MIM Notes 230                  March 15, 2001

Under Lock & Key

Lockdown Y2K

Lockdown Y2K is the term used to refer to the non-violent peaceful New
York State-wide prison lockdown that was planned and scheduled to take
place on January 1, 2000. The lockdown Y2K failed for various reasons
(i.e., false snitch/informers, lack of outside support, etc)! But the
greatest failure is the fact that even today, because of the limited
access to media for prisoners to tell their story, society remains blindly
insensitive to the cruel life prisoners must endure. Pointing out this
life is what I want to do from a perspective that comes from behind the
voiceless walls of Sing Sing.

Throughout 1997, Sing Sing was plagued by group violence -- prisoners
against prisoners which, to some extent, was divided by racial lines. By
the end of 1997 through February 1998, one group of prisoners had gained a
dominant advantage over the other, creating havoc for the few members of
the dominated group as they entered Sing Sing. For the most part, the word
ITAL group(s) END here refers to membership groups which prison officials
do not recognize as legitimate and whose names I choose not to identify.

It is fair to mention that throughout this period, Sing Sing's
administrators (i.e., correction officers and high rank officials) were
aware of these problems and did nothing to quell the violence. In fact,
Sing Sing's administrators continued to place members of the dominated
group at the hand of the dominant group. Many times correction officers
themselves encouraged the violence. The repercussions were horrifying, as
members of the dominated group suffered severe razor-blade cuts and
stabbings, many times requiring intensive care hospitalization for those
injured. All of this tragic conflict was basically confined to one of Sing
Sing's five cell blocks. In this one cell block, as in both groups, the
disproportionately dominating factor was the influx of youth entering the
prison system.

Tired of the group violence and concerned for the youth, prisoners
unaffiliated with membership of these rival groups created a think tank to
help quell the problems. At the outset, there were some who suggested
dealing with this matter with violence against the rival groups, while
others suggested speaking to and educating the leaders of the rival
groups. Discussion went on to highlight the ignorance and lack of
education that plagues the majority members of these rival groups; the
fact that the prison administrators prey upon such instances of violence
by exposing it through its hyped-up media -- painting their own picture of
evil prisoners which would justify their repressive policies toward
prisoners. Attica became the apex, as the think tank reminisced how the
post-Attica achievements have virtually disappeared.

Among the losses discussed were the college program that went out the
window in 1995; the backward vocational programs; the exploitation of
prisoners and their families through the over-charged telephone system
(MCI), and the over-charged commissary where prisoner's ten percent
discount purchases were eliminated; the loss of the five free postage
stamps now confined to legal mail; the wise-spread prison guard brutality,
among other things. In concluding that the unification and education of
prisoners was the most logical solution, the think tank unanimously opted
to a peaceful resolution by gathering all of the rival group leaders, with
the hope of putting an end to the prisoner on prisoner violence, and
convert all this energy into positive change.

Word was sent out to all group leaders and in February 1998, the think
tank met with these leaders clandestinely. At the outset, tension filled
the air, as each group leader expressed their vendettas toward its rival
group. The think tank had established beforehand that freedom of
expression was to be respected and not taken personal. The think tank also
intervened when appropriate to emphasize the minuteness of the vendettas
in the face of the oppressive conditions imposed upon our communities on
the outside world and within the confines of the prison system.

Conversation shifted to the poverty, the poor housing conditions, the
backward institutions of education and health, the high levels of
unemployment, the drugs and violence, and the police brutality that
plagues our communities. The criminal unjust system and the workings of
the Department of Corruption Services, as discussed by the think tank
prior to the meeting, were also discussed. In the end, all of the
prisoners agreed of the necessity for unity in order to combat the
oppression of prisoners. The group leaders also admitted that these goals
were called for from within their group by-laws. The meeting ended with a
pledge for peace, as all prisoners at the meeting shook hands and
exchanged hugs before departing.

For weeks, the violence among prisoners had subsided and one could feel
peace like never before. One could see group members greeting and
conversing with their once rival foes. However, as the violence among
prisoners abated, prison guard brutality began to rise
disproportionately. This was no surprise since the Department of
Corruption Services' commissioner had appointed one of the most abusive
and racist officials in the department as the new Deputy Superintendent of
Security -- William Connolly. This is one of the prison officials
responsible for much of the brutality carried out against prisoners at
Attica during the 1970s and early 1980s. This official, where-ever
assigned, (i.e., in recent years to Wallkill, Greenhaven and Coxsackie
Correctional Facilities), has consistently given his chosen subordinates
the green light to carry out abusive measures towards prisoners and has
played a key role in covering up such abuses. To no surprise,
D.S.S. Connolly and Gov. Pataki are the best of friends.

D.S.S. Connolly's repression went further as he has implemented his own
policies of repression. Among them, he imposed a policy limiting the
amount of clothing prisoners can possess requiring prisoners to send
clothing home that were in excess of his new policy. He confiscated a
Young Lord's Party video from the Latinos UNIDOS Organization (a legal
organization) because, he claimed, the video teaches prisoners how to take
over their communities when they go home! He targeted Puerto Rican
prisoners by confiscating their Puerto Rican flags from their cells.

As the repression escalated, the think tank reconvened in order to develop
strategies to challenge the repressive measures imposed by
D.S.S. Connolly. To the prison guard brutality, a strategy was developed
whereby prisoners were encouraged to become witnesses and to report their
observations. Prisoners began to write letters reporting the rampant
brutality and cover-ups (once beaten, false misbehavior reports were then
concocted against prisoners and witnesses), to the commissioner, the
superintendent of Sing Sing, the DOCS Inspector General, the Westchester
County District Attorney, various legal organizations for prisoner's
rights, and to D.S.S. Connolly himself.

The inmate liaison committee (a post-Attica program to address the prison
conditions affecting the prison population) took the complaints of the
wide-spread abuse to the Sing Sing executive team -- made up of high
ranking prison officials. All grievances fell on deaf ears, as
D.S.S. Connolly took full credit and was praised for ending the prisoner
on prisoner violence!

There was pressure, nonetheless. A great number of the prison guards and
officials responsible for the abuse were re-assigned to the Sing Sing
Special Housing Unit (SHU). There the abuse went on the rise. Most of the
abuse in SHU could not be witnessed. The other prisoners were confined to
their cells. There are no cameras in Sing Sing's SHU! The abuse was not
only physical in SHU. Prisoner's mail is tampered with for its content and
many times the mail disappears. Prisoners are robbed of their property as
well.

Another tactic worth mentioning is the think tank's encouragement of a
letter campaign in which the entire prison population at Sing Sing, and
the adjoining Tappan Medium Facility, wrote letters on the same day
challenging D.S.S. Connolly's new clothing limit policy. After flooding
the superintendent's office with garbage bags full of letters, the new
clothing policy was revised. Although D.S.S. Connolly, in rage, searched
to find the prisoner(s) responsible for organizing the letter campaign, he
was unsuccessful!

Soon D.S.S. Connolly and his "chosen" subordinates undertook new
measures. Through the use of technically unreliable snitches, he began
setting up potential leaders in the prison population with weapons, drugs,
etc. . . . Within weeks of these measures, rumors began to spread of a
state-wide non-violent and peaceful demonstration to bring public
attention to the brutality hidden behind the veil of prison walls. The
demonstration was to be orderly. All prisoners would dress in their
all-green state-issued clothing. Prisoners would not speak to prison
officials. Prisoners would refuse to attend programs. Movement would be
limited to the mess hall to eat and back to the cells. Prisoners would not
use the telephones nor make commissary purchases. The refusal to program,
use the telephones and make commissary purchases was an economic war
measure. Sing Sing would no longer generate capitalist funds from
telephone calls and commissary purchases by prisoners. Instructors jobs
would be at stake.

The demonstration was scheduled for January 1, 2000. It was to continue
until society became involved and promise of change was guaranteed. By
September 13, 1999, (the eighteenth anniversary of the Attica massacre),
news was received that Greenhaven, for unknown reasons, commenced to wear
the all green dress code. By October 1999, news was received that
Greenhaven had been locked down. By November 1999, news is received that
at Auburn and Coxsackie Corruption Facilities, prison officials were
cracking down on potential leaders. Potential leader meant any prisoner
who was studious or educated.

On December 23, 1999, at approximately 2:30 PM, Sing Sing announced an
emergency lockdown. Visits dismissed, programs closed down, recreation
ended, prisoners were ordered and herded to their cells. The reasons for
the emergency lockdown? Prison officials found five live 9mm rounds of
ammunition located in one of the fire hose boxes in A-Block. Cell and
facility searches were conducted, as prison officials spread word that
there was a matching gun in the facility which prisoners plan to use to
take over the prison.

Within a few days the true culprit was discovered -- a prison guard by the
name of Hernandez had been seen planting the bullets. Further
investigation discovered that five rounds of ammunition were missing from
Hernandez's gun! Whether this incident -- backfired as it did, was a
measure that D.S.S. Connolly was aware of before hand is still a
mystery. One thing is sure, Hernandez resigned and was charged with a
misdemeanor for a felonious offense! Meanwhile, the capitalist media kept
quiet about the matter.

New repression was implemented. D.S.S. Connolly, through unreliable
snitches among the prison population, began a campaign of charging all
potential leaders with responsibility for a demonstration that never
surfaced. Most of the accused prisoners were unjustly sentenced to SHU for
from 18 months to five years, while the repression and abuse carried out
by D.S.S. Connolly and his "chosen" subordinates continues. Lockdown Y2K
was not a failure -- only a lesson learned.

--by a New York prisoner, February 2001.

MIM adds:  We thank this writer for contributing to the documentation of
oppressed peoples' struggle. This piece serves as a positive example to
activists and prisoners in MIM's circles and to other readers. Prisoners
are encouraged to write MIM with suggestions for targeting achievable
battles that your supporters on the outside can work with you on. Please
send us proposals for petition and letter campaigns as well as keep us
updated so that we can coordinate protest actions.

Untitled poem
by a New York prisoner

When will oppression come to an end?
For over 500 yrs it's been our oppressors' best friend.
Kept within a cell for 23 hours a day
is not the way we ought to stay
Elevating the mind each day
keeps us motivated all the way
How does it feel knowing you was once a slave?
It hurts. Because even today I'm a modern day slave
I'm provided with a cell. But, in reality it's a cave
How do you want to die?
As a "slave" or a person who is "brave"?
I would rather die being brave.
For the upliftment of my people.
But, in reality, For the cause of my people I was their slave.
And when I died,
They identified me as a Black Brave Slave.

by a NY prisoner.

Call for action to those on the outside

In Notes 217, page 10, ITAL Medical Neglect in Ohio Women's prison END -
this is similar to an article I commented on before in the manner that the
public needs to become involved. I previously mentioned the need for a
civilian committee to be appointed to monitor the grievance and
disciplinary procedures of DOC staff and by this female prisoner's
personal testimony, medical practices and evaluations must be monitored,
also.

It is a shame that the free-world readers of MIM Notes are not acting on
this type of discrimination. There are copious articles in ULK where
prisoners can benefit from free-world influence. And about every three
months or so there is one prisoner who earnestly needs the free-world
readers of MIM Notes to do more than just read about their inhumane
treatment.

Being on lockdown 24/7 for a year or two is a picnic in comparison to the
medical suffering and neglect the aforementioned female prisoner is
enduring. I myself have been on C/M (close management lockdown) twice and
have never complained about my treatment nor conditions because I
perceived there were others inhumanely suffering far worse than myself.

Dear free-world readers of MIM, some of you have political ties and access
to computers. Please get this prisoner -- who is a member of humanity -- a
civil lawyer and succor us by throwing a monkey wrench into the gears of
the imperialist system seeking to devour this comrade.

 -- a Florida prisoner, January 2001

MIM adds: MIM does not have the resources to give individual legal help to
all prisoners in need at this time. Currently we put a large amount of our
legal resources into fighting censorship in prisons. This is because clear
communication is the first step in achieving other battles to both improve
current conditions in prisons and to eventually overthrow the u.$. system
of oppression entirely.

While we seek legal experts on the outside to help fight prison brutality,
we simultaneously are expanding the Prisoners' Legal Clinic as a means for
prisoners to assist other prisoners in these struggles. Many times
articles have appeared in MIM Notes and PLC prisoners have responded by
offering assistance. This is one way in which prisoners can help cover
more ground in condition improvements within prisons.

Another way that prisoners can work with us to assist more prisoners with
cases of brutality is to work with us on agitation campaigns. In MIM Notes
#228, we explained that MIM is working to improve our success in fighting
winnable battles. Prisoners should send MIM information regarding
solutions when writing about conditions. For example, the testimony
published in MIM Notes #217 was written by a third party without
information for MIM to follow-up with to protest the brutality. To better
assist MIM in publicizing the case and putting an end to the brutality
against the prisoner, we suggest that writers also send the names of
prisoncrats responsible for brutality and explain what protest steps have
already been initiated. In addition, where possible, prisoners can also
send the addresses of local newspapers and media sources that MIM can
utilize to further spread word on specific cases of brutality, censorship
and other forms of abuse in prisons.

Canadian prisoner in Ohio's system

I am a Canadian citizen that moved to this great country in 1982 after
getting married to a great American lady who believed, somewhat naively,
that the government was doing things for the people. ...

... I was ordered deported out of the U.S. and over three (3) years later
I am still sitting here at tax payers' expense in an Ohio prison. I am
fully of the understanding that the tax payers are the people that are
footing the bill because I have written every politician in the State of
Ohio and have gone as far as to write the Secretary General of the United
Nations regarding the denial of the Treaty obligations that the U.S. has
with Canada and how various states just create legislation so they can do
just what they want, yet the courts fail to uphold the U.S. Constitution
and the laws and continue to allow these rough-riding, illegal states to
do as they wish.

The United States of Amerika has a number of treaties with various nations
around the world but few treaties deal directly with the convicted
prisoner. The fact that Amerika was founded on the growth of immigration
only created an area that the government had to address. What do we do
with people that come to Amerika and break the laws that we have? Send
them back to where it is they came from was the cry. Okay, so treaties
were created to allow for this transfer of offenders but they still had to
do their time, they just couldn't come to Amerika and break the law and
get shipped back home without some sort of penalty.

In the same regard, this also allowed the Amerikan government to ensure
that if any of their citizens or government workers were to break the law
in another country they could get them back to Amerika and deal with
them. Sometimes this was more of a rescue than anything else, considering
that [the returned prisoners] were working for the government
themselves. The U.S. government is real quick to get their [employees]
back home if there could be an international problems but for the little
guy that gets into trouble with the authoritarian police states of Amerika
and breaks a law, he is in serious trouble. ...

Here in Ohio in fiscal year 1996 the Director of Corrections and
Punishment, in a letter to a State Senator, clearly stated that the ODRC
gets an additional $1,200 per year for each foreign national that it has
in the prison system. No wonder that they created State legislation to
comply with the national treaty but added language that is directly in
conflict so that the very persons that should be allowed to transfer [to
their home countries] are now not eligible to apply. The Director even
states that his advisors specifically advise him that it "would not be
financially advantageous at this time to seek any transfers." So they
admit that it is a financial consideration and to hell with all the
millions of tax dollars that are being wasted keeping people away from
their loved ones and doing nothing for anybody but your own pocket
books. Is that the message that you want to have the people truly
understand Reginald Wilkinson, Director of the Ohio Department of
Corrections and Assault?

On a bit of a different note I have attached a copy of the
U.S. Immigration and Naturalization deportation order that I am under
dated June 24, 1997. I was chained up and taken with the two officer
escorts some 100+ miles to another institute to go before a visiting
Immigration Judge that ordered me deported from the U.S. That would sure
save some tax payers money and with the State constantly crying about the
lack of prison bed space it would open another bed up also. Simplest move
that I could see happening but even though the Governor has the power with
nothing more than a "written request" to the INS to have anybody deemed
deportable, removed (as they call it), nothing is done solely due to the
fact that the State is getting $1,200 a year to keep our asses in their
prisons. The Governor can sign a letter and you're gone but do any of
them? Hell no! It's free money for having the poor bastard that can't even
speak English most times and an attorney that sold him down the legal
toilet for a favor in some upcoming case. You don't believe me? Than do
some serious research and watch how quick you get shut down when you start
asking for the figures and determine a few things about this lovely system
...
-- an Ohio prisoner, 5 October, 2000.

MIM responds: This case and others like it show that Amerika did not just
get to be the most imprisoning country on the planet by going after its
own citizens. The "land of the free" also proudly locks up citizens of
other countries, spreading its name as the most repressive regime on the
planet. Amerikans should get riled up not only because they are paying to
illegally imprison citizens of other countries, but because their
government is locking up more Black men per capita than apartheid South
Africa before Nelson Mandela became president. With five percent of the
world's population, Amerika holds 25 percent of the world's prisoners,
that's something to be angry about.