Under Lock and Key

National oppression from hood to prison

Let me speak to you about a Blackman inside the United Snakes. It 
begins in the community. I grew up in a low-income predominantly 
Black community (ghetto). Police it seemed to me lived there too. 
The police occupation in the Black community is such that Black 
people have no choice but to go to jail, even if it's for nothing 
more than "open container." By contrast, I've been inside "drug 
dens" in white communities that will serve customers 24 hours a 
day (white drug dealers). The result being almost non-stop 
traffic. A complete idiot that was blinded at birth would know 
what's going on. But it's no surprise that police (gestapo) 
presence is next to none. I guess they're too busy fighting crime 
in my hood.

Now comes the county jail. Some may think Blacks don't have the 
money to make bond and the opposite is true for whites. Let me 
clear that up. A white man can be arrested for 20 burglary charges 
and receive a $50,000 bond. A Black man can come to jail for 2 
distribution of crack charges and his bond will be $100,000. You 
do the math.

Here comes the judge. After you've been in jail for 15 months and 
watched the whites make bond and the Blacks make plea bargains, 
it's your turn. You have a "public pretender" that has come to see 
you one time in 15 months. Now he's talking a scare game about the 
max that you're facing. Now comes the infamous "good deal." Seeing 
that you have no sincere representation along with your ignorance 
of the law, you accept it. (A bad deal). By the way, most of those 
white guys you see at the jail, they got probation, house arrest 
and drug treatment.

Welcome to the Big House. Your initial classification will be 
extremely high, despite the fact that you're "non-violent" and 
it's your first commitment. You will be housed with "violent 
offenders" and thus labeled as an inmate with a "violent 
disposition." This leads you to be assigned to a med-max 
institution. While on the other hand (the white one), one of the 
few white men that's at R&E with you will ride with you. The vast 
majority will go to an open institution or work release. It's a 
well known fact that those institutions and programs were built 
for whites during segregation. (Note: There will always be one or 
two blacks going to those institutions, just like one or two 
whites go to med-max institutions. They have to make it look 
good).

Once you arrive at your assigned KKKamp, it looks like your old 
neighborhood. It's so much color on the yard, that the little 
white that is there is swallowed up. Even most of the police are 
Black and Black women at that (21st century overseers). They are 
trying to impress "massa" so much that they want to show him that 
they have no bias toward their own. So in effect they hold it on 
our ass harder than the white police. The white CO's and Admin 
(most of the whites that work there are in top level positions) do 
their thing with the paperwork. Question: Why is damn near 
everyone that's on STG status Black? Why is most of SMU (Admin 
Seg) Black? Why is it that most of the custody reductions and 
transactions go to whites? As I stated before, an idiot born blind 
can see and understand what's really going on.

I didn't get into all the by-products of incarcerating the Black 
man, such as welfare, mental illness, drug addiction, the complete 
breakdown of the family structure, etc. It's a covert form of 
genocide. The systematic removal of the Black man from society. 
This cripples the Black community. Destroys the Black family. In 
an attempt to remove an ever increasing threat to the white 
settler nation -- the Black nation!

-- A South Carolina Prisoner, May 2000.

Lousianna prisoner wants to build revolution

I think that the inclusion of other captive brothers', sisters' 
and comrades' writings concerning the conditions of their 
confinement will help to dispel the myths of Blacks having it 
better, especially prisoners, in other states. The abuse and 
brutality that we (Blacks) have undergone and still undergo, here 
in the low down dirty South, makes it easy to imagine that there 
exists a better place somewhere else. I for one do not believe 
that such a place exists, certainly not in this racist capitalist 
society. The institutional and individual racism that the South is 
known for is not a Southern problem, but a problem that stifles 
Black progression all over this white controlled world.

Though I (at present) know very little about socialism, I 
understand the exploitative, subjugative and even murderous nature 
of imperialism. I understand that the glamour witnessed here and 
in other first world kkkountries represents the rape and plunder 
that has and is occurring in the so-called third world countries. 
I understand that the high standards of living that Amerikkkan 
boastfully flaunts before the starving eyes of Afrika and her 
dispersed, down-trodden children, represents a purchase in Blacks' 
blood, sweat and tears., I understand the vicious paradox of white 
superiority and Black inferiority that has existed since the 
miscegenation of the two races. I also understand that books, 
signs, posters, televisions, education, courts, religions, 
everything, every single issue of this white fashioned society is 
in someway geared with the aim of reinforcing and perpetuating 
that vicious paradox. ...

I say "Anything that promotes us having our own is superior to 
anything we have here." We can no longer depend on Amerikkka or 
any other entity that is independent of ourselves, to supply us 
with the vital and necessary elements that produces progressive 
life. The Black leadership is a joke, they have always inspired to 
become bourgeois accommodationists. That's what they've done. Now 
they, in their aristocratic splendor lead the Black masses to the 
slaughterhouse of neo-colonialism. There must be a new 
consciousness raised amongst our people, something that will 
counter the anti-Black and counterrevolutionary progressing we 
have received and accepted for the last three hundred and eighty 
something odd years.

You seem to have as good an idea as any other, maybe the best I 
heard yet. So, lets do away with all this procrastination and come 
on with that low. ... Brothers, sisters, comrades, stand strong. 
There is a movement on the horizon. ...

Guerrilla love, Power to the People!

-- a prisoner in Lousianna, 31 July 2000.

Kansas prisoner links to internationalism

Please keep sending the MIM Notes. We need to get the word out to 
as many people as possible about the indignant acts of capitalist 
Amerikkka set to oppress all people of color - in Amerikkka and 
beyond. And the prison system is just another part of the "genetic 
annihilation" scheme. We have to write and fight for ours, because 
they sure have no intentions of giving up nothing. Armed 
resistance is all Amerikka understands. The founding of this 
country was based on oppression and violence. You see Amerikkka 
has no problem using violence to conquer other countries and 
stripe them of their natural resources. The minute they see 
someone wanting to raise up, they're quick to put a label on 
him/her, spread propaganda, get the citizens against you. Look at 
how they did Patrice Lumumba, Malcolm X. And its gonna get worse, 
especially if George Bush Jr. becomes President. Its gonna be the 
Reagan/Bush administration all over again. Those were one of the 
worst times for Blacks.

-- a prisoner in Kansas, 3 August 2000.

MIM responds:  Our work among prisoners in the united snakes 
consists of many things, the primary task is that of building 
support for Maoism and proletarian internationalism. Among groups 
in Amerika, prisoners grasp proletarian internationalism and 
revolutionary science more readily because of their own material 
conditions. We welcome more efforts of prisoners to expand their 
knowledge and activism beyond merely the struggle against Amerikan 
prisons, but toward the struggle against imperialism entire.

We add also that the prisoner uses the liberal's token term 
"people of color". MIM does not use this term to define members of 
oppressed nations. Instead, we emphasize that the nature of 
imperialism is the domination of one nation over others. Members 
of oppressed nations are not individuals oppressed because of 
their skin color, but they are a part of group, a nation, which is 
subjected to imperialist domination. For more, study MIM Theory #7 
"Proletarian Feminist Revolutionary Nationalism on the Capitalist 
Road."

Another mistake of analysis that this prisoner makes is to imply 
that the situation will be better under a non-Republican 
administration. We've stated repeatedly (and within this issue -- 
see articles on Friends of the Earth) that there are not 
differences between different bourgeois parties in the united 
snakes. Democrats and Republicans, as well as the small party 
candidates, only work to strengthen imperialism. Which face sits 
in the White House makes no difference to the world's majority -- 
which is bombed, starved and exploited by Amerikan imperialism.

Indiana prisoners light up on reading ULK

I love to share your papers with other comrades and watch them 
light up with excitement for finally hearing something that they 
can relate, that isn't a dream of a big piece of pie in the end. I 
was glad to read about brotha Mumia Abu-Jamal! At least there was 
some positive info to report. Getting to the point where he will 
know his fate will be less of a burden on him. I felt that way 
going through trial. Alot of things you report don't surprise me 
cause the truth always come to the light, and your paper has 
perfect examples. I was glad to hear Brotha Leonard Peltier's 
story as well, the people needs to hear about all comrades trapped 
United $nakes Desmocrips

FIGHT THE POWER!

-- Bro for a Cause, an Indiana prisoner.

MI prisoner sets example in censorship fight

The following is a copy of the defense a Michigan Prisoner wrote 
in his hearing regarding mail policy.

To: Hearing officer, Notice of Package/Mail Rejection Re: Defense

The notice in this case deprived me of any opportunity to properly 
prepare a defense because it was insufficient to inform me of the 
issue to be considered. The requirement of the 24 hour notice 
encompasses more than merely time and location of a hearing. This 
is explained in Hall, Administrative Law, SS 7, p 133. (I have 
attached a copy of the relevant pages):

"The rule goes further than merely requiring notice of the time 
and the location of a hearing. It recognized that, for notice to 
have value, a party must be informed of the 'nature' of the 
hearing, the legal authority under which the agency believes it is 
empowered to have such a hearing, and the issues of fact and law 
to be considered. Again, the test for determining whether a party 
has been given adequate notice of the nature of the case or issue 
to be considered is whether information provided permitted the 
party to adequately prepare his or her case. If a notice is 
couched in 'bureaucratic gobbledegook, jargon, double talk, 
federalese and insurancese, and double speak," it will fail. (Fn. 
David V. Heckler, 591 F. Supp. 1033 (E.D.N.Y. 1984). Notice of 
both legal and factual issues must be made under the APA. 
Therefore, a notice that simply states that a party has violated a 
law is inadequate. The notice must also recite the basic facts 
which the agency believes constitute the violation."

In this case, there is nothing in the notice of package/mail 
rejection which states how the 6 newspapers violate policy, 
administrative rules, or applicable laws. Therefore, the notice of 
package/mail rejection is insufficient. It leaves this prisoner to 
guess at the section that is being claimed to be violated in 
policy directive 05.03.118, Administrative Rule 791.6603. PD 
05.03.118 sets forth when mail can be rejected as follows:

"D. Prisoners shall be permitted to send and receive unlimited 
uncensored mail to or from any person or organization unless the 
mail violates this policy or Administrative Rule 791.6603. 
Prisoners are prohibited from sending or receiving mail that is a 
threat to the security, good order, or discipline of the facility, 
that may facilitate or encourage criminal activity, or that may 
interfere with the rehabilitation of the prisoner. This includes 
the following:

"1. Mail violating federal or state law.

2. Mail violating postal regulations.

3. Mail containing contraband, which is defined as any property 
that a prisoner is not specifically authorized to posses or that 
is from an unauthorized source. This includes postage stamps, 
except that a prisoner may receive a single stamped self-addressed 
envelope from an attorney or legitimate religious organization.

4. Mail containing a criminal plan or conspiracy.

5. Mail containing threats.

6. Mail addressed to anyone who has objected to receiving mail 
from the prisoner sending the mail. This only applies after the 
prisoner has been notified of the objection.

7. Mail for the purpose of operating a business enterprise.

"E. Prior to rejecting mail for violation of this policy, the 
prisoner is entitled to a fact-finding hearing conducted pursuant 
to Administrative Rule 791.3310.

"G. Mail shall not be prohibited solely because its content is 
religious, philosophical, political, social, sexual, unpopular or 
repugnant."

There is nothing in the notice of package/mail rejection which 
states which part of policy is being used as a basis for the 
denial of these materials. Therefore, this prisoner cannot 
properly prepare a defense to these vague claims.

The US Supreme Court set forth the criteria for determining when 
books, magazines and newspapers sent to prisoners can be rejected 
in Thornburgh V. Abbott, 490 US 401; 104 L Ed 2ne 459; 109 S Ct 
1874 (1989). They may not be rejected " solely because its content 
is religious, philosophical, political, social or sexual, or 
because its content is unpopular or repugnant."

However, in this case, there is absolutely no way to determine 
whether one of these reasons that the Supreme Court stated they 
can't be rejected have been employed. Therefore, the advance 
notice requirement has bot been met, and the procedure employed in 
this case violates this prisoner's constitutional rights under 
Mich. Const. 1963, Art 1 SS 17, due process and fair treatment at 
investigation; Art 1 SS 5; US Const. Amend 1 and Amend 14.

WHEREFORE, for the foregoing reasons, I respectfully request that 
I receive a specific statement explaining the reasons for denial 
of the materials, and that the hearing officer specifically state 
those reasons in the hearing report. Or, in the alternative, that 
I be allowed to have the materials at issue.

Respectfully submitted, A Michigan Prisoner

Montana denies yard time

In the last two months, our yard time has been cancelled three 
times. Today, our yard time was cancelled because a construction 
crew was working on a totally different section of Max.

We only get 1.5 hours every other day for yard. Federal law allows 
one hour per had for maximum custody inmates. We get less than our 
fair amount of time in the first place, then the problem is 
compounded by the fact that they cancel yard frequently. Because 
they are too lazy to watch us while we enjoy our outside time.

Any help you can give us to correct this violation of federal 
policy would be greatly appreciated.

-- A Montana State Prison Prisoner, 19 April 2000.

Torture in Graterford, Penn

I wish to address some matters that I think are important for MIM 
to know about that have been happening to me in Graterford Prison. 
I was hogtied for 7 days without food and water, and medical 
didn't come down to see my until 24 days afterwards. I was beaten 
3 times. Hogtied means that they cuff you from behind, then leg-
cuff you, then they cuff the handcuffs to your legcuffs in back of 
your body. Then they got a razor and cut off all my clothes and 
turned the air below 50 degrees. Then they left me there.

I lost the use of one hand and part of one leg for life. I had 
surgery two times but nothing worked. After I tried to look for a 
lawyer I was transferred from where it happened to make it harder 
for me to find a lawyer. Until this day I'm still looking for a 
lawyer to take my case. I am very much illiterate. I have so much 
evidence and not much time to file this.

Now I am at SCI Greene County where they help out by denying me 
showers, yard, and food, and calling me a snitch because I want 
the CO's to go to court and also a deputy lost his job because of 
it. I also have razor cuts and a night-club crack on my head. It 
is just not right for anyone to go through this treatment.

-- a Pennsylvania prisoner.

Pigs prohibit education in Florida

Enclosed is a copy of the Florida Dept of Corruptions latest 
rejection of a publication sent to me.

This book, Dark Alliance, by Gary Webb, so happens to discuss in 
detail the CIA's involvement in the USA drug-cocaine 
trade/business. It's evident that literature of this nature, 
exposing the government for what it is, isn't wanted in the hands 
of prisoners so they'll case any guise to justify prohibiting one 
of us from raising our political awareness.

Funny thing is: (1) they don't ban 60 minutes, 20/20 etc., that 
have aired segments concerning the most intimate details of how 
drugs are grown, manufactured, sold, trafficked, used, etc. They 
don't ban newspapers that publish detailed info about the drug 
trade/business. Seems like some double standards being applied.

 --a prisoner in Florida, 17 March 2000.