumstances. But our ability to help in
this area is limited. The rest of this article focuses on people who are
released and are able to meet their basic needs. If you have a release
date coming up, let us know so we can help you make a plan for the
streets.
Time Management on the Streets
Behind bars life is very regimented, with little room for any decisions
about how to organize your day, except when you are locked in your cell.
And even there, your options for how to spend your time are very
limited. You don’t have to keep a schedule because the prison keeps it
for you. So one of the problems prisoners face when they hit the street
is the vastness of opportunities and choices, and the lack of structure.
Many comrades will want to pursue some education, while also finding a
job, and attempting to reconnect with family and friends. This means a
lot of choices and opportunities, and structured days are necessary to
make them fit together. The demands of family and friends can be
especially difficult during the initial months post-release after so
long with social interactions closely monitored and limited.
Friends, family, school and work are all institutions that are deeply
ingrained in and supported by our culture. There is no support for doing
revolutionary organizing. That is why Re-Lease on Life is so important.
People have a hard enough time doing the normal things they need to do
to get by as former prisoners, especially as felons. If you just go with
the flow, you’ll find your time just flies by and you don’t put in any
political work.
To participate in the Re-Lease on Life program you need to make a
commitment to political work upon release. But most people will need to
keep this commitment minimal at first, so that you can focus on getting
established with a plan for meeting your long-term needs as an
individual, while keeping a connection to the movement.
It’s important to think about the future. If you get government
assistance, or have a part-time hustle when you get out, how long can
that last you? If you don’t have job skills or a college degree you
should consider school and look into scholarships. On the other hand, it
may be worthwhile to focus initially on just making some money before
you consider starting school.
Think about where you want to be in a year or two. If your political
work is limited by time now, how can you free up more time in the
future? One way is by getting into a career path where your income will
grow with your experience. Another consideration when looking for jobs
is, how can it support my bigger goals? If you work in food service, you
save money by bringing home leftovers. If you work at a copy shop, you
get discounts on fliers and literature. Getting a manual labor job might
help you meet your physical fitness goals. If you work at a security job
you get paid to do your political study, leaving your free time to do
outreach work.
Whatever your plan is, you need to start thinking about your time as a
budget. You have only so much each week, each day. Determine how much
you really need for the necessities in life and then schedule that time.
A week has 168 hours in it. If you sleep 8 hours a night that leaves
112. If you need 2 hours a day to cook, eat and take care of persynal
hygiene, you are down to 98 hours. Take at least 5 hours a week to deal
with other persynal stuff like finances, cleaning, and organizing. You
want to work out at least 4 hours per week, maybe more like 8. Now we
have 85 left. If you work full time you’ve got 45, plus transit time, so
make that 40. If you’re going to school too, you could probably use up
most of that 40. If you have regular appointments with your parole
officer, doctor or counselor, that will take a few hours. In your best
case scenario you might have 40 hours to spend on socializing, relaxing
and doing political work. Realistically, finding 15 to 20 hours a week
to do political work with a normal bourgeois life is an ambitious goal
that requires discipline and good planning.
Keep in mind that even if you only have 5 hours a week free for
political work, that is 5 hours of work getting done in the interests of
the oppressed. Any time you can set aside for this work is good. And
when you first hit the streets this will be easiest if you can set aside
that time on your schedule so that it is always the same day/time. For
instance, you could say that Tuesday and Thursday nights you will do
political work from 5-8 p.m. Block it off on your calendar and tell your
friends you have appointments or classes at those times (see below).
Working this into your schedule as a regular thing will make it much
easier to maintain your activism. If you give up and stop doing
political work, chances are good that you will never take it up again.
The revolution can’t afford to lose good activists like you, so don’t
let that happen!
Money is Time
Just as challenging for many former prisoners as managing time is
managing money, and the movement needs both. Don’t fall into Amerikan
consumerism. Imperialism has kept itself going by building a consumerist
culture at home to keep capital circulating. What that means is that a
typical Amerikan lifestyle involves far more consumption than is
necessary (or even healthy). Having your own apartment, your own car, a
cell phone plan, and others preparing your food for you are just some
obvious examples of things considered to be “necessary” expenses
justifying the so-called “high cost of living” in this country. Seek out
others who you can share expenses and cost-saving tips with. Extravagant
spending is often a social behavior. Many recreational things like cable
television, alcohol and cigarettes become habitual expenses. Rest and
recreation are important, but try things that are more healthy and cost
less, and if you do want to splurge, make it a special reward, not a
daily expense.
One of our strengths in this country is that Amerikans get paid
extremely high wages. By keeping expenses low, you’ll find that you can
get by on a part-time job, leaving you with more time to do what is most
important to you. Remember, even if you’re making minimum wage you are
in the top 13% income bracket in the world. Don’t use poverty as an
excuse, when your wealth and privilege are really what’s holding you
back from doing political work.
The Persynal vs. The Political
Related to the challenges you will face with managing your time on the
streets is the social demands of family and friends. The overlap between
friendship and politics is something that most people don’t consider. In
fact, in this country we are encouraged to think about politics as
something we must share with family and friends. But MIM(Prisons) does
not agree with that view.
We live in a country where most people have a very strong material
interest in the status quo, and so they will oppose anti-imperialist
politics. The chances of winning them over to the side of the revolution
are very minimal, and there is generally no need to destroy
relationships with family and friends in the name of this struggle when
there are so many other people out there we can try to recruit. Also,
because of security concerns in this country, exposing your politics to
family and friends can put you at a real risk, especially if you are on
parole. If there’s one thing you should have learned being locked up,
it’s that snitches are everywhere.
There is nothing wrong with having friends who don’t share your
political convictions, you just need to avoid talking about politics
with them or only talk about smaller points of politics, without raising
suspicion. This doesn’t mean you can’t share your political views with
friends and family who show that they are likely to be interested and
agree, but be careful because once they know your views and the work you
do, you can’t take it back.
Basics About Security on the Streets
When you are locked up in prison the government has a lot of information
about you and knows your every move. So behind bars you can only control
your security to the extent that you keep your mouth shut on the yard
and don’t share information about the political work you are doing with
people who might use it against you.
On the streets things are a little different. Although you might have to
report in to a parole officer or allow the state to track you in some
other way as a term of your release, you have a lot more freedom about
what information you do and don’t share with people and with the
government. You are under no obligation to tell anyone about the
political work you do, and in fact you should do your best to keep this
private from people you know unless you have a reason to believe that
they would be supportive. And of course you want to keep it a mystery
from the state. This is NOT because we are doing anything illegal, but
rather because the state does not like anti-imperialists and will use
this as a reason to find or create an excuse to lock you back up. So
don’t make this easy for them.
I’d like to speak in regards to the Special Needs Yards (SNY) situation.
It’s synonymous with the plight of my comrades, relatives and brothers
detained in Pelican Bay, Tehachapi and Corcoran Security Housing Units
(SHUs), from which I was released in 2010.
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
Institutional Gang Investigations (CDCR IGI) squad uses insidiously foul
tactics, involving “validating” or “associating” an “active” [gang
member] who isn’t really active. Somewhere within my 16.5 years on this
joke, many, including myself, lost our sense of direction and
consciousness. Because we’ve lost our direction, the CDCR has found
flaws in our infrastructure as a collective.
All of the tactics you hear about to validate or get homies to debrief
are true. After being detained for an assault on a faulty comrade, a SHU
term was assessed and completed. After numerous incidents on Corcoran’s
integrated yard, and relationships with individuals of other
acknowledged sects, IGI tried to seize their opportunity with
interrogations. They were met with my defiance, then, they manifested a
“packet”.
What was troubling is that these silly goons were adamant of an alleged
association with a sect that literally would be treason, had I been
linked to them. Now my existence is in jeopardy.
After consultation with a selected few of my infrastructure, I had to
denounce my legitimate association with whom I truly move to subterfuge
the fabricated trash the IGI spawned. Pride was hard to swallow, but the
flaw in their system relegated me to fall back without compromisin’
comradz.
The procedures to become SNY depend on the administration at each
institution, and it’s at their administrative discretion. For me, in
Corcoran SHU, I denounced my legitimate gang association without
debriefing in order to rebuke a false alleged association. Once the
process begins you are infected like a plague, whether you’ve debriefed
or not. So I chose to drop out without debriefing, but the outcome is
the same: SNY. With that label, the assumption is that I’ve either
snitched/debriefed or I am some kind of “victim.” There are now many
prisoners in the SHU who are SNY and pending or are validated because
someone on SNY can join the Enhanced Outpatient Program (EOP) for
mentally ill prisoners, and get his SNY status revoked to be
re-integrated into the EOP/GP program. EOP basically was SNY prior to
the implementation of SNYs.
There seems to be a plague, a misconception that all are debriefing on
SNY – no! Nor is it legit for the validated homies to only have the
lesser option to debrief in order to obtain civility and humanity in
prison. That’s not an option.
I now find myself in the eighth month of an 18 month SHU term.
Initially, there was shame in my decision, yet I been kickin’ dust from
Calipat to the Bay; my gangsta, my manhood, my integrity is and always
will be solidified. I’m still pushin’ and movin’, and was surprised to
see many reputable comradz and relatives on SNY too! Don’t let the fence
in the middle misconstrue reality: it’s us vs. them!
Do not lose consciousness, whatever side you’re on. I agree, most SNYs
are faulty. There’s an influx of kids who tapped out without ever
walkin’ any line, even for a hot second! Real spill. Now, consciousness
is lost when homies are unconsciously toten’ “burners” and gettin’
caught? Fumblin’ missives? Harborin’ hooks? Politicin’ with emotions as
opposed to rational thinking? C’mon, we’ve all done it. The
infrastructure must be tightened. Why do you think all these young
homies needed on the line are now on SNY?
Again, not everyone is faulty; they weren’t groomed right. We are
responsible for us, so as the homies in these SHU complexes hunger
strike and resist, our lack of consciousness is inconsiderate to the
struggle. The lack of consciousness only perpetuates the offensive of
the CDCR.
So, yeah, I’ve spoke on it. I am SNY, but don’t think I ain’t still
active!
MIM(Prisons) responds: This letter is referring back to the long
running debate in Under Lock & Key about
SNY
yards and whether or not we should work with people in SNY who want
to get involved in the fight against the criminal injustice system. We
agree with the author that we’ve come across good comrades who are doing
good work in SNY. We judge individuals by their actions, not by their
prison-imposed classification. However, we would not glorify the
activities on the street that lead to prison. We do need to educate the
youth, but kids coming to prison aren’t going to be more political
because they did more street crime. Our job is to turn that energy
against the system, preferably before they are locked up by the system.
There are deep contradictions within the lumpen organizations (LOs) that
are alluded to by this comrade in his calls for self-criticism and
evaluation. He echoes our previous points that the LOs are playing a big
role in pushing people into SNY. Right now the SHU prisoners are leading
the way, showing how to gain power and respect without being predators
on each other, or other oppressed people. Internationalism means not
just looking out for your group or clique. When the oppressed unite
internationally, then self-determination can be real and power will no
longer be fleeting as it is in current U.$. prison culture.
Most people cannot say or determine how they’ll react in any situation
unless they’ve had similar experience under the same pressure and
conditions. Most of us can only theorize and examine best options one
should take from an objective standpoint and hope to learn valuable
lessons from another’s mistake, in attempts to prevent oneself from ever
having to face the same problem.
One general fact is that the words “snitch” and “rat” are probably the
worst and last label anyone would care to have placed in conjunction
with their name, especially in prison where one’s name and respect is
the ultimate factor in dividing and determining a “man” from a “boy.” (A
“boy” is one step above the label of snitch.) Once labeled a rat,
Special Needs Yard (SNY) or Protective Custody (PC) are your only
options, because snitching is penitentiary sin number one and the only
justice served for this act is punishment upon death - as very painful
as possible!
I’ve noticed that MIM(Prisons) made a good-hearted attempt at bringing
forth evidence of credibility by producing past letters that reveal
Loco1’s anti-SNY sentiments and truth of his commitment to the struggle,
but after a complete examination of the full story (never
cross-checked), I don’t believe snitching to be the issue nor do I think
anyone, after investigation, feels that he snitched. His lumpen
organization (LO) members were within listening range and heard the pig
loudly read the hidden message found in a medicine bottle. They also
allowed him to choose an option. Snitches do not receive options.
Snitching is an irredeemable violation that cannot be forgiven no matter
how many pigs one is willing to “clean up.” This verifies that snitching
was not the reason for group violation.
My judgement is that a major security breach in communications was
initiated due to an irresponsible lack of diligence and, as a result,
vital information fell into the hands of the enemy that brought harm to
others. My discipline methods may have been different, but regardless,
every man is responsible for his actions and must face the repercussions
that come along no matter how great or how small. If I was presented
with options given in his situation I would’ve unhesitatingly chosen the
choice of cleaning up a pig (in a clandestine manner). Doing battle with
a comrade(s) in defense of my life would’ve never been an option and
running from a disciplinary violation would’ve never entered my mind.
George Jackson even made the statement that a coward is no good to the
cause.
What makes matters worse is that now he’s labeled a snitch and a coward!
All benefit of the doubt and creditability was lost when he ran and
checked in with the enemy. What’s he going to do when the revolution
kicks off? If a person’s max out date is more important than maintaining
his dignity, and trust as a true revolutionary – I say fuck a max out
date.
As long as the people remain in chains, there is no personal liberation
for me. The struggle doesn’t exist in here or out there, it exists in
one’s heart, mind, and soul. The only max out date is on the day of
freedom or death. Some may call Loco1’s actions a tactical retreat, but
I don’t see nothing tactical about completely losing support of allies
and comrades. My assessment may seem overly critical but in the war
against oppression everything is critical and criticism can never be
stressed enough.
There were no excuses for the mistakes Loco1 made. What organization
does not teach their members to write and speak in codes especially
while operating within enemy territory? It’s also common sense to never
use real names or known aliases, especially on the same line with
incriminating statements. Developing security awareness and
communications is the most important aspect of any revolutionary
organization. One wrong word in the right ears can cause whole nations
to fall. I wish Loco1 the best of luck and hope he finds the road to
recovery. Mao said, “a fall in the pits a gain in the wit.” He never
mentioned anything about diving in head first.
MIM(Prisons) responds: This response to Loco1 is a rational
analysis of mistakes made and the importance of security. While many
people insist that it is not possible to be classified SNY or PC without
ratting someone out, we know that conditions vary between prisons and
even more between states, so there is no way one person can make this
blanket statement with certainty. We printed Loco1’s story as an example
that this is not always true. We did not print it to say that one should
always choose the route Loco1 did.
Our main disagreement with the above author is in his/her insistence
that it’s better to opt to clean up a pig than to go SNY. Most likely,
given the current balance of forces, that thinking is putting ego above
the movement. You cannot be a revolutionary if you are not ready to
sacrifice as an individual, but there is a difference between courage
and bravado. And we can tell the difference by putting politics in
command. Sometimes appearing selfless is better for the individual but
hurts the struggle. The streets are where we need our comrades, and
temporary setbacks in the name of long term successes are sometime
valuable choices to make. We know each situation is different, and
sometimes there are no options besides fighting back, but no successful
military strategist engages the enemy every time they attack.
[MIM(Prisons) has long defended a line that combats the divisions that
the California Department of “Corrections” has tried to institutionalize
by separating large numbers of people from the General Population (GP)
into Sensitive Needs Yards (SNY). In a
previous
letter this comrade joined us in calling for SNY and GP alike to
contribute to the struggle, while not hiding h lack of regard for SNY
prisoners. Today h story serves to demonstrate why allowing the pigs to
tell us who is our friend and who is our enemy is a backwards way of
discovering the truth.]
I’m in the hole (Administrative Segregation Unit) once again, the
material you sent found me when I needed it the most. This time around
I’m found under an ISU/IGI investigation which will most likely result
in me being sent to the other side (SNY). Surprising? Not really, I saw
it coming since the day I committed myself to the United Struggle from
Within (USW), in the form of either validation as a guerrilla
revolutionary or the assassination of my character behind these walls
through the SNY program that leaves a lot of brothers and sisters
credibility out and in the cold away from the warmth of prisoner
society’s acceptance.
It’s crazy how it happened all so fast. I blinked and at the drop of a
dime my whole life turned upside down. It started October 16, officially
with an unjustified unclothed cavity/cell search that I refused to
submit to because the officer first claimed that they were hitting my
cell randomly, then later said because me and my cellmate were
exhibiting suspicious behavior when I was on the toilet taking a shit
and my cellmate was on the assigned bunk asleep. I understood the nature
of the situation that the corruption officers were creating. Someone
dropped a dime on me, so I looked to get a paper trail.
By searching my cell they were committing a constitutional violation
against search-and-seizure safeguards granted to prisoners such as
notification of cell searching party (corruption officers involved),
confiscation of personal property, and the right to appeal without
retaliatory actions being taken against one. I made the choice to get
the incident documented to bring to the attention of the administration
here at Killer Kern, and I paid for it in the worst way possible. But
still I stand revolutionary minded putting USW theory into practice
outside of the study group’s environment. Refusing to let the dragon
win, I fight them with my pen and continue to force them to show their
brutality on paper and physically.
After refusing to submit to their commands I was placed in wrist
restraints and escorted to the facility program office cage where I
spent the next few hours resisting the Sergeant and Lieutenant’s request
for me to submit to an unclothed body search. At this time the
corruptions officers searching party (the Kern Valley A yard jump out
boys) were back at the cell, searching, confiscating, and disposing of
my property and attempting to pay me back for my resistance. They came
across a kite [prison letter] that I had hidden inside a medicine bottle
waiting to be delivered to it’s destination. I will say that I slipped
up! Cause I did.
The kite was in regards to a business arrangement that I had going on
and gave details about involved individuals who were to participate. The
kite was supposed to be delivered that same morning, but due to the
unexpected visitors it wasn’t and I thus forgot about it in the
commotion of three COs at my door with their cans out ready to spray me
while on the toilet for nothing.
I knew what was up, but didn’t act quick enough and therefore allowed
intel into the hands of law enforcement. And they had a ball with it
immediately reading the kite loud enough for my neighbors, who were
members of my LO, hoping to create the confusion that they did.
I spent three days in a small holding cell, cold, cuffed and shackled,
taped in a dirty jumpsuit, with no linen, and a mattress that I was
allowed only to lay on from 10 p.m. - 6 a.m. with no covering on it.
Sleep-deprived with lights on all night attempting to sleep with
restraints, I was deprived medical care, and denied high blood pressure
medication. I was smelling like shit without a shower, and forced to eat
cold meals without any eating utensils or a cup to drink from. I felt
the firsthand experience of torture at the hands of the department of
correction (corruption) until I had three bowel movements to prove that
I didn’t have anything concealed in my ass.
Once my bowel movements showed negative results for contraband (not an
explosive device or a gun, or a knife, but simple contraband) they
released me back to the yard, and to the cell I went.
Not even three hours after my arrival I received a kite about the matter
of the disclosure of intel in the confiscated kite. It wasn’t “Cuz how
you holding up? Can we assist you any way?” or none of that. But with
everything falling the way it did, I understand. Because a week prior to
the incident, individuals of various groups were getting popped with
phones. And all were cats who were making the dead presidents, but
removed from the front lines. There was a leak and Investigative
Services Unit (ISU) was getting more fat than a fat guy in an all you
could eat buffet.
I was brought up on charges of being that leak. And if the shoe was on
another person’s foot, I would’ve really pushed for an old school
lynching. Treason is a no no, but here it is in the accused, getting
kites now from OGs on the bricks, and weeks later I find myself up
against the wall with those who I’ve actually shed blood for, explaining
that I ain’t no fucking rat and did not intentionally drop intel into
the hands of law enforcement. Time drew on with me and those that be,
doing just as the pigs planned us to, as we were on lockdown due to a
war with the Blacks and the “southern Mexicans,” over a drug debt, a
phone, and miscommunication that caused an eight-on-twelve melee between
Blacks and Browns, and one Black to be stabbed eleven times.
The option came around to me after the verdict came in that I was guilty
of loose lips. I could either clean up some green (guards), get cleaned
up, or handle the individual who would clean me up. For those who can’t
read between the lines clean up in this situation means to stab
something up good enough that the message (whatever it may be) be sent
clearly.
Now it may seem like nothing, but I’m not new to this shit, I’m true to
it. I ain’t no crash dummy, I’ve got a close release date, and a lot of
life to live. I ain’t stabbin’ no pig without no chance of getting away,
and I damn sho’ ain’t about to be a pin cushion. So I got the hell out
of dodge, and didn’t blink doing it. I’m an SNY, I recognize that some
will understand, but most won’t and I am no longer who they seen me as.
But my time was limited as any real active revolutionary is on the line
abroad the people who are and love the same exact thing that they claim
to hate. Straight up!
Politicizing amongst the LOs is a difficult task when the same ones you
advocate for are advocating against your existence for individualist
purposes. I bump heads with the big dawgz about policy even when certain
radz advised against it because of my youth and their popularity, and I
got exactly what they said it would get me. An early death in the prison
game.
I sit in ASU now on my third month for investigation into my security
concerns that I raised truthfully on a 602 appeal form. The ISU/IGI
agents attempt to sell protection like they are some type of “Green
Wall” protection agency. I’m told the more you cooperate and inform us
into the details of drugs, cellphones, crooked cops, and criminal
activity, the more we can help you. Since when does the lion help the
lamb?
I attempted radio silence with MIM(Prisons) until I could get my §1983
lawsuit put in, because my mail is being highly monitored, censored,
withheld and returned.
But it seems that faith will have us together married until death do us
part. So I’m back like Jesus from the dead, not really back at all,
reborn into the characteristic of a USW on the other side of the fence.
MIM(Prisons) responds: This letter is one more example of our
point that not everyone on
SNY
yards is a snitch or rat as the pigs would like us to think. A
bourgeois approach to security allows the bourgeoisie to win out. By
bourgeois, we mean an individualist, rather than a group approach. We
oppose studying “persynalities” instead of politics. And we oppose
thinking that violence against individuals builds a strong movement.
There are plenty of enemies on mainline and there are friends to be
found in SNY. How we associate and how we build allows us to determine
which are which, not rumors or labels given out by the enemy.